Wilmington College Theatre to Present ’26 Pebbles’

Online Ticket Sales Open Monday for Feb. 23-25 Production The Connecticut community of Newtown experienced an unfathomable tragedy on Dec. 14, 2012, when a gunman walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School and killed 26 innocent people — 20 young children and six adult staff members — before taking his own life. For the drama, 26 Pebbles, playwright Eric Ulloa conducted interviews with members of the Newtown community and crafted them into an exploration of how communities grieve, struggle, help, rebuild, remember and move forward after tragedy. Wilmington College Theatre will present 26 Pebbles Feb. 23, 24 and 25, at 7:30 p.m., in Hugh G. Heiland Theatre. Dramaturg Bryan Wallingford said the show's content can be a "challenging topic to approach"...but the essence of the show is one of hope, connection and healing. "These 26 innocent deaths, like pebbles thrown into a pond, created ripples and vibrations that were felt far beyond the initial rings. This is the story of those vibrations," he said. Wynn Alexander, professor of theatre, is providing direction and design for the show. 26 Pebbles, played without an intermission, features an especially intimate setting for the actors and audience, as seating will be exclusively on stage. Tickets are limited and, with no reserved seats, "festival seating" is on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets will be available for purchase via <wc.booktix.com> beginning at 9 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 6. Also, a portal for ticket purchases will be activated Monday morning on WC's website, <www.wilmington.edu>. Place "theatre tickets" in the search function. The cast features Alyssa Jenkins as Jenn/Carla; Sterling Goodwin as Michael/Darren; Zach Tillis as Bill/Father Weiss; Jordan Snarr as Joe/Chris; Dalan Toups as Rabbi Praver/Mike; Sydney Geibel as Yolie/Jeriann; Jennah Blair as Georgia/Kat/Carrie; Ollie Basta as Julie/Carole; and Ellie Craig as Sally/Starr. Besides Alexander, the production staff also includes Becky Haines, lighting/sound design and sound operation; Bryan Wallingford, dramaturgy; Fae Maffin, stage management; Myranda Archer, light board operation; Olivia Boczar, sound effects operation; Christina Murdock, publication design; Spencer Anderson and Peyton Holden, stage crew; and shop assistants Olivia Boczar, Tianna Bradshaw, Peyton Holden, Alyssa Jenkins, Fae Maffin, Linda Mead, Cadence Saunders, Becca Simonji, Dalan Toups and Zach Tillis. Set construction staff includes Olivia Boczar, Peyton Holden, Alyssa Jenkins, Fae Maffin, Becca Simonji and Zach Tillis. After the performance, the audience is invited to join the cast, crew and production staff for a question/answer, "talk back" session to discuss the play.