By: Dwana Pinchock
On a personal level, I have always really loved literature, and I’m a big fan of our library system. We have an amazing one here, and I am happy to tell everyone to take advantage of it.
What’s really exciting is that Open Stage has been able to partner with [DCLS] to bring a touring production of A Christmas Carol, to the East Shore Area Library, which was great and a huge success. We had two performances in the community room, and it was well attended!
This was just another way for us to celebrate The Library, to celebrate Open Stage, and to celebrate this adaptation of great literature. People could experience this Charles Dickens story in a whole different way.
Our production, which is a two-man version of the show, tells the story with a lot of Foley sound effects. I think that that people found it really interesting and that created a lot of great discussions.
Another exciting thing about theaters and libraries is that we get to gather and have great conversations about big topics, including this wonderful work by Dickens.
Do you have any personal stories about libraries maybe while growing up or even as an adult that you could share?
I think that one of my favorite memories is growing up in Oklahoma. I grew up lucky being exposed to a lot of storytelling. That happened at our library.
I specifically remember seeing some storytellers there, sharing Native American stories. I firmly believed that the community gathering that happens at libraries and the events that happened around storytelling, helped me become the theater professional that I am today.
I don’t think that I would be the same kind of storyteller I am today without being exposed to the books I got at the library or to events like listening to the storytellers.
Stuart Landon is the Producing Creative Director of Open Stage; a regional professional theatre and educational program located in the heart of downtown Harrisburg.