WEST AKRON — The Black Box Theatre of the Akron School for the Arts at Firestone Community Learning Center (CLC) will set the stage for the world premiere of “Trial by Fire,” the latest work by Akron playwright Eric Mansfield, Jan. 18, 19 and 20 at 7 p.m., with matinees Jan. 20 and 21 at 2 p.m. at 470 Castle Boulevard.
Under the direction of Elynmarie Kazle, this show explores the topic of book banning in schools. In the play, according to the theater’s website, “Word leaks that new Women’s Studies teacher Georgia Grimm has been allowing her high school students access to books on the state’s new ‘banned’ list, and five teen girls rise up with a plan to save her job and reputation.”
The acting cast includes Firestone seniors Tamirah Coleman, Maresha Chapman and Zack Pinto; juniors Jordan Benjamin, Cecilia Bailey, Macy Garver-Hughes and Anderson Rambler; sophomores Alexa Bird, Maggie Vollman and Naja Williams; and freshman Izzy Eastman. The production team includes seniors Ra’Miyah Brown, Zack Pinto, Tuesday Michaels and Stanley Niekamp; junior Clarice Regan; sophomores Eamonn Baeslack, Lulu Emanuel and Wittman Sullivan; and freshman Izzy Eastman.
Mansfield is an Emmy Award-winning journalist who was an anchor-reporter for television station WKYC, a retired U.S. Army officer, a current public relations professional at Kent State University and a Dramatist Guild member. He said he saw the growing debate over banning books in America as a topic worth exploring on the stage. “Trial by Fire” was first drafted during his graduate work with the NEOMFA program at Kent State University and further developed during a summer workshop with the Millennial Theatre Project in Akron.
There will be a pre-show discussion Jan. 18 at 6:15 p.m. in the school’s Learning Resource Center. This informal chat is free and open to the public and will feature members of the cast and production team. Patrons may attend the discussion even if they are attending the show on a different night. General admission tickets are $10 and available at Akron.Booktix.com.
The next production at Firestone will be “The SpongeBob Musical,” based on the series by Stephen Hillenburg with original songs by Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, Lady A, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants and T.I., and songs by David Bowie, Tom Kenny and Andy Paley.
Directed by Mark Zimmerman, performances will be March 14, 15 and 16 at 7:30 p.m. and March 17 at 2:30 p.m. in The Linda B. Kersker Auditorium at Firestone CLC. There will be a pre-show discussion March 14 at 6:30 p.m., and a brief talk-back immediately after the March 17 performance. Tickets range from $12 to $17 and also are available at Akron.Booktix.com.
Akron, OH
Sunday, March 31, 2024