BEDFORD — The Little Theatre of Bedford is lifting the curtain on a diverse lineup of emerging and seasoned creatives in The Gilded Showcase, an original production featuring new works by playwrights, poets, and performers from across the region. The one-night event will take place Saturday, June 21.
Directed by Megan Barnard and Bailey Noel, the showcase celebrates original storytelling with a spotlight on 11 local and national voices. “Every director, author, and performer has poured their hearts into what we’re bringing to the stage,” said Barnard, a longtime arts advocate and mother of six. “We hope everyone leaves inspired.”
Among the featured playwrights is Arlene Flower, best known for Gas Mask 101 at Chicago’s Abbie Hoffman Theatre Festival. Her new work According joins a slate of original plays that include Tip Jar and In Honor of the Girl I Was by co-director Bailey Noel, A Helping Hand by Greg Simons, and I Could Jump off a Bridge by Charlie McQuinn, a young multidisciplinary artist and IU creative writing student.
Playwrights such as Enid Cokinos, Allison Fradkin, Tom Trent, and Brian C. Petti also contribute works ranging from dark comedies to poignant dramas. Ramsey Uhter, a young Southern Illinois playwright, adds her original piece Pick and Shovel to the mix, while Kim Scherschel and Megan Barnard appear as performers.
The show will also include a musical performance by Coraline Wray, a 20-year-old singer-songwriter from Bedford known for her cinematic compositions and ghostly piano melodies.
“It’s a lineup that reflects both depth and range,” said Noel. “We’ve blended professional and emerging voices to celebrate the stories happening in our own backyards.”
Tickets are available through the Little Theatre of Bedford box office at (812) 279-3009 or online at ltb.ludus.com.
The showcase begins at 7 p.m. Saturday at 1704 Brian Lane Way.
