Tradin’ Paint

  • Eric Mendenhall & Veronika Duerr
    Photos courtesy of Theatre in the Square

  • Veronika Duerr & Neal Ghant
    Photos courtesy of Theatre in the Square

  • Bart Hansard & Eric Mendenhall
    Photos courtesy of Theatre in the Square

  • Veronika Duerr
    Photos courtesy of Theatre in the Square

Synopsis

Darla Frye is fraught with “deep-seated insecurities.” Her mother is dead, her boyfriend is delusional, and her job stocking auto parts is going nowhere fast. Then one night, on a deserted country road, Lucky Tibbs teaches Darla how to change a flat tire – and in doing so, change her life. Now Darla is on a quest to find her true destiny, a journey that takes her into the world of stock car racing and includes an unexpected friendship with a gay college professor, a head-on collision with a car battery, and a heavenly visit with the late Dale Earnhardt. It’s one helluva ride with a lot of “tradin’ paint” but Darla discovers that it’s the bump in the road that makes the trip worthwhile.

Cast

Halley Smoot thirties; black, gay college professor
Darla Frye thirties; fraught with “deep-seated insecurities”
Coty Webb thirties; Darla’s verbally abusive boyfriend
Lucky Tibbs thirties, female crew chief
Skeeter Jett thirties, stock car racer and Lucky’s husband
Pierce Garbarino thirties; stock car racer
Tucker Forbush thirties; stock car racer
Flagman late thirties; works at the racetrack
Jack late thirties; Halley’s lover, very “GQ”
The Boss fifties; head of racing’s governing body
Football Player left tackle for the Lebanon Badgers

Specs

Cast Size: 8 (6m, 2w)
Approximate Run Time: 1h 50m
Number of Acts: Two

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Production History

2006 Winner of Barter Theatre’s Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights

Tradin’ Paint was first produced in 2007 by Barter Theatre (Abingdon, VA), Richard Rose, Producing Artistic Director

Tradin’ Paint was produced in 2009 by Theatre in the Square (Marietta, GA), Palmer Wells, Producing Director

Tradin’ Paint was produced in 2010 Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre (Mars Hill, NC), Bill Gregg, Artistic Director


Casting Notes:
The following roles are to be played by the same actor:
Flagman/Jack/Football Player/The Boss


Reviews

“…a charming, joyful and moving comedy about racing and romance, dreams and destiny.”
Atlanta Intown.com
“…one of the funniest and most engaging plays I've seen this year.”
Atlanta Theatre Buzz
“…a light and lively romp.”
Jim Cavener, Asheville Citizen-Times
Cast Size: 8 (6m, 2w)
Approximate Run Time: 1h 50m
Number of Acts: Two

Rights and scripts available from
Dramatic Publishing
Script Sample
Request Rights
Purchase Scripts

Synopsis

Darla Frye is fraught with “deep-seated insecurities.” Her mother is dead, her boyfriend is delusional, and her job stocking auto parts is going nowhere fast. Then one night, on a deserted country road, Lucky Tibbs teaches Darla how to change a flat tire – and in doing so, change her life. Now Darla is on a quest to find her true destiny, a journey that takes her into the world of stock car racing and includes an unexpected friendship with a gay college professor, a head-on collision with a car battery, and a heavenly visit with the late Dale Earnhardt. It’s one helluva ride with a lot of “tradin’ paint” but Darla discovers that it’s the bump in the road that makes the trip worthwhile.

Cast

Halley Smoot
thirties; black, gay college professor
Darla Frye
thirties; fraught with “deep-seated insecurities”
Coty Webb
thirties; Darla’s verbally abusive boyfriend
Lucky Tibbs
thirties, female crew chief
Skeeter Jett
thirties, stock car racer and Lucky’s husband
Pierce Garbarino
thirties; stock car racer
Tucker Forbush
thirties; stock car racer
Flagman
late thirties; works at the racetrack
Jack
late thirties; Halley’s lover, very “GQ”
The Boss
fifties; head of racing’s governing body
Football Player
left tackle for the Lebanon Badgers
Casting Notes:
The following roles are to be played by the same actor:
Flagman/Jack/Football Player/The Boss


Reviews

“…a charming, joyful and moving comedy about racing and romance, dreams and destiny.”
Atlanta Intown.com
“…one of the funniest and most engaging plays I've seen this year.”
Atlanta Theatre Buzz
“…a light and lively romp.”
Jim Cavener, Asheville Citizen-Times

Production History

2006 Winner of Barter Theatre’s Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights

Tradin’ Paint was first produced in 2007 by Barter Theatre (Abingdon, VA), Richard Rose, Producing Artistic Director

Tradin’ Paint was produced in 2009 by Theatre in the Square (Marietta, GA), Palmer Wells, Producing Director

Tradin’ Paint was produced in 2010 Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre (Mars Hill, NC), Bill Gregg, Artistic Director

Script Sample
Request Rights
Purchase Scripts