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Allen Rigby, Dylan Goodman and Blaire Ebert play leading roles in the Davidson College production of “Providence Gap,” opening March 26.

Davidson College’s theater season concludes this month with Appalachian-inspired musical “Providence Gap.”

^[2]The show, running March 26 to 29, is a journey of self-discovery and a celebration of North Carolina’s Appalachian heritage.

• Also below, reminders about “Heroes,” which opened this week at Warehouse PAC in Cornelius, and “James and the Giant Peach,” which is in rehearsals at Davidson Community Players.

Co-written by Preston Lane and Greensboro musician Laurelyn Dossett, “Providence Gap” was premiered in 2010 at Greensboro’s Triad Stage, and receives its second world premiere at Davidson. The play, directed by Professor of Theatre Ann Marie Costa, follows the Story of Chance Presnell (played by Allen Rigby ’14), an orphan who must venture from a farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains to the trenches of World War I in search of his true identity. The play, which circles around the timeless themes of magic and luck, is a story of finding oneself through friendship, love, myth and song.

Dossett’s bluegrass, Appalachian-inspired music is interwoven throughout the action in Providence Gap. Recipient of numerous singing and songwriting awards, Dossett will also accompany Davidson student musicians in each of the play’s performances.

Dossett said her work is often linked to the culture of her North Carolina home. “Preston and I purposefully try to write material that is of and for our region,” she explained. “One of the compelling components of our collaboration for Providence Gap is our use of regionally flavored music, which employs regional musicians and authentic regional instrumentation.”

Dossett also noted that Providence Gap infuses music into the production in an unusual way. “Most of the music of the play is carried by the band, which is present on stage with the actors,” she said. “Sometimes the band underscores the play’s action and sometimes we are involved in the scene.”

“This is an unusual way of allowing music to tell part of the story, and sets Providence Gap apart from most musical theatre,” Dossett added.

Dossett also expressed her excitement to work with talented Davidson musicians, including students Arielle Korman ‘17, Dylan Morris ‘17, Grey Gordon ‘15, and Professor of Chemistry Durwin Striplin. “I’ve worked with Davidson students before, and they are just as talented as I remember,” she said. “They are all multitalented, easygoing, collaborative, and creative.”

Another of Dossett’s student collaborators includes actress Tatum Pottenger ‘14, who plays the mystical mountain woman, Cordie, who sets much of the play’s action into motion.

“I have a lot of freedom with this role because Cordie is not fully a spirit, and not fully human, but somewhere in between,” Pottenger explained. “It’s challenging but very fun to figure out.”

Pottenger and the other cast members have been perfecting their Appalachian accents. “The accents differ from traditional Alabama or South Carolina accents because there’s more enunciation on consonants and the endings of words,” she explained.

Pottenger, who has been involved in six other theatre productions at Davidson, also noted the unique nature of Providence Gap’s music. “The music is mostly in the hands of the band, but characters often carry the musical themes throughout the show and bring them to life on stage,” she said.

“I’ve never interacted with musicians on stage in this way,” Pottenger added. “It’s really innovative.”

Pottenger also offered a reflection on the play’s universal themes. “The play’s title word, ‘Providence,’ holds a clue to the resounding themes of luck, fortune and chance at work,” she said. “Finding who you are is a lifelong journey that we all traverse, and I think it’s fascinating to watch Chance, the main character, go through that process on stage.”

Dossett added, “The play’s story and music offer something that people of all ages can relate to. When we first performed Providence Gap at Triad stage, we gathered diverse audiences because they found the content so enjoyable and accessible.”

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“Heroes” opens this week at Warehouse Performing Arts Center in Cornelius. Click for more info.

‘HEROES’ AT WAREHOUSE PAC

Warehouse Performing Arts Center in Cornelius on Thursday night opens “Heroes,” Tom Stoppard’s adaptation of a hilarious yarn about three World War I war heroes living in a French army rest home.

Soldiers to the core, Philippe, Gustave, and Henri spend their time engaging in verbal battles, grumbling about the staff, and true to their military tradition – talking about the opposite sex. But when they decide to escape, their monotonous lives take on new meaning … and some obstacles they didn’t expect.

Performances will be March 20 to April 6, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm (no show March 23).

Tickets: General Admission $20, Groups, Seniors, Students $15, Available on line at www.warehousepac.com ^[5].  Warehouse PAC is at 9216 Westmoreland Road, Cornelius.

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Click for ticket information.

COMING SOON: ‘JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH’

Davidson Community Players will present “James and the Giant Peach,” adapted by Richard R. George from the book by Roald Dahl, March 29 to April 6 at the Armour Street Theatre in Davidson.

Dahl’s classic story of James’s fantastical journey of escape from his loathsome aunts comes hilariously to life in this exciting, peachy adventure. All tickets are $10 for performances at Armour Street Theatre, 307 Armour Street, Davidson.

“This production is going to be wonderful,” said Matt Merrell, Executive Director of Davidson Community Players, “It is exciting to bring such a beloved children’s classic to the stage.”

Performances: Saturday, March 29, at 1 and 4pm; Sunday, March 30, at 1 and 4pm; Thursday and Friday, April 3-4, at 7pm; Saturday, April 5, at 1 and 4pm; Sunday, April 6 at 1 and 4pm.

Tickets: DavidsonCommunityPlayers.org ^[6]

‘ALICE’ AUDITIONS

Activate Community Through Theatre ^[7] (ACT) invites youth aged 8 – 18 to audition for Alice in Wonderland, an audience participation play, on Saturday, March 29, from 10am– noon, at Warehouse Performing Arts Center, 9216 Westmoreland Road, Cornelius.

Youth are asked to bring a picture and resume or a snapshot and summary of their experience. Performances of Alice in Wonderland are May 10 and May 17 at 1pm and 4pm. There is a $100 participation fee.

For more information contact Wrenn Goodrum at 704-707-6757 or email: actartisticdir1@gmail.com ^[8].