Charlotte A. Gibson's new play, Lost Creek Township, receives its world premiere at New Brunswick's Crossroads Theatre April 8. The play officially began previews April 1 and runs through May 16.

Set in Indiana after the Civil War has ended, Lost Creek Township is the story of a prosperous "all-colored" town thrown into turmoil when an African-American stranger is accused of murdering a white sheriff. Other plays by Gibson include Dawn and Still Dark, Valentine's Day (When Kisses Just Don't Cut It) and the Joseph Jefferson Award-nominated The Temple.

Originally presented last year at Crossroads Theatre's Genesis Festival, Township received an award from the Kennedy Center Funds for New American Plays as well as being co-sponsored by AT&T On stage (sponsors of 1999 works like Ain and David Gordon's The First Picture Show and Michael John LaChiusa's Marie Christine).

Reggie Montgomery (Spunk, The Colored Museum) directs Cedric Turner, Elizabeth Van Dyke (Zora Neale Hurston), David Wolos Fonteno, Mark Gerald Douglas (Bring in Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk), Joseph Edward, Wiyatta Fahnbulleh, Avery Glymph (Hope is the Thing With Feathers), Lynda Gravatt (Helen Hayes nominated for The Old Settler), Gena Bardwell, Brian J. Coffey, Magaly Colimon, Helmar Augustus and 11 year old Somerset local Vanity Jenkins.

Designing Township are Donald Eastman (sets), Felix E. Cochren (costumes) and Frances Aronson (lighting). Tickets are $35-$24.50 and available by calling the Crossroads box office at (732) 249-5560. Crossroads Theatre is located at 7 Livingston Ave.

-- By Christine Ehren