BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts' weekend production coincides with an election that heavily focused on women and reproductive rights.
“Ladies, How Dare You!" a production by the high school's theater and music departments, kicks off Friday and runs through Sunday.
The musical is set amid the women's suffrage movement of the early 20th century and explores the themes and sentiments during that time period.
It is co-written by playwright Liv Cummins and playwright and composer Rob Hartmann.
“The issues the characters are facing are still issues we are facing today," Hartmann said.
The story is centered around two traveling companions, wealthy socialite Lucretia Kingsley and her employee, a hitmaker and immigrant Dorothy Jones.
“The issues the characters are facing are still issues we are facing today."Rob Hartmann, playwright and composer
The duo are trying to travel to the Suffrage Parade of 1913 held in Washington D.C.
“Suffrage is about equality and human rights for all, and we need that now more than ever," Cummins said.
"It offers new themes to the group of current historical musicals which explore cultural shifts and elucidates the intersectionality between antisemitic racism and classism through a Polish/Jewish immigrant’s eyes, as well as the urban and rural divide so prevalent in our country today."
Student actors rise to the challenge
In the play, Kingsley and Jones run into trouble when their carriage breaks down and they have to rely on residents of a small town, according to a news release.
As they attempt to figure out a way to make it to the parade — it was attended by 250,000 people and was known as the first, large organized march for political rights — the main characters begin to cast doubt on what it means to be a woman in America.
The student production is led by Kelly Minner-Bickert, the school's artistic director, along with Erica Dickson, artistic director of vocal music.
"Watching our kids rise to the challenge of such a deep and layered new work has been exhilarating. With powerful and poignant music and lyrics, I’m certain audiences will leave feeling moved and thoroughly impressed," Minner-Bickert said.
"Ladies, How Dare You!" showtimes are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Tickets cost $7- $12 and can be purchased in advance. For info, click here.
Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts is located at 321 East Third St. in South Bethlehem.
