By Lynda Lacayo
The zany exuberance of “Dixie’s Tupperware Party” arrives at the Segerstrom Centers’ Samueli Theater on December 9, 2019 through January 4, 2020. The Off-Broadway show is a celebration of Dixie’s wonderful madness as she throws an onstage Tupperware Party that is full of sass, somewhat crass, has audience participation, prizes, surprises and yes, Tupperware for sale. Order forms are on every seat and audience’s can select the perfect “plastic crap” (in Dixie talk) gifts this holiday season.
Fasten your seatbelts and get ready for a wild ride at “Dixie’s Tupperware Party.” This isn’t your Mother’s Tupperware party, oh no, expect to laugh a lot as Dixie educates audiences, on the many unique uses she’s found for the fantastic plastic.
Dixie Longate is quite a character; she’s so gregariously exultant that folks just have to smile, something I discovered two minutes into a friendly phone chat with the delightful
Dixie. She explained how she got her start selling Tupperware at the recommendation of her parole officer, saying “I’d just gotten out of jail and needed a job to get my kids back which I think is stupid but it’s the law. At first I thought this is silly but then I liked it, it was easy and fun. With 3 ex’s, all dead, selling Tupperware gave me a little independence, while having a good time at all these parties. “
Dixie’s held her first Tupperware Party in Orange County. She says she’s thrilled to be back where it all started. She has so many friends in the OC that being on the Segerstrom Center campus will be like a homecoming party.
Home base is Mobile, Alabama, where her three kids live in a trailer park. She says “it’s a good thing the oldest is sixteen and can watch the little ones, since I’m on the road pitching the plastic wherever the parties are. And with my own show, I’m traveling all over the country and to a bunch of foreign places too.”
She continues, “Dixie’s Tupperware Party’ isn’t all fun and games either, although I admit I’m pretty hilarious, my show has a message about taking it, life not Tupperware, to the next level and empowering yourself.”
Dixie went from homes to stage show, thanks to a director friend who heard her spiel on alternative uses for food containers at a Tupperware party. Dixie says, “we worked together and took it to New York City where ‘Dixie’s Tupperware Party’ just sorta exploded. In 2007, I opened my own show off Broadway and I got a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Solo performance. I’ll be doing my 1000th show at the Segerstrom’s Samueli Theater. We’ll be celebrating with cake and champagne and lots of laughs. I get all tickled just thinking about strutting my stuff on stage because it so nice making folks smile.”
“Home and stage parties are different”, Dixie says, “At home parties I can really get one on one with people. Being on stage, I have a bigger audience to interact with and do we have fun. The stage is just a larger version of home parties – drinking, joking and learning all about the more interesting aspects of Tupperware.”
Dixie is the #1 Tupperware salesperson in America and has a one woman show, yet she doesn’t consider herself an actor, just a gal having a good time. She’s enjoyed plugging the plastic product for 13 years and although she’s written new show “Never Wear a Tank Top While Riding a Mechanical Bull and 16 Other Things I Learned While Drinking,” she continues to sell Tupperware for the fun of it, not to mention the great prizes for top sellers. Dixie biggest payday was at a giant house party where “these real nice folks bought just over $5,200 worth of plastic stuff, maybe because I made them happy or it might have been the free drinks.”
When Dixie started selling Tupperware, she claims not to have known it was for the kitchen, saying “It took me forever to realize this stuff wasn’t supposed to be in the bedroom.” “Other then the everyday uses for Tupperware,” Dixie says “folks at the show, will be amazed when I explain its alternative uses. Yea, it’ll have the jaw pop right off your head.”
Jaw popping or not, “Dixie’s Tupperware Party” is hilarious, politically incorrect, adult only improvisational comedy at its finest. The Alabama mama does more then sell during the show; she pays tribute to girl power with a mini history of Tupperware via her mentor, Brownie Wise. Dixie explains “I figured that Tupperware didn’t just come out of nowhere, it took a gal with gumption to make it a household name. Brownie Wise did real well, becoming a VP of the company and all until the inventor/CEO Earl Tupperware thought she was becoming too big for her britches and kicked her to the curb. Today all Tupperware parties are modeled after hers. She’s such a hero for women that I’ve interwoven her inspiring story into my show.”
“Dixie’s Tupperware Party” is home in Orange County for the holidays. Segerstrom Center patrons can expect uproarious Yuletide cheer, a 1000th Celebration Show (December 26) and an extraordinary New Year Eve with Dixie on stage in the Cabaret-style Samueli Theater through January 4, 2015. Dixie says “I’ll try to make sure that everybody keeps their panties on but I can’t guarantee it. What I’ll do is deliver a side-splitting, fun-filled show that’s a little different each night.”
After an outrageous good time with Dixie, get your kink on and check out “Kinky Boots” playing at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Segerstrom hall from December 30, 2014 to January 11, 2015.
Tickets for all Segerstrom Center shows are available at the Box Office, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, Calif. 92626; Online at SCFTA.org; or by phone at 714-556-2787. Office hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.