“The season will transport the audiences to Spain and Ireland, tackle riveting local issues of social justice and explode with music and dance,” said Karen Berman, Chair and Artistic Director of Theatre Programs.

Season opener, “The Smiles,” directed by Iona Pendergast, is a crime thriller based on the true story of a North Carolina minister who strayed.

"The Smiles," in Russell Auditorium continues through Sunday.

Due to the content, this production is recommended for mature audiences.

The play is creepy, the TV shows Law and Order and CSI all in one, Berman said.

“It’s disturbing. What the minister is supposed to be and his behavior are polar opposites,” Berman said. “The villains, and there is more than one, are portrayed as villains in this story. There’s no clouding of the facts. The minister, his wife and the wayward drug abuser the minister befriends are all villains who face the consequences of their actions.”

Written by former Raleigh News and Observer reporter Karla Jennings who reported the story for the newspaper, the play earned a Pillars Playwriting Prize sponsored by Georgia College.

Because of the season’s theme “Dreaming Global Justice,” additional plays may carry a “For mature audiences” tag.

The productions are more than entertainment. Audiences also have the option to remain after the final curtain for open discussions about the content and lessons incorporated into the play.

“While a true-crime drama, Berman said, ‘The Smiles’ also should teach lessons about helplessness, addictions and abusive relationships.”

For information about upcoming events and to purchase tickets, visit www.gcsutickets.com or call (478) 445-4226.