Encore Theatre back from the dead

But last year, Encore took a bit of a hiatus. It ended up not staging any productions at all in 2014 while the troupe searched for a permanent home — a goal it never ended up accomplishing.

They were looking for a space in the city's downtown, closer to the arts-conscious young people who make up Encore's core audience.

“We looked at dozens and dozens of spaces and had many, many meetings with many, many property owners and other organizations, and we just couldn't find that perfect space,” Rodya said.

But the company recently announced it's back from the dead, with plans to produce two plays this year, albeit not in their own space.

Encore's season kicks off April 10-18 with “Abraham Lincoln Goes to the Theatre,” an “absurd, hilarious and haunting” piece by Quebec playwright Larry Tremblay, winner of the Siminovich prize for theatre.

Set to be staged at Verve Theatre on Elm Street, the play features a narcissistic director who hires tow actors to impersonate Laurel and Hardy, and then forces them to re-enact Abraham Lincoln's assassination over and over.

Directed by Jenny Hazelton, it stars local actors Daniel Aubin, Rick Duthie and Will Himsl.

In the late summer or early fall, Encore also plans to stage local playwright Lara Bradley's piece, “Blind Nickel Pig.” The play brings audiences to Sudbury of the 1920s, through the back alleys and speakeasies.

Encore is still working on pinning down a location for “Blind Nickel Pig.”

Rodya said Encore hasn't necessarily given up on finding a permanent theatre space, but has shelved the idea for now so it can focus on its productions.

Although he and the theatre company's other principals have used the hiatus to work on other projects, Rodya said he's glad to have Encore up and running once again. “I think we're coming at it with renewed energy and excitement and focus,” he said.

Tickets to “Abraham Lincoln Goes to the Theatre,” which cost $25 for adults, $22 for seniors and $20 for students, go on sale in the near future at encoretheatre.ca.