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Theatre Troupe Tells True Stories About 2011 Flood

BLOOMSBURG — A theatre troupe in Bloomsburg took true stories from the devastating flooding of September 2011, as well as the stories of recovery, and tur...

BLOOMSBURG -- A theatre troupe in Bloomsburg took true stories from the devastating flooding of September 2011, as well as the stories of recovery, and turned them into a play.

“They delivered us 6,000 trays of vegetable lasagna.  Each tray could serve 10 people,” said actress Elizabeth Dowd, delivering her monologue from the state inside the Alvina Krause Theatre in Bloomsburg.

She was just one of 70 actors who were part of the latest original play that told the real stories of the hardships faced after the September floods of 2011 washed out much of the town.

Written and directed by Gerard Stropnicky, the play was co-produced by the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble and the Bloomsburg University Players.

“We had done previous flood stories after the 2006 flood and when this one hit, people were coming out all muddy saying `hey you guys going to do another flood stories play, we got flood stories now, we got flood stories, too,” said Stropnicky.

Hence the birth of "Flood Stories, Too" which showcase stories of what people experienced after Tropical Storm Lee struck Bloomsburg.

“I am part of the East End Fire Company in Danville and basically we were just pumping out basements,” said cast member Earl Martz, who told his own life-saving story as a first responder.

“While we were pumping out basements, there was a call for a boat rescue so we went to a guy`s house and actually saved him because he was stuck in his house,” said Martz.

Dowd played Eileen Chapman, the director of a faith-based program APAGE, who was put in charge of the recovery efforts.

“Which was an enormous task and she has military background, she was in the Marine Corps and she is an organizational wizard,” said Dowd.

The play includeed musical performances provided by the Bloomsburg Bicenntial Choir.

“It`s full of song and dance and it`s full of laughter, there`s a lot of humor that happens,” said Stropnicky.

The play runs March 7th through the 17th with matinees shows on Saturday.

As for the cost, it is donation based with customers paying what they wish.

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