A play adapted from an Allentown poet's own words about loss and healing is set to make its world premiere next week, running three performances at Between the Lines Studio Theatre in Allentown. “Interlude to Sentimental Me: Mercury Rising,” written by playwright Michael B. Judkins, opens Nov. 20 and runs through Nov. 22, with showtimes set for 7 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.
The production, staged at the theater's 725 N. 15th St. location, is based on Judkins' 2016 poetry collection of the same name, according to Lehigh Valley Press. The outlet describes the work as a new play celebrating hope, healing and human resilience, following interconnected lives as they confront loss, resilience, forgiveness and belonging. The paper notes the production contains mature dramatic themes and is recommended for teens and adults.
Mercury's Story Anchors the Narrative
At the center of the play is Mercury, a man navigating life in a neighborhood filled with difficult stories while dreaming of becoming an artist, per the same account. As the story unfolds, Mercury helps his neighbors find voice, healing and liberation through expression, and in turn comes to realize that his own art is what keeps him grounded. Jaeden Reppert takes on the role of Mercury for the world premiere run.
Judkins, identified in the report as an Allentown playwright, said the play deals with healing, hope and the moments that shape who people become. He described the production as blending drama, poetry and human experience into an emotional journey, and said it explores ordinary people finding strength when facing life's challenges. Judkins said he hopes the play prompts audiences to reflect and discover the healing power of compassion, family and community.
From Sold-Out Poetry Reading to Full Stage Production
This isn't the first time Judkins' poetry has made the leap to the stage. Judkins told Voyage LA that an earlier version of the work had two sold-out nights in Bethlehem back in 2018, after he turned his poetry into a stage play. The Lehigh Valley Arts Council likewise recounts that the Bethlehem staging of Judkins' poetry-based play drew two sold-out nights that year.
Gary Boyer directed the new production, which was produced by Judkins' own company, Oct. 14 Entertainment, with Kori McMillan designing the set, the Press reports. Beyond Reppert, the listed cast includes Meghan McGorry, John Corl, Wendy Kleyman, Gisselle Dorval, Brighton Kleyman, Liam Griffith, Persephone Harshbarger, Tati Torres, Aneesa Neibauer, Thomas Rush, Syd Stauffer and Gabriella Montero.
What to Expect at the Theater
Attendees at the Allentown performances can win a T-shirt and other production-inspired gifts, according to the report. With its themes of loss, resilience, forgiveness and belonging, the play marks a homecoming of sorts for Judkins' writing — translating poems once performed to sold-out Bethlehem crowds into a fully staged drama for a new Lehigh Valley audience.
