Dear Friend,
The world on our stage now and that which follows could not be more different. I mean, what could Iris Malloy, a self-proclaimed single mom “who f%#*$ up” from the Jersey suburbs of today possibly have in common with our infinitely earnest child-protagonist Tree-Ear, hailing from an imagined 12th century Korea in A Single Shard? At first blush, not much. But look again and you’ll find both are perpetual dreamers with the cards unfairly stacked against them - both wrestle deeply within themselves to make the right decisions. Unlike Tree-Ear however, within Atlantic City, the seedy underbelly of American capitalism, in a world obsessed with declaring winners and losers, Iris Malloy is a prisoner of her own life. Then one night, a decorated US Senator spots her out of a sea of potential supporters and invites her up to his hotel room... What’s a girl to do?
Read on for more.
Cheers,
Marcie Bramucci
Director of Community Investment
Inside The Harassment of Iris Malloy
Dramaturgical field trip to Atlantic City, baby! On the first day of rehearsal, members of the cast and production team first explored the Jersey suburbs then immersed themselves in the pulsing jackpot culture of AC. They breathed in equal parts of desperation and stale casino air inside the Tropicana to absorb the realities of Iris' universe. Take a peek...
This world premiere play is written by People's Light Producing Director Zak Berkman. Under the direction of guest artist Lisa Rothe (directed Dear Elizabeth), our cast features:
Scott Bryce (Homeland, As the World Turns) as Senator Robert Aarons
Teri Lamm (last seen in Sense and Sensibility) as Cydney Malloy
Pete Pryor (last seen as the title role in Richard III) as Sticker/George/Reporter
Julianna Zinkel (last seen in Auctioning the Ainsleys) as Iris Malloy
We
welcome a slate of exciting guest designers for this production. Gina Pisasale brings her dramaturgical expertise to bear for the sixth production this season!
Surrounding The Harassment of Iris Malloy
Below are programs and services offered to "surround," increase access to, and deepen engagement with The Harassment of Iris Malloy.
Gina Pisasale
Zak Berkman
Scoop on Wednesday, a lively pre-show discussion in which Gina Pisasale serves up the inside scoop and insightful context around the world of the play, complemented with light fare by The Farmhouse Bistro. Featured artist in conversation: Zak Berkman. Dates: 6/22, 6/29, 7/6 @6pm. Tickets $15 per person. Call 610.644.3500 to reserve.
Talkbacks are facilitated post-performance conversations with the cast. We have expanded our Talkbacks for this production to follow Tuesday (7:30pm), Thursday (7:30pm) and Sunday (2pm) performances. Free with performance ticket.
Community Conversations: July 5th
A dynamic post-show discussion with area experts facilitated by
David Bradley. (free with show ticket to that evening’s performance).
SEPTA Saturdays! The Route 204 bus from the Paoli train station directly onto our campus now serves patrons for Saturday 2pm matinees. Bus arrives on campus at 1:48pm and departs at 5:05pm. Septa.org for details.
Around Town & Beyond
with company artists
Peter DeLaurier directs Stephen Novelli in 36 Views at the Lantern Theatre through 6/26. Costumes designed by Rosemarie McKelvey.
After directing Arsenic & Old Lace for the Candlelight Theatre in Delaware (runs through 6/19), Tom Teti heads to the foothills of the Catskills to portray Mark Rothko in Red at Shadowland Theatre 6/24-7/10.
Fresh off the Richard III battleground, Samantha Reading served as the Fight Consultant for McCarter Theatre Center's All the Days, which runs through 5/29.
Wendy Bable represented People's Light as Artistic Associate and "Social Media Maven" for the Kennedy Center's 25th Anniversary New Visions/New Voices Festival — a bi-annual "celestial nursery" for new plays for young audiences.
Marcia Saunders and I joined forces with seniors from the Alzheimer's Association REC Center once again to read and discuss excerpts from A Single Shard.
Last week, the Pathway Players took the stage in Beauty and the Beast under the direction of Pete Pryor. Scenic Design compliments of Scenic Artist Will Scribner; Costumes by Wardrobe Supervisor Bridget Brennan; and Stage Management by Samantha Reading.
Teaching artist extraordinaire, Mary Elizabeth "MB" Scallen created and facilitated six highly engaged public workshops inspired by A Single Shard with young people at area libraries and community centers.
Up Next
at People's Light
WOODY SEZ collaborators, including David Lutken, are back channeling the "Man in Black" for our summer production of RING OF FIRE: The music of Johnny Cash, which features designs from the home team, including costumes by Marla Jurglanis, set by James F. ("Jeep") Pyne, Jr., and lighting by our Master Electrician, Gregory Miller. Directly after closing A Single Shard, Kate Fossner will hop back in the saddle as production stage manager.
On Stage Now
Final week of A Single Shard!
"Bold and eye-popping"
THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
"Magical...with adventurous staging"
DC METRO THEATER ARTS
More reviews here!
Click on the image below for a video featuring Jungwoong Kim's "mesmerizing" choreography and movement.
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Theatre News
We are excited to report...
People's Light has been awarded a three-year grant of $500,000 from the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage to conduct an in-depth market analysis and develop the company's approach to diversifying its programs, attracting new audiences, and deepening relationships with existing audiences through enhances patron and guest services.
We have also received a three-year Independence Foundation New Theatre Works Initiative grant of $150,000 for the Harmony Labs Project, which will provide a series of opportunities for theatre artists, songwriters, and musicians to collaborate and experiment with new forms of music theatre making. Stay tuned for more updates on these exciting new initiatives.
Our long-term residency with the Pathway School was featured in
WHYY's Newsworks in relation to the recent study published about the
benefits of theatre as a vehicle for developing social skills for
individuals on the autism spectrum. Click here for the full article.
