Tupperware lady to open Invisible Theatre’s 38th season

Join Dixie Longate, Drama Desk award nominee, as she throws a good ol’ fashioned Tupperware party filled with outrageous tales, free giveaways and the most fabulous assortment of Tupperware ever sold on an Arizona stage at Tucson’s Invisible Theatre, Sept. 17 through Oct. 5. See for yourself how Dixie became the No. 1 Tupperware seller in the world!

“Dixie’s Tupperware Party,” by Kris Anderson and directed by Patrick Richwood, kicks off Invisible Theatre’s 38th season. The audience is invited to join Susan Claassen, IT’s artistic director, the crew and IT staff for a post-show party to celebrate the opening of “Dixie’s Tupperware Party” following the opening night performance Sept. 17

Dixie Longate, the fast-talking Tupperware queen, packed up her catalogues, left her children in an Alabama trailer park and took off-Broadway by storm! Loaded with the most up-to-date products available for purchase, she educates her guests on the many alternative uses she has discovered for her plastic products!

Longatehails from Mobile, Ala. She got her start with plastic Tupperware bowls in 2001 when her parole officer mandated that she get a job in order to get her children returned to her custody. Within a year, she was in among the top sellers in the nation because of her unique perspective on those plastic bowls that have been around since 1948. Surviving three husbands, Longate is the sometimes-proud parent of three children: Wynona, Dwayne and Absorbine, Jr.

Her Tupperware party caught the eye of some New York theater producers and in 2007 Dixie appeared in the self titled show, “Dixie’s Tupperware Party” off-Broadway for which she garnered a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Solo Performance. The show is now gearing up for a national tour in theaters far and wide across the fruited plain.

In a telephone interview last week, Longate described her success as a Tupperware salesperson. “I tell people what they do with Tupperware and a lot of things they’ve never thought of before,” Longate says. “It all started when my parole officer gave me a little plastic candy dish. I was so impressed with it. It didn’t look plastic at all. Tupperware can be very tricky.”

rford@gvnews.com

The Details

Dixie’s Tupperware Party

premiere prior to national tour

Sept. 16 through Oct. 5

Invisible Theatre

1400 N. First Avenue, Tucson

Ticket price: $25/$27

Discounts available for groups of 10 or more.

To purchase tickets call (520) 882-9721 to charge by phone; visit the box office at 1400 N. First Ave. at Drachman or visit the theater’s Web site at: www.invisibletheatre.com

Made possible in part through the generous support of Bob and Mary Ann Stubbs.