Hallelujah Girls cast members in front from left are: Leigh Anne Whittle; Sidney Covington; Ducky McCormick; and Millie Yancey. In back are: Marianne Todd; Frank Coleman; Donna P. Coleman.

    The cast of the southern comedy hit “The Hallelujah Girls” has been announced at Meridian Little Theatre.

    Play authors Jessie Jones, Nicolas Hope and James Wooten are also the successful team that wrote “The Dixie Swim Club,” a huge hit at MLT last season. Director Jimmy Pigford stated that while the characters and plot in both plays are similar, they are definitely not the same.

    Hilarity abounds when the feisty females of Eden Falls, Ga., decide to shake up their lives. The action in this Southern comedy takes place in SPA-DEE-DAH, the abandoned church-turned-day-spa where this group of friends gathers every Friday afternoon. After the loss of a dear friend, the women realize time is precious and if they are going to change their lives and achieve their dreams they have to get on it now.

    Sidney Covington, a well known local actress, received the role of Sugar Lee, a dramatic southern belle who buys an old abandoned church and turns it into a day-spa.

    Lee Ann Whittle from Newton will play the good-looking Carlene, who is in a dilemma to accept her boyfriend’s proposal of marriage.

    Donna P. Coleman, another MLT veteran previously appearing in “Steel Magnolias,” received the fun role of Nita who is trying to raise her delinquent son.

    Ducky McCormick will return to the MLT stage as Mavis, the oldest and bossiest of the five ladies running the Spa.

    Millie Robinson Yancey, well known on the MLT stage, plays Crystal, a daffy blonde who makes up jingles on all occasions.

    Judge Frank Coleman, a long time favorite of MLT audiences, will portray Bobby DeWayne, a contractor who all the ladies have their eyes on.

    Marianne Todd, a newcomer to the MLT stage, received the role of Bunny, a pushy, overbearing woman who attempts to take the spa away from the group.

    Another MLT newcomer is Allen Morgan who will play the comic, Porter Padgeth. A resident of Newton, he has a theater major from UAB.

    Director Pigford’s production staff include Scott Merrill, producer; Zena Limerick, stage manager; Jennifer Jones, production assistant; Carol Sue Wiggins and Wendy Redoblado, properties; and Kim Culpepper, lighting director.

    “The Hallelujah Girls” will be presented at the Meridian Little Theatre Feb. 24-March 2, (theatre closed on Monday, Feb. 28).

    For ticket information, phone (601) 482-6371, office hours weekdays 9 a.m. til 4 p.m., or visit the website: meridianlittletheatre.com.