STAUNTON, Va. (WHSV) – Screens & Stages is WHSV’s streaming-exclusive segment covering all things pop culture and local arts, hosted by Michael Russo and Taylor Rizzari.
In this week’s episode, Michael and Taylor sit down with the director and some of the cast from Silver Line Theatre Exchange’s production of “Sylvia,” which just completed its opening weekend in downtown Staunton. Remaining shows run July 17-19 and July 24-25, and tickets are available through SLTE’s website.
Written by A.R. Gurney and directed by Jeremy West, “Sylvia” tells the story of Greg (Robert Zahm) and Kate (Erin Crouch Smith), recent empty nesters living in New York City. As Greg’s career winds down and Kate sees more opportunities in her work, Greg finds a dog, Sylvia (Ashley Calza), and decides to bring her home.
In conversation with WHSV, Crouch Smith discussed how the show finds comedy in tense moments that audience members may identify with.
“Even though we’re in very stressful situations — especially me, I’m in a very stressful situation — but I think the audience is going to really identify with that,” Crouch Smith said. “I give them a chance to use me as a conduit to laugh at the things that we stress out about in life.”
Watch the full episode in the video player above to see Michael and Taylor’s conversation with West, Crouch Smith and Calza.
New episodes of Screens & Stages release every Tuesday at 7 p.m. on WHSV’s website and the WHSV apps for mobile and streaming devices.
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