What happens in those weeks between shows at the Williamston Theatre? After a show closes, the next show’s set is “loaded in” to the theatre space and rehearsals begin. The powerful lighting instruments aren’t in use, so we say that the theatre has “gone dark”. During those “dark nights,” the Williamston Theatre Four (Tony, Chris, Emily, and John) miss the ebb and flow of the community in and out of the theatre’s doors…And they started to ask themselves…What if we transformed other spaces in the building into temporary performance spaces?…What if we did staged readings of plays, which require much less rehearsal than a full production and no design process? And in a presidential election year, what if we staged readings of plays that provoked thought and discussion about political and social issues?
Join us for Dark Nights in Billtown…
Friday November 2 at 8pm
November by David Mamet
What wouldn’t you do to get re-elected? President Charles Smith will do whatever it takes, including taking down the National Association of Turkey and Turkey By-Products Manufacturers…and that’s only the beginning! Mamet’s acerbic wit is in full force as he satirizes a politician’s scurrilous attempts to secure his re-election. This one’ll have you slapping your knee and doubling over in the best kind of pain: full-on belly laughs!
Saturday November 3 at 8pm
The Election by Don Zolidis
High school elections are a great way for kids to learn about the democratic process. If by “democratic process” you mean pandering, mud slinging, and manipulative political ads! A chorus of actors play the confused and fickle electorate who swirl around the candidates, leaving laughs in their wake.
As the teenaged political enemies face-off, what will they learn about themselves, democracy, and the election process? Join us for a night of fast-paced delight!
Sunday November 4 at 2pm
We the People: short plays from diverse voices
Seeing the Light by Robert McKay
Middle Kingdom by Howard Korder
Let America Be America Again by Langston Hughes
Lawyers, Guns and Money by Thad Davis
Bad Santa by Melinda Lopez & Maxine Lopez-Keough
We’ve curated a collection of political and economically themed short plays (and a poem) as an opportunity to consider how politics and government impact our daily lives. Each gem of a play offers a slightly different experience, ranging from humor to poignancy, but all five pieces raise big questions about who we are and who we want to be.
Dark Nights in Billtown will be an intimate theatrical experience in “found spaces” (rooms that are not traditional theatre spaces, but have been adapted for theatrical purposes) which means that there will be limited seating! We’ve only got 25 seats for each show, so call now to reserve your seat. The Four Founders (Chris, Tony, John, and Emily) invite you to join them in this uniquely distinct theatre experience.
Call 517-655-SHOW after October 2 to have your name put on “The Billtown List.” Seating is limited. Suggested donation of $5 at the door.
