Two Mark Scharf Plays Get Readings at Audrey Herman Spotlighters Theater

On Thursday, November 16 at 7:30pm, visit the Audrey Herman Spotlighters Theater for readings of two one-act plays by Guild member Mark Scharf: Queen of the Air: The Last Transmissions of Amelia Earhart, and Nanticoke Acres.

On the last leg of her round-the-world flight, Amelia Earhart vanished from the skies on July 2, 1937, and was never heard from again. Or was she? A few hours later, radio transmissions purportedly from Amelia were heard all over the world. Listeners included an American teenage girl in St. Petersburg, Florida, listening to her family's radio, tuned to "short wave" frequencies. Over the next two days, the teenager kept a notebook next to her radio and transcribed everything she heard and when she heard it, until the transmissions stopped on July 4. Queen of the Air: The last Transmissions of Amelia Earhart follows Amelia as she struggles to survive, and the fragile connection between herself and a young girl thousands of miles away.

Nanticoke Acres explores family connections, expectations, and the things that last that are worth holding onto. Val has been content living alone in the rambling, old family house on a large riverside property where she raised her now adult children. But, now, part of the roof has given way, forcing her to finally face selling and moving into a retirement community, as urged by her younger son against the wishes of her oldest son, who still clings to the house and land as home. Although each son wants to help her, their solutions are intertwined with solving their own problems.

The event is free and open to Dramatists Guild members and non-members. Free street parking is available in the surrounding neighborhood; please plan to arrive early in order to ensure that you'll find parking. A talk-back with the playwright will follow the readings.