Actors Circle presents original WWII drama ‘Paris/Stalingrad’ at Providence Playhouse in Scranton July 20-23
From a press release:
Community theatre group Actors Circle will present the historical drama “Paris/Stalingrad” at the Providence Playhouse in Scranton on Thursday, July 20 through Sunday, July 23.
Written and directed by Lou Bisignani, the original play takes place during World War II. In 1940, Paris is under siege and suffering Nazi occupation. At the Café de Marque, the occupiers are entertained by Edith Piaf while the French Resistance operates from the cellar of that very same café. Resistance members plan while the Gestapo hunts for the French patriots. In 1943, during the Battle of Stalingrad in the basement of a bombed out building, a lone German soldier, wounded and lost, encounters a Russian woman. The enemies face each other and their destiny as the battle rages around them.
Lou Bisignani has spent nearly five decades in live theatre. He is a founding member of Actors Circle and has also worked with the Scranton Public Theatre and award-winning actor/playwright Jason Miller. In addition to being a well-known character actor in Northeastern Pennsylvania, he is a prolific director and designer.
“Paris/Stalingrad” runs July 20, 21, and 22 at 8 p.m. and July 23 at 2 p.m. at the Providence Playhouse (1256 Providence Rd., Scranton). Tickets are $12 for general admission, $10 for seniors, and $8 for students, with the exception of Thursday, July 20, when tickets are $8 for general admission and seniors and $6 for students.
For reservations, call 570-342-9707 or e-mail tickets@actorscircle.com.
Actors Circle was formed in 1982. A group of actors was sitting in a circle on the floor of the University of Scranton auditorium and decided on the name for their organization before performing their first production, “The Crucible.” Originally, the group was known as the Jefferson Hall Players, but the University asked them to change the name because there was already a small theater group at the University with that same name.
Over the years, Actors Circle has also performed at other venues, such as the Scranton Cultural Center, the Century Club, the Jewish Community Center, Nay Aug Park, the Everhart Museum, the Lackawanna Children’s Library, the Lackawanna County Courthouse, and the Tripp House.
In 1984, Providence Playhouse became home to Actors Circle. In this small intimate theater, productions such as comedies, dramas, classics, musicals, plays from well-known authors, and obscure, but important playwrights have been performed. Actors Circle has also commissioned original works, such as the adaptation of “Frankenstein” by Scranton native Ted LoRusso and an original play by John McInerney. Other theatrical organizations have also been welcomed to perform in the home of Actors Circle, such as DGM Productions, Inc.
The founders’ mission was to keep live theatre accessible to the general public, as well as to educate and enlighten not only audiences, but actors, directors, technical crew, and stage managers as well. Actors Circle continues to strive to fulfill this goal by providing the community with laughter and thought-provoking performances.
