When David Felty, executive producer, considered bringing the Sight and Sound Theatres original production of "Ruth" to the Lancaster Bible College (LBC) stage, he felt the show, based on one of only two books of the Bible dedicated to the story of a woman, should have a female perspective. With that in mind, he brought in Heather Grayberg to direct and choreograph, along with an all-female creative team that includes Leslie Talley and Gabrielle Hines as assistant directors, Kendra Bigley as music director, Katie Moser as set designer, and women overseeing costumes and props.
"Ruth" will be staged on Fridays, Jan. 24 and 31, at 7 p.m.; on Saturdays, Jan. 25 and Feb. 1, at 2 and 7 p.m.; and on Sundays, Jan. 26 and Feb. 2, at 2 p.m. All shows will be held in the Good Shepherd Chapel at LBC, 901 Eden Road, Lancaster.
Kristin Hurdleston and Delaney Bigley are double cast in the titular role, and Ruth's mother-in-law, Naomi, is played by Samantha Ingram. The pair find themselves poor widows when Naomi's husband, Elimelech, played by Richard Thomas, dies and her sons are killed. With only faith in God and each other, Naomi and Ruth set off on a journey that leads to a lesson about finding God's plans when one's own have failed. But "Ruth" is also a love story about the kinsman Boaz, played by Bryson Buffington, who rescues the women from their plight when he falls in love with the title character. Brianna Brady will serve as the narrator, an otherworldly being who will at one point interact with the characters.
While Grayberg is excited about the production, being the first to stage the show outside Sight and Sound comes with challenges. "It feels like we are workshopping a brand-new show," she said, noting that the stage at the Good Shepherd Chapel is somewhat smaller than the one at Sight and Sound. "We have to make the show attainable, so the text and staging can be tricky as far as conveying the story, but I think it will feel more intimate," said Grayberg.
"Theater is a vehicle for us to feel emotions and learn things and discover things within ourselves," noted Grayberg. To be sure "Ruth" fills these roles for the audience, Grayberg is focusing on the heart of the tale. "This bond between these two women is beautiful," she said. "We are stripping the story down and bringing out the human aspect," she said. "Ruth was used by God to facilitate (His plan)."
From a musical perspective, Grayberg noted there will be significant changes. "This is the first time a Sight and Sound show will be done with a live orchestra," she said, noting that LBC's Dr. Bruce Gerlach listened to a recording of the show and wrote the score for a 26-piece orchestra. Songs that Grayberg believes will stand out include "I Will Go Where You Go," and "By My Side," which are sung by Ruth and Naomi together. She also pointed to a solo by Boaz called "Taking Your Chances."
As a choreographer, Grayberg said that there will be several songs that will include ensemble celebratory dances. "There's a (number where) they enter the Temple of Chemosh, a god of the Moabites, with live percussion and extravagant dancing," she said.
As she deals with the challenges of bringing a big show to a smaller stage, Grayberg wants audiences to focus on the message of the show. "I hope audiences see this as a story of redemption and faithfulness and see that God works things out for good," she said.
Grayberg also lauded the cast members, noting that the students feel honored and thankful to play the roles. "I hope (audience members) see the truthfulness of the actors," she said.
Tickets to the show may be purchased at http://www.lbc.edu/events. Readers who have questions may call 717-560-8241.
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