River & Main Theatre Company launches its first production, “This Is Rosewood – Tales From the Tavern".

The 90 minute one-man comedy written by Belleville playwright Peter Paylor, will be performed at the Belleville Club at 7:30pm.   (Doors open at 7pm).  

The play is a slice of small-town life as revealed in a series of stories told by tavern owner Stanley Olmstead, portrayed with a master’s touch by veteran stage actor, Rick Zimmerman. The show hits the road in May with productions planned in Belleville, Quinte West, Stirling, Tweed and Prince Edward County.

“Rosewood,” says Zimmerman, “is every small town. The one you grew up in or passed through or know someone from. It’s the town where the main street is called Main St. and the barber and the mayor are on a first name basis unless, of course, the barber and the mayor are one and the same.”

The new theatre company is a not-for-profit collective that plans on making Belleville the base for professional touring shows, rather than just a stop on the tour. “As theatre companies go,” says Lisa Morris, River & Main’s founding Chair, “we’re about as small as we could possibly be and we’re fine with that. If we can produce a few shows each year out of Belleville using local talent, we’ll be happy.”

The April 8 launch will feature Zimmerman performing excerpts from the show and a live performance of original instrumental music composed for the show by local favourite Joe Callahan. “We wanted to bring in another dimension,” says Paylor, “a soundtrack to the stories and we wanted to keep the small-town vibe and the local connection. Joe took the script and we couldn’t be happier with what he created for it.”

Tickets for the April 8 launch are $25 each with proceeds going to support production costs for the new venture.

Doors open at 7 pm and the performance will begin at 7:30.

For more information or to reserve tickets contact River & Main Theatre Company by email at riverandmaintheatre@gmail.com or by phone/text at  (613) 403-7329.