Final Weekend for Independent Voices Festival at Centre Theater

From the :

The enters its final weekend with four diverse productions including two solo performance pieces, a world premiere by a local playwright and the premiere of a new work by the Norristown Educational Theatre.

The festival spotlights performers who deserve an encore performance or who want to bring new work to the stage. also offers opportunities for new performers to explore professional productions. The month long festival highlighted more than three premieres and performances from many genres’ including theater, movement, music and puppetry.  

Festus the 3-Legged Wonder Dog, is about difference and disability. It is a comic and touching theater piece about a very special dog – a dog that lost one of his legs as a puppy but has since triumphed over adversity.

In real life, Festus and Domenick Scudera are certified as a pet therapy team who visit patients in hospitals and they relate these experiences onstage. Thematically, the performance explores what it is like when people are not considered "normal," and how ultimately others' perceptions should not hinder anyone from making the most out of one's life.

Although it is told in a light-hearted and broad comic style, at its heart the piece deals with disability and making the most of what you have been given.

Scudera is Professor of Theater and Chair of the Theater and Dance Department at Ursinus College in Collegeville. He teaches acting and other courses and has directed over 25 productions since 1997.

Festus the 3-Legged Wonder Dog runs tonight, Jan. 20 at 8 p.m.

From The Heavens, by Sebastian Cummins, tells the story of a group of performers who have found themselves the slaves of a government in economic crisis, much like animals enslaved to a circus. One among these performers has been prophesied to lead a rebellion against the state, but is unsure of his ability to challenge the ever intimidating Ring Leader. The dark play uses music and dance to transport the audience, entertain and grip their attention.

Cummings was born in Frankfurt, Germany and brought his work to Philadelphia in 2010. His play, “Who Invited Jesus?,” premiered at Philadelphia’s Art, Life, Action! Festival. He continued performing in original works in the greater Philadelphia area, including another original work of his own, “Once Upon A Time,” which he performed in the Philly Primary Stages 10-minute play festival in March of 2010.

From the Heavens runs Saturday, Jan. 21, at 8 p.m.

For younger views and families, the Norristown Educational Theatre (NET) presents Three American Indian Tales, an interactive, educational adventure for young and old alike. Learn a bit about Native Americans while enjoying the fascinating fun that theater brings to their folk stories including The Origin of Strawberries, The Story of Sequoyah and The Story of Brass.

NET's mission is to use theater as a teaching tool across the curriculum, with special emphasis on literature, history and social issues. Of particular importance is to make theater available to at-risk and under-served student audiences. NET was founded in 2010 on the premise that all students should have access to artistic and cultural experiences regardless of their educational, social or economic backgrounds.

Three American Indian Tales runs Saturday, Jan. 21 at 1 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for kids.

Sojourner, based on the life and times of freedom fighter Sojourner Truth, is a powerful story told through the emotional testimony of versatile actress Zuhairah. Kim Roberts of The Philadelphia Tribune said her highly interactive performance was "both moving and convincing."

Written by Philadelphia playwright Richard LaMonte Pierce, with a small cast centered around the masterful performance of Zuhairah McGill, this production received a 2002 Barrymore Nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play

Sojourner closes the festival on Sunday, Jan. 22, at 2 p.m.

Performances take place in the theater's 4th floor space in the Montgomery County Cultural Center at 208 DeKalb Street in Norristown. Most seats are $15. Most performances are 50-75 minutes long. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Centre Theater website and checking the posted calendar for performances and times or at thecentretheater.ticketleap.com or at the Theatre Alliance website. Patrons can also call the theater at 610-279-1013.