The ACT 2 Theatre Company's fall show — STONE TOUCHIN' by Donald Fidler — will open October 15 in Clarksburg.

The story takes place in 1955 in a small community of rural Siler County in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. The Korean War ceasefire is a recent event and the effects of that conflict are still visible. A young boy named Howard Lee (played by 11-year-old Loki Agamemnon Hall) has a unique ability. He is able to touch grave stones and hear the deceased speak their stories. As he explains, "...stone touchin' makes me connected." Two of the "dead folk", Lukas Andrews, Jr. (Hunter Riley) and Janie Amos (Misty Wills) appear to us tell their stories. From Howard Lee and others, like Reverend Phil (Steve Goff), who come to visit the cemetery we learn more about the deceased who have been stone touched. Other living Siler county folk include Margie Frump Amos (Cricket Hall), Post Mistress Elizabeth Hanson (Cyndy Simons-Straight), Ray Joe Philips (John Hall), and the gravedigger (Fred Spicer). Through their visits to the cemetery we find that the living and dead are never very far apart.

 

The creation of the cemetery set for this production has been going on for weeks. Local artist, Jason Trader, has extended his creative talents and guidance in the building of the many headstones needed for this production. Technical staff Rex Kelch, Sara Zannino, and Victor Folio have also been diligently pulling together all the staging elements.

 

STONE TOUCHIN' is a new play, produced only once before in Morgantown where the playwright, Dr. Donald Fidler, was on the faculty of West Virginia University. Dr. Fidler (now retired) taught cultural psychiatry for 25 years and now resides in North Carolina. He also has an extensive theatre background having studied acting, writing, music, and directing at the University of NC-Chapel Hill and lighting, dance, and choreography at the Carolina Art School. While he lived in Morgantown he was also the resident playwright for the M.T. Pockets Theatre Company.

 

STONE TOUCHIN' is directed by Lydia Mong and will be performed October 15-18, 22-25, 2015 at the Friedlander's Center, 354 West Main Street, Clarksburg. (Location of Starving Artists Studio).

Show times are Thursday through Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday matinees at 2:00pm. 

Cost is $10 per seat. Groups of 8 may reserve a table at $70. Seating is café style.

Reservations are required for groups reserving tables and are recommended for all others. Patrons are encouraged to make reservations by emailing act2theatre@gmail.com. Patrons without Internet access may leave a message with the ACT 2 Theatre Company's message service at 304-918-0010. Please include name, number of people, date attending, and contact information so the reservation can be confirmed. Payment is at the door.

The ACT 2 Theatre Company is a 501(c)3 not for profit organization whose performances and events are staffed and performed by volunteers from the local community.The ACT 2 Theatre Company's fall show — STONE TOUCHIN' by Donald Fidler — will open October 15 in Clarksburg.

 

The story takes place in 1955 in a small community of rural Siler County in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. The Korean War ceasefire is a recent event and the effects of that conflict are still visible. A young boy named Howard Lee (played by 11-year-old Loki Agamemnon Hall) has a unique ability. He is able to touch grave stones and hear the deceased speak their stories. As he explains, "...stone touchin' makes me connected." Two of the "dead folk", Lukas Andrews, Jr. (Hunter Riley) and Janie Amos (Misty Wills) appear to us tell their stories. From Howard Lee and others, like Reverend Phil (Steve Goff), who come to visit the cemetery we learn more about the deceased who have been stone touched. Other living Siler county folk include Margie Frump Amos (Cricket Hall), Post Mistress Elizabeth Hanson (Cyndy Simons-Straight), Ray Joe Philips (John Hall), and the gravedigger (Fred Spicer). Through their visits to the cemetery we find that the living and dead are never very far apart.

 

The creation of the cemetery set for this production has been going on for weeks. Local artist, Jason Trader, has extended his creative talents and guidance in the building of the many headstones needed for this production. Technical staff Rex Kelch, Sara Zannino, and Victor Folio have also been diligently pulling together all the staging elements.

 

STONE TOUCHIN' is a new play, produced only once before in Morgantown where the playwright, Dr. Donald Fidler, was on the faculty of West Virginia University. Dr. Fidler (now retired) taught cultural psychiatry for 25 years and now resides in North Carolina. He also has an extensive theatre background having studied acting, writing, music, and directing at the University of NC-Chapel Hill and lighting, dance, and choreography at the Carolina Art School. While he lived in Morgantown he was also the resident playwright for the M.T. Pockets Theatre Company.

 

STONE TOUCHIN' is directed by Lydia Mong and will be performed October 15-18, 22-25, 2015 at the Friedlander's Center, 354 West Main Street, Clarksburg. (Location of Starving Artists Studio).

 

Show times are Thursday through Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday matinees at 2:00pm. 

 

Cost is $10 per seat. Groups of 8 may reserve a table at $70. Seating is café style.

 

Reservations are required for groups reserving tables and are recommended for all others. Patrons are encouraged to make reservations by emailing act2theatre@gmail.com. Patrons without Internet access may leave a message with the ACT 2 Theatre Company's message service at 304-918-0010. Please include name, number of people, date attending, and contact information so the reservation can be confirmed. Payment is at the door.

 

The ACT 2 Theatre Company is a 501(c)3 not for profit organization whose performances and events are staffed and performed by volunteers from the local community.