Story of Roebling
A retired Knoch High School English teacher and a Knoch graduate have collaborated to bring the story of John Roebling and his historic construction of the Brooklyn Bridge to the stage in “The Man in the Window.”
The play, which focuses on the events surrounding the 13-year construction of the bridge, was chosen to be staged off Broadway in Midwinter Madness, a celebration of short plays in New York City.
Don Orwald, who retired from teaching after 30 years at Knoch, collaborated with Linda Harvey, a 1983 Knoch graduate who studied under Orwald and is now the owner of a public relations firm in Hershey. Harvey is an award-winning writer and designer as well as a professor at Susquehanna University. She was the president of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce for 12 years.
Now a resident of Texas, Orwald is an award-winning playwright and founder of the Orwald Arts Initiative, a program that raises money for scholarships at Butler County Community College.
Directing the play will be another Knoch graduate, Carrie Yacono, who also directed the New York City production of the show. Yacono has a bachelor of arts from Point Park University, a master’s from the University of Memphis and is a theatrical professional in the New York City area.
The Saxonburg Festival of the Arts, celebrating its 27th year, will be held Saturday and Sunday. Performances of “The Man in the Window” will be featured both days at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. in the Old Saxonburg Memorial Church on Main Street.
Admission to the play and the festival is free. Tickets are not needed for the play, but seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Except for the 5K, which starts at 8 a.m. Saturday, festival activities take place between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday and noon and 5 p.m. Sunday on Main Street and in Roebling Park.
Call 724-352-1400 for more information.
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