NIGHT FIRES Returning to Town Hall Theater, 12/19-21

Night Fires, Theatre Group Ltd's celebrational pageant-like play at the time of the winter solstice, will be performed this year on Dec. 19, 20 and 21 at Town Hall Theater in Middlebury.

As always, the theme is a journey through the dark to new life and hope. The contemporary story this year might best be described by Leonard Cohen: "There is a crack in everything / that's how the light gets in." Music and poetry from the Americas, especially North America, dominate this year (plus some exquisite songs from all around the globe to keep us all whole and sane), with original prose by Deborah Lubar and Marianne Lust.

The talented singer/musicians are guided again by the world-traveling duo of Abigail and Shaun Bengson. Abigail has just come off a long international tour with the band Tuneyard, and in March the couple premiered their opera 100 DAYS in San Francisco. The familiar trio of wonderfully adept and gifted Night Fires actors - Deb Gwinn, Stephanie Gallas and Clarke Jordan -- will be joined this year by Deborah Lubar.

Times for the performances are: Dec 19 8 PM, Dec. 20 4 and 8 PM; Dec. 21 2 PM. Tickets: $24; $20 seniors and students - at the door, or at www.townhalltheater.org. (Please note the difference in performance time of the two matinees!)

The popular pre-show singing begins approximately 20 minutes before the show.