Burton talent shines during The Andersonville Trial play

FLINT — Two apprentices and students from Burton will shine on the Flint Youth Theatre stage when The Andersonville Trial comes to town Feb. 12-27. Apprentices Alex Ghattas and Danielle Verkennes and students Mark Vukelich and Cody Walt will be some of the many area residents featured in the production, which tells the true story of the dramatic post-Civil War trial that captivated the country.

The Andersonville Trial is based on transcripts from the 1865 trial of Captain Henry Wirz.

A Confederate officer during the Civil War, Wirz was tried for his command of the notorious prisoner of war camp in Andersonville, Georgia, where, by his own account, a hundred Union soldiers died each day of disease, starvation and neglect.

In his defense, Wirz claimed he was only following orders, believing he was relieved of any personal responsibility because he was performing his duty as a soldier.

“In the first two stories we presented this season, Angel in the Night and It’s A Wonderful Life, when the central characters encountered injustice and intolerance in their worlds, they were spurred into action,” said William P. Ward, FYT executive artistic director and the play’s director. “In The Andersonville Trial, the central character, by some accounts, not only fails to respond but actually believes he has done the right thing in not having done so. By contrast, this story is the virtual antithesis of the two previous ones.

“This story is about each of us taking an uncompromising look into our hearts to discover who we really are deep within ourselves. And the story has deep resonances for us today as a country—leaping across the intervening 145 years and hitting us smack in the face.”

Performances are 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12-13, 19-20 and 26-27 with matinees at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 20 and 27. Performances are at FYT, 1220 E. Kearsley St., on the campus of the Flint Cultural Center.

Advance tickets are $14 for adults, $12 for children and are available at FYT, by calling 810-237-1530 or online at www.flintyouththeatre.org.

Day of performance tickets are $16 for adults, $14 for children. The Andersonville Trial is recommended for ages 10 and up. A conversation with the creative team will follow each performance.

Members of the production company include FYT Associate Artistic Director Walter Hill; FYT Resident Artists Andrea M. Anthony, Deirdre S. Baker, Kody C. Jones and Jean McDaniel; FYT Junior Resident Artists Jordan Robert Climie and Bary Lehr, FYT Facility Rental Technician, Gregory J. Travis, FYT Guest Artists, Karla Marie Dzurak, Paul Gregory Nelson, Nikki Sabo and Brian Van Camp; FYT Apprentices, Josh Clark, Alex Ghattas, Maggie Kinney, Aaron Snider and Danielle Verkennes and 15 middle and high school students from Flint and Genesee County.

The Andersonville Trial is sponsored by The Whiting Foundation.

Details or to reserve tickets: Call 810-237-1530 or visit www.flintyouththeatre.org. —- Natalie Blythe