TAMPA, Fla. — Actor Seth Henley-Beasley is playing a character who loves mountain climbing but is afraid of heights.
What You Need To Know
On The Town at Stageworks Theatre
Touching the Void opens January 16 and runs througn February 1
The venue is located at 1120 E. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa
Price for entry is $50, with discounts
“If you are not super experienced with like theatre and you think ‘I’m going to sit around in a stuffy room and watch some people walk around on a set,’ No. That’s not what you are coming to see actually,” said Henley-Beasley.
Touching the Void is opening at Stageworks Theatre, and it takes place on a mountainside. Two mountaineers survive a climbing accident in the Peruvian Andes. But not before one climber cuts a safety rope and lifeline–thinking the other is dead.
It underscores the dangers of mountain climbing and the sometimes impossible choices one must face to survive. This is based on a true story of incredible survival.
“Also, this show kind of has an added bonus, where we do a lot of stunts,” said Henley-Beasley.
That’s thanks in part to the set. Backstage, builders spent eight hours assembling the pieces of their mountain set.
Stunt actor Brianna McVaugh portrays a frightened novice climber learning the ropes.
“It’s fun to sing. It’s fun to dance. My niche and my love in theatre will always be physical. Any kind of physical movement, if it’s rolling on the floor, hanging from the rafters,” said McVaugh.
McVaugh and Henley-Beasley are joined on set by Luis Rivera and Robert Logan Mays, who portray real life climbers Joe Simpson and Simon Yates.
“And there’s always this little risk of danger when it’s live. If you are recording and someone- something happens, you can stop and do another take. We don’t get another take. So I think it’s well worth the jump in heart rate,” said Henley-Beasley.