Limelight Theatre will present Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town” on select dates, Thursday, Oct. 23, through Thursday, Nov. 9.
“Our Town” takes place in the small town of Grover’s Corners in three acts: “Daily Life,” “Love and Marriage” and “Death and Eternity.” Narrated by a stage manager and performed with minimal props and sets, the play depicts the simple daily lives of the Webb and Gibbs families as their children fall in love, marry and eventually — in one of the most famous scenes in American theatre — die. Thornton Wilder's final word on how he wanted his play performed is an invaluable addition to the American stage and to the libraries of theatre lovers internationally.
“I’ve always loved the language of Our Town — it’s simple but deeply poetic,” said Director Ryan Mahannah. “Wilder captures the beauty in ordinary moments and reminds us how universal and timeless human stories are. No matter when or where it’s performed, audiences can see themselves reflected in Grover’s Corners.”
Mahannah said he likes to stage quickly and organically, “letting the actors move in ways that feel natural to them.”
“That freedom is especially important in ‘Our Town,’ where authenticity and human connection drive the storytelling,” he said. “It allows the honesty of the text to come through and keeps the production grounded in truth. This cast has been such a joy to work with; they’re incredibly prepared, professional and collaborative. Their openness and dedication make the rehearsal process not only efficient but genuinely inspiring.”
Kaylee Byers, who plays Emily Webb, described her experience.
“I was attracted to the role of Emily because of the seriousness of the play,” she said. “I have never been in a straight play that was more serious. I’m an actor first, and I’m glad I get to really work on my acting abilities more and grow! Working with Ryan has been great. I love the thought-provoking questions he asks. I also love how much he pays attention to little things. It makes me a lot more confident in little choices I make, even if they weren’t intentional choices.”
Byers described the most challenging part of bringing Emily to life: her “realness.”
“I’ve never been in a role where a character might cry because she is so overwhelmed with joy, and that’s the kind of person Emily is,” she said. “She is unapologetically a very emotional person. I think for me it’s helped me discover a lot about who I am, but also how beautiful it is to play someone with such raw emotion.”
Chad Boyd plays George Gibbs. He shared his love for the play and the importance of Wilder’s place in dramatic literature.
“I love the character of George for two reasons,” he said. “One, Thornton Wilder wrote this play so incredibly well and realistically that I feel like I am not just playing a fictional character, but more so, I am a vessel to channel the energy and individuality of someone who most definitely would have lived this exact life in the early 1900s. The second reason why I love playing George is that, although he gives the trope of being the ‘boy next door,’ he has so much more depth and complexity with the relationships he has. Not only with the other characters in the show, but with his internal self, as well.”
Boyd addressed the show’s iconic presence in American theatre.
“Thornton Wilder's Our Town was written in the 1930s,” he said. “It delves into the topics of love, death and the beauty and malpractice of everyday common life, which still has not been matched in great detail today. His usage of a minimalistic set swoons the imaginations of audiences to fill in the blanks and create their own ideal version of the town, which invites them to be a part of the story, too. Not only that, but to have it narrated by a character labelled none other than ‘Stage Manager’ gives the character and the play a cosmic undertone that leaves the audience trying to piece together questions and philosophical thoughts that sometimes can’t quite be answered. In short, although ‘Our Town’ was written almost 100 years ago, it still tackles questions, ideas and topics that are relevant today, and will have audience members thinking of the answers long after the curtain has closed!”
The cast is comprised of:
Shows are 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23, 24, 25, 30 and 31, Nov. 1, 4, 6, 7 and 8; 2 p.m. Oct. 26 and Nov. 2 and 9.
“Our Town” tickets are $35. Tickets for seniors and military are $30. Group rates are available. “Buy the House” opportunities also exist for churches to do their own fundraisers! Limelight invites all organizations and companies to consider raising funds with this show.
For further information go to limelight-theatre.org. The direct link for tickets is limelight.ludus.com. Box office: 904-825-1164.
Limelight Theatre is located at 11 Old Mission, St. Augustine.
To arrange a fundraiser, contact Mary Claire Branton, development director, at maryclairebranton@limelightheatre.org or 904-825-1164 Extension 2.
Limelight Theatre aims to provide the highest quality of artistic enrichment in St. Johns County through year-round theatrical performances, film screenings, arts education and concerts. Limelight engages and inspires the community socially, culturally and philanthropically. Ultimately, Limelight cultivates a diverse and multi-generational group of artists and supporters who see the value of storytelling and how it contributes to the betterment of society.
