When words falter, music doesn't.
Issue 24: Nina Simone: Four Women
Hello Friend,
“There isn’t anything inspiring about how ugly we treat each other,” offers the title character in Nina Simone: Four Women. In the wake of the 16th Street Baptist Church terrorist bombing of 1963 that claimed the lives of four young Black girls, legendary pianist, composer, singer and activist Nina Simone wrote her first civil rights song, “Mississippi Goddam.” Against this backdrop, Christina Ham’s new play ventures into the mind of this prolific and uncompromising artist.
Through this story, the divisiveness that splinters us now resonates palpably and painfully with our not-so-distant past. With passion, with rage, with grace – with her transcendent words and music – Nina Simone has the unique power to rend us deep and make us whole.
All best,
Marcie Bramucci,
Director of Community Investment
Inside Nina Simone: Four Women
It can be difficult to express the full experience of a musical performance before the cast takes the stage. Luckily, this particular cast of five (yes, five, scroll to find out why) women has plenty of musical content you can check out before seeing the show.
In the rehearsal room
Mala Waldron on the piano
Costume sketches by Natalia de la Torre
Making their People's Light debuts are director Hayley Finn, music director Sanford Moore, set designer D'Vaughn Agu, Natalia de la Torre on costumes (see her beautiful renderings above), and Oona Curley, designing lights. Sound designer Robert Kaplowitz (The Secret of Sherlock Holmes) and choreographer Jeannine Osayande return as guest artists.
Long-time company member Kate McSorley Fossner stage manages. Gina Pisasale dramaturgs, and stepping into a new role, our multi-talented cutter/draper Leigh Paradise serves as assistant dramaturg.
Surrounding Nina SImone: Four Women
We invite you to check out these opportunities to discuss and engage more fully with the production.
Get the Scoop
Resident Dramaturg Gina Pisasale hosts Tsebiyah Mishael Derry (Sweet Thing in Nina Simone) as her guest for Scoop, a casual conversation at 6pm before each Wednesday evening performance.
Gina invites you to meet Tsebiyah, enjoy light snacks, and get a behind-the-scenes look into the making of this production while discussing the background of the play with an intimate group of theatre lovers like you. You can call 610.644.3500 to add Scoop to your tickets, or purchase separately online for just $5.
Gina sat down with Tsebiyah to learn about her journey towards a career on the stage and experience rehearsing for Nina Simone.
G: How did you get into performing - both as a singer and as an actor?
T: My elementary after school musical theatre program totally brought me here. I grew up in a household full of music — my father being a singer and vocal coach — so the desire to get onstage and perform was always there. But years of drama club musicals really taught me how to get up the courage required to own the stage. It also taught me that it’s more than a hobby for me. It had to be my career.
Thursday AfterWORDS
Stick around for informal post-performance conversations after Thursday evening performances.
March 7, 14, & 28
Interfaith Panel: "At the Intersection of Faith and Activism"
Featured panelists:
Reverend Dr. Wayne E. Croft, Sr.,
D. Min., PH.D., St. Paul’s Baptist Church (West Chester, PA)
Reverend Dr. Lawrence Michael Livingston, Senior Pastor, Mother African Union Church (Wilmington, DE)
Tickets are free, but space is limited, so
please reserve your space here.
Saturday, March 30, 6:30pm in the upper lobby of the Leonard C. Haas Stage.
Open Caption Performances
At these performances, an LED screen near the stage displays dialogue in real-time, simultaneous with live speech and action. No other aspect of the performance is altered.
March 26, 7:30pm
March 27, 2pm & 7:30pm
March 28, 7:30pm
March 29, 7:30pm
March 30, 2pm & 8pm
March 31, 2pm*
*Also a Relaxed Performance
More Access
People's Light is wheelchair accessible, service animal-friendly, and we offer assistive listening devices and large print programs at every performance.
Subscriber Spotlight:
Nicole Sakowitz & Bill Pikounis, individual production sponsors of Nina Simone: Four Women and long-time supporters of People's Light
Marcie: How did you first come to engage with People’s Light? (And when was that?)
Bill: We moved to the Malvern area in Summer 2005 and as we settled into our routine locations for errands like grocery shopping, we discovered the PTLC sign on Route 401. Nicole has a long time theater background as a performer, and attendance of local theaters was a common date night for the two of us since the beginning of our courtship many years ago. It only took one "tryout" show at PLTC in 2006 and we both felt right away there was something special in our "backyard".
Nicole: I'm a theater fan, but fairly critical about performance and production values. I couldn't believe our luck to have such high-quality professional theater in our neighborhood - what a gift!
Through this weekend, catch Mary Elizabeth "MB" Scallen as she brings to life a series of real-life trailblazing women in the cabaret-style Broads, written and directed by Jen Childs for 1812 Productions.
Greg Wood takes us to the heartland, performing as "Charlie" in Bridges of Madison County at Philadelphia Theatre Company, through 3/3.
James F. “Jeep” Pyne and Marla Jurglanis designed the stunning set and costumes, respectively, for Chekhov’s Three Sisters at Hedgerow Theatre Company, playing through 3/3.
Leonard Haas will walk onto the stage of An Oak Tree and perform opposite Pearce Bunting, without having read or seen the script in advance! Experience this inventive play, that is both darkly funny and moving, at Theatre Exile for one night only, on 3/3.
For one weekend, enjoy A Fierce Kind of Love remounted at FringeArts March 1-3. Directed by David Bradley, featuring performances by Marcia Saunders and Cathy Simpson, and costumes by Rosemarie McKelvey, the play cracks open the untold story of the Intellectual Disability Rights Movement in Pennsylvania. (Psst! Use the code “fierce20” for 20% off tickets.)
With another week of performances just added, Julianna Zinkel appears in Kash Goins' powerfully-packed 74 Seconds... To Judgment at the Arden now through 3/10.
Aubie Merrylees is featured in The Inquirer for his Broadway debut in To Kill a Mockingbird, which continues to run at the Shubert Theatre.
Gina Pisasale embarks on her second year teaching the seminar course “Dramaturgy” for Theatre Department students at the University of the Arts.
Claire Inie-Richards sinks into Measure for Measure at the Lantern Theatre Company beginning 3/14.
Lynn Nottage's Sweat closed last weekend after three extensions and numerous sold out performances! Patron responses throughout the run were heartfelt and many – from tears and laughter noted in our nightly performance reports (generated by Stage Manager Wendy Blackburn Eastland) to personal reflections gathered by our Patron Experience team.
Audience feedback:
“…the emotion was palpable, it felt natural. It didn’t feel like acting.”
“People really need to see this. Especially in this area. Difficult to watch but true.”
Showcasing the exhibit of I Am Coatesville Steel during the run of Sweat drew the world of the play (Reading, PA) together with neighboring Coatesville. One Coatesville steel worker shared, “[the exhibit with the play] was the perfect combination. All of my co-workers [and I] could relate to this play like crazy. It was heavy & terrific.”
We welcomed dozens of Coatesville neighbors – photographers, steel workers and photo subjects of the exhibit- to the production for a pre-performance reception. Hosting this event on the final Saturday, as theatre school classes were beginning and ending, allowed several of our New Voices students to engage directly with the steel workers to learn about their experiences in the industry, before seeing the play.
Education Spotlight
Earlier this month, we welcomed 76 Students from Upper Merion Middle School’s gifted program to our campus for a day of interactive learning crafted by our Director of Education and Civic Practice, Kathryn Moroney. These 5th-8th graders toured behind-the-scenes and explored the wide range of professional roles and collaborations involved in making theatre. Break-out sessions led by People’s Light staff in costumes, dramaturgy, communications, community investment, scenic design and technical direction challenged the students to brainstorm alongside our staff to solve challenges from each area of expertise.
After the visit, one student reported, "I am now more interested in the play, because I have learned the difficult and rigorous process to put on that show.” Their teacher (and our primary partner in shaping this offering) wrote,
“I cannot even put into adequate words how great today was, for us teachers but especially for all our kids!! … today really moved a lot of students, surprising them in ways and also challenging their thinking. What more could a teacher ask for?!?”
We as a staff were equally impressed and inspired by the deep level of thought, strategy and uninhibited contributions made by this wonderful group! We look forward to their return in March for a student matinee performance of Nina Simone: Four Women.
New production announced!
We're excited to announce that our cancelled production of Endgame this Spring will be replaced with A Number
by Caryl Churchill, a suspenseful exploration of identity, parenthood,
and the ethics of human cloning. Churchill is considered one of the
greatest British dramatists of the last century (and one of my personal
favorites!) Mr. Beckett’s fans will certainly enjoy Caryl’s work.
Call for Volunteers
People’s Light
relies on a dedicated corps of volunteers throughout the season, as front of
house greeters and ushers, as well as in a number of other roles. If you have
interest in joining their ranks, the Patron Services team welcomes you to
attend an orientation and training on Saturday, April 6th.
Attendees will learn more about the mission, values and overarching goals at People’s Light and how to be a vital part in achieving those goals. To join the People's Light Volunteer Guild, please contact Camille O’Connor, our Front of House Manager, at oconnor@peopleslight.org for more details.
In search of a little "Creative Daring"?
Susan McKey will lead an introductory acting class for
adults beginning 3/18 at People’s Light. Sooz invites students to “experiment,
play, and stretch outside your daily routine into someone else’s shoes.” Click here for more information and to register. (Scroll down to the bottom of the page.)
Lights up (again!) on LIGHTS OUT
A year after our world premiere production at People’s Light, Lights Out: Nat King Cole reunites the talents of co-creators, Colman Domingo and Patricia McGregor; performers Dulé Hill, Daniel J. Watts, Gisela Adisa and Zonya Love; and the original design team; at the Geffen Playhouse in LA. Producing Director Zak Berkman flew out with People’s Light supporters Katie & Bill McNabb (world premiere production sponsors), and Diane & Dave Bishop (auction winners!) to celebrate and enjoy opening night last week.
Zak Berkman, Colman Domingo, Katie & Bill McNabb
Amidst a star-studded and highly celebrated opening night, the song “Me and My Shadow,” with the iconic dueling taps and fancy footwork of Dulé and Daniel, once again brought down the house and resulted in a spontaneous standing ovation, which halted the show for a period of time! In its West Coast premiere, Lights Out has already been extended twice (now through 3/24, the latest it can run there) and has shattered all previous box office records for a subscription production. Our hearts are with this phenomenally talented creative team as they share this Malvern-grown creation with a wider audience!
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