Lawrenceville Welcomes Playwright John Ahlin

The Lawrenceville Tourism and Trade Association welcomed playwright John Ahlin to town by hosting a meet and greet tea Thursday. Ahlin penned the play  which is now showing at the . The event was held at the downtown. Tea from was in the theme of Ahlin's play-- like "Earl Gray Area"-- was served as visitors mixed and mingled.

The Aurora Theatre's is the third location to produce the play. Ahlin says Gray Area has also been performed in New York and Los Angeles, and now for the first time it is playing in the South. "Which I'm so excited about because of the nature of the play," said Ahlin. "The reaction here has just been splendid."

Not only is Ahlin a playwright, but he is also an actor. He served as the understudy for Nathan Lane and John Goodman in Waiting for Godot on Broadway. He's also appeared in Journey's End-- which won the TONY Award in 2007 for Best Revival-- One Mo' Time and Macbeth.

Ahlin said the inspiration for this play came from when "An African-American woman described to me, how a little white child said 'I hate you,' just based on her skin color," said Ahlin. "She told me this story and I couldn't think of what to say. I stood there with my mouth open. And that really bugs me. This play is what I have to say about that."

Gray Area is performing at the Aurora Theatre until October 30th. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 8:00pm. There are also weekend performances at 2:30pm. Tickets are $20 to $30. The tickets for the 10am Wednesday Discount Matinee are $16.