VALDOSTA – A devastating water leak will not keep the show from going on next week at The Dosta Playhouse but it has caused Theatre Guild Valdosta to replace a production scheduled for later in the spring.

Tickets are on sale now for “The Last Night of Ballyhoo,” a World War II comedy set to open next week at the downtown community theatre, said Andrea Thom, who directs the show.

“The auditorium was not affected by the flood, so in the true thespian spirit, Theatre Guild members bring ‘The Last Night of Ballyhoo’ to the Dosta stage,” she said. “We have a working phone and laptop in the office, so we can be on schedule with tickets.”

“Ballyhoo” plays March 30, 31 and April 1, 2, 6, 7, and 8 at the 122 N. Ashley St. theatre.

But the leak and subsequent water damage mean a later production has been replaced.

Theatre Guild Valdosta had scheduled to present “Noises Off” in June. But the farce, with action set on stage and behind the scenes, requires a complex set design.

“The set for ‘Noises Off’ is very detailed,” said Lu Williams, Guild producer. “With construction work regarding the flood scheduled to begin soon, we felt the best thing to do was to postpone ‘Noises Off.'”

Instead, Theatre Guild will present Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple,” directed by Pauline Player. Auditions are scheduled for April 10, 11, at The Dosta, Williams said. “The Odd Couple” cast needs six men and two women.

The show is scheduled to be performed June 1-4, 8-10.

Williams said “Noises Off” will not play next season but may be re-scheduled for the 2018-19 season.

On Sunday morning, Feb. 12, a man noticed water flowing from the The Dosta Playhouse box office onto the street. He alerted Guild members of the leak.

Water had spewed across the office, flooding portions of the box office, green room, hallway, dressing rooms, etc. The workshop and other places were not damaged, Williams said. 

Given the community theatre headquarters is a former movie theatre, water eventually flowed to the lowest point in the building. Water ran down the inclined floors, pooling five inches deep beneath the stage.

Williams said the Guild estimated the water ran for possibly 10-12 hours. The estimates claim about 60,000 gallons poured into the group of 100 block North Ashley Street buildings belonging to the Theatre Guild.

Flooring was extensively damaged but inspections have revealed the infrastructure remains sound, Williams said.

More information: Visit www.theatreguildvaldosta.com.