This preview has been provided by Aggregate Theatre Company.
Aggregate Theatre Company, LLC is proud to announce its inaugural production, The Stonewater Rapture, by Doug Wright. This emotionally charged, hour-long, two-person play examines the personal struggles two high schoolers face as they try to adhere to their strict Christian upbringing in the face of their growing sexual desires. The play performs June 16, 17, 19, and 23 at Imurj, a new artist collective and performance space in downtown Raleigh.
Directed by Jaybird O’Berski and performed by Lexie Braverman and Matthew Hager, The Stonewater Rapture brings to fore the issues of God, sex, and the world between. Whitney, the well-meaning son of the local minister, and Carlyle, a vivacious eighteen-year-old girl with deep religious devotion and a lively imagination, are conflicted. Whitney is concerned with how his lack of sexual experience is affecting his reputation, while Carlyle is very much pleased with her piety, though also admits to sexual curiosities of her own. The play’s initial humor and crackling dialogue turn serious when Carlyle confesses a life-changing experience. Together, they struggle to wed their religious doctrine with the often-painful complexities of the real world.
Aggregate founder, Matthew Hager, says, “Stonewater is a play with overwhelming immediacy and relevance that speaks to this time and this place. Raleigh is a growing city looking to lead the way in cultivating new technologies and new ideas, while still maintaining a strong Southern identity. This play challenges us to question which traditional beliefs support whom we hope to become and which keep us from progressing as a whole and accepting society.”
This production features original music composed and performed by Ancora Music Production’s Marc Celestini. Marc’s electronic soundscape provides a modern backdrop to the play. Marc will perform live beginning 30 minutes before the show with a mini-concert that sets the stage for the town of Stonewater and transitions into his score for the rest of the play. Audiences are encouraged to come early to enjoy all of Marc’s rich and layered music take shape.
Aggregate was created with the intent of reaching, cultivating, and growing a younger theatre audience in the Raleigh area. By performing a concise and thrilling play in a casual, non-traditional theatre space, this production hopes to create a uniquely immersive, accessible, and intimate theatrical experience.
The Triangle theatre community has seen several established theatre companies and performance spaces close their doors in recent years. Imurj, mostly a home to musicians and visual artists, hopes that this production of The Stonewater Rapture, the first theatrical production Imurj will host, proves them to be a new venue option for the area’s lively independent theatre scene.
Location: Imurj, 300 S. McDowell St., Raleigh, NC 27601
Dates/Times: June 16, 17, 19*, & 23 @ 8:00 pm
Tickets: $15; *Special Pricing on June 19 – Tickets $10
Ticket Purchases: https://thestonewaterrapture.eventbrite.com; (919) 825-1515
Social Media:
Facebook: aggregatetheatre
Instagram: @aggregatetheatre
Twitter: @aggtheatre
Website: aggregatetheatre.com
Contact: aggregatetheatre@gmail.com
