ROCKINGHAM — Bruce Stanback is pulling double duty both on and off the stage to make his directorial debut this weekend.
Stanback, who has been involved with Richmond Community Theatre in the past, is directing “The Praying Grandma” which is slated for three performances.
The play was written by Richmond County native Dr. Ken Mask “kind of as a tribute to his mother” — retired educator Gloria Mask — inspired by a photo Mask took of her praying, according to Stanback.
In addition to writing for medical journals, Mask has authored several detective novels and the Griffin the Dragon children’s book series. He also co-wrote the 2019 film “The Opera Game,” based on the life of 19th century chess prodigy Paul Morphy.
“It’s a story about prayer and the power of prayer,” Stanback said about the play, adding that it also deals with conflicts and reconciliation. “It’s a fun play, it has some music involved with it.”
Getting the production in Richmond County has been more than a year in the making, according to Stanback.
“He talked to me about it and he sent me the script a little over a year ago,” Stanback said. “He knew I was doing some acting and so he wanted me to put together a team here.”
The play initially debuted in Georgia, which Stanback had the opportunity to see.
“And I thought, ‘Yeah, it’s time for us to do it here,” Stanback said, adding that he wanted Mask’s mother — who is in her 90s — to be able to see it, since she couldn’t make it to the original production.
The first table read was held about a year ago and practice began at the end of January.
In addition to Stanback, the play also includes Valjean Hargrove, Anitra Ingram-Robinson, Ahmana Ingram, Orrick McDougald, Kimberly Harrington, Mosby Watkins, Artoria Smith and James Townsend.
“Everybody’s excited about doing it,” Stanback said.
While he enjoys acting, Staback said the switch to directing has “been interesting.”
“I’ve got a lot of seasoned actors, so I don’t have to give a lot of instruction,” he said. Like Stanback, Hargrove and Ingram-Robinson have been regulars with RCT. “It’s a little bit more difficult when you’re in the show and you’re directing.”
The shows are scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday (March 14-15), with a 3 p.m. performance on Sunday, March 16 at the auditorium of the Leak Street Education and Cultural Center in Rockingham.
Tickets are $15 and available at the Leak Street center or by calling Stanback at 910-331-4246.
