If you go
› What: “Second Samuel”› Where: Artistic Civic Theatre, 907 Gaston St., Dalton, Ga.› When: 8 p.m. Jan. 18-19 and 24-26; 2 p.m. Jan. 20› Admission: $15 adults, $13 ages 55 and older, $11 students; $2 discount at each level for ACT members› For more information: 706-278-4796
Artistic Civic Theatre will open "Second Samuel" on Friday night, Jan. 18, a play based on the family and acquaintances of playwright Pamela Parker as she grew up in the South.
The play opens in the late 1940s. The Great Depression is fading into a memory, World War II has been won and Harry Truman is president.
Folks in Second Samuel, Georgia, are ready for things to settle down and get back to normal. But then Miss Gertrude passes away, and deep dark secrets begin to surface.
The men who spend their time at the Bait and Brew and the women who congregate in Change Your Life Hair and Beauty Emporium are thrown into a turmoil as these secrets are revealed.
Nobody could have imagined how the death of one sweet little old lady would turn the entire town upside down.
The playwright has said "Second Samuel" is about redemption, about good overcoming bad, doing the right thing.
"I hope, walking out the door, people are thinking, 'Those people are just like me and I'd do the right thing, too.' I want to believe there is goodness in all of us," says the author.
The ensemble cast of "Second Samuel" includes Carl Reiter as Mr. Mozel, Evelyn Wall as Omaha Madison, Lori McDaniel as Marcela Dean, Amy Ruble Mueller as Jimmy Deeanne, Kate Phinney as Ruby and Jeremy Pickard as Frisky Madison.
Also, Carter Gee as B Flat, Anthoni McDaniel as Ulysses Simpson, Lane Haley as Mansel Dean, Andy Davis as Doc and Kirt Johnson as June Cline.
For more info or tickets: www.actdalton.org.