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“Prelude to a Kiss” opens Feb. 17 at the Lincoln Theatre in Mount Vernon, produced by the Theater Arts Guild. This romantic comedy begins with a chance encounter when Rita, a beautiful, bohemian, eccentric bartender, meets Peter, an attractive, bright, slightly geeky publisher. Despite her secret fear of the world and hesitancy to invest in joy, the two fall in love and marry. Then, at their wedding reception, another chance meeting between Rita and a frail Old Man completely alters the course of all three lives.

“Prelude” is about how we show up in our lives and how we deal with fear and loss, the Guild’s press release states and calls it “sweet and funny, romantic and poignant – the course of this play is a profound statement on the fragility of life and how every minute matters.”

Craig Lucas wrote his play in 1990. It has been on Broadway. It is directed by Angela Marinella and includes jazz vocalist Joan Penney and her band. The trio will be on stage throughout the show and also perform a 30-minute pre-show.

Shows are weekends through March 5. Tickets: 360-336-8955; lincolntheatre.org/live-stage-prelude-kiss.

Source: Theater Arts Guild