Angie Mack Productions will present "Struggle," an original performance that will transport the audience into the world of domestic violence, at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, at Stevenson Auditorium.

Tickets for the show are $7. AMProductions is a new, nonprofit theater company under the direction of Angela Mack Williams, a former Orangeburg Consolidated School District Five drama and English teacher.

"Struggle" is a choreopoem, combining words, rhythm, music and dance to depict the verbal and physical abuse Williams said she has seen first-hand in the lives of women she has encountered. It is intended for mature audiences.

Williams said "Struggle" is designed to tug at the hearts of each audience member with its realistic portrayal of physical, emotional and psychological abuse. She said it is a timely performance, as October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

"Struggle" will be followed by "Stomp the Violence," a short step show celebrating awareness and honoring survivors of domestic violence.

A portion of the proceeds from Friday's show will be donated to CASA Family Systems of Orangeburg, a nonprofit organization that supports victims of domestic violence and sexual assault with 24-hour crisis counseling, emergency shelter, victim advocacy and support groups. CASA will be on-site the evening of the performance with counselors and informational brochures on domestic violence.

"I hope that some people will try to get help if they are a victim of domestic violence or help someone they know who's a victim," Williams said.

Annette Grevious, a cast member and performing arts professor at Claflin University, portrays a middle age housewife that is suppressed by her spouse and is in the throws of emotional and verbal abuse. Orangeburg native Angela Russell Mack plays a young woman who is the victim of severe physical abuse by her live-in boyfriend. Joy Vaughn, a student at South Carolina State University, portrays an elderly married woman who has suffered for many years.

Other cast members include Baige Allen-Nichols, John Graves, Elijah Corley, Stephanie Williams, Rashad Skinner, Amber Watson, Charley Jones III and Teahara Peterson.

"Struggle" was funded in part by a $425 subgrant from Orangeburg Arts Council.

AMProductions was founded by Williams in May 2007. She said her organization will incorporate several components, including a traveling carnival that will bring character education skits, puppets, arts and crafts and games to community organizations, churches and other groups.

Future events will include summer workshops and classes for all ages covering playwriting, improvisations, voice and speech, movement for the actor, life skills and actor preparation, directing and more.

For more information about AMProductions, call 803-860-1086.

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T&D Features Writer Candace Newson can be reached by e-mail at cnewson@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5540. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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