Community Theater Thrives in Alabama
By Doc Lawrence
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UNION SPRINGS, Alabama-The arts in this Deep South
state seem to aspire to be on equal footing with college football. When traveling in Alabama, I've beheld a rich tradition of writing, acting,
music and dance along with other impressive examples of visual and performing
arts. This beautiful community near Montgomery, home to the Red Door Theatre,
has earned the right to be known as a performing arts destination, a worthy
place for travelers to enjoy the miracles from the live stage.
The Red Door’s most recent production, See Rock City is both a play and the iconic name introduced to the world by a sign painter named Clark Byers, who painted “See Rock City” on the roofs of barns as far north as Michigan and as far west as Texas. The play is concerned with the small events and the major blows that befall a young couple in the first year of their marriage. The story is gentle and not lengthy but deeply focused on the cares and concerns of a family dealing with the joys and limitations of their lives as best they can while taking pleasure in small things. This quiet masterpiece confirms Arlene Hutton as a playwright to be reckoned with.
Do you have to move to find happiness? Is there contentment
through acceptance? Taken together, these suggest an exploration of that
universal query: How deep is your love? See Rock
City, set in the last days of WWII, is an Appalachian tale loaded with
challenging and relevant issues that stick with you.
The Red Door Theatre is located in what once was an
Episcopal church. Most everything regarding the original from the exterior, the
stained glass and stage remain. Actors and sets have replaced preachers and
pulpits. Some very creative locals have made it into a fine example of
restoration and preservation, a warm place to connect souls with the magic of
an entertaining production.
Union Springs and
the Red Door Theatre offer an
enchanting opportunity to experience a small Southern town while taking in a professional theatrical
performance. The productions offer audiences the opportunity to enjoy the wonders from the live stage in an
intimate 160-seat venue. And, there’s a big bonus: Union Springs is well known
for its beautiful countryside and
many stately antebellum homes and historic buildings.
Close your eyes and
listen. You might hear Atticus and Scout talking.
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