Producer’s Note:

“Into the Valley Below” takes us to back in time to a small town in Pennsylvania you have probably never heard of: Johnstown. It is a story with themes that still ring true today; how negligence of the few can create irreparable damage to the masses, but also how individual acts of kindness and bravery can protect and empower the vulnerable. “Into the Valley Below” marks the first play that I have produced, and I am thrilled and honored to have been a part of the process.

This production is also the first student-written and student-directed show we have put on at StageCoach. The passion and dedication of our student cast and crew has impressed me from our very first rehearsal. Our team is composed of students from all ends of Loudoun County; from elementary schoolers to high school seniors; from newbies who never stepped on a stage prior to auditions to lifelong actors with professional performing credits to their name. Directors Lily and Evan poured their hearts and souls into every aspect of this show. You will see that our creative team is not afraid of pushing the envelope, taking chances, and dreaming big. They have challenged and inspired me as a producer in ways I could not have imagined, and I can only hope that they have learned at least half as much from me as I have from them.

We at StageCoach are so proud to support this student-led work. The art our creative team, cast, and crew have developed represents the voices of a new generation of artists who are eager to make their mark on the world. And they are a force to be reckoned with. I have complete confidence that “Into the Valley Below” will inspire, entertain, and pull at the heartstrings of each and every one of you in the audience. Thank you for joining us in celebration of the creativity and talent of our students. Now, please allow yourself to be transported back to a very rainy Friday on May 31, 1889, to a little town called Johnstown.

–Torie Dunlap, Producer