By G. E. Shuman
I always love opportunities to use this, my humble column, to promote things of cultural importance to The World’s many and discriminating readers. It is now my privilege to do just that, for the second time in a month, and I am very grateful. I hope you will read on.

What I want to do here, this week, is to alert you to an opportunity that we all have, to not only support one of our state’s true, cultural phenomena, but also to re-visit a piece of important, local history. As a Barre resident for over 30 years, this particular piece of history is one of great interest to me.

Lost Nation Theater is the cultural phenomenon I refer to, and is a superb local artistic entity that continues to enlighten and enrich the lives of central Vermonters. STONE is the production that, I believe, all of us should see. It is a play which truly celebrates the unique heritage of Barre’s granite community, and it is returning this summer for a special 10th anniversary production from July 23 – August 9.

STONE, an LNT original written by the Founding Artistic Director, Kim Bent, won the inaugural Hathaway Prize from the Vermont Historical Society. “The play, full of traditional music and dance, brings to life the joys, sorrows and sacrifice of those native Vermonters and immigrants, who were driven- despite the dangers and often nearly certain death- either by artistic passion or financial necessity, to cut and carve Stone.”

Now, dear readers, here is the very most exciting part. After years of requests to bring this great show to Barre, Lost Nation Theater is actually mounting the production right here, in the Vermont Granite Museum! Personally, I love theater, art, and music, but also historical accuracy and reality. The fact that this wonderful play will be presented by the skilled cast of Lost Nation, in the museum itself, provides all of that. Through this play, the wise folks who attend it will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to peer into the lives of the granite workers and sculptors of the past, in a building in which some of those original Barre artisans actually produced their world famous sculptures. Truly, we all need to attend this show, at least once.

Here’s the when, where, and how of your getting to see this great production: STONE will be presented Thursdays through Sundays, July 23 – August 9, 2015. It will be performed at 7 p.m. on Thursdays, at 8 p.m. on Fridays, at 2 and 8 p.m. on Saturdays, and at 2 p.m. on Sundays. The ‘where’ is at the Vermont Granite Museum, 7 Jones Brothers Way, Barre, VT. The ‘how’ is that the cost of the Friday and Saturday evening shows are only $30, and the Thursday performances and all matinees are just $25. In addition, there is a special $15 Preview on Thursday July 23, and at the 2 p.m. Saturday matinee on July 25. Students and seniors 65+ get a $5 discount, and youth 11 and under are always just $10.

For tickets to this wonderful, exciting, educational production that all central Vermonters should be proud to attend, just call 802-229-0492, or visit lostnationtheater.org. As always, ENJOY!