AYDEN — The excitement is escalating in anticipation of this weekend’s production of Woman from the Town at Ayden Community Theater. ACT is proud to present to the entire community a play written by a native North Carolinian, Samm-Art Williams, for three performances as part of the area’s Black History Month celebrations. The show is directed by Hector Garza, a professor in the East Carolina University’s School of Theater and Dance, and showcases a cast of six.
In the play, Lila comes back to the town to exact revenge. What she finds instead is redemption. She finds her humanity. Lila learns how to let go of the past so that she can move on with her life.
Cast members include: Kristina Brickey, Brandesha I.M. Whorley, Amy Staton, Daure Stinson, Regina Epps and Gene Mills. A brief talk-back is scheduled following the Sunday show to discuss the plight of the North Carolina farmer with a local farmer, Melvin Huggins, and invited guests from the North Carolina Land Loss Project, Pitt County Water District, and the Black Family Land Trust.
Show dates are: Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Ayden Arts & Recreation Community Center, 4354 Lee Street in Ayden. Tickets are available now for purchase by going to www.aydentheatre.com or for more information regarding upcoming events. To reach an ACT representative, please call (877) 339-5550.
“At its core the play deals with issues of family dysfunction,” Garza said. “Lila comes back to the town to get revenge. What she finds instead is redemption. She finds her humanity. She learns how to let go of the past so that she can move on with her life. This is the backdrop of Samm-Art Williams’ play.”