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Staying Inn

All An Act stages What Is Susan's Secret?

by Cara Suppa
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May 4, 2023 at 11:30 AM
Contributed photo
What's Susan's secret? You'll just have to catch the mysterious romp What is Susan's Secret? at All an Act Theatre in the heart of Little Italy to find out.

FRIDAY, MAY 5

Imagine, if you will, you're a tradesperson — a plumber or an electrician or something of that nature. You see an ad for a rustic inn and they're offering a huge discount to people who do the type of work you do. So you arrive and you find yourself going through a confusing and rather elaborate check-in process, complete with multiple forms.

What you don't know is that you just signed yourself up to perform maintenance tasks around the inn — and the sweet, elderly couple, Michael and Susan Parker, who own the property are actually con artists.

This is the basic premise for What Is Susan's Secret, a farcical play that will begin its run on May 5 at All An Act Theatre in Erie's Little Italy neighborhood. Performances will occur on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., with Sunday matinee showings at 3 p.m., until May 21.

Directed by Larry Lewis, the managing director of the theater, What Is Susan's Secret features an ensemble cast including: Lisa Simonian, David W. Mitchell, Natalie Waddell-Rutter, Michael Rutter, Andrew Heidt, Jessica LaFlamme, Michael Nasca, Greg Hill, Amanda Hill, Char Newport, Kerrylee Hinkson, Zach Mota, Dave Stazisar, and Marnie Floss.

So what is Susan's secret? The playwrights leave Susan's secret a mystery up to the last minute — and up to the audience's interpretation. But clearly all is not right between the host couple Michael and Susan, as the former believes he is taking part in major historical battles and the latter can't seem to remember her husband's name correctly.

Plan a night out to the gem of Little Italy, take a seat in the auditorium, and watch as the hilarity unfolds. 

Weekends through May 21, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m. // All An Act Theatre, 652 W. 17th St. // $5-$18 // For info and tickets: allanact.net/now-playing

What Is Susan's Secret?All an Act TheatreLocal TheaterMichael and Susan Parker

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August 2026: Erie Gives
Erie Reader: Vol. 16, No. 8
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