Contemporary voices and diverse stories will take the spotlight in a series of staged readings to be held at Susquehanna Stage. "The Undercurrent" will feature four readings and will kick off at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 29, with "Tigers Be Still."
"We wanted to find a way to highlight some of these more contemporary pieces of theater, titles you don't necessarily see in other theaters' mainstage shows," explained Asher Johnson, who is the producer of the series and the director of "Tigers Be Still." "We wanted to create an atmosphere not only for theater lovers, but also for educators and people in the community to see stories on stage that reflect the people in our community."
"Tigers Be Still" features a cast of four and focuses on a young woman, Sherry, who is finding her footing in a new job while moving back into her childhood home with her mother and sister.
"It's a great show," said Liz Checchia, who plays the sister, Grace. "There are beautiful moments within this very comedic show. ... It's very well written, and there are jokes and lots of laughs, but then out of nowhere, these beautiful, dramatic moments happen."
Bob Checchia, who plays Joe, Sherry's boss, said the show highlights some unusual characters. "The timing and rhythm of this show keeps it flowing with short scenes and dialogue that is quick and fast," he noted. "There is a quirkiness to the characters."
And, Johnson added, "While everything is happening with the characters in the show, there is a tiger on the loose during all of this."
He said although the show is a staged reading, audiences should expect a fully formed performance. "The only difference is the actors are going to be holding their scripts in their hands," he explained. "I didn't require them to memorize their lines, but there will be lighting cues, sound cues, costumes, blocking, all the things you'd expect to see on stage."
Each performance in "The Undercurrent" will also include a partnership with local organizations or theater companies that reflect the values of each play. "Tigers Be Still" focuses on mental health, and the show will feature a question-and-answer session afterward with members of WellSpan Philhaven. Although the performance is free, donations will be accepted for the organization as well.
Additional plays in the staged-reading series are "Pipeline" on Saturday, July 10; "Native Gardens" on Saturday, Aug. 21; and "Blackbird" on Saturday, Nov. 6. Shows will be performed on the theater's Gallery Stage. Susquehanna Stage is located at 133 W. Market St., Marietta. For more information, visit http://www.susquehannastage.com.
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