Baltimore Playwrights Festival Presents IN THE SHADOW OF LUSHAN 6/25-7/18

In The Shadow of Lushan recounts the struggle of Josephine Bannaker, the owner of Bannaker's Metal Fabricating. Bannaker's is struggling to survive, as foreign competition eats away at profits and jobs. On the day the play begins, Bannaker's largest customer announces that all of Bannaker's work is going up for auction, and that a business in China is poised to win the work. This same day, Mateo arrives from Mexico, ready to claim a place at Bannaker's for himself---but whose place does he intend to take and are his documents in order? The very heart of JoJo and her employees is laid open when their jobs, future and dreams are threatened.

In 1991, The Baltimore Business Journal ran a feature article on Kathleen Barber, citing her unusual position (at the time) in a male dominated field. Seventeen years later, she has used her knowledge of metal manufacturing as a backdrop to her play, In The Shadow of Lushan. As part of the 29th season of the Baltimore Playwright's Festival, Fells Point Corner Theatre is proud to present Ms. Barber's insightful play. In The Shadow of Lushan deals with the issues facing all American business owners and employees, especially those in manufacturing. At stake is not only our means of earning a decent living, but the very nature of who we are as a country.

Ms. Barber is a local playwright, whose plays have been produced in the Baltimore metropolitan region at various theatres, including Fells Point Corner Theater, The Audrey Herman Spotlighters Theater, The Vagabond Players, The Chesapeake Center for the Arts, Uncommon Voices, The Women's Project, Run of the Mill Theater and Mobtown Players.

In The Shadow of Lushan is directed by Josh Bristol, a graduate of St. Mary's College of Maryland in the Theatre, Film and Media program, where his focus was in directing. In the Baltimore area, he has also directed The Lacy Project at the Strand Theatre and The Violet Hour at Colonial players in Annapolis. He feels that this play represents true community theater, as its themes are both timely and socially relevant to the community.

Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. ($17) and Sundays at 7 p.m. ($15)

With two "cheap seat" Thursday performances on July 1st and July 15th. ($10)
Parking - There is a parking lot on Pratt Street, one block north of the theatre, between Broadway and Ann Street. The cost is $10. Street parking is also available.