Clarks Summit Composer Creates a World Premiere Musical with Award-Winning Playwright

Liz Feller of Clarks Summit and Ed Simpson of Greensboro, North Carolina, have collaborated on a new musical, The Amazing Goldin, that has its world premiere production at The Northeast Theatre in downtown Scranton, through December 16. Mr. Simpson is a winner of the Los Angeles Critics Circle Award and the Garland Award for Playwrighting, and has written five published plays which receive regular production nationwide. He also writes for screen and television. Ms. Feller has been writing music for productions at The Northeast Theatre since 2002, and has worked on other projects in the area. This is her first full musical, professionally produced.

The Amazing Goldin follows the story of a twelve year old boy whose stage manager cousin sneaks him into the back stage of Poli’s Theatre (currently the Ritz on Wyoming Avenue) in 1921 to meet Horace Goldin, the magician famous for being the first to saw a lady in half. The boy’s father has recently lost an arm in a mining accident, and the boy secretly hopes that the man who can saw a lady in half and put her back together again, might be able to do something similar for his father. The two form a friendship that teaches the boy to be a man, and the man how to live his life.

Based on a radio play Mr. Simpson wrote for Lackawanna Rails, a joint project of The Northeast Theatre and WVIA-FM, The Amazing Goldin took musical form courtesy of the F. Lammot Belin Scholarship of the Waverly Community House. It is being professionally produced by The Northeast Theatre, where it will run through December 16.

The Amazing Goldin is suitable for all ages, and is a great way for families to celebrate the holidays; Performance Space at the Hotel Jermyn, Thursdays at 7 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m. Ticket prices are $23 general, $17 seniors, and $6 for students. Thursday performances are Cheap-as-a-Movie when tickets are $8 ($6 for students).

PlayPass members may make reservations and are eligible for discounts at six downtown restaurants (130 Brixx, Blues Street Cafe, Faccia Luna, Martini Lounge, Sambuca Grille, Vida: a Tapas Bar); all others may purchase tickets in advance at www.thenortheasttheatre.us, by phone 570-558-1515, or in person at the box office (Wednesdays through Saturdays after 3 p.m.)