Edge Theatre Company bringing ‘not-so-safe' entertainment to Rock Hill

By Kimberly Dick - kdick@heraldonline.com

From AIDS to teenage pregnancy, nothing is off limits for the Edge Theatre Company, whose motto is “There's something different in Rock Hill.”

The company recently completed its first year of bringing “not-so-safe” entertainment to Rock Hill, founder Jimmy Chrismon said. The group begins its second season today.

“It brings fairly avant-garde theater to Rock Hill,” said Ben Pierce, director of the company's latest production of “Bare,” which opens tonight. “It's something different than the average theater, something not the same shows presented every year.”

The theater company strives to provide the area with opportunities to watch, experience and participate in contemporary, cutting-edge live theater.

“Edge Theatre tries to bring controversial and edgy material to Rock Hill to promote understanding,” said Pierce, who is pursuing a theater degree at Winthrop University, where he recently directed a one-act play. “To educate people on being open-minded and aware of everything around us and today.”

The musical “Bare,” written by John Hartmere and Damon Intrabartolo, follows the lives of 12 seniors at a Catholic boarding high school as they deal with self-esteem issues, parental expectations, suicidal thoughts, drugs, pregnancy, homosexuality and questions of faith, Pierce said.

“The main theme is the isolation the students feel,” Pierce said.

Ninety-five percent of the “pop-opera” is sung, Chrismon said. Its intended audience is high school age and older.

Chrismon, who teaches theater at South Pointe High School, created the Edge Theatre to fulfill a life-long dream.

“I believe teachers should practice what they teach,” Chrismon said. “… I couldn't do these types of shows with my students.”

The Edge Theatre is funded through donations and profits from the previous shows. Chrismon said a grant from the Arts Council of York County helped to produce “Rent” at the end of the group's first season.

Rock Hill resident Kerri Marks, who plays the mother of one of the students who is trying to reveal his sexuality to her, said “Bare” covers a lot of topics that make people uncomfortable to discuss or think about — yet those topics affect area youth year after year.

“I always thought of Rock Hill as being more on the conservative side, which is why at first I was shocked that they would take such a leap of faith, bringing ‘Bare' to our area,” Marks said. “I think this is a show that will garner as much criticism as it will praise, but regardless, it will have a profound effect on people.”

Pierce urged Marks to audition because he knew she'd relate to the show.

“I had an older brother who was gay who passed away when he was 28. And he was right, I connect to it,” Marks said. “Anyone who's been to high school will relate to it.”

The show is not only a controversial work, but also an important one, Marks said. “It speaks to today's youth as well as their parents. We laugh through rehearsals, and most times we cry through rehearsals,” Marks said.

“Everyone at some point in life knows someone who has felt like the person in the song. It's a show that touches people and really makes them think.”

The Edge Theatre also has tackled “hot-button issues” in past performances, Pierce said. Previous shows include “Rent,” “Elegies for Angels, Punks, and Raging Queens,” and the world premier of Brent Hartinger's “Geography Club.”

“I like the choice of plays they do,” Pierce said. “… It's giving a broader view of what's going on. The way that they go about it is very non-confrontational.”

The past shows have been fairly well received, Chrismon said.

“It's going really well. We've had strong support for all of our shows last year,” he said. “The community has responded really well. I was a little worried, but I've been really pleased.”

Future shows this season will include “The History Boys” by Alan Bennett and “The Shadowbox” about cancer patients and their families, Chrismon said.

Want to go?

“Bare” will be presented at 8 p.m. today through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the South Pointe High School auditorium, 801 Neely Road, Rock Hill. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for students and seniors; order at carolinatix.org. For details, call 704-779-7227 or visit www.theedgetheatre.org.