Thirteen local teenagers will merge their collective thespian skills Jan. 26 through Feb. 4 to bring the characters of "The Orphans of West Maple and Third Street" to life at the Stained Glass Theatre in Jefferson City.
Directed by Curtis and Candy Treat from an original play by Curtis Treat, "The Orphans" is a contemporary comedy which brings the Bible's James 1:27 to the stage in memorable fashion.
Treat employs the verse as the prophetic linchpin for the play: "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
The West Maple and Third Street Orphanage is the centerpiece for the play, and it is there Claire McMillian, as June, calls home after she is orphaned.
"She ends up meeting a new friend, Reggie, and other orphans," Treat writes in his synopsis of the work he completed in 2010. Reggie is played by Lydia Bommel. "Like all children, these orphans manage to create some hilarious chaos as they try to get along with each other (except for the Cubs fan in their midst) and even try to help Miss April, the leader of the staff, get a date.
"Meanwhile, the landlord keeps raising the rent of the orphanage trying to force them out," Treat explains. "While the staff tries to come up with money to save the orphanage, the orphans come up with a plan of their own to save the only home some of them have ever known."
June and Reggie are both 13- to 14-year-old young ladies in Treat's play.
Other cast members include Debbie Becker as Mrs. Stuart, a social worker in her 50s; Michaeala Kirk as Miss April, a young woman who runs the orphanage; Grace Luebbering as Abigail, an orphan girl and persecuted Cubs fan; Tammy Mallory as Mr. Sandburg, the landlord, a mean, blind man in his 30s; Amy Poos as Grace, assistant to Mr. Sandburg; Emmett Spradlin as Mr. Oaks, a young man who works in the orphanage; Mason Feeler as Henry, an orphan; Clarissa Chisam as Jenny, an orphan; Persephone Hamler as Sammy, an orphan girl; and Bennet Gatlin as Katie, an orphan who also plays the piano.
In his plug for attendance, Treat added, "Come celebrate the joyful struggles of life with a staff who tries to live James 1:27 with an overly energetic bunch of orphans."
"The Orphans of West Maple and Third Street" is produced at Stained Glass by special arrangement with Leap of Faith Productions and Triple Treat Publishing. Reservations are not necessary for Stained Glass productions, but helpful and recommended, Treat said.
The Treats met at Oklahoma Baptist University and returned to Jefferson City to pursue their careers. Curtis said Candy, a native Jefferson Citian, is the best director he has watched work. He has written a couple of dozen plays for school, community and church theater, and is already working on a new one, he said.
After auditions Nov. 14-15, "The Orphans" has been in continuous rehearsal through the Christmas holidays and will open next Thursday.
Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Jan. 26-27 with a 2 p.m. matinee Jan. 28, with the same run the following week, Feb. 2-4.
Stained Glass has a full year of live Christian theater scheduled in 2017, which it is billing as its "Season of Reconciliation." "In His Steps" is now in rehearsal, directed by Tina Brown, opening March 9 for a run through March 19.
While it is a Christian-based theater, Stained Glass "does not promote or endorse any particular denomination," Treat said. "We desire to remain united in the salvation and love of Christ, avoiding any dissension that may be caused by denominational distinctions."
AT A GLANCE
What: "The Orphans of West Maple and Third Street"
Where: Stained Glass Theatre, 830 E. High St., Jefferson City
When: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 26-27 and Feb. 2-3; 2 p.m. Jan. 28 and Feb. 4
How much: $9 per person opening night; $7 per person all other showings