"the richness of family and the power of love in times of crisis"

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Issue 20: Skeleton Crew

Dear Friend,

Among the most celebrated, produced and sought-after playwrights in the country, Dominique Morisseau zeroed in on our own West Chester for her New Play Frontiers commission when she first visited Chester County five years ago. The resulting play, Mud Row, sprang from her first-hand connection with the people and their stories of the area.

We shared the first act of Mud Row (which premieres next year!) in a Community Matters reading last month. The level of enthusiasm and endorsement from West Chester residents and stakeholders was palpable. Key members of the community shared generously of their lived experiences and aspirations, including Mayor Cliff DeBaptiste; long-time civil rights attorney, Sam Stretton; Melton Center Board President, Lisa Dorsey; and many others with deep roots like Chaya Scott, Miss Alice Thomas, Miss Hester Davenport and more. The overwhelming sentiment was that Dominique had listened fully and captured the complexities of tensions past and present of a town many among us call home.

It is now our opportunity to reciprocate.

We can listen and learn about Dominique’s hometown of Detroit in her incisive play, Skeleton Crew, which opens on the Steinbright Stage next week. In both Mud Row and Skeleton Crew, Dominique draws out universal struggles of the human experience through stories that are hyper-local. Set within a shuttering auto-plant, Skeleton Crew is rooted in the relationships of four people entwined and struggling to get by, as outside pressures close in on them. Read on for more.

All best,

Marcie Bramucci,
Director of Community Investment

Inside Skeleton Crew

We welcome back Steve H. Broadnax III (The Mountaintop) to direct Skeleton Crew. As a frequent collaborator with Dominique Morisseau, Steve is especially excited to tackle this play, which he believes is about “family and sacrifice, the giving up of one’s own interest or wishes in order to help others or to advance a cause. Through Shanita, Dez, Reggie and Faye we witness the richness of family and the power of love in times of crisis… we need this message now more than ever.”

Melanye Finister anchors the cast as Faye, the most seasoned of the plant employees, alongside Patrese D. McClain (The Mountaintop), as well as Brian Marable and Joshua E. Nelson, both making their debut at People’s Light.

Brian Marable, Melanye Finister

Joshua E. Nelson, Patrese D. McClain

For the creative team, we reunite The Mountaintop designers Marla Jurglanis (Costumes) and Tony Cisek (Set), and welcome into the fold Kathy Perkins (Lighting), Curtis Craig (Sound), and Jeromy Hopgood (Video). Gina Pisasale dramaturgs and Audrey M. Brown returns for the summer to stage manage.

Due to demand, we have already extended this production which will now run through July 15th. Click here for more production information.

There are no dogs in the play, but we strongly believe in having them in the rehearsal room!

Surrounding Skeleton Crew

Enhance your experience! We have great opportunities to dive deep into the world of the play and ask our artists and staff all your burning questions.

Scoop on Wednesday

Resident Dramaturg Gina Pisasale hosts a member of the artistic team for a lively and informal conversation in the Steinbright lobby. Join us for a light bite and a chat beginning June 20th. Tickets just 5 bucks, and now available online.

AfterWORDS

Join us for facilitated discussions with the cast following Thursday Evening performances, beginning June 21st.

More Access

People's Light is wheelchair accessible, service animal-friendly, and we offer assistive listening devices and large print programs at every performance.

Open Caption Performances

June 27th at 2pm & 7:30pm
July 1st at 2pm

These performances feature an LED screen above the stage that displays dialogue in real-time. If you are interested in Open Caption services, please notify the Box Office when reserving your tickets so we can seat you in the ideal section.

Spotlight on New Voices Ensemble

This summer, the New Voices Ensemble performs an original work written and directed by Resident Teaching Artist Nadira Beard, at Chester City Hall and at People's Light.

Y, I Love You takes place in the home of Emerson and Gwendolyn Banes on their 50th wedding anniversary. As they go through their daily routine and prepare for a surprise anniversary dinner, the audience sees the Banes' entire lives unfold in flashback. Through the play, director and playwright Nadira Beard and her students have explored issues of family, loss, and resilience across a lifetime.

Performance Dates:

Thursday, June 28th at 7pm | Chester City Hall, 1 East 4th Street, Chester, PA
Friday, August 3rd at 7pm | Steinbright Stage, People's Light

To attend either performance, RSVP via email to artsdiscovery@peopleslight.org

The current New Voices Ensemble!

Paul Meshejian and team have announced the exciting line-up of writers and new plays for PlayPenn's 2018 Conference. Gina Pisasale is on deck as a PlayPenn dramaturg. Stay tuned for details...

Rosemarie E. McKelvey's costume design springs to life in the Arden's recently extended (through 6/24) production of Fun Home.

Greg Wood returns to the DeSales campus for a summer of Shakespeare with Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. First up: Malvolio in Twelfth Night beginning 6/21.

Samantha Reading and Pete Pryor recently produced the Pathway School's production of Hairspray — starring head of school, David Schultheis, as Edna!

Woody Sez: The Life and Music of Woody Guthrie returns to People's Light August 1-26!

Our dear and musically multi-talented friend David M. Lutken (Ring of Fire, The Road: My Life With John Denver) is bringing this popular show back to Malvern — and yes, the BYOI (bring-your-own-instrument) Hootenannies will return August 9th, 16th, 23rd as well!

Community Matters 2018

June 25th at 7pm 

Face to the Wall

By Martin Crimp

Our next Community Matters play confronts school shootings, mental illness, and trauma. After reading this potent 20-minute piece, we will welcome an impressive array of respondents to reflect and discuss ways in which to disrupt cycles of violence. We will then engage in small group facilitated conversations.

We are close to capacity, but a few tickets remain — you can reserve your free seats here. If you have reserved previously, but can no longer attend, please contact the Box Office at 610.644.3500 so we can make them available to another patron.

I wrote a blog post about my connection to this piece. Read it here. 

Below are images from our reading and discussion of Mud Row earlier this summer, featuring Brian Marable and Joshua E. Nelson, cast members from Skeleton Crew.

Facilitator David Bradley and a packed house!

Renika Williams, Joshua E. Nelson

SummerBLAST is just around the corner...

Our littlest theatre-makers (ages 7-9) arrive on June 18th for two weeks of fairytales, improvisation, and performance for friends and family. We can't wait to welcome them, and soak up some of their youthful creative energy.

There are still some spaces left in all three age groups (Littles, Youth, Teen), so spread the word if you know any young theatre enthusiasts!

We're hiring!

Take a peek at our current openings, including Hospitality Manager, Costume Shop Manager, and more HERE.

We seek to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as a reflection of our commitment to serve the people of Chester County and our surrounding community. People of color and other populations historically underrepresented in the theatre field are strongly encouraged to apply.