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Submitted by: Johnathan A. Cooks, NFC Community Theatre Contributor
NFC Sentinel Upstage Players Community Theatre Presents Four Sons June 22 & 23
Local Actors to Bring Original Play to Life on North Florida College Stage
MADISON, FL (July 18, 2022) - “Some family trees begin to crumble from the root. Is there hope that at least one branch can grow into something beautiful or will the entire tree come crashing down while uprooting everything around it?”
A difficult question to answer drives the action of Four Sons.
The original comedy/drama is set to be presented by North Florida College’s Community Theatre troupe, the Sentinel Upstage Players, on July 22 and 23 at Van H. Priest Auditorium beginning at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $5 and can be purchased in advance online at ticketsource.us/nfc -or- at the door the night of the performance.
Written by NFC Alumnus Johnathan Cooks, the show’s original run received the Florida College System Activities Association’s New Play Award in Spring 2015. The play features 10 local stars that include NFC students, alumni, employees, and community members.
Four Sons was previously slated to take to the NFC stage in April of 2020, but the pandemic halted the show’s production in the middle of the rehearsal process before placing a two-year pause on community theatre at North Florida College.
“After making a long-awaited return with this past spring’s production of Celebrate: A Musical Revue of the 80s (another original show), it just felt right to give Four Sons its chance on stage as well,” said Denise Bell, North Florida College’s director of community theatre. “I am glad we can continue the NFC Sentinel Upstage Players’ long tradition of showcasing the amazing talent within our six-county service area.”
Cast in the upcoming production are the following local stars:
Jay Hicks (Madison County) as Virgil Preston, Sr.
Dr. Jessica Webb (Madison County) as Kate Preston
Jenner Wallace (Madison County) as Virgil Preston, III
Hank Thompson (Madison County) as Victor Preston
Isaac Gonzales (Madison County) as Vincent Preston
Miguel Rosalio (Lafayette County) as Van Preston
Olivia Brookins (Jefferson County) as Whitney Preston
Caibre Johnson (Madison County) as Sheila Morris
Madison Hallmark (Lafayette County) as Hayden Bishop
Rebekah Tanner (Lowndes County) as Sue-Ellen Goode
Heading the production is Director Johnathan Cooks, Assistant Director Denise Bell, and Scenic Designer/Costume Coordinator Madison Hallmark.
MORE ABOUT THE SHOW: Four Sons, a dramatic exploration of a cycle of generational abuse, depicts a story that is too often kept locked within the doors of a seemingly “peaceful” family home. After spending their life apart, the Preston sons, and their respective relationships, are suddenly pulled back together when a family emergency forces them back to their grandparent’s home to confront the root of their crumbling family tree. Is there hope that at least one branch can grow into something beautiful? Or will the entire tree come crashing down uprooting everything else around it?
This play contains adult language and mature themes. Viewer discretion is advised.
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Photo #1: The cast of Four Sons receives notes from Director Johnathan Cooks.
Photo #2: (left to right) Actors Jenner Wallace (Madison County), Hank Thompson (Madison County), and Miguel Rosalio (Lafayette County) rehearse a scene from Four Sons.