ALLENTOWN, Pa. — For the first time since high school, childhood best friends August Kiss Fegley and Aubree Ann Williams are returning to the stage where it all began.
The two star as sisters in "Saloon Girls," a play written by Fegley and directed by fellow Lehigh Valley native Katie Kunkel.
It will debut at the Civic Theatre of Allentown's 514 building at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., Saturday July 26.
Tickets cost $13 to $23.
Kunkel, who graduated from Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts, like Fegley, is its director and part of the six-member cast.
The hometown performance comes just two weeks before it debuts at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland from Aug. 11-23.
"Saloon Girls" is set in a 19th-century saloon and brothel in Cripple Creek, Colorado, and centers around six women who are navigating a male-dominated environment.
In the show, Fegley, who plays Marvel, reunites with her long-lost sibling, portrayed by Williams.
"Saloon Girls" also stars Zoya Ansari, Chloe Mutebi and Olivia Tyrrel.
Youth actors turned teachers
Williams, a 2019 graduate of Parkland High School, met Fegley in third grade at the Civic Theatre School, or CTS.
CTS, the longest-running theater education program in the region, provides training for young actors ages 4-18.
"Our first show together was 'Seussical Jr,' and from there we participated in 'A Christmas Carol' for many years, and that show became a beloved Lehigh Valley tradition," Williams said.
"Being a part of that is something I look back on with joy, and that time together really established our friendship."
During those childhood years, the two shared plenty of sleepovers between Williams' home in Schnecksville and Fegley's in Allentown.
"We got into some shenanigans when we were younger.," Williams said. "We would hang out a lot at the Allentown Fairgrounds because it was so close to the Civic Theatre and then grab a bite to eat at Ritz's Diner."
In high school, the friends became assistant teachers for CTS, where they helped other youth actors hone their craft.
"There were many weekends, Saturday mornings that we were assisting some of the kindergarten classrooms and some of the little youngsters," Fegley said.
"It was super fun. Aubree and I also briefly attended Arts Academy Charter Middle School in Salisbury together."
After high school, Williams, 24, moved to Florida to attend the University of Central Florida.
Fegley, 25, moved to Brooklyn, New York, after graduating from Syracuse University.
Williams still lives in the Sunshine State, though she's temporarily staying in New York City near Fegley while "Saloon Girls" wraps up a three-day run at the 59E59 Theater in Midtown Manhattan.
Casting her bestie
When Williams first heard Fegley was co-writing "Saloon Girls," a production specifically created for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, she didn't think she'd star as one of the leads.
"I was thinking that it might be a one-woman show, which is very typical of a Finge production, especially for artists coming from the States, because it is so expensive to get over there," Williams said.
The Scotland festival, which runs for two weeks, is open to all artists without needing an invitation or production.
One day, while the two were chatting over FaceTime, something that occurs regularly, Fegley asked her to audition for the role of Stevie, her character's sister.
"Two things I always knew about Aubree are that when we were younger, people would always say we looked like sisters, so that was something that was in the back of my head.
"Also, there was something about the roles that she portrayed when she was in high school that got me thinking that she would be a good fit for Stevie.
"In our play, Stevie is very proper and prim. She comes into this saloon and brothel in the middle of nowhere that is very turned around."
Scotland-bound
For Fegley, who performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2024, it's a dream come true to be able to present "Saloon Girls" on a global stage.
"The amount of pride I feel for the project is nothing like I could have ever imagined, and I couldn't have done it without the help of my closest friends," she said.
"Aubree has been such a help with marketing and fundraising. She has graciously offered her time helping with things that don't fall under a description of just being an actor in the show."
To help cover the cost of travel expenses, the cast is raising money through its "Saloon Girls" website.
"Peers far and wide from the Lehigh Valley community and people I haven't talked to for years have donated and found an interest in the play," Fegley said. "It's been inspiring, honestly."
'Feels like home'
While the women say there's naturally a bit of stage fright in the weeks leading up to performing at Fringe, they are looking forward to having a "homecoming" at Civic Theatre.
"I think that that's what's so nice about having this show at Civic because it feels like home, and it really does feel like a place where Aubree and I grew up.""Saloon Girls" playwright August Kiss Fegley
"The idea of putting out, you know, our work for the very first time is very vulnerable and very new and exciting, but also so scary," Fegley said.
"I think that that's what's so nice about having this show at Civic because it feels like home, and it really does feel like a place where Aubree and I grew up, and we have been so welcomed there. We had such positive experiences there.
"It's going to be comforting to have that final send-off before we travel to Scotland."
Williams, who starred in several productions at Parkland High School and appeared at the Freddy Awards, agreed with her childhood chum.
"The Lehigh Valley arts community is stellar and impressive, and August and I feel so lucky to be rooted in that," she said.
"The reason we keep calling it a homecoming is because of the fellowship.
"All of the Lehigh Valley theater circles are coming together to support us by coming to the Allentown show or through donations. It's very special."
