About the Play:

Bless Me, Father is a full-length comedy by Craig Alpaugh. The action takes place at Holy Family Rectory where Fathers Richard and Charles preside over the merriment. The fun centers around Father Charles' mistaken belief that Father Richard is going to leave the priesthood to get married.

Bless Me, Father is a comedic farce in which Susan and Ira are newly engaged and are preparing for their marriage. Father Richard and his sister, Susan, are planning for the wedding when Father Charles eavesdrops on the conversation. He mistakenly assumes Father Richard is forsaking his vows and leaving the priesthood, and calls upon the Bishop for assistance. Little does he know that Susan wants Father Richard to marry her – that is, to preside over the marriage ceremony to her fiancé, Ira. Now, Father Charles is left to deal with a nun who takes life too seriously, a grumpy Bishop with hemorrhoids, and a gossiping housekeeper with an attitude.

Bless Me, Father was first presented in 1973 at the Park Theatre in Tucson, Arizona, by the University of Arizona while the author was a graduate student. The play enjoyed successful productions by several regional theatres, and has become a popular choice for high school and community theatre productions.

Cast: 4 women, 7 men

What people say:

"It was a huge success! Lots of action and lots of laughs." — Linda J. Owen, Southport High School, Indianapolis, Indiana

About the Playwright:

Craig Alpaugh (1945-2000) was an award-winning American director, playwright, and actor. With a Bachelor of Theatre Arts from Emporia State University and a Master of playwriting from University of Arizona, his theater career spanned more than 25 years. From 1964 to 1967, he was a U.S. Marine and served in Vietnam. He was managing director of the Gorilla Theatre in Tampa, Florida, having moved from Los Angeles, where he was a long-time member of the Group Repertory Theatre and First Stage.