A well-known Canadian author-comedian will headline at the Turnage Theater next month on Summer Festival weekend.

Carla Collins will appear with former Washingtonian Rush Derr IV.
Derr and Collins are set to present “Venus Envy,” a show based on Collins’ comedy.

Derr, a retired female impersonator who achieved national fame during his 20-year career, will open the show with an act specially tailored for the venue and Collins.

The show runs at 8 p.m. June 10 and June 11 at the Turnage, located at 150 W. Main St., Washington.

Tickets are $30 each for downstairs seating and $40 apiece for “premium seating” in the balcony.

For ticket information, call the Turnage box office at 252-975-1191.

This event coincides with the Washington Summer Festival, which takes place on the same Friday and Saturday along the Pamlico River and Stewart Parkway.

Born in Richmond, Va., Derr moved to Washington with his family in 1969 or 1970, when he was 4 or 5 years old.

With the exception of his father, his entire family still resides in the Washington area.

“I still feel very connected to my hometown,” said Derr. “I always will.”

Derr, a dual citizen of Canada and the United States, now lives in Toronto, but frequently voices love for his adopted hometown in Beaufort County.

“I think the Pamlico River’s in my blood,” he said.

Derr said that while growing up his only thought was to leave Washington, which he did in his youth.
“As I grew older, I grew to appreciate what I had growing up there,” he added. “It was a good town to grow up in.”

Asked to whom Collins could be compared in the arena of American comedy, Derr pointed to actress-writer-comedian Tina Fey.

“Venus Envy’s a great show,” he said. “It’s basically observation comedy. It’s (Collins’) observations of the world, men, life and all that.”

Turnage staff cautions this production is appropriate for the 18-and-older crowd.

Scotty Henley, executive director of the Turnage Theaters Foundation, said Collins has a book she’s promoting, and that she’ll preside over a book-signing on the weekend of the show at I Can’t Believe It’s a Book Store on Main Street.

Before the show, donations will be accepted for the Turnage, Henley said, also pointing out Collins is performing at a reduced rate and Derr is offering his services for free.

Faced with financial constraints, the Turnage is in the midst of a fundraising campaign.

Collins’ comedy focuses on “everyday particulars that people may discuss at home and with family members that they may be more comfortable with,” Henley explained.

Collins’ website describes her as “an award-winning comedian, actress, television host and writer” who has been involved in TV, radio and movies.

The upcoming happening has been promoted heavily on Facebook and could draw visitors from out of town, Henley said.

“I see it as an excellent experiment in the social networking aspect of advertising and to see if it really does pull people in for us,” he said.