Franklin Performing Arts Company Tackles WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF

September 21-23, the Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) will present Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at THE BLACK BOX. The classic play examines the complexities of the marriage of a middle-aged couple, Martha and George. Late one evening, after a university faculty party, they receive an unwitting younger couple, Nick and Honey, as guests, and draw them into their bitter and frustrated relationship.

FPAC's production stars Hallie Wetzell and Nick Paone of Franklin as Martha and George. Wetzell holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theater from Occidental College and Master of Music degrees in Vocal Performance and Vocal Pedagogy from New England Conservatory of Music. She serves as Vocal Director for the Franklin School for the Performing Arts and has appeared in many FPAC productions. A former Equity actor, Paone has been on the drama faculty at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts and an actor and director at FPAC since 2001. Amanda Dubois of Woonsocket, Rhode Island will play Honey. Dubois joined the Drama and Dance Faculty at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts in 2016.

Returning to Franklin for "Virginia Woolf" is New York City-based Equity actor Craig Hanson in the role of Nick. Hanson has been featured in two productions with "Blue Man Group" and has worked extensively with Alabama Shakespeare Festival as well as with many NYC and prominent regional theatre companies. Hanson got his start in the theatre as a student at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts and was seen on the FPAC stage in productions of Les Moose (Bullwinkle) and The Wizard of Oz In Concert (Scarecrow).

Hanson marks FPAC's second Equity contract (soon to be followed by two more in Disney's Newsies). FPAC artistic director Raye Lynn Mercer comments, "Last season we began to work with Actors' Equity special appearance contracts that allow our company to bring in professionals to appear in our productions. It is particularly exciting to bring back alumni who were trained at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts and have a history with FPAC."

Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? runs September 21-23 at THE BLACK BOX in Franklin. Tickets are $26 and are available at www.theblackboxonline.com or by calling 508-528-3370. You can follow FPAC and THE BLACK BOX on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.