Local Playwright to Premiere Show About Tenacity and Heart in Godfrey

GODFREY - A local playwright is ready to share her latest work with the community.

“A Lil Sugar Will Do,” written by Leah Becoat and produced by 3 Purple Coats Productions, will premiere at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21, and 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, at Hatheway Hall on the Lewis and Clark Community College campus in Godfrey. Becoat, an Alton native, expressed her excitement to produce the play, complete with original music, “magical storytelling,” and a cast of talented local actors.

“You just never know which story touches a person’s heart,” Becoat said. “There are so many different characters in this story, and I think people will get a glimpse of their own lives and be touched in many ways.”

Tickets cost $20 in advance or $25 at the door. You can purchase tickets at Today’s Beauty Supply in Alton or by contacting Becoat at 618-972-2275.

The show follows a millennial named Honey living in New Orleans, who relies on her mother — played by local principal Latasha LeFlore-Porter — and her best friend to navigate bad news. Along the way, she meets a charming street performer who piques her curiosity.

Besides LeFlore-Porter, the show stars a multigenerational cast with local talents like Angelica Jelli Jones, Courteney Brody Wilson, Toni Booth, Dr. Tracy W. Cooley, Otis Redditt Jr., Jaida Moore, Garland Moore, Velva Parker, Rev. Darrell McCrady, Robbi Rhodes, Kaliyah Newby and Aviance Redditt.

Becoat is handling set design, costume design, and more. She thanked musicians Dwayne VanZandt and Dre’ McCrady for their work to provide the show’s music, which she helped write and arrange. There will be a short show following the Feb. 22 performance featuring the musicians.

Becoat started 3 Purple Coats Productions over 13 years ago. She regularly writes and produces shows for the Alton-Godfrey community.

Cast members previewed the first act of “A Lil Sugar Will Do” a few months ago so Becoat could workshop it further. The audience “loved the entire show” and eagerly asked when the second act would be available. She is excited to share the first two acts with community members on Feb. 21 and 22, with plans to produce acts three and four in 2027.

Becoat added that this show has taken on a special importance for her. Her father, who always championed her work, passed away in November 2025. This will be her first show without him in the audience.

Her father introduced her to music as a child, filling their house with everything from Bach to Bob Dylan. He encouraged her to continue writing and producing her shows. Becoat thanked the cast, who have shown up for her during this difficult time, and said that the show will pay homage to her dad.

“I really needed, on a personal level, something sweet in my own life. We can go through things that, if we’re not careful, they’ll make us bitter,” she said. “My dad always said, you have to be a hometown hero first. I don’t think that I’ve ever been a hero, but I can honestly say that I have not given up. So if one of the character traits of a hero is tenacity, then, yeah, I’m a hometown hero.”

Becoat is proud of her ability to keep going, a spirit that she inherited from her father and has passed on to her cast. As they gear up for the show’s premiere on Feb. 21 and 22, 2026, everyone involved in “A Lil Sugar Will Do” and 3 Purple Coats Productions can’t wait to share the story and the spirit with the community.

For more information, including how to buy tickets, visit the official 3 Purple Coats Productions Facebook page or contact Becoat directly at 618-972-2275.

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