Hello Friend,
You (like me) may have been stuck inside more than usual in our unexpectedly frigid start to the New Year (Cheers to 2018!). Being indoors with my household* during that extended deep freeze had some surprising similarities to the close confines of the Gibbs sisters and their misters in Morning’s at Seven who live next door and up the block from one another in a mid-western town in 1938. Prolonged proximity gives way to heightened awareness of individual quirks and foibles, for better or for worse, as these characters – some downright childish at times, even in their Golden Years – drive each other crazy and push one another’s buttons (a superpower of most sibling relationships). The alliances, loyalties, betrayals, reversals, and revelations of these siblings and their other halves run the familial gamut as they default to age-old dynamics, come to one another’s rescue, lose themselves, find themselves, and everything in between.
Here’s to love and family – may we survive them both,
Marcie Bramucci,
Director of Community Investment
*My household includes a trio of little ones (ages: 10 months, 4 years, 6 years), my fella, me, and a pet fish – a far cry from the Gibbs sisters’ neighboring/ neighborhood set-up.
Inside Morning's at Seven
Here’s what you need to know: like in any properly dysfunctional family, there are secrets, misunderstandings, resentments, dependency, redemption, and, thankfully, love. This family tree may seem to be toppling over, but it’s rooted deeply.
These Philadelphia theatre legends and long-time collaborators, whose connections shape this production, come together under the direction of Artistic Director & CEO Abigail Adams. Abbey notes, “They've played each other's wives, husbands, parents, brothers, sisters, in-laws, children, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and enemies over decades. After working together so many times they know how each other thinks. And in each other's company, they become vulnerable, brave, and often hilarious.”
The world of Morning’s at Seven is further brought to life by Luke Cantarella, (scenic design), Christopher Colucci (sound design), J. Jared Janas (wig & hair design), Marla Jurglanis (costume design), and Dennis Parichy (lighting design). Deborah Teller stage manages and Gina Pisasale dramaturgs.
Below: Luke Cantarella and Props Master Sarah Pierce turn our offices into a greenhouse for Morning’s at Seven.
Surrounding Morning's at Seven
Engagement
Scoop on Wednesdays at 6pm Resident Dramaturg Gina Pisasale hosts company member Graham Smith for a lively and informal conversation in the Steinbright lobby. Join us for a light bite at this freshly reimagined pre-performance program, 1/17, 1/24, or 1/31. Tickets just 5 bucks, and now available online: register here.
AfterWORDS Join us for facilitated discussions with the cast following Thursday evening performances, beginning 1/18.
Open Caption performances are on Wednesday, 1/31 at 2 & 7:30pm, and Sunday, 2/4 at 2pm. If you
are interested in the Open Caption services, please notify the box office
when reserving your tickets so we can seat you in the ideal section.
Assisted Listening Devices, as well as T-Coil compatability, are available at the box office to enhance your experience of the performance.
Large Print Programs are available for each of our productions. Inquire with House Management when you arrive if you would prefer this option.
Pete Pryor and Samantha Reading teamed up as director and assistant director, respectively, with 14 students of the Pathway Players for Singin’ in the Rain, Jr. this past week. People’s Light Wardrobe Supervisor Bridget Brennan designed costumes, and Scenic Charge Anna McGahey designed and painted the drop.
This December, David Ingram took on Sam Henderson’s The Brownings, Orbiter 3’s sixth premiere.
Christopher Patrick Mullen reads in and Susan McKey assistant directs a workshop of Juliette Dunn’s play-in-progress, The Puzzle, at 1812 Productions, 1/13 at 7pm.
Hanging up Scrooge’s top hat again (until next winter), Greg Wood returns to Philly for The Humans at Walnut Street Theater, beginning 1/16.
From 1/19-1/23, Susan McKey brings history to life in the National Constitution Center’s Freedom Rising, a dramatic retelling of the story of the Constitution that kicks off the museum experience. Performances are on the hour (running 20 minutes) and admission details can be found here.
Beating the winter in Vero Beach, Audrey Brown stage manages Lombardi for Riverside Theatre, 1/30 - 2/18.
NPF Playwright Eisa Davis stars in Kings, a new Off-Broadway production by Sarah Burgess at the Public Theatre beginning 1/30.
Ken Marini and James F. Pyne, Jr. team up for Quintessence Theatre Group's Waiting for Godot, which runs 1/31 - 2/18.
Type-cast as a badass, Claire Inie-Richards digs into The Revolutionists at Theatre Horizon, 2/1 - 2/25.
In DC, NPF Playwright Laura Schellhardt’s paleontology adventure Digging Up Dessa (for ages 10+), premieres at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts from 2/3 - 2/18 as part of the Women's Voices Theater Festival.
Class is nearly back in session with Marcia Saunders, who teaches Advanced Acting (ages 18+) at People’s Light beginning 2/5.
Susan McKey’s EB Hawkins Band & Lucky Brown plays an evening of love songs at the Darlington Arts Center in time for Valentine’s Day, on Saturday 2/10 at 7:00PM.
Adapted by Wendy Kesselman, directed by David Bradley, our upcoming production of The Diary of Anne Frank draws together an exciting array of visiting and company artists. Melanye Finister, Christopher Patrick Mullen, and Pete Pryor perform; Kate McSorley Fossner returns as Stage Manager, and Dennis Parichy for back-to-back lighting design. More insights on this production coming via our new blog - meanwhile, take a peek here.
NPF Spotlight: Laura Schellhardt
We welcomed NPF Playwright Laura Schellhardt (Auctioning the Ainsleys) back to the area in early December for a deep dive into her residency.
Laura believes, “Working on the New Play Frontiers commission has reminded me of why I became a playwright in the first place. I entered the work to engage with specific communities, to collect different points of view and - in so doing - to challenge and redefine my own.
“Recently, I've been spending my time engaging with the next generation - specifically junior high and high schoolers from around the country. Listening to them voice their concerns and - more importantly - watching them forge their own path through those concerns - has given me great hope for the future. In my NPF fellowship so far, I've met with kids from Coatesville, Kennett Square, Phoenixville, and West Chester, and my play will focus on the many ways they're fighting to become leaders in their respective communities.”
Laura’s thoughtful approach to this work amplifies shared values at People’s Light, where professional artists respect and engage with young people as peers. In her next visit, she will connect with students of our New Voices ensemble and other area teens. Stay tuned for more of Laura’s adventures and those of her fellow NPF writers in upcoming posts to our new blog.
A student workshop co-led by Laura and NPF Associate, Suli Holum at The Garage in Kennett Square.
Theatre News
New Year | New Website
For the past few months we’ve been working diligently behind the scenes on a very special off-stage project. A new website! Big shout-out to Karma Agency in Philly for the beautiful design. We hope the new site makes your virtual People’s Light experience smoother than ever; whether you’re reading up on a play, signing up for acting classes, or checking our new blog.
The web address is the same as always: peopleslight.org. Feel free to send us your feedback on the new look using our contact form.
Introducing: Harmony Labs
This December, we launched the Harmony Labs project. Inspired by works such as Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole, Jonatha Brooke’s My Mother Has 4 Noses, and David and Sherry Lutken’s Woody Sez and Ring of Fire, Harmony Labs will incubate new ideas for joining music and theater. We have commissioned 10 teams of musicians and theatre-makers (including Jonatha and the Lutkens, who returned to Malvern for this adventure) – from the Philly area and around the country – to explore and create new work, beginning with three days of conversation, exploration and sharing. Stay tuned for more of what they come up with…
Partnership with Whole Foods Market
We at People’s Light look forward to the official opening of Whole Foods Market in Exton on 1/18. Morning’s at Seven audience members attending on 1/18, 1/25, and 2/1, have a chance to win a Whole Foods Market gift card – announced from the stage by Resident Dramaturg Gina Pisasale as she introduces the evening’s AfterWords conversation. We appreciate the support and partnership of Whole Foods Market and look forward to visiting our new neighbors.
Thanks to Our Panto Audiences!
We are deeply grateful for the generosity of our Panto audiences, who collectively contributed just over $21,000(!) toward our accessibility programs and services this holiday season!! People’s Light strives to open our work and campus to all community members. The endorsement of each contributing individual and family during Aladdin helps enable us to sustain, as well as deepen and expand our programs and accommodations. If you’d like to contribute to this work click here.
With that said, it pleases me greatly to announce: we’ve added a relaxed performance this summer, for Woody Sez! Stay tuned for the date and details. If you would like more information about our accessibility programs and accommodations and/or if you might like to participate as a member of our Accessibility Advisory Committee, please contact me at bramucci@peopleslight.org.
