New one-act will travel between local showings

The County Seat Theater Company is taking audience members along for the ride, as actors present the community theater's Minnesota festival competition piece starting Friday.

"Tracks" is a one-act play written by Peter Tarsi. The dramatic play is set on a well-traveled subway station where a group of strangers meet. Each person has arrived with limited personal belongings and they all claim to be in different cities and have no sense of time. Soon they learn there is no way out of the station, and learn an unfortunate truth.

County Seat will present its production of "Tracks" on March 25 at this year's Minnesota Association of Community Theatres one-act play festival in Glenwood. The bi-annual festival - which has seen numerous County Seat successes - had been on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"We always love the opportunity to present our work and learn from neighboring community theaters throughout our talented state," said co-director Joel Soukkala.

As part of the local performance, each night the cast and crew will follow contest protocol and

construct the set within a 10-minute time frame in front of the audience. It's good practice for the cast and gives audience members a better understanding of what the contest is like.

"This show really highlights the talent of our local actors," Soukkala said. "The roles are really meaty and complex and give each actor a lot to work with individually as well as cooperatively. This show is the true meaning of the word 'ensemble.' The themes within will have you pondering deeper meanings throughout."

The County Seat Theater Company will present local performances of "Tracks" at the

Encore Performing Arts Center in Cloquet March 17, 18, 30 and 31 at 7 p.m., and March 19, and April 1 at 2 p.m. The show will also be available on demand online March 31-April 2. Tickets can be reserved by calling the box office at 218-878-0071 or online at http://www.countyseat theater.com.

Prior to the show, audience members can stroll through the art gallery and view art from local artists. This production features works of art by Adam Swanson, a painter and muralist who is "fascinated by the way science fiction suggests a future for humanity

transformed by major environmental changes and technological innovations." There will also be a silent auction in the gallery, to help raise funds for travel expenses. Find the auction on the County Seat Theater Facebook page, where bidders can participate throughout the run of the show.

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If you go

The County Seat Theater in Cloquet presents its one-act competition piece, “Tracks,” March 17-19 and March 30-April 2. Tickets are available online or by calling 218-878-0071.