Second Stage

Second Stage

June 2023 :

Second Stage Season

Every year, Burning Coal Theatre uses its theatre space in Raleigh, NC to foster young and emerging innovative theatre talent in a series of new works and plays in the summer months. For more, see below. 

The 2024 Second Stage series will be announced here in the Spring. Learn more about last year’s Second Stage below.

Second Stage, also knows as our “What ‘Til You See This!” series, is 2-3 plays typically performed in repertory in June at our usual space, the Murphey School Auditorium (224 Polk St., Raleigh, NC 27604). It is an opportunity to experiment with form, present new works, and / or collaborate with up-and-coming artists.

There is no physical second performance location at Burning Coal’s space. The name is derived from the type of work typically seen on the smaller upstairs or second stages of larger theatres. Historically, these spaces have been a hub for new, innovative and contemporary works – exactly what we aim to bring to our summer series. 

We are thrilled to bring in three different Triangle-area professional performing artists and groups to present a wide array of unique work from June 7 – 25, 2023:

RUBY
Written and Performed by Susan Gross
On the Burning Coal Theatre stage
 
THE FACE OF EMMETT TILL
by Mamie Till Mobley with David Barr III
Performed by Pure Life Theatre
On the Burning Coal Theatre Stage
 
OR,
by Liz Duffy Adams
Performed by Switchyard Theatre
On the Burning Coal Theatre Stage
 
Learn more about each piece (including CONTENT WARNINGS) in the tabs below and catch them all to support local, professional, visceral theatre.
 
Burning Coal is committed to contributing as much as possible to the vitality of the Triangle’s theater community. That’s why, in addition to presenting four Main Stage plays each year, we also make our Murphey School Auditorium available to up-and-coming performing artists for our Second Stage Series.
PERFORMANCES FOR THIS PRODUCTION ARE NOW CONCLUDED.
 
——————
Pure Life Theatre and Burning Coal Theatre PRESENT:
 
THE FACE OF EMMETT TILL
 
by Mamie Till Mobley with David Barr III
Performed by Pure Life Theatre
On the Burning Coal Theatre Stage

This is the true-to-life dramatization of the lynching of 14-year-old Emmett Till told within a creative non-fictional format in Mamie Till Mobley’s own words.  The play chronicles the murder, its aftermath, and Mamie’s courage to show the world the TRUTH of what had happened to her son. This hate crime sparked the civil rights movement and while it inspired leaders like Rosa Parks – America still deals with the fatal effects of racial hatred and its violence to this day.

Content Note:

This play contains racial violence and description of child death.

Dates:

Friday June 9 at 7:30 pm

Sunday June 11 at 2pm and 7:30pm

Wednesday June 14 at 7:30 pm

Thursday June 15 at 7:30 pm

Saturday June 17 at 7:30 pm

Tickets: $25.50 – 30.00

Click here to purchase tickets.

PERFORMANCES FOR THIS PRODUCTION ARE NOW CONCLUDED.
 
—————–
Susan Gross and Burning Coal Theatre PRESENT:
 
RUBY
 
Written and Performed by Susan Gross*
On the Burning Coal Theatre stage
Synopsis: Ruby tells the story of one woman’s emotional journey after a miscarriage. It explores how she tries to cope with her grief, body issues, and anxiety. Part comedy, part tragedy, it examines how she tries to understand the loss, coupled with her continued desire to have a child, all the while surrounded by women who seem to have it all. But do they?
 
Content Note:
 
This play contains strong language, description of pregnancy loss, and mention of child death.
 

Dates: 

June 7, 8 at 7:30 pm

June 10th at 5 pm

June 17th at 5 pm 

June 18th at 2 pm and 6 pm

Tickets: $10

Click here to purchase tickets.

*Denotes Membership in Actors’ Equity Association.

Switchyard Theatre and Burning Coal Theatre PRESENT:

OR,

by Liz Duffy Adams

Performed by Switchyard Theatre

On the Burning Coal Theatre Stage

Synopsis: Aphra Behn, ex-British spy, will have fame and glory as England’s first female playwright if she can just finish her play by sunrise. But between her handsome patron King Charles II, free-spirited actress Nell Gwynne, and double agent William Scott – who may or may not be trying to murder the king – how can she possibly concentrate? Free love, politics and historical fiction abound in this door-slamming Restoration farce, that tells the true(ish) story of a night in the life of the literal first lady of the stage.

Content Note:

This play contains strong language, sexual content, and adult situations.

Dates:
Saturday June 10th at 2pm
 
Friday June 16th at 7:30pm
 
Saturday June 17th at 2pm
 
Friday June 23 at 7:30pm
 
Saturday June 24 at 7:30pm
 
Sunday June 25 at 2pm
 
Tickets: $10.00 – $25.00
Lobby interior