Lightwire Theater returns to Sumter Opera House

FROM STAFF REPORTS

If you are one of the lucky ones that experienced Lightwire Theater's "Moon Mouse" last year at the Sumter Opera House, you understand the statement "you've never seen anything like it."

If you missed the performance, mark your calendar for Lightwire Theater's return to Sumter on April 5 with the popular children's story "The Ugly Duckling."

Performed in total darkness, with only the colorful neon lights emitting from each costume, four performers will use a cutting-edge blend of puppetry, technology, dance and music to tell the story.

Each custom handmade costume - many of which take more than 200 hours to create and use up to 16 AA batteries each show - features varying colors of neon light with a black background. Common household materials such as PVC pipe, aluminum rods, election signs, skateboard wheels, fishing poles, zip ties and duct tape are used with electroluminescent wires providing the lighting. Back packs are used to help define peaks and angles.

"What you see will be a truly unforgettable theatrical experience," Sumter Opera House Cultural Manager Seth Reimer said in a news release. "The characters appear to magically move across the stage as the production unfolds. This is a show that the audience is going to love, no matter if they are young or simply young at heart. It's a show for the entire family."

The family friendly show, which began in New York City and is now based in New Orleans, has been featured on NBC's "America's Got Talent" and Tru TV's "Fake Off." They have appeared all over the world including Hong Kong, Estonia, Canada, Belarus, China and Abu Dhabi.

"Many people have seen them on television and know how captivating the performance is," Reimer said. "But it's many times more impressive in person. This will easily become a fan favorite performance."

Lightwire Theatre will present "The Ugly Duckling" at the Sumter Opera House, 21 N. Main, at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 5. Tickets are $20 to $28. Ample free parking is available downtown.

For more information about this and any other upcoming show, visit www.SumterOperaHouse.com or call (803) 436-2616.