More to the Story with Staley: The Obvious Dad Theater

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — It’s a relatively new theater group here in Chattanooga. It’s called the “Obvious Dad” theater company. And their first play of the summer season is up and running.

The Obvious Dad theater company is essentially, in the world of stage plays, “summer stock.”

This is only the group’s third year of existence, with two plays a year in the summer months.

Grace Holtz is the company’s artistic producer and a co-founder of the group.

“We focus on bold theater. We look for plays that Chattanooga hasn’t really experienced,” Holtz said. “We want to bring plays from Chicago and New York. There’s a little group here that wants to provide experimental theater.”

Right now, the group is presenting its first play of the season, on the campus of UTC. It’s called Sagittarius Ponderosa. It is a five person play.

It’s a drama and comedy. Dealing with the life changes of one family.

35-year-old Calaghan Rudd is the lead actor. It’s his first time on stage with Obvious Dad.

“There are changes that this family goes through. And it all happens within a few days. The play puts that on for you. And you see all of the emotions,” Rudd said.

After auditions, the group spent five weeks practicing for this play. And Grace Holtz says after the first weekend of shows, the reaction from the public was very good.

“I would say their main reaction is one of surprise and excitement that we’re here. I think they are pleased that we thought so well of them that we would give them different types of stories,” Holtz added.

The play runs again this weekend: Friday, Saturday and Sunday. And next weekend as well.

It’s $15 to get in. It is located at the Fine Arts Building, on the campus of UTC.