Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country | Founded 05-05-05

July 17, 2008 issue

Triad Stage Presents Pulitzer Prize-Winning Drama Doubt July 24 and 25


Greensboro’s highly acclaimed Triad Stage returns to An Appalachian Summer Festival to perform John Patrick Shanley’s award-winning drama Doubt. Directed by Boone native Preston Lane, this performance takes place at Valborg Theatre on Thursday and Friday, July 24 and 25 at 8:00 p.m.

Shanley’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning drama is the story of four people forced to confront their core beliefs. In a Bronx Catholic school in 1964, four individuals struggle with doubt and conviction when the school principal voices her suspicions that one of her male colleagues—the resident priest—has abused a young boy. A debate involving a mother, a priest and the school’s nuns begins the moment the curtain rises and enthralls audiences long after the play comes to an end.

Speaking with Broadway.com about his process in writing Doubt, Shanley discussed how he used the Catholic Church scandals as a framework within which to form a discussion about certainty—and doubt. Shanley explained that the moral uncertainty, rather than the abuse scandal, inspired him to write the riveting play.

“The title Doubt really had the power for me, not the Catholic Church scandals,” Shanley said. “And so … I meant that to be implied … as a powerful and useful tool to answer something in the culture. And that’s what functioning, effective members of a culture do—say, “Look! I have doubts. And that’s a good thing. You should have doubts, too.”

Now celebrating its seventh season, Triad Stage began as a dream of creating a professional, nonprofit regional theatre to serve the North Carolina Triad communities. Having forged an artistic partnership as graduate students at the Yale School of Drama, co-founders Preston Lane and Richard Whittington undertook the three-year task of opening the theatre in the heart of historic Greensboro. In spring 2001, Triad Stage transformed the former five-story Montgomery Ward building, built in 1936 and vacant for almost 40 years, into a world-class theatre center complete with a 300-seat live performance space. The theatre has produced more than 50 main stage productions, including many originals, and has received accolades on the national, state and local levels. After two sellout performances at An Appalachian Summer Festival in 2007, Triad Stage returns for the second consecutive year.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for students and $5 for kids 12 & under. For tickets and info, call 828-262-4046 or click to www.appsummer.org.

Want To Go?
Date: Thursday and Friday, July 24 and 25
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Location: Valborg Theatre, ASU
Cost: $20 adults/$10 students/$5 kids 12 & under