THEATER The MET’s ‘South & Saints’ world premiere

Maryland Ensemble Theatre announces its 20th mainstage world premiere, “South & Saints.” As a trailblazer in showcasing new works since its establishment in 1997, MET continues its tradition of community storytelling and civic engagement with this production. “South & Saints” honors the rich African-American and Black community of Frederick, shedding light on their significant contributions that have shaped the city we know today.

Inspired by the desire to serve and amplify the voices of the underserved and under-resourced members of the community, MET embarked on a collaborative journey with Frederick’s African American Resources and Cultural Heritage (AARCH) Society. Through a series of engaging conversations and story circles involving over 20 community members, MET producing artistic director Tad Janes said, “We are immensely grateful for the vibrant community engagement we received. The text of ‘South & Saints’ is either derived directly from these story circles or written intentionally for this production, using the Story Circle technique developed by John O’Neill of the Free Southern Theater and Junebug Pro- ductions.”

Director and MET ensemble member Ray Hatch brings his innovative touch to “South & Saints” as his first foray into the devising process.

“People have stories that want to be told,” Hatch said. “The theme for our production is ‘segregation, integration and gentrification’. We chose to concentrate on some of the more positive stories of surviving in a small town, as seen through the eyes of those who experienced it. Our actors aren’t portraying anyone in particular, and this isn’t a documentary. But the stories they share are directly inspired by the experiences of our story circle participants. I hope this production leaves you with a profound sense of community spirit, faith, patience, and the love it took to not only survive but thrive in a community that was only a few blocks long and wide.”

The cast features Gifty Amponsem, Evan Carrington, Victoria Causey, Alonzo Cook, Marcus Kersey Jr. and Roma Mensah.

“South & Saints” opened May 12 and runs through June 4 with showtimes at 8 p.m. Thursday to Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sundays. Audio description services

Marcia L. Bogash Playwright Festival at the Carroll Arts Center

The Carroll County Arts Council will present the inaugural Marcia L. Bogash Playwright Festival at 7 p.m. May 27 at the Carroll Arts Center in Westminster. The evening features staged readings of plays written by five Carroll County high school students followed by a Q&A with the young playwrights.

This year’s playwrights are Lorien Bradford (FSK High School), Aidan Bulgar (FSK High School), Lana Ly (FSK High School), Kade Orlin (Westminster High School) and Keagan Willis (homeschool). Featuring zany comedies, a reimagining of a classic play, a sobering relationship drama and a fourth-wall breaking love story, these young playwrights’ works encompass a range of genres and styles. After a short rehearsal process with actors and playwriting mentors, each playwright’s work is refined and presented as a staged reading at this inaugural festival. The event concludes with a Q&A with all five playwrights to help the audience further engage with these new plays.

The mission of The Marcia L. Bogash

Playwright Festival is to provide local artists with an engaging environment for the development and promotion of new theatrical works in memory of one of Carroll County’s most celebrated arts advocates. On alternating years, the festival will feature plays written by either high school students or members of the community at large.

A founding member of the Carroll Players theater group, Marcia L. Bogash was an avid supporter of the arts in Carroll County. She was also an active Carroll County Master Gardeners member and worked with the Charlotte Quest Nature Center in Manchester. This festival is dedicated in her memory to honor her impact on the Carroll County arts community.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for ages 25 and under and ages 60 and up. Tickets can be purchased at carrollcountyartscouncil.org or by calling the box office at 410-848-7272. The Carroll Arts Center is at 91 W. Main St. in Westminster.