Five Women Wearing the Same Dress, Season 64, 2026

“5 Women Wearing the Same Dress” by Alan Ball

Directed by Rick Gooding

During an ostentatious wedding reception at a Knoxville, Tennessee, estate, five reluctant, identically clad bridesmaids hide out in an upstairs bedroom.  Each with her own reason to avoid the proceedings below. 

There is Frances, a painfully sweet but sheltered fundamentalist; Mindy, the cheerful, wise-cracking lesbian sister of the groom; Georgeanne, whose heartbreak over her own failed marriage triggers outrageous behavior; Meredith, the bride’s younger sister, whose precocious rebelliousness masks a dark secret; and Trisha, a jaded beauty whose die-hard cynicism about men is called into question when she meets Tripp, a charming bad-boy usher to whom there is more than meets the eye. 

As the afternoon wears on, these five very different women joyously discover a common bond in the wickedly funny, irreverent, and touching celebration of the women’s spirit.

Director – Rick Gooding

Cast

Frances – T J Lada

Meredith – Gray Carlton

Trisha – Lisa Naig

George Anne – Cortney Zajic

Mindy – Morgan Barbara

Tripp – Scott Lindorg

 

Scott Lindborg is a longtime veteran of MCT and is the only one not wearing a dress in this play. In the past he has been in “God of Carnage,” “Escanaba in Da Moonlight,” “When I Pretended to be Straight in High School,” and has directed “Evil Dead the Musical.” When he is not on stage, he is busy being on the vestry of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and is unofficially the Queen of Milk and other Dairy Products!

 

TJ Lada is making her first debut with MCT! She has previously starred in “They Promised Her the Moon,” “Greater Tuna,” “A Christmas Carol,” and “Footloose” at Indian Hills Community College. She works at Second Chance Thrift Stores and loves to play Dungeons and Dragons with her friends.

 

Cortney Zajic is making her debut with MCT as well as Georgeanne! She comes to us from Conrad and had participated in various parts from elementary all the way to high school. Once she got to Jesup High School she did drama club for 3 years. She works as an HR Generalist for Mechadyne Corporation. She enjoys spending time with her husband and her 3 dogs. She is an avid reader and enjoys crocheting, board games, video games and going on new adventures.

 

Lisa Naig is a veteran of MCT. In addition to acting with MCT, Lisa serves on its Board as the liaison for hair/makeup and is a past President. Her acting credits include “Bye Bye Birdie,” “Grease,” “Jack the Ripper,” “Play On,” “As Bees in Honey Drown,” and “Savannah Sipping Society.” She has also directed several shows, including “The Diary of Anne Frank,” “The Drowning Girls,” “Terms of Endearment,” “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” “Variable Ex,” and “Gala Idol.” Lisa is a proud pet parent to Esther Lucille (dog) and Izzibel Michelle (cat). She enjoys spending time with family and friends, travelling, and cheering for the Iowa State Cyclones. Go State!!

 

Morgan Barbare, this is Morgan’s fourth appearance on the MCT stage, having previously performed in “County Line Road,” “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” and “The Drowning Girls.” Her stage credits also include appearances with the Oskaloosa Community Theatre and William Penn University. Morgan is a swim instructor at the YMCA and her hobbies include Dungeons and Dragons, video games, diamond art, and swimming.

 

 Gray Carlton has graced the MCT stage in several productions and is back for one more! She has previously been in “The Mousetrap,” “God of Carnage,” “Space Princess Wars,” “Annie,” and “The Wizard of Oz.” When not on the stage, Gray plays guitar and piano. She likes to crochet, Legos, and write.