A playwright with local ties is seeing one of his works take center stage in Mississippi’s capital.
New Stage Theatre in Jackson is currently presenting the world premiere of The Attala County Garden Club, written by Kosciusko native Topher Payne. The production runs April 7 through April 19.
The dark Southern comedy blends humor with supernatural elements and has been described as “Practical Magic meets Steel Magnolias.” The story is set in Mississippi in 1987 and follows recently divorced Rose Chipley, who returns to her hometown to collect an inheritance—her Aunt Polly’s mysterious Queen Anne mansion. After joining a group known as The Attala County Garden Club, Rose begins experiencing strange memory lapses, unusual visitors, and mysterious radio broadcasts, leading her to uncover secrets tied to her past and the club’s hidden agenda.
Payne, who was born and raised in Kosciusko, has built a national reputation as a playwright and screenwriter. He began his theatre career as a teenager working behind the scenes at New Stage Theatre before eventually writing his own productions. Over the years, his plays have been performed across the country, including Off-Broadway productions, and he has also written several films for the Hallmark Channel.
The Attala County Garden Club is particularly meaningful for local audiences, as the play draws inspiration from Mississippi culture and small-town Southern life. The work is also notable as one of Payne’s earlier plays that has been reimagined and rewritten two decades later for its premiere run.
Performances of The Attala County Garden Club continue through April 19 at New Stage Theatre, located at 1100 Carlisle Street in Jackson. Evening performances are scheduled at 7:00 p.m. on select dates, with Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m.
