The production in Chelsea, MI, will play to June 2 under the direction of PRTC artistic director Guy Sanville. Michigan native Letscher is featured in a cast that includes Grant R. Krause, Michelle Mountain, Wayne David Parker, Jim Porterfield, Phil Powers, Nicaolas J. Smith, Kathryn Mayer and Rhiannon Ragland.
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Opening is April 13. Performances play The Purple Rose Theatre Company's home at 137 Park Street, Chelsea, MI.
Before moving to New York City to begin his acting career, playwright Brian Letscher played football for the University of Michigan and was later a football coach for a Division I university for five years.
"I lived, breathed and ate football," he said in production notes. "I swallowed it whole, and it nearly did me as well." When the Lights Come On is "a highly personal story centered around a Division I football coach in the early years of his career, trying to keep his priorities straight as he desperately fights to recruit the star player who will save his job," according to PRTC.
Director Sanville stated, "We could not be more delighted to present Brian Letscher's first play. Brian is a wonderful actor and writer who knows the life of a coach first-hand. When the Lights Come On is a funny and moving new play about major college coaches and the women in their lives, focusing on loyalty, commitment and the escalating price of winning at all costs."
The creative team includes set designer Dennis G. Crawley, lighting designer Dana White, costume designer Vikte Jankus Moss, prop designer Danna Segrest and sound designer Quintessa Gallinat. Stefanie Din stage manages with Michelle DiDomenico and Heather Hummel as assistant stage managers.
For more information, visit www.purplerosetheatre.org.
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PRTC is the resident Equity theatre founded by actor-writer Jeff Daniels in his hometown, 60 miles west of Detroit. Daniels is currently performing Off-Broadway in the Manhattan Theatre Club production of Blackbird.
