A ‘Copper Moon’ rises to close Kechi Playhouse’s season

When plans for a new film-noir comedy to close Kechi Playhouse’s season fell through, theater artistic director/founder Misty Maynard came to her own rescue.

In its place, Maynard is bringing back her own “Copper Moon,” which debuted in 2014 and has been staged once since then.

“We just ran into trouble and ran out of time,” Maynard said. “The cast had already been picked, and we needed something that worked.”

Someone suggested “Copper Moon,” her comedy about an art forgery.

“That show was rather cute, Misty, you’d better think about it,” Maynard was told. “I guess I didn’t think about it because it was mine.”

Maynard was convinced it was the right decision when she realized “Copper Moon” had six cast members, the same as the show that was supposed to be staged.

“It just amazed me how it dovetailed so beautifully. It was like fate or something,” she said. “I hate it when people say that, but it’s true this time.”

“Copper Moon” is about struggling art gallery owner Lea, who signs a lucrative contract with a reclusive artist only to discover critics find the new pieces subpar.

With 10 plays to her credit, Maynard said “Copper Moon” does a few things her other works didn’t: It’s set in the present rather than the early 20th century, and its main character breaks the “fourth wall” to talk to the audience.

“It’s kind of fun. I hadn’t done that before,” she said. “You see people falling in the same rut writing about the same thing, because that’s what’s important to them. I didn’t want to get caught thinking, ‘This has been written twice before.’”

The film noir play, written by Maynard’s sister, Storme, is still being planned and will be part of the 2026 summer season, she said.

‘COPPER MOON’

When: Oct. 3-26; 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sundays

Where: Kechi Playhouse, 100 E. Kechi Road

Tickets: $17 Fridays-Saturdays, $16 Sundays, from 316-744-2152