Spotlight presented its first production, “Bus Stop,” on the Pell City Center for Education and Performing Arts (CEPA) stage last weekend.

“We had around 200 people on opening night,” said Jeff Thompson, executive director of CEPA. “I only heard positive feedback from those in the audience.”

The second evening saw even more people in attendance as word of mouth spread.

The audience was immersed in the 1950s William Inge play about travelers stranded in a Midwestern diner overnight. Several lines garnered laughter—especially the performance of Laura Urbahns, who played Grace, the flirtatious owner of Grace’s Cafe.

“Theater can not exist without people to watch,” said Lesley Gray Warren, Spotlight Program Coordinator and Bus Stop Director, to the audience before the performance. “Your support is immensely important to show how much you appreciate their [the cast’s] efforts.”

The cast and crew put in over 100 hours of rehearsal time and over 40 hours of construction, all for the love of theater. Webb Concrete and Flooring Materials contributed $1,500 in materials for the construction of the set. 

The ensemble cast included several first time performers—Nicholas Kin, Associate Dean at Jefferson State Community College; Mark Brown, a lifelong Pell City resident who is finally pursuing his dream of acting through this production; Laura Urbahns, making her first appearance on stage at CEPA; and Chuck Cohron, a Vincent resident who also dreamed of acting.

Returning to the stage was Al Guido, who has appeared in several productions at CEPA; including “My Way,” “Smokey Joe’s Cafe” and “Hiram” with the Pell City Players.

Jefferson State Community College students Samuel Howard and Anna Farley, along with Jacksonville State University student Peyton Hudson, completed the eight-member cast.

“We want to make Spotlight something that the area can be proud of,” Warren said.

Judging by the standing ovation and audience interaction, Spotlight seems well on their way to achieving that goal.

“This was like an off-Broadway production you would see in New York,” an audience member said.

Spotlight was formed in January 2017 as a partnership between CEPA, Jefferson State Community College’s St. Clair campus in Pell City, as well as the Pell City and St. Clair County School Systems to create educational theater opportunities to area students and residents. The program has offered more than 30 students new dual-enrollment opportunities, as well as create an informational sharing network by reaching out to local schools and encouraging drama clubs.

More productions are planned for the future. For now, the cast and crew will take a much needed break after the hard work of the past four months before choosing their next project.

“Everyone has been such a pleasure to work with and I’m amazed at the talent in this town,” Warren stated.

For more information on starting a Spotlight club in your school or community, contact Program Coordinator Leslie Gray Warren at (205) 338-1974 or email lesley@pellcitycepa.com.

Next at CEPA will be Martha Reeves and the Vandellas on April 29, and the Pell City Players will be performing Sister Act May 12-14.

For ticket-purchasing or more information visit CEPA’s website at pellcitycenter.com.