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Powerstories' latest production strikes a personal chord with founder

 
Betty, portrayed by actress Lisa Negron, tries to cheer up her kids on Christmas in the Powerstories production of Twelve. The kids, portrayed by Jake Perez, Elyse Mulholland, Samantha Bollinger, Ava Mesa and Ben Avriett, are sad because Dad is not home for Christmas and there is no food for dinner. Photo courtesy of Powerstories Theatre.
Betty, portrayed by actress Lisa Negron, tries to cheer up her kids on Christmas in the Powerstories production of Twelve. The kids, portrayed by Jake Perez, Elyse Mulholland, Samantha Bollinger, Ava Mesa and Ben Avriett, are sad because Dad is not home for Christmas and there is no food for dinner. Photo courtesy of Powerstories Theatre.
Published Nov. 22, 2017

In the upcoming musical Twelve, Powerstories Theatre will present a holiday story revolving around a single mother who's working as a waitress in 1950 San Diego.

For Powerstories founder Fran Powers, the production represents an account she crafted from real-life experiences.

This is an original musical I wrote about my parents," Powers wrote in an email. "My mother converted to Catholicism when she was a young woman and it altered her life tremendously."

Betty, the single mother, struggles to put food on the table for her two young daughters. As she is serving lunch at the restaurant, a sailor walks in the door and asks her one important question. Her answer starts their life journey together.

"This is a story that will warm your heart and renew your faith in the strength of love, prayer and commitment," Powers wrote. "I am honored and proud to be sharing my parents' love story with the world."

The show premieres at 8 p.m. on Nov. 30 in the Powerstories Theatre, 2105 W Kennedy Blvd. Performances will continue through Dec. 17 with Thursday-Saturday performances starting at 8 p.m. and Sunday's at 2 p.m. Find tickets at powerstories.com

Tickets are now available: $25 for general admission, $20 for seniors, $15 for students with ID. Order by phone, (813) 253-2000 or online at powerstories.com.

Powerstories Theatre is a theatre production company with a mission of staging true stories to open minds and hearts and inspire action worldwide. Its fourth season will continue in 2018 with the Vietnam-based drama A Piece Of My Heart, the parenthood comedy Motherhood Out Loud and Calendar Girls, the story of four women who go against the traditions of a hidebound women's group and pose nude for a charity calendar.