Suffolk News-Herald

A new Suffolk-based performing arts company, called The Original Performers, will make its debut Friday when it presents a performance titled,

&uot;Shackles&uot; at 7 p.m. in King’s Fork Middle School on Kings Fork Road. Marquisha Powell is the company’s founder and artistic director.

The cast of 28 include members of the Hurrah Players in Norfolk; college, high school and elementary students; medical and business personnel; and the U.S. Coast Guard unit.

Suffolk Parks & Recreation will sponsor the performances. Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased at the door.

Powell, an office manager at Hurrah Players, said she is quite excited to finally realize her dream of writing and directing her own plays. She is especially proud of starting a company in her hometown.

&uot;Suffolk has a lot of talent to offer and I am happy to help these young people showcase their talents. We hope that this play will inspire people of all ages,&uot; Powell said.

&uot;Shackles&uot; is a story of a young woman trying to pursue her dream of becoming a professional dancer and how choices affect her life and those of her family and friends.

Members of The Original Performers are Marquisha Powell, Laura Mathias, Laquisha Staten, Carol French, Melanie Brown, Kesha Davis, Mike Penn, Elaine Hall, Marsha Geary, Arron Porro, Alonzo Torres, Dorien Hart, Tiesha Swint, Rachel Burden, Kristi Hall, Rachel Pepper, Joy Swint, Jennifer Davenport, Kaye Bess, Lenecia Porro, Kara Saul, Cassandra Robinson, Dallon Davis, RaShanda Futrell, Dorothy Daily, Meguhan King, Heather Geary, and Marie Daily.

&uot;We hope that this play will inspire people of all ages by showing them that with strength, focus and determination nothing is impossible,&uot; said Powell.