Chenango River Theatre to Present One Night Only Reading of THE GUN SHOW

From a farming community in rural Oregon to the big cities of Los Angeles and New York, playwright EM Lewis takes aim at her own relationship with firearms in The Gun Show. The playwright grew up in rural Oregon, where everyone has guns. She learned to shoot on a date. She worked at Jackson's Bookstore during an armed robbery, and once encountered a threatening cop in New York. She's got multiple stories to tell. And then there's the fifth story: the one that doesn't let go, the one that triggered this show. Five gun stories in a country full of gun stories.

The playwright tells her story through the performer, in a riveting one-man show, because she is a coward, because distance helps, because she didn't want to do this alone. Actor Jim Wicker, who's performed at Chenango River Theatre in 7 of 10 years, will do a staged reading of this 60-minute story as part of CRT's One Night Stand Series.

Leaning neither right nor left, The Gun Show jumps into the middle of the gun control debate and asks "Can we have a conversation about this?" It takes aim at America's most dangerous past-time with brutal honesty and poignant humor. Discussions will follow the performance, with Jim Wicker moderating. This will be an opportunity to share thoughts on the show, as well as on gun violence, gun control and personal gun stories.

In its review, LA Weekly strongly recommended the show, saying "GO! The drama's life-changing moments evoke a here-and-now immediacy". New City (Chicago) called it "Human, bold, sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, but always honest."

The Gun Show is one of three One Night Stands in 2016 - solo performances playing for one night only that offer performances not typically seen on CRT's main stage. Advertising for The One Night Stand Seriesis supported by Chenango Commerce. Chenango River Theatre's 2016 season is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

Performance is 7:30pm, July 25 only. Tickets can be purchased online at www.chenangorivertheatre.org, or by emailing tickets@chenangorivertheatre.org. You can also make reservations 24 hours a day by voice mail at 607-656-8499.

All tickets are $12. All performances start on time - late seating is not available. Chenango River is just 15 minutes north of Binghamton at 991 State Highway 12, Greene, NY.

To post a comment, you must register and login.