The last time

director Michael McClendon and the cast and crew at Newnan Community Theatre

took audiences to a small town it was to a small town in Alabama with

their production of "To Kill a Mockingbird." Starting this Friday,

McClendon and the gang will go further north as they present Thornton

Wilder's "Our Town."

"Our Town"

is set in Grovers Corners, New Hampshire and covers a number of years

in the lives of many of its inhabitants. While audiences get to know everybody

from the milkman to the choir director, the main people focused on are

the Webbs and Gibbs families and their children Emily and George, played

my Mandy Kulaga and Rob Rainbolt. There is also an omniscient and mysterious

character known as the stage manager, played by Dave Hanson, who narrates

the play and appears as different characters throughout. "Our Town"

won a Pulitzer Prize for drama and was also made into a successful film.

It was recentlt revived on Broadway with Paul Newman in the role of the

stage manager and is also one of the most studied pieces of drama in the

world, perhaps because of its universal appeal.

"I see

the play as one of those sweet episodes of "The Twilight Zone,"

said McClendon, referring to the play's tendency to skip around from time

to time and place to place. "The play is very mystical with a distinct

supernatural flavor." To emphasize the supernatural elements of the

show, McClendon credits the "most amazing crew he has worked with

in community theater," for putting together some amazing visual effects

as well as strong lighting, costume and set designs that are sure to knock

audiences for a loop.

"Our Town"

consists of three acts; Daily Life, Love and Marriage and Death. The cast

of 35 people has been very touched by the play, often remarking to their

director that they feel like it is written about them and their life,

which is saying something considering it was originally produced in 1938.

"As the

cast gets closer to the work, they feel great empathy for the characters,"

said McClendon, who feels that audiences also connect with the play, which

has led to the work enduring through the ages.

"Our Town"

is an unusual play in that the set is very minimal and the characters

break the fourth wall and speak directly to the audience. Because of the

lack of a traditional set the focus is on the actor's performances. They

have worked hard, relating their character's experiences to their own

experiences in their hometowns and then making all of their separate visions

gel into one cohesive vision. Another challenge for the actors was getting

the New England dialect down. They studied tapes and movies so that they

could soften their r's and drop the g's at the end of verbs.

"Our Town"

opens on Friday, Sept. 12 and McClendon feels that audiences are still

haunted by Sept. 11 and would love to spend time in a safer place like

Grovers Corners. "It's just a good place to visit," said McClendon,

who also feels that audiences will carry the play home with them, discussing

the possible meanings and interpretations well into the night.

He is also

encouraging interested audience members in ordering their tickets early.

"To Kill a Mockingbird" played to sold-out audiences for every

one of its performances. The theater also added a number of holdover performances,

all of which were sold out as well, and they are prepared to do the same

for "Our Town" if ticket sales are as brisk.

"Our Town"

is a family-friendly show that extolls the values of family, loyalty and

community. Performances are scheduled for 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays,

Sept. 12-27. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students. Phone 770-683-NCTC

or visit www.newnantheatre.com for more information.

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