FLORENCE – It’s almost Halloween, when the spooky and creepy abound. When better to hear the true stories of the women who were the victims of the infamous Jack the Ripper?
The Belles of Whitechapel, by Huntsville native Wayne Miller and presented by The Z (416 N. Court St., Florence), gives voices to the women who are often dismissed as “fallen women” without a thought. A series of monologues gives the audience a peek into the world of Whitechapel in 1888. You will learn that every one of these women has a story that was ended abruptly by the brutal slayings of Jack the Ripper.
This production is unique in that it uses four different directors. “We discovered this script through one of our board members who was in the original production in Huntsville and immediately fell in love with it,” said Amanda Perry, one of the show’s directors. “We wanted to make sure all the voices of the women were different, so we decided to use four different directors…two characters for each one. What started out as a simple show has grown into something much bigger than we ever dreamed.”
The directors of the show include Perry, Amber Rhodes, Heather Bithell, and Beth Henderson. Principal cast members include Lisa Valentine, Anna Eastep Gibson, Gena Rawdon, Rachel Williamson, Rhonda Rutledge, Elizabeth Ragsdale, Sara Allen, Rebecca Tumlinson, and Julie King.
This is only the second production of this script. The Saturday night performance will include a bonus Q&A with the playwright following the show.
Performances are scheduled for October 18 – 20 at 7:30 pm and October 21 at 2 pm. Tickets are available online at www.TheZTickets.Store or at the door each night beginning 30 minutes prior to curtain. Audiences should be warned that a strobe light and fog will be used during each performance. Due to subject matter, this show is not recommended for children under 13. For more information, call 256-768-5586 or email administrator@historiczodiacplayhouse.com.
Media Release/The Z (Historic Zodiac Playhouse)
