Arts & Entertainment

New Dawn Theater Opens 'All My Sons'

Compelling drama by playwright Arthur Miller depicts family dealing with post-WWII issues.

Duluth’s New Dawn Theater Company opens its spring production of the compelling family drama “All My Sons" Friday (April 29). The play, written by acclaimed playwright Arthur Miller, will involve the audience to the very end, according to Sherry Ingbritsen, New Dawn Theater Company's president and artistic director. 

Here’s a synopsis of the plot: Joe Keller and Steve Deever were partners in a small manufacturing plant in Ohio during WWII. They were contracted by the U.S. government to manufacture aircraft parts for planes flown by the military. When a batch of cylinder heads turns out to have hairline cracks, Keller lets his partner take the fall for it and go to prison.

Now one year after the end of WWII, Joe's world begins to crumble. His son Larry, a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Force, has been MIA for 3 1/2 years. His son Chris, now home from the war, is working in his father’s plant. Chris has asked Larry's former fiancée Ann to come for a visit to propose marriage to her. Joe's wife Kate, unwilling to accept the fact that her son Larry could be dead, is not handling Ann's visit well. 

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“This production has put the cast through many emotions as the plot progresses,” said Ingbritsen. “The audience will be pulled in and won’t let go till the very end. It is strong, based on a true story.”

Lee Finocchio plays Joe Keller with Pam Duncan as his wife Kate. Aaron Glaze portrays Chris Keller. Ashley Duncan interprets the role of Ann Deevers. Other cast members include Sherry Ingbritsen as Sue Bayliss; Mike Stevens, Jim Bayliss; Adam Monforton, George Deevers; Allen Stone, Frank Lubey; Nicole Ojeda-Johns, Lydia Lubey; and Alex Peters as Bert.

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The show runs Friday, April 29, through Sunday, May 15. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. the first two weekends of the production and Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. closing weekend. Tickets are priced at $15 for adults, $12 for senior citizens and $10 for students and may be purchased online or by calling the box office at 678-887-5015. They are also available at the door or from cast members. New Dawn Theater is located at 3087 Main St. in Downtown Duluth. 

Judy McElroy is making her New Dawn Theater Company directing debut with “All My Sons.” She has directed many productions before with other theater companies, Ingbritsen said. McElroy has been with New Dawn for several years and currently serves as the theater board’s treasurer.

New Dawn Theater Company will be celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2012, Ingbritsen said. “We have enjoyed being in Duluth since 2007 and look to continue here for many years to come. We do six to seven productions per year, and the majority of them are family-friendly. Although this particular play is more for adults than children, as the emotions and the plot are more adult, there is nothing inappropriate if a younger child should want to attend.”

 


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