It's not rare at Stained Glass Theatre in Jefferson City to find a play that was meant for you, director Robin Riley said.
SGT presents "Stumbling into Grace" at 7 p.m. March 10-11 and 17-18 at 830 E. High St. There are also matinees at 2 p.m. March 12 and March 19. Tickets are $8 on opening night and $12 for following shows.
The show follows married couple Susan and Ron Franklin, who after praying for a child for years, found themselves unable to conceive. Their prayers are answered in an unexpected way with not one -- but two – children who come into their lives. Through adopting the children, God teaches them lessons about grace and trust, knowing His plan isn't always what we expect.
This was a personal play for Riley to direct -- one that, like the production's themes, was unexpected but meant to be.
After there was an opening for the director role; she volunteered. After she reread the script, Riley realized how much its major theme was a part of her life.
"I know why there was no one in the director role -- because I was supposed to do this," she said.
Riley adopted six children after fostering and has seen the trials, but also the blessings, that come with bringing new people into a family.
"They're a blessing to me, and God just made that happen," she said. "That's kind of how the play is: When you rely on God for answers, it might not be the way you imagined it to be."
It won't be perfect, Riley added, but it could be better than you could have imagined because God teaches through the tough times.
The cast features a few returners to the production, some with a deeper connection to it.
When Della DeGroff, who plays adoptive mother Susan, was asked to take the role, she was overwhelmed -- she played the role of Mandy, one of the adoptive daughters, in a past production. Because of that, she has been able to mentor Raelynn Schremp, who plays Mandy in this production.
"The actors have worked hard; they've been at every practice they could be at and worked hard developing the characters," Riley said. "I probably cry at every rehearsal already, and I can't imagine how it'll be when they're on stage with an audience."
The play focuses on the beauty of adoption, and how it touches the lives of the birth and adoptive parents.
"It shows how people can touch someone else's life when they choose to give life," the director said, "also to rely on God in everything."
At one pivotal moment in the play, Susan expresses she wants everything in the house to be "perfect" for their children. Ron's line is one of the director's favorites: "I just worry sometimes that Susan forgets that God isn't so much interested in making our lives perfect as He is in perfecting us through tough times."
Audiences can expect to shed a tear at multiple points, too.
The play reminds Riley of a lesson she tries to teach her adoptive children: "What if you woke up tomorrow morning with only the things you prayed for today?"
Susan and Ron embody that in a scene where they consider adoption. After having prayed to be parents, Ron asks if Susan is ready for not one, but two children, to enter their lives.
"Having two children to love? What could be more perfect?" Susan responds.
Tickets for "Stumbling into Grace" can be reserved at www.sgtmidmo.org, by emailing [email protected] or by calling 573-634-5313.
Stained Glass Theater "Stumbling into Grace." Shaun Zimmerman / News Tribune