R-ACT'S 2023 SEASON
February 10, 11, 12, 17, and 18, 2023
Love Letters by A.R. Gurney and directed by Beverly Dicken
Synopsis: Performed as a staged reading, Love Letters follows the lifelong correspondence and relationship between Andrew Makepeace Ladd III and Melissa Gardner, both born into wealth and position.
April 28, 29, May 5, 6, 7, 2023
A Killing in Kilts an original murder mystery written and directed by Larry Spinnenweber
Synopsis: This Spinnenweber murder mystery set in the Highlands of Scotland gives the audience the chance to interrogate the suspects and figure out who dunnit! To escape an arranged marriage, Flora Spencer runs away with stable hand Andrew MacLaughlin to Andrew’s home village of Glendilly in the Highlands of Scotland. They had planned to marry, but are followed by Flora’s father, Lord Leopold Spencer and his hand-picked son-in-law, pasty and nerdy Cyril Thwisketham. Old friendships are renewed, new acquaintances are formed, whisky flows, and weddings are planned. However, before any marriage can take place, Andrew is kidnapped and Cyril is poisoned. Who could have done it?
August 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 2023
Deathtrap by Ira Levin, directed by Cheryl Crabb
Synopsis: Comfortably ensconced in his charming Connecticut home, Sidney Bruhl, a successful writer of Broadway thrillers, is struggling to overcome a dry spell which has resulted in a string of failures and a shortage of funds. A possible break in his fortunes occurs when he receives a script from a student in the seminar he has been conducting at a nearby college—a thriller that Sidney recognizes immediately as a potential Broadway smash. Sidney’s plan, devised with his wife’s help, is to offer collaboration to the student for co-credit. Or is it? DEATHTRAP provides twists and turns of devilish cleverness, and offers hilariously sudden shocks in such abundance that audiences will be spellbound until the very last moment.
October 13, 14, 20, 21, 22, 2023
Poe! Poe! Poe! adapted by Kathryn Schultz Miller, directed by Kelsey Rhea
Synopsis: The play begins as Poe is dying. As he struggles with death, he recounts his melancholy life. The author has skillfully blended tragic scenes with fantasy and comedy. Poe felt that the only true, worthy subject of literature was the melancholy examination of the death of a beautiful woman—depicted here in the gruesome death of his young wife and the poem which resulted, "Annabel Lee." Although everyone today agrees that Poe is one of America's greatest authors, he found little recognition in his lifetime until the publishing of "The Raven" not long before he died. Among the many touching scenes in this play is the one between Poe and his most loyal editor, Graham, in which Poe is ridiculed and humiliated. Then we hear Poe recite "The Raven" with defiance and passion. The play ends where it began—at Poe's death. It is not a quiet death, but rather a final defiant excerpt from "The Literary Life of Thingum Bob, Esq.," in which Poe reveals the meaning of his life: "Through joy, through sorrow, through it all—I wrote!
November 30, December 1, 2, 3, 2023
U.S.O. Show - World War II directed by Gloria Little
R-ACT's annual holiday radio show
February 10, 11, 12, 17, and 18, 2023
Love Letters by A.R. Gurney and directed by Beverly Dicken
Synopsis: Performed as a staged reading, Love Letters follows the lifelong correspondence and relationship between Andrew Makepeace Ladd III and Melissa Gardner, both born into wealth and position.
April 28, 29, May 5, 6, 7, 2023
A Killing in Kilts an original murder mystery written and directed by Larry Spinnenweber
Synopsis: This Spinnenweber murder mystery set in the Highlands of Scotland gives the audience the chance to interrogate the suspects and figure out who dunnit! To escape an arranged marriage, Flora Spencer runs away with stable hand Andrew MacLaughlin to Andrew’s home village of Glendilly in the Highlands of Scotland. They had planned to marry, but are followed by Flora’s father, Lord Leopold Spencer and his hand-picked son-in-law, pasty and nerdy Cyril Thwisketham. Old friendships are renewed, new acquaintances are formed, whisky flows, and weddings are planned. However, before any marriage can take place, Andrew is kidnapped and Cyril is poisoned. Who could have done it?
August 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 2023
Deathtrap by Ira Levin, directed by Cheryl Crabb
Synopsis: Comfortably ensconced in his charming Connecticut home, Sidney Bruhl, a successful writer of Broadway thrillers, is struggling to overcome a dry spell which has resulted in a string of failures and a shortage of funds. A possible break in his fortunes occurs when he receives a script from a student in the seminar he has been conducting at a nearby college—a thriller that Sidney recognizes immediately as a potential Broadway smash. Sidney’s plan, devised with his wife’s help, is to offer collaboration to the student for co-credit. Or is it? DEATHTRAP provides twists and turns of devilish cleverness, and offers hilariously sudden shocks in such abundance that audiences will be spellbound until the very last moment.
October 13, 14, 20, 21, 22, 2023
Poe! Poe! Poe! adapted by Kathryn Schultz Miller, directed by Kelsey Rhea
Synopsis: The play begins as Poe is dying. As he struggles with death, he recounts his melancholy life. The author has skillfully blended tragic scenes with fantasy and comedy. Poe felt that the only true, worthy subject of literature was the melancholy examination of the death of a beautiful woman—depicted here in the gruesome death of his young wife and the poem which resulted, "Annabel Lee." Although everyone today agrees that Poe is one of America's greatest authors, he found little recognition in his lifetime until the publishing of "The Raven" not long before he died. Among the many touching scenes in this play is the one between Poe and his most loyal editor, Graham, in which Poe is ridiculed and humiliated. Then we hear Poe recite "The Raven" with defiance and passion. The play ends where it began—at Poe's death. It is not a quiet death, but rather a final defiant excerpt from "The Literary Life of Thingum Bob, Esq.," in which Poe reveals the meaning of his life: "Through joy, through sorrow, through it all—I wrote!
November 30, December 1, 2, 3, 2023
U.S.O. Show - World War II directed by Gloria Little
R-ACT's annual holiday radio show
