The Bay Tree Council for the Performing Arts in Red Bay has announced its 2018-19 season – starting with “The Clock Struck Twelve” by James Reach as the first production.

Auditions will be held Sep. 9 at 2 p.m. and Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Community Spirit Bank’s Weatherford Centre in Red Bay. Auditions will consist of cold readings from the book, and the cast will be composed of four men and five women, with older teenagers being accepted to play adult roles.

The show will be directed by Georgia Jeffreys.

“I’ve been in several plays, but this is my first play directing. I’m excited to channel my creative energy into something else,” Jeffreys said.

Growing up in Red Bay, Jeffreys participated in several BTCPA productions. “The Clock Struck Twelve” will be her first involvement since finishing graduate school. She said she found out at the beginning of August that the board voted to allow her to be a director and was then given charge of “The Clock Struck Twelve.”

“It’s a brand new play for me,” Jeffreys said.

Jeffreys has already begun familiarizing herself with the work and visualizing how she wants it to be portrayed. Since she is no stranger to the Weatherford Centre, Jeffreys said she knows what she has to work with and is having fun planning everything out.

“It’s fun imagining how to bring it to life and also trying to do justice by the book,” Jeffreys said.

In the play, characters Peggy, Gail and Mimi are a struggling singing team seeking shelter from a storm in the Thomas Mansion. The mansion has supposedly been haunted since Mr. Thomas was murdered by his grandson, Dick, who was identified as the killer by his sister Lucille.

Dick escaped, and Lucille had a nervous breakdown. Two years later to the night, they both return to the scene of the crime, and horrendous happenings occur leading up to a startling ending to the story.

“I’m interested in stories that are kind of off the beaten path, and I don’t think the BTCPA has done a production like this in a while,” Jeffreys said.

“The Clock Struck Twelve” will be presented Nov. 8-11 at the Weatherford Centre.

Call Beth Hammock at 256-356-9286 for information on group sales.