Four months after its creation, Spotlight is ready for a formal introduction.

Spotlight, a partnership among the Center for Education and Performing Arts (CEPA), Jefferson State Community College-St. Clair Campus and Pell City and St. Clair County School Systems, was first formed in January as a means to open new education opportunities in theater to area students and residents.

Since its launch, the program has provided more than 30 students with new dual enrollment opportunities. It also reached out to area schools to form or nurture drama clubs by creating an information-sharing network, and next month it will debut its first stage production.

Bus Stop, a classic literary play by William Inge about locals and travelers stuck together in a Midwestern diner overnight during a snowstorm, will appear on the CEPA stage April 7-8 at 7p.m. and April 9 at 2 p.m. It’s eight-member cast features several first-time actors from across the county whose desire to bring a premier product to the area has kept them hard at work for months.

“It’s been a joy to watch these community members slowly become their characters, learning to be better actors while building friendships along the way,” said Spotlight Program Coordinator and Bus Stop Director Lesley Gray Warren. “With each rehearsal, I become even more convinced that this is the ideal cast for this show.”

Part of the original mission of the Spotlight program is to offer performance education opportunities where they have not existed previously. This is evident in the cast for Bus Stop, which includes two Jefferson State employees, two Jeff State students, two Pell City residents, a Vincent resident and a Jacksonville State University student. The cast is as follows:

Laura Urbahns (Grace), Al Guido (Dr. Lyman), Peyton Hudson (Cherie), Anna Farley (Elma), Nicholas Kin (Virgil), Chuck Cohron (Carl), Samuel Howard (Bo), Haven Phillips (Understudy, Assistant Director), and Mark Brown (Will)

Spotlight and its production of Bus Stop are generously supported through grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts, Honda Manufacturing of Alabama and Alabama Power. Local program partners are Webb Concrete and Building Materials and The Daily Home.

For tickets or more information visit www.pellcitycepa.com/tickets. You may also contact Program Coordinator Lesley Warren at (205) 338-1974 or email her at lesley@pellcitycepa.com if you are interested in starting a Spotlight club in your school or community.

Bus Stop Cast Bios:

Laura Urbahns (Grace) completed her Associates Degree at Jefferson State and went on to earn her Bachelors of Science from Huntington College. Laura is proud to have two adult daughters and is ecstatic to have one granddaughter. She has an avid passion for animals and spends a great deal of her time caring for a variety of furry friends. She is honored to make her very first appearance on the CEPA stage.

Al Guido (Dr. Lyman) is pleased to be in this first production with Spotlight. He has appeared in many shows at CEPA including My Way, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, and Hiram. His most recent productions were Rehearsal for Murder at CEPA, and A Nice Family Christmas with the Pell City Players. He has also appeared on the Leeds Arts Council stage, as well as LAC Chorus concerts. His favorite roles include Benny in Guys and Dolls, Hysterium in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and Mushnik in Little Shop of Horrors. Al would like to thank his wife Nancy for her love and support in every endeavor.

Peyton Hudson (Cherie) is thrilled to make her debut on the CEPA stage. A freshman at JSU, Peyton has already been involved in several productions. This year she has appeared in The Tempest as Sebastian and The Vagina Monologues. She was also Assistant Director for These Shining Lives in the fall. She wants to apologize for making everyone listen to her sing during the show.

Anna Farley (Elma) has always enjoyed performing in theater productions and is thrilled to be a part of the cast of Bus Stop. A student at Jefferson State – St. Clair, Anna’s major is Communication Studies. Once her education is complete, she would love to work internationally and possibly in film production. Her interests include playing the guitar, ukulele, and the mandolin. She also enjoys outdoor activities such as tennis, rock climbing, and kayaking. Anna’s favorite theatrical experience was preforming with Crossroads Christian School at ACTA Theater in Crossroads on Broadway. Anna has enjoyed working with the amazing cast and crew of Bus Stop, and is excited to portray the role of Elma Duckworth in her CEPA debut.

Nicholas Kin (Virgil) is the Associate Dean of the Jefferson State Community College, Pell City Campus. With a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences, Nic is most comfortable on “stage” in front of a room full of biology students. He is thrilled to be stepping out of his comfort zone and onto the CEPA stage for his first performance since playing Mr. Gibbs in Arsenic and Old Lace as a senior in high school. Originally from Carey, Ohio, Nic lives in Trussville with his 8-year-old daughter Josephine.

Chuck Cohron (Carl) currently lives in Vincent and is making his debut on the CEPA stage. Chuck’s last theatrical experience was when he was in high school, and even he can’t remember that! A retired carpenter, Chuck is fulfilling a life-long interest of pursuing acting. His hobbies include camping, hunting, fishing, motorcycles and now the arts! Chuck feels fortunate to be surrounded by so many talented actors and crew members and wants to thank them all for making Bus Stop a great show and great fun!

Samuel Howard (Bo) is currently a sophomore at Jefferson State Community College, where he is working on his Associates Degree in business. Sam intends upon transferring to UAB, where he will pursue his bachelor’s in industrial distribution. Samuel is an adventurous young man with southern charm who enjoys sports, theater, Rubik’s cubes, Bible studies, meeting people, and trying new things. He currently works as a pharmacy technician at Parkway Pharmacy of Moody. Samuel resides in the city of Ashville.

Haven Phillips (Understudy, Assistant Director) is a Freshman at Jefferson State Community College majoring in Psychology. This will be her first time being involved in a CEPA production. She is extremely excited to be a part of the Bus Stop family, and looks forward to more adventures in theater. She enjoys playing volleyball and basketball in her free time, as well as drawing and creative writing. She lives in Ragland with her parents, two sisters, and their spoiled Shih Tzu, Titus.

Mark Brown (Will) is a lifelong Pell City resident who is finally fulfilling his secret dream of being an actor. “I’m so excited about this opportunity. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.” Brown is the General Manager of Alabama Cutting Technologies, located in Pell City, where he has worked for 10 years. He serves locally as a member of the Rotary Club of Pell City. Mark is married to Candacy Mitchell Brown and has three children; Abby, Emma and Nix.