News: (Charlotte Observer) H.L. Hunley to rise again on the stage of theaters

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<center>H.L. Hunley to rise again on the stage of theaters
From the Charlotte Observer</center>

CHARLESTON - A Chicago theater troupe is preparing to stage a new play based on the story of the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley.

Members of the Actors' Center of Chicago Production Company plan to visit and research the Hunley, the first sub in history to sink an enemy warship, in its temporary home at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center in North Charleston.

The play "Raising Blue" by G. Riley Mills is to open Feb. 13 in Chicago for a four- six-week run. The title refers to the Hunley's exterior blue light.

Charleston's Footlight Players, headed by artistic director Sheri Grace Wenger, is negotiating with the Actors' Center to bring "Raising Blue" to the Footlight Players theater as its season opener in August.

"We are still talking to the Footlight board about this, but can't make an official announcement until the board officially votes and gives its approval," Wenger said.

A member of the Chicago theater staff saw the Footlight Players theater and thought it would be the perfect venue for a Southern premiere of "Raising Blue."

Lance Gordon, owner of the Actors' Center, and director Adam Thiesen plan to tour the Footlight Players' theater Monday. The purpose of the visit is to give cast members help with their preparations, Gordon said.

Today, the group was to visit the Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center and board a boat for a tour of the Fort Sumter National Monument.

"With these tours, we feel they will really get a feel of the place," said Hope Grayson, president of the Footlight Players board.

Grayson said an August premiere of the play would be a fund-raiser for the theater and perhaps also for the future Hunley museum.