THE LILIES OF THE FIELD Tugs At Houston's Heartstrings

A.D. Players, one of Houston's oldest and largest resident theatre companies, is now A.D. Players at The George. The theatre company is pleased to announce its upcoming spring show, "The Lilies of the Field," taking place April 20-May 13, with preview performances April 18-19 at the Jeannette and L.M. George Theater. The critically acclaimed story earned Sidney Poitier the accolade of being the first African-American to win the Academy Award for Best Actor, for his role in the 1963 movie adaptation.

"The Lilies of the Field" tells the story of Homer Smith, a traveling Army veteran and handyman, who finds work when he is asked to perform a series of small jobs by a small band of East German immigrant nuns. Upon witnessing Smith's skills and dedication to craftsmanship, the nuns are convinced he is sent by God, and persuade him to build a chapel for the local, impoverished Latino community. In becoming the answer to their prayers, he ends up getting more than he bargained for - a faith-rich community and a restored sense of purpose - leaving audiences with a renewed faith in the human spirit. Based on the 1962 novel by William E. Barrett, the story became widely popular after the feature film was released in 1963.

A.D. Players' production crew is in the process of building a fully operational Ford Woodie they have named "Lily." The car will be driven onto the stage several times during the show. The crew is documenting the building process leading up to the show on a dedicated Facebook page for fans to follow along. The process of bringing a show to life is one of the most fun and challenging parts of the process. There are many moments of live music during the show, and so the production team is also restoring a 1950's Gibson L48 arch top acoustic guitar. Both of these elements will help give an authentic feel to the setting of the play.

The Lilies of the Field showcases the talent of many long-time resident company members such as Patty Tuel Bailey and Ric Hodgin, and the company is honored to have some of Houston's top talent such as Luis Galindo as Father Gomez, Pamela Vogel as Mother Maria Marte, and Kendrick Brown as Homer Smith, appear on The George Theater stage for the first time.

The Jeannette and L.M. George Theater is located at 5420 Westheimer. Mainstage tickets range from $20 - $ 70, and can be purchased by calling the George Theater Box Office at 713.526.2721 or online at adplayers.org. Dinner and drinks by Cordúa Catering will be available before the show.

A. D. Players at The George, founded in 1967 by Jeannette Clift George, produces compelling theatre that upholds human value, celebrates creativity and engages a diverse audience. the company is one of Houston's largest resident theater companies, impacting more than nine million people over its lifetime. Annually, the company produces Mainstage Theatre performances, fields a Regional Touring Unit, and maintains a year-round Performing Arts Academy. A. D. Players at The George became an Actors' Equity Association (AEA) theatre in 2017 and is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization.

For more information, visit www.adplayers.org or follow them on Facebook.