Lancaster Players to offer one-woman play

LANCASTER—The Lancaster Players president Luke Rawls recently announced an original, one-woman show, “Teddy’s Piece,” April 17-19 at The Playhouse, 631 Chesapeake Drive, White Stone. Shows will begin at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday.

While working in schools and communities all over the country, author and actor Rema Keen began to realize that storytelling and the oral traditions that once connected families were fast becoming a lost art.

Many people no longer knew the stories of their own lineage. Determined to preserve her own family’s history, Keen turned to the person who had shaped so much of it—her grandmother, Teddy.

What began as a simple conversation between a granddaughter and her grandmother has grown into “Teddy’s Piece,” an award-winning theatrical journey.

“‘Teddy’s Piece’ was born on a cold January afternoon when we sat down with my grandmother, Teddy, turned on a tape recorder and asked her one question,” Keen recalls. “Eight hours later, we were still listening—laughing, crying and discovering stories that had shaped generations of our family.”

From life in the coal camps of Virginia and West Virginia to first loves, first train rides and the fierce pull of the mountains she called home, Teddy’s memories unfolded with humor, grit and breathtaking honesty.

The play celebrates far more than one woman’s life. It honors the strength, resilience and quiet heroism of countless women whose stories often go untold. “After every performance, women approach me to share their own memories—proof that when we tell one story with truth, we invite others to find their own voice,” Keen says. She and several family members will join audiences after each performance for conversation and reflection.

Over the years, “Teddy’s Piece” has evolved, taking on a life of its own, but its heart remains unchanged: a tribute to family, to the power of storytelling and to the legacy we carry within us. Teddy’s wisdom, humor and no-nonsense spirit shine through every scene.

“Our audiences are invited to experience this unforgettable journey—one that may just inspire them to remember, preserve, and share the stories that shaped them,” said Rawls.