Local acting program prepares for upcoming shows

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW)-- Three original one act performances will be put on by the 2nd Act program at the Robidoux Resident Theater.

2nd Act is a program for adults 50 years or older. Coordinator Cheryl Wood said many theater companies across the nation are realizing more adults are interested in an opportunity like this.

"Our approach is, we've had our careers, we've had our families, those were all in our first act," Wood said. "Now we're in our second act of our lives so we get to do the things we want to do not necessarily the things we have to do."

This group does a spring show and a winter show. The upcoming shows will be at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 9 and at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 10. Wood said production rehearsals started in January. The group meets once a week for an hour and a half.

"Toward the end we always put in a few extra rehearsals and the actors want to do this," Wood said. "I don't tell them that they have to... They want to do things well."

The acts will all be original. Two are by Mike Wilson titled 'Not going' and 'Hearts.' Another by Nancy Piercy, is called 'Biker Babes.' Each play is 15-25 minutes long.

The group has three first-time directors helping the actors understand the characters and story and working with them to bring it to life.

"The whole point of this is to help people who've maybe they were on stage and did some stuff in high school or early on and then wend on with their lives with their families and they want to get back on stage and get back into that bug," director Fred Olson said. "So that's what 2nd Act is all about."

General admission tickets are available at the door and will cost $14.