Reston Community Players' OUR TOWN Opens Today

To close their 49th season, Reston Community Players presents the classic drama, OUR TOWN, recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, by Thornton Wilder. Performances begin today, April 22, and continue through May 7, 2016.

Our Town will transport you to a place of secret wishes and disappointments; loves and losses-where the people you encounter on stage are shockingly like the friends and acquaintances in your own lives. Set in the small New England town of Grover's Corners in 1901, Our Town is the drama about two ordinary families, the Gibbs and the Webbs. But underlying the events of their lives - marriages, births, and deaths - is a hope for something more. Theatergoers will rediscover this American Classic that explores the universal need to find a place to belong and the challenge of appreciating life.

"Today's world is full of cell phones, traffic jams, restaurants, 50+ hour work weeks and excessiveness. But at the end of the day we all just want to be happy. The people of Grover's Corners figured out how to be happy without all the trappings. The Stage Manager says something like, "...we're born, we live a little and then we die..." and that truth hasn't changed at all. People in Grover's Corners wore life simply and we've managed to throw on every accessory ever created to dress up. I think there is a lesson in there." - Director, Alana D. Sharp

Playing the part of the Stage Manager, who guides the audience through the town and introduces its inhabitants, are Rick Kenney and Janet Kohler Dueweke. The two young people who grow up together over the course of the play, Emily Webb and George Gibbs, are played by Lori Brooks and Jarod Rouleau. Emily's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Webb, are played by Dennis McCafferty and Roberta Chaves. George's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs, are played by Bob Chaves and Mary Ann Hall. The town choir master, haunted by his own demons, is played by Andy Gable. The part of the town's milkman, Howie Newsome, is played by Steven Palovitz. Playing the part of the town's constable is Kirk Kaneer. Featured roles in the ensemble include; Alexa Yarboro as the town gossip Mrs. Soames; and Richard Durkin as Professor Willard; Richard Durkin as the cemetery groundskeeper Joe Stoddard and Cameron Bond as Sam Craig. Playing the part of Rebecca Gibbs, George's younger, starry-eyed sister, is Becca Parsons. Emily's younger brother, Wally, is played by Alex Parish and the ensemble is rounded out by Barbara Carpenter.

Produced by Laura Baughman, under the direction of Alana D. Sharp the creative team includes Ken and Patti Crowley, Lighting Designers; Rich Farella, Sound Designer; Doug Rolston, Master Carpenter; Andy Regiec, Set Designer; Tigan Hughes, Crew Chief; Kathy Dunlap, Costume Designer; Kat Brais, Make Up and Wig Designer; Eileen Mullee Prop Master and Asst. Stage Manager; Kaiti Parish, Stage Manager.

Performances will begin April 22, 2016. "Our Town" will play April 22, 23, 29, and 30, and May 1, 6, and 7. May 1 is a 2 p.m. matinee performance. All other performances are at 8 p.m.

All Reston Players main stage productions are performed at CenterStage at the Reston Community Center, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. CenterStage is handicap accessible and offers listening devices for the hearing impaired.

Tickets can be purchased through www.restonplayers.org or by calling the CenterStage box office at 703-476-4500 x 3.

Presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC

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