Patterson student's play set to go on stage

This has been a busy year for Parker Felterman, 17, of Patterson. And the curtain hasn’t even gone up yet.
Felterman will soon return to the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts in Natchitoches for his senior year. He recently returned from Boys State.
And now he’s in rehearsals for a play, “Shades of Shadowlawn,” which he will direct. It goes on stage at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Morgan City Municipal Auditorium.
Something else: Felterman acts in the play. And he wrote it.
“It’s a whodunit murder mystery set in 1929 at Shadowlawn Plantation in Franklin,” Felterman said before rehearsal Monday, between interruptions for questions about costumes and props. “We’re trying to not give too much of the plot away, but there’s a wide array of characters, each with their own possible motives, their own back-stories, and it kind of goes on from there.”
If Shadowland doesn’t give the play enough local flavor, the story also is set at a Mardi Gras party.
Even at 17, Felterman goes back a long way with mysteries. He started writing his own mystery thriller novel in seventh grade and published it in the eighth grade. It’s called “The Revolver” and is still available on the Amazon and Barnes & Noble sites.
Writing wasn’t his only interest. He has been performing in plays since he was 7.
“I also always loved writing, so it was just kind of natural that they came together at some point,” Felterman said.
Felterman actually may have written the first mystery novel he ever read. He remains attached to the genre.
“Because it’s interesting,” he said. “When you’re writing, you’re writing for yourself, but you also want to keep your audience in mind, and surprise is always a good emotion to evoke.”
The cast of “Shades of Shadowlawn” range in age from 16 to 65. Directing older adults hasn’t been a problem, Felterman said.
“Directing, in general, is a different experience,” Felterman said. “I’ve never directed before. It’s definitely not an easy task.
“But the age doesn’t really matter. They’re here to act, and I’m here to direct, and we both understand our roles very well. They have the experience, which is definitely nice. But age, yeah, age is but a number when it comes to acting.”
“Shades of Shadowlawn” is being presented by the Techeland Arts Council. Felterman’s adviser is Diane Wiltz.
Tickets for Saturday’s performance are available at Town and Country Florist in Berwick, The Frame Shop in Morgan City, Bonnie’s Bouquets and Bakery in Patterson, and The Lamplighter in Franklin.