WALKING ACROSS EGYPT to Play at Cumberland County Playhouse

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Patty Payne stars as Mattie Rigsbee in the Southern comedy adapted from Clyde Edgerton's novel

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Beginning May 22, the Cumberland County Playhouse will present the heartwarming Southern comedy Walking Across Egypt, adapted by Catherine Bush from the beloved novel by Clyde Edgerton.

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Set in a small North Carolina town in the 1980s, the story follows spunky Mattie Rigsbee, who discovers a stray dog on her back porch. Believing she's too old to care for a pet, she calls the dogcatcher—unaware that this simple decision will open her eyes to a world she's never known. That world includes car theft, prison breaks, and a troubled teenager named Wesley, who is as desperate for a family as Mattie is.

Armed with her mouthwatering cornbread and a deep, abiding faith, Mattie is determined to guide Wesley toward God—and good Southern manners—if she can manage to stay out of jail herself.

This charming, heartfelt production stars Patty Payne (The Trip to Bountiful) as Mattie Rigsbee. Evan Lisic and Zachary Simpson (The Lion King Jr.) share the role of Wesley Benfield. The cast also features Playhouse favorites Daniel Black (Curtains) and Lauren Marshall (Steel Magnolias) as Mattie's neighbors, Finner and Alora Swanson; Jason Ross (Deathtrap) as her son, Robert; and Caleb Sager (Deathtrap) as dogcatcher Lamar Benfield. Michael Ruff (The Miss Firecracker Contest) and Jeremiah Ordway (The Wizard of Oz) appear as Reverend Bass and Sheriff Tillman.

Walking Across Egypt is directed by Playhouse Education Director Weslie Webster (The Foreigner) and runs in the Adventure Theater through July 26. The production is rated PG.

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_Originally reported by [BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/nashville/article/WALKING-ACROSS-EGYPT-Will-Come-to-the-Cumberland-County-Playhouse-20260508)._