Loutit District Library commemorates wedding anniversary of John and Abigail Adams with stage play

Reservations are now open for this free performance

October 25 marks the 250th wedding anniversary of Founding Father and architect to the Constitution John Adams and his wife Abigail.

To commemorate this anniversary, the Loutit District Library with Gem Theatrics, Wednesday, Oct. 15, present an inside look at their unique relationship with the stage production by Grand Rapids playwright Mary G. Kron titled "My Dearest Friend."

The performance begins at 7 p.m. in the Grand Haven Community Center's theatre, 421 Columbus Avenue. Admission is free, however, reservations are required. Seating is limited to the capacity of the Grand Haven Community Center's theatre.

For reservations, visit www.loutitlibrary.org or call 616-842-5560, ext. 200.

This touching two-character play re-creates the lives and love of John (Gary Mitchell) and Abigail (Mary Beth Quillin) Adams and highlights their struggles to survive separation during the toils and triumphs of the early days of our country. The founding of our nation and the revolution fought to sustain it are brought vividly to life. Abigail's progressive views on slavery and women's rights are highlighted.

Gary E. Mitchell is a Grand-Award winning actor who has appeared on many Grand Rapids, MI stages, including Actors' Theatre, Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, Jewish Theatre Grand Rapids, and Heritage Theatre Group. An educator, Gary teaches at Davenport University and Thomas M. Cooley Law School, and has also taught acting classes at the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre. Favorite shows include 1776, The Merchant of Venice, Lost In Yonkers, The Rainmaker, and Conversations With My Father. Most recently, he appeared in Grand Valley State University's Shakespeare Festival as Leonato in their 2013 production of Much Ado About Nothing.

Mary Beth Quillin is an actor, teacher, storyteller and director who also appeared on the stages of the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, Actors' Theatre, Jewish Theatre Grand Rapids, Community Circle Theatre and Heritage Theatre Group. Favorite shows include Enchanted April, Top Girls and Talking With. Her most recent directing credits include the World Premiere of Four Wounded Women, by Grand Rapids playwright Michael Smolinski and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at East Grand Rapids High School.

Together they have appeared in Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Stephen Vincent Benet's Stories of America, Sight Unseen, Macbeth, Communicating Doors and Love Letters.

Loutit District Library is located at 407 Columbus Avenue in Grand Haven, Michigan. LDL serves 35,540 residents of the City of Grand Haven, the City of Ferrysburg, Grand Haven Charter Township, Robinson Township and that part of Port Sheldon Township in the Grand Haven Area Public School District. LDL offers a collection of over 145,581 items and provides educational, informative, cultural, and recreational programs for all ages. LDL is a member of the Lakeland Library Cooperative.