Local News

Stone Arch Players present ‘The Tin Woman’

LEWISTOWN -- Normally, the drama starts on stage after the curtain goes up. This time, casting challenges forced the Stone Arch Players to change their upcoming scheduled production from "The Importance of Being Earnest" to "The Tin Woman."

A comedic drama by Sean Grennan. "The Tin Woman" is the touching story of a woman who receives a heart transplant and her eventual meeting with the organ donor's family. Instead of relishing life after her transplant, Joy, who is played by Morgan Miller, questions whether she truly deserves a second chance.

Meanwhile, the Borden family - Hank (Mike Knarr), Alice (Katye Long) and daughter Sammy (Abby Fleming) - mourns the loss of their son and brother, Jack (Tyson Byler), whose heart saved Joy's life.

At a friend's urging, Joy tracks down the Borden family. A meeting is arranged, and, although both the family and Joy hope to find answers and closure, they must face their true feelings.

Based on a true story in Jackson Heights, N.Y., "The Tin Woman" uses humor and pathos to explore loss and the true meaning of family. This play also demonstrates the power of the human spirit and of hope.

Rounding out the cast is Julie Fetterman, who plays Nurse/Darla. The play is directed by Long and Phyllis Johnson and produced by Colette Hartzler.

"This is very different from anything we've done in the past," Johnson explained. "It sounds so awful, but the way he's (Grennan) written it's very positive.

"She just learns, basically. She doesn't know if she deserves the heart," she added. "She doesn't have a great job, doesn't have a great family and has resigned herself to not living. She's feeling guilty that she has it (the heart)."

As one reviewer noted, this play is "full of laughter and light even in its darkest moments."

Johnson said the Borden family is very interested in meeting Joy, and in the end, "it really comes down to what really makes a family. What makes hope. The family doesn't care that she's not a scientist. They respect the fact that she is still alive, and she is taking care of herself."

Johnson said a lot of the play's impact on stage is due to the lighting effects. The stage manager for "The Tin Woman" is Alicia Hartzler, with technology and set construction in the skillful hands of

Emile Boulanger.

"This is really a comedic drama," Johnson said. "There are moments that are funny, but it is based on a true story. That aspect of it is important for the audience to understand. This woman did deal with it and has a real positive life now."

Audiences can catch "The Tin Woman" at the Theatre in the Park, Kishacoquillas Park in Lewistown, at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, Feb. 23-24, March 1-2 and 8-9; and at 2 p.m. on Sundays, March 3 and 10.

General admission tickets cost $12. Ticket requests can be made by calling (717) 248-2224 or by e-mailing tickets4sap@gmail.com.