Stony Batter Players to Perform Our Town

Stony Batter’s second fall play, Our Town, will take the stage October 11, 12, and 13 in the Burgin Center for the Arts’ Simon Theatre at Mercersburg Academy. Show times are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. A special performance will be held over Family and Alumni Weekend on Saturday, October 19, at 7:30 p.m. 

Tickets are free and available to the public. To reserve seats, email burginreserv@mercersburg.edu or call 717-328-6349. 

Our Town by American playwright Thornton Wilder tells the story of two families living in the fictional American small town of Grover’s Corners between 1901 and 1913. The play is considered an icon of the American theater. 

Stony Batter’s production is directed by Laurie Mufson (whose first professional equity role was playing Rebecca in Our Town opposite actor Ray Liotta). This is the third time Our Town has been performed at Mercersburg under Mufson’s direction, and the first time it will be performed in the Burgin Center for the Arts. Her first staging here was in the fall of 2000 in Boone Hall, the precursor to the Burgin Center; the second was in 2005 in Keil Hall’s Edwards Room. 

“In the 1930s, Thorton Wilder was concerned enough about how things were changing in society, changes that caused people to rush or disconnect and not really see or listen to one another—to live their life moment to moment,” Mufson said. “All the conversations we’re now having about technology and screens, kid’s not knowing how to look one another in the eye, make this play particularly timely.”

Behind the scenes, Kelly Dowling, assistant director of the Burgin Center, serves as production designer. Guest artist Walt Dowling is lighting designer, and faculty member Jessica Doubell is technical director. They are aided by students Donovan Dowling ’21 (stage manager), Zane Arky ’23 (assistant sound design and board operator), and Franklin Williams ’22 (master electrician and lightboard operator). Joyce Cui ’22, Conrad Lee ’22, Francesco Oliva ’21, and Alex Xia ’22 compose the run crew.

 

Our Town Cast List

Stage Manager              Paige Cromwell ’20

Emily                                Eliza DuBose ’20

George                             Chris Adams ’20

Mrs. Gibbs                       Caitlyn Sollenberger-Yoder ’20

Doc Gibbs                       Gabe Ryan ’20

Rebecca                           Schuyler Waters ’23

Editor Webb                    Dylan Dowling ’21

Mrs. Webb                        Elizabeth Yang ’20

Mrs. Soames                    Mel Cort ’23

Wally                                 Charlie Betkowski 

Joe/ Si Crowl                    Linden Amster ’23

Simon Stimson              Alex Cho ’23

Howie Newsome           Dorothy Skuba Gray ’23

Constable Warren          Matt Wang ’23

Professor Willard            Nathalie Maurer ’23       

Johanna Stoddard          Lauren Barnes ’23

Samantha Craig              Nathalie Maurer ’23

Woman in Balcony        Schuyler Waters ’23

Man Auditorium             Linden Amster ’23

Lady in Box                      Lauren Barnes ’23

Baseball Players             Linden Amster ’23,  Lauren Barnes ’23, Chelsea Ward ’23, and Schuyler Waters ’23

Woman in Balcony        Chelsea Ward ’23

Man Auditorium             Linden Amster ’23

Lady in Box                      Schuyler Waters ’23

Baseball Players             Linden Amster ’23, Lauren Barnes ’23, Chelsea Ward ’23, and Schuyler Waters ’23

Mr.  Carter                         Linden Amster ’23

Mrs. McCarthy                  Chelsea Ward ’23

Townspeople                    Carter Daughtridge ’23, Kaitlyn Dowling ’23, Frances Elwood ’23, Osa Iyoha ’22, Dalila ​Melkumova ’21, Folake Okunsanya ’22, Chelsea Seaby Bruno ’21, and Emma Shuford ’22