MISSION STATEMENT: Powerstories is a nonprofit professional theatre whose mission is to stage true stories of women and girls to open minds and hearts
and inspire action worldwide.

RSVP for FREE Pre-Show Event: Beyond the Story: Witch Hunt

On Stage July 11-20, 2025

Venue: Stageworks Theatre

Show Summary Beyond the Story - June 29 FREE Pre-Show Expert Talk Creative Team & Cast Digital Playbill Call to Artists - Witch Hunt Art Wall Save on Dinner Before or After the Show

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CLICK HERE to Volunteer to be a greeter or playbill/seater at Witch Hunt and see the show for FREE on the date you volunteer.

In Witch Hunt or, A Discourse on the Wonders of the Invisible World, written by Liz Duffy Adams, ten years after Abigail Williams, instigator of the witch trials, disappeared from Salem, she turns up at the tavern of her fellow ex-witch-hunter, Mercy Lewis. About to leave the colonies forever, it’s her last chance to understand the madness that overtook them. But with war threatening northern New England yet again, Mercy and her fellow townspeople are in no mood for Abigail’s doubts, which suggest complicity with the devil. And just when everything is most dangerously tense—the devil himself shows up.

Step into our enchanted circle as we celebrate 25 years of artistry, passion, and community—and YOU, our cherished sorcerer of support, are at the center of it all! To mark this momentous occasion, we’re conjuring exclusive $25 discounted tickets and a limited number of FREE tickets for you, one per guest, to our thrilling 25th anniversary season. The magic begins with Witch Hunt, a production brimming with intrigue, charm, and so many laughs. Call forth your coven and join us in weaving history. Let’s enchant every seat and make our 25th season a celebration for the ages!

Witch Hunt begins at 7:30 PM. Doors open at 7:00 PM. Matinee begins at 2:00 PM. Doors open at 1:30 PM.

Ticket Prices:

25th Anniversary Play Ticket – discounted to $25

25th Anniversary FREE Play Ticket – one per guest

Sponsor Ticket Prices:

(Includes name in playbill. Extra dollars are 25th anniversary gift to theatre to continue to produce important true stories.)

Chief Witch – $250

Vice Witch – $100

Witchling – $75

Buy Tickets!

Guest Speaker

Alaina Scapicchio

Alaina Scapicchio is a doctoral candidate in the Department of History at the University of South Florida. She researches the commemoration and memory of early American witch trials. Her work has been featured by the National Park Service, the Massachusetts Historical Society, and the Organization of American Historians.

June 29 – 4-5:30 PM

Join us for Beyond the Story, a free pre-show conversation that delves into the historical world behind Witch Hunt or, A Discourse on The Wonders of the Invisible World, opening July 11. Guided by expert speaker Alaina Scapicchio, this event offers a deeper look into the real events that shaped the play and the legacy they left behind. This is your chance to meet the cast and crew of Witch Hunt, hear from an expert, and ask your own questions. Admission is free.

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What did Abigail Williams, Mercy Lewis, and the other residents of Salem really experience during the witch trials of 1692? For over 300 years, scholars have tried to understand the circumstances behind the deadliest witch hunt in U.S. history. Witch Hunt or, A Discourse on The Wonders of the Invisible World invites the viewer to consider the afterlife of the trials amongst the people who were most affected by them. Join USF Ph.D. candidate Alaina Scapicchio as she returns the play to its historical context and discusses the significance of this event throughout American History. Come find out if the Devil was actually loose in 1692 Salem.

RSVP here!

Creative Team

Clareann Despain – Director

Jade Rivera – Assistant Director

Bree Brand – Stage Manager

John Millsap – Technical Director/Set

Lindsay Ellis – Costumes

CJ Marshall – Lighting Design

Cast

Megan Phillips as Abigail Williams

Holly Marie Weber as Mercy Lewis

Riley Calahan as Rebekkah

Roxanne Fay as Rev. Peck

T.R. Butler as John Fox

Kevin Tydlaska-Dzeidzic as Judah

We are summoning a spellbinding Digital Art Wall to delve into the mysteries of Witch Hunt—Hidden Herstories… Persecution—a chilling reflection on fear, injustice, and resilience through the centuries.

Whether your artistry flows through brush, lens, or digital enchantments, we call on creators to weave their magic into this visual cauldron of storytelling. Share your interpretation of witch hunts—ancient or modern—and the echoes they cast in today’s world.

Submission Details:

Theme: Witch Hunt….. Hidden Herstories… Persecution

Medium: Any visual art form that can be submitted as a photo

Deadline: June 23, 2025

Join us in conjuring a tapestry of haunting truths and resilient spirits. Your art can help illuminate the shadows and rekindle the stories that refuse to be silenced.

We can’t wait to see your creations!

Submit your Artwork here!

Powerstories is working with local restaurants near Stageworks to give you the opportunity for a discounted dinner before or after “Witch Hunt” during the show’s run of July 11-20. We will update the website with links and locations to partnering restaurants.

Our first partner is Maloney’s Local Irish Pub, 1120 E Kennedy Blvd., Tampa.

Patrons save 15% off your bill with your digital/print ticket before or after the show.

https://www.maloneyslocalirishpub.com

Hours of Operation: Monday – Sunday – 11:00 am until 12:00 am

Performances Made Possible by Our Generous Sponsors:

Hillsborough County Florida, Gobioff Foundation, Powers Inspiration Fund, Howell & Thornhill, Jewish Press of Tampa Bay, Culture Owl, and Tampa Beacon

Locations

Here’s where we will be bringing theatre to you next!

JULY 2025 – WITCH HUNT OR, A DISCOURSE ON THE WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD
Stageworks Theatre,
1120 E Kennedy Blvd., Tampa
SEPTEMBER 2025 – ADA AND THE ENGINE
Stageworks Theatre,
1120 E Kennedy Blvd., Tampa
NOVEMBER 2025 – CADILLAC CREW
The Studio @620,
620 1st Ave S, Saint Petersburg

Physical address

4237 W El Prado Blvd
Tampa, FL 33629
Driving Directions

Mailing address

PO Box 18021
Tampa, FL 33679

813-205-3451

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