Fulton Arts Scene to debut “The Jesus Hickey”

FULTON — A young Irish woman’s unusual encounter with the divine sets off a series of miraculous—and hilarious—shenanigans in “The Jesus Hickey”, the quirky comedy by Luke Yankee making its Community Theater debut this November at The Arts Scene at CNY Community Arts Center in Fulton.

Under the direction of William Edward White, the production will feature Shy Sims as Agnes Flynn, Adele Cronk as Grandmaire Flynn, Garrett Robinson as Sean Flynn, Brian Doolittle, Jr. as Seamus O’Malley, Christopher Best as Father Boyle, Michael Bolio as Paddy Martin, and Gandalf as Michael.

The Jesus Hickey will run November 19–22 at CNY Community Arts Center, located at 121 Cayuga Street in Fulton, New York. Tickets are $18 for adults and $13 for seniors, and may be purchased online at https://cnyartscenter.com/tickets. For reservations or additional information, contact the box office at 315-598-2787 (ARTS).

Set in Sligo, Ireland, not too long ago, The Jesus Hickey is a modern fable about Agnes Flynn, a young woman from a poor family who longs to be special. Raised by her outspoken, deliciously coarse grandmother, Grandmaire, and her scrappy dockworker father, Sean, Agnes finds herself at the center of an extraordinary phenomenon after a romantic encounter with Seamus, the local bad boy. She returns home with a hickey in the shape of Jesus—and soon discovers that she possesses mystical healing powers.

As Agnes’s newfound abilities bring fame and fortune to her family and their rundown seaport town, the comedy explores faith, fame, and the unpredictable consequences of an unexpected miracle.

While the play has had professional productions and staged readings, including one this past April in New York City, the Art Scene’s production will mark the show’s Community Theater’s world debut.

According to Yankee, who met recently online with White and his cast, the Genesis of the show came from a family “scandal” many years ago when a niece came home from a first date with a mark on her neck. That combined with the tabloid accounts of “miraculous” occurrences such as the face of the Virgin Mary in a cheese sandwich set his creative thoughts in a hilarious direction.

“I literally wrote the first draft in one night,” Yankee recalled.

White who previously directed two other works by Yankee – “The Man Who Killed the Cure” and “The Last Lifeboat”, brings his experience with the playwright’s work to this latest production.

“This is the end of an interesting trilogy I’ve had with Luke’s (Yankee) work. And by far the funniest. A hysterical, healing balm just when we all need it the most,” White said.

The Jesus Hickey is presented through special arrangement with Yankee Hill Productions.