AMBRIDGE — After two years of sawing, nailing, painting and plastering, it's finally showtime at the Iron Horse Community Theatre.
The Ambridge theater, at 348 Maplewood Ave., debuts Friday and Saturday with the two-character drama "Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune" from Broadway playwright Terrance McNally.
"It's a love story, but an unusual love story," Iron Horse president and founder London Cain said. "I wanted something a bit edgy to start out, and it also was turned into a movie with Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer, so there's name recognition there."
The Iron Horse's 68 seats are all sold for opening weekend. Repeat performances are June 8 and 9 and June 15 to 17, all at 7:30 p.m. except for the June 17 matinee at 2. Tickets are $15, with students and seniors getting a $2 discount.
Theatergoers can socialize ahead of time or during intermission in the theater's lobby or upstairs lounge, both of which will offer refreshments. Upstairs will be self-serve coffee and desserts. Local artists' works will adorn the walls.
In the cozy theater itself, couples can upgrade to one of the three bistro tables elevated above the regular seats, where they'll receive a fancy cheese and snack plate, for $50 a person. Those sold out quickly, too.
Iron Horse has steam.
"Our recent fundraiser demonstrated the people of Ambridge and surrounding communities are very interested in supporting the arts in general and our new theater in particular," Cain said.
That May 4 gala fundraiser scheduled to be on the theater's rooftop, but moved inside due to high wind and rain, attracted guests from Sewickley, Bellevue, Leetsdale, Baden and Allegheny County's North Hills, along with the Ambridge area.
A middle school reading teacher and head of the drama program at Moon Area High School, Cain had considered other towns but liked the feel and affordability of Ambridge, largely inspired by "Rust Belt Boy: Stories of an American Childhood," a book of essays and stories set in Ambridge from native author Paul Hertneky.
Many volunteers, including Robert Morris University students, took time over the last two years to help renovate the vacant building that's now a community theater.
"Word of mouth is the biggest thing, and we're trying to get established, not just for this building, but the quality of the shows here," Cain said.
"Frankie and Johnny" is indicative of the adult-oriented shows the Iron Horse sometimes will offer.
"While the play is warm, romantic and often humorous, it has highly grown-up themes and language and situations not appropriate for young audiences," Cain said.
The Iron Horse Theater also will offer family fare, like the June 29 and 30 "Heroes & Villains" musical revue featuring popular Disney tunes.
"On Golden Pond," a dramatic play adapted into an Oscar-nominated film with Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda, will be staged September 28 and 29 and Oct. 5 and 6, and Oct. 12 to 14.
"I wanted something more familiar," Cain said.
Auditions for "On Golden Pond" will take place June 19 and 20.
"I've heard from people who've said 'I've never acted before, but I'd like to try out; can I?'" Cain said. "Absolutely."
The theater will offer Summer Acting Workshops for children in grades 5 to 8.
Closing out 2018 will be Margaret Edson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Wit."
As busy as Iron Horse is about to get, Cain already is looking ahead to 2019, hoping by that summer to have a beautiful outdoor garden in an adjoining property he bought at a sheriff's sale. Theatergoers could mingle there ahead of time or catch an outdoor performance.
Coupled with the burgeoning activities like wine tastings and arts, crafts and garden festivals in Ambridge's Historic District on the other side of town, the Iron Horse is poised to bring forth a more artful and entertaining side to Ambridge.
"That's exactly what we're trying to do, promote Ambridge," Cain said. "We're trying to get people to understand Ambridge is a nice place to come to, not just for our theater, but everything else."