ROWAN COUNTY — Rowan County’s readers theatre group, Phoenix Readers, is eager to share its spring show, “To Every Season.” 

The half-hour presentation of poems, stories and lyrics is offered free to school groups, churches, retirement centers, organizations, libraries and festivals until mid-April. 

To arrange for a performance, contact Shanna Glawson at Center for Faith & the Arts at 704-647-0999; or, Linda Jones at 704-212-2164.

“To Every Season” includes well-known poems, such as “Casey At The Bat,” as well as lyrics from Kermit’s theme song, “It Ain’t Easy Being Green.”  

Twelve actors make up two casts of six actors each:  Mark Curran, Ray Davies, Buddy Farnan, Linda Jones, Randy Overcash, Becky Porter, Donna Prunkl, Gretchen Tracy, Lori Van Wallendael, Shawn Van Wallendael, Anne Wilson and Trent Wilson. Anne Wilson conceived and directs the show.

Phoenix Readers has entertained Rowan County and surrounding communities since Jim Epperson founded it in 2015. In addition to this holiday program, their repertoire includes programs built around specific themes, such as “Southern Folk Tales,” “Oh, The Wonderful World of Dr. Seuss,”  “A Patriot’s Songbook” (patriot songs), as well as programs featuring poetry of specific poets.

The acting style of readers theatre is a fusion of traditional acting and reading techniques. Scripts are read, and physical action is mostly restricted to gesture, facial expression and limited movement. The performance is often called “theatre of the mind” for the audiences see the dramatic action in their minds. The name, Phoenix Readers, is borrowed from the mythological Greek bird who rose up out of the ashes, for like the phoenix, these talented and experienced actors are all seniors.