Is your Tupperware supply low?

Stock up at "Dixie's Tupperware Party," opening at Invisible Theatre next week.

It's a play, sure. But it's also a Tupperware party.

You'll have a name tag, you'll laugh, and in the end, you can cough up some dough for the burping plastic storage containers.

Selling was the original intent of "Dixie's Tupperware Party," and Dixie has sold so much that she's one of Tupperware's top salespeople.

Which raises the question: How does Tupperware feel about its products being sold by a man in drag who uses the items as falsies, for Jello shots, and who often refers to what she sells as "crap"?

"I thought it would be safer to contact the Tupperware people," said Kris Andersson, the creator of "Dixie's Tupperware Party."

"If we were going to do something with a big corporation, I didn't want to do something that would get either of us in trouble."

On the contrary. The Tupperware bigwigs made the trip to New York to see the play when it played off-Broadway.

They all loved it, Andersson said.

"I think they thought it wouldn't be such a big thing. When it started to get press and a lot of attention, and Dixie started to get a lot of press, we'd check in with them. It blew us away when it went to off-Broadway. And Tupperware gave us about $30,000 worth of free bowls for the show."

We snagged an interview with Dixie Longate, top Tupperware salesperson and the star of "Dixie's Tupperware Party," which the Invisible Theatre opens next week. She spoke to us by phone from her "single-wide trailer" in Los Angeles.

"I got out of prison, and my parole officer got me started. She had a candy dish, and I'd eat the candy out of this purty plastic dish. She told me it was Tupperware. I needed a job in order to get my kids back, and she said, 'Why don't you try to sell Tupperware?' She was able to get rid of some of the restraining orders against me so I could do that. I went to my first party, and talked about the plastic crap. I made money, and I just kept doing it. Aug. 31, 2001, was my very first party.

"I go into people's homes — to me, that's part of the fun. And I get to test new products. I make a lot of money and I have a good time."

Have you a favorite Tupperware piece?

"Oh my Lord, the Jello shots. It's really for cup cakes, but it's perfect for Jello shots. And then there's the can opener — it never gets dirty. And the wine bottle; you can give that to your kids."

"I love Tupperware so much; it totally changed my life. Theater gives me the opportunity to talk about Tupperware. It's so excitin' and wonderful, and the Tupperware corporation has been so great to me. This job has given me so much free crap. Tupperware has provided my car, and I've had three trips from Tupperware, so my passion keeps growing."

"I've been doing this for seven years, and for the first few I thought it was just for the bedroom; I didn't know it was for the kitchen."

How many pieces of Tupperware have you sold?

"That would take me months to figure out. I've earned $219,000 this year. I'm real close to hitting the million-dollar mark. I'll have a kiosk set up at the theater so people can buy it. I don't want to talk about this amazing stuff and then deprive people of havin' it."

"I don't push it on them but I hope they do. If not, I just hope they stay out of prison."

"I don't want the parties to be dull. The main word in Tupperware party is party."

"Dixie's Tupperware Party"

• By: Kris Andersson

• Director: Patrick Richwood.

• When: Preview is 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Opening is 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Regular performances are 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and 3 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 5.

• Where: Invisible Theatre, 1400 N. First Ave.

• Tickets: Preview is $18; regular performances are $25-$27. Tickets purchased one-half hour before the show are half-price. Subject to availability.

• Reservations: 882-9721.

• Running time: 90 minutes with no intermission.