Springfield Contemporary Theatre opens 2017 with the Olivier-winning drama Blackbird by David Harrower. Directing the production, and making his SCT debut, is Albert Pertalion, who retired to the Nixa area two years ago after running a performing arts center at Georgia Southern University Albert had already directed West Side Story at Springfield Little Theatre, and wanted to work with SCT. Asked by Lou Schaffer and Rick Dines what he might want to direct, Albert immediately said " Blackbird ! They said they had wanted to do it for two or three years but could not find a director who felt capable of it. Unceremoniously, I said, 'I am he!'" Pertalion readily admits it's not an easy show to direct, but feels lucky to have been able to cast Adie Williams and Jeff Carney in the lead roles of Una and Ray. Albert saw a New York production of Blackbird and said to himself, "I can do better! Forgive me, but I believed that--and I have done better!" Adie Williams's character Una was 12 years
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