Stagecrafters' Production of BUG will get Under Your Skin

Stagecrafters presents the psychological thriller Bug by Tracy Letts (August: Osage County) on Stagecrafters' 2nd Stage, 415 S Lafayette Avenue, in downtown Royal Oak.

Divorced waitress Agnes White has a troubled past. She has a fondness for cocaine and solitude until she meets Peter, a seemingly mild-mannered AWOL drifter, who moves in with her. When they discover welts on their bodies, they suspect a bug infestation of sinister origins. Searching for answers, their escalating fears and paranoia spiral out of control into chaos and violence. Bug is a disturbing thriller that will get under your skin.

Although Bug contains some graphic violence and gore, audiences shouldn't see the play "for the novelty of a cheap thrill," says director Rachel Keown. "A while back, someone asked me why I would want to do such an 'ugly' show. I wasn't offended, because this person was right, though I'm certain our definitions of 'ugly' differ. I find that it can be difficult to look away at what's ugly; natural curiosity, of course, prompts deeper investigation ... [audiences] should experience Bug for its uncanny ugliness and its intense depiction of the most frightening of human conditions: loneliness."

To do credit to the intense subject matter, an experienced crew of technicians worked together to create the special effects critical to the requirements of the show. A special tech talk back after the performance on Friday, March 2nd will explore the following topics:

• Set Design/construction (Obie Burch) will discuss the process behind creating a set that embraces realism as well as practicality and also discuss how the set was transformed in ACT II
• Set Dressing (Cyndi Johnson and/or Anna Shih) will discuss the planning that went into creating a filthy atmosphere
• Sound Design (Burr Huntington) will discuss the different layers of soundscape that helped create a feeling of tension and unease
• Props (Jenny Boyle and/or Lynn Justusson) will discuss what went into planning and making certain props
• Special FX Make-up (Mary Rice and Kimberly Wallace) will discuss the huge amount of planning, plotting, testing, and application of the special FX
• Lighting (David Musselwhite) will discuss the idea behind his lighting plot, and how embracing darkness can add another dimension to the aesthetic

Show tickets are $20 for all performances.

The final dress rehearsal, 8 pm on Thursday, February 22nd is open to the public as a "Pay-What-You-Can" (PWYC) night. The admission price is at the discretion of the patron. There are no advance sales and doors open at 7 pm and close at 8 pm (no late seating). Patrons are encouraged to pay cash; credit/debit cards require a $5 minimum. Admission is general seating; first come, first served with no refunds/exchanges.

On Thursdays Active military personnel and their immediate families are eligible for a buy one ticket, get one half-price ticket discount on Thursdays. Limit of six tickets. Some exclusions may apply. Students (with a valid ID) are eligible for a half-price ticket discount for the first Thursday performance of 2nd Stage shows. Student discount tickets are available at the door the evening of the performance. Students must show their current student ID at the box office window (one ticket per student ID). Doors open at 7 pm.

Stagecrafters, a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit community theatre, is in its 62nd year of providing opportunities for members of the community to develop their talents and to volunteer their time to create an enriching, quality theatrical experience through its Main Stage, 2nd Stage, and Youth Theatre productions. At the Baldwin Theatre since 1985, Stagecrafters has been named Best Community Theatre by Hour Detroit, Detroit Metro Times, and Daily Tribune. Stagecrafters offers shows that appeal to a wide variety of ages and interests and prides itself on providing professional quality shows at affordable prices, making the performing arts accessible to all.