“Four Old Broads” brings together sass, chaos, and a dash of mischief. Picture four sharp-tongued seniors plotting their escape from an assisted living facility, dodging the villainous Nurse Pat at every turn. If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if The Golden Girls collided with a comic detective story, here’s your answer. Toss in a questionable pill, a nationwide drug ring, a senior beauty pageant, and a retired Elvis impersonator who falls for virtually every lady he meets, and you get the basic idea.
Leslie Kimbell’s script is a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud farce packed with wild twists. Published in 2018, it follows Beatrice Shelton, a retired burlesque queen, craving adventure (and secretly yearning for a trip to the Caribbean, not dreary Helen, Georgia). Her friends at Magnolia Place Assisted Living get swept up in schemes to take down the conniving Nurse Pat. Imogene sneaks around undercover, Maude fights for glory in the Miss Magnolia Senior Citizen Pageant, and the mystery of the “dark side” continues to cast its shadow over the whole retirement home.
If you’ve followed their story, you know Venice Theatre took a hard hit from Hurricane Ian. The damage was tremendous, but so was their determination to come back. They’ve pushed through, repairing, rebuilding, and keeping quality theatrical and educational opportunities available for the community.
The big news? Venice Theatre will reopen its mainstage, the Jervey Theatre, on February 19, 2027, with a production of “Kinky Boots.” Their $25 million restoration campaign has already topped 80% of its goal. Crews have rebuilt the fly tower, replaced the roof, and hauled in new steel beams.
While the mainstage is under construction, you’ll find live performances in other venues on campus:
Pinkerton Theatre—shows like “Harriet the Spy” and “Lizzie”
Raymond Center—productions like “Four Old Broads” and “Freaky Friday”
The Raymond Center sits at the north end of the rear parking lot, just follow the signs. There’s parking right out front and under the bridge.
Tickets:
Adults/Seniors: $40
College Students and Current Educators: $30
Youth (child through high school): $19
“Four Old Broads”
By Leslie Kimbell
September 18—October 11
Showtimes: Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m. The system assigns seating at the time of purchase.
Getting to the theatre:
Raymond Center
140 Tampa Ave W.
Venice, FL 34285
Click here for more information.
