Local celebrities Mark Dale and Sarah Raley-Dale, married last fall on national television’s “The Today Show,” are being featured in The Newtowne Players’ production of A.R.Gurney’s Love Letters.

The show is a special presentation on the new season’s schedule and is a fundraiser for the community theatre group. The performances will be just in time for Valentine’s Day on Friday and Saturday, Feb.10-11 at 8 p.m. 

In addition, there is a late Sunday afternoon reading on Feb. 12. This performance is set one hour later than the typical matinee and begins at 4:30 pm. The late afternoon show will feature two of The Newtowne Players finest performers, Linda Lagle (Cheaters) and John Giusti (War of the Worlds).

Gurney’s script is a unique and imaginative theatre piece comprised of letters that are exchanged over a lifetime. It’s a glimpse into the relationship between two people who grew up together, went their separate ways, but continued to share confidences. Love Letters is an evocative, touching, frequently funny but always telling study where what is implied is as revealing and meaningful as what is actually written down. 

“The Newtowne Players are thrilled to have Mark and Sarah participate in this event,” says Wendy Heidrich, artistic director and founder. “It couldn’t be more perfect for them or for us as we begin our second season here in the theatre. Their willingness to help us raise money speaks highly of the quality of volunteers we’ve had participating in all aspects of theatre since we first began. Mark and Sarah’s personal romantic history also make them a perfect match with the script and with a Valentine’s celebration.”

The Newtowne Players community theatre group is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. Any money the group makes goes back into the operation of the theatre and into future productions. Everyone involved with the theatre is a volunteer.

Over the past several months, The Newtowne Players sponsored several benefits and fundraising events for other community organizations, including the Hurricane Katrina Benefit with the Red Cross last September, the Tri-County Youth Services Benefit in November, the “Stuff a Bus” event for local soup kitchens in December and, most recently, the Winter Celtic Festival in January. The players also worked with the Patuxent Habitat for Humanities volunteer awards night and sponsored a children’s theatre workshop throughout the fall with student Molly Gates.

Tickets for the evening fundraising performances of Love Letters are $25 each. Tickets for Sunday’s late afternoon matinee are $15.00. All shows will be at Three Notch Theatre, located at 21477 South Coral Drive in Lexington Park. 

For more information or ticket reservations, call the theatre at 301-737-5447 or reserve tickets online at www.newtowneplayers.com.