MALVERN, PA — People’s Light takes a new approach to the 2022/23 theatre season, dividing next year into two series: Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer.
The Fall/Winter Series opens in September with the much-anticipated world premiere of Mushroom by Pulitzer Prize finalist and Mare of Easttown series regular Eisa Davis. Set against the backdrop of Kennett Square’s mushroom farming industry, Mushroom experiments with language and theatrical form to explore the dreams and fears of an array of intersecting characters in a production unlike anything People’s Light has produced. November brings a brand-new, topsy-turvy musical panto to the stage with Alice in Wonderland, sure to put an extra-wide grin on your face. In late January, an exclusive film adaptation of 9 Parts of Desire—Heather Raffo’s multi-award-winning global theatrical phenomenon—streams at peopleslight.org. To conclude the Fall/Winter Series, Brian Marable (Skeleton Crew) stars as Thurgood Marshall in Thurgood, the captivating one-man play and homage to a true champion of American justice, onstage into March. Subscriptions and single tickets are on sale now. Visit peopleslight.org to learn more or call the Box Office at 610.644.3500. People’s Light is located at 39 Conestoga Road in Malvern, PA.
In October, People’s Light will announce details of the Spring/Summer Series, which includes three stage productions and a New Works Festival. This approach is a departure from the Theatre’s typical theatre season of 7 to 8 plays, announced simultaneously. “The world has changed, and so have our audiences, staff, and artists,” reflects People’s Light Producing Artistic Director Zak Berkman. “We have heard from our supporters and neighbors how their interests and buying patterns have shifted significantly since the start of the pandemic. Our artists want to be able to be more responsive to the global and local moments we find ourselves in.
“This bite-sized approach, with major events on stage and on screen, may be a slightly different programming model than in the past. But what hasn’t changed is our commitment to be a distinctively welcoming place where audiences from all parts of this region experience unforgettable stories they will talk about years later.”
THE FALL WINTER/SERIES
MUSHROOM
By Eisa Davis
Directed by David Mendizábal
September 14-October 16, 2022
Steinbright Stage
In Kennett Square, “the mushroom capital of the world,” intersecting lives of immigrant families collide when a workplace injury, an unexpected romance, and the increased presence of ICE have far-reaching ramifications for the entire community
From Pulitzer Prize-finalist and Mare of Easttown series regular Eisa Davis, Mushroom is the fourth locally-inspired world premiere developed through the New Play Frontiers (NPF) Residency & Commission Program at People’s Light, following Project Dawn, Mud Row, and Bayard Rustin Inside Ashland. NPF is a long-term initiative to develop and produce new plays that explore our American identity. People’s Light invites nationally recognized playwrights to immerse themselves in neighboring communities—in collaboration with community partners—to create new work that speaks to our neighbors and our nation.
Mushroom is performed in both English and Spanish. The play’s dialogue is modeled on the way our community in Chester County naturally moves between these two languages. Every performance includes English supertitles for the parts of the play in Spanish, and Spanish supertitles for the parts of the play in English. You will be able to read these supertitles from every seat in the theatre. Whether you understand English, Spanish, or both, you will understand the language in this play.
Mushroom is supported by The PEW Center for Arts & Heritage.
ALICE IN WONDERLAND: A MUSICAL PANTO
Book by Jennifer Childs
Music & Lyrics by Alex Bechtel
Directed by Bill Fennelly
November 16, 2022-January 1, 2023
Leonard C. Haas Stage
We venture down the rabbit hole in a brand-new holiday panto! On her first day of skiddle mool—oops, we mean middle school!—Alice Liddle stumbles upon a strange book in the library and ends up in a mysterious, magical place. Cheer the heroes, boo the bad guys, and help Alice find her way home in this panto-tastic take on Lewis Carroll’s madcap classic.
The panto has been a People’s Light signature for over a decade. So, what IS a panto? With origins dating back to commedia dell’arte, the “pantomime” takes a well-known children’s story and turns it on its ear. Every holiday season, audiences of all ages gather in droves to partake in the songs, dances, topical jokes, and jovial camaraderie of this longstanding tradition. This year, People’s Light is thrilled to welcome award-winning Philadelphia drag performer Eric Jaffe in the role of Dinah/Cheshire Cat, the audience’s new guide through the magical mayhem. Eric also serves as Drag/Gender Representation Consultant for the production.
9 PARTS OF DESIRE (FILM)
By Heather Raffo
Directed by Mike Mosallam
Streaming at peopleslight.org January 30-February 12, 2023
Nearly 20 years ago, 9 Parts of Desire premiered to widespread acclaim in London and Off-Broadway, later becoming a global theatrical phenomenon. Now, Raffo adapts her multi-award-winning solo play for the screen and for our current time. From Baghdad to Flint, Michigan, Raffo transforms into a wide cross-section of women in her inspiring exploration of love and grief within countries undone by division, violence, and neglect. The screen adaptation streams only at peopleslight.org ahead of the film’s national release, which marks 20 years since the start of the Iraq War.
THURGOOD
By George Stevens, Jr.
Directed by Steve H. Broadnax III
February 22-March 19, 2023
Leonard C. Haas Stage
With a career spanning nearly six decades—from his landmark victory in Brown v. Board of Education to becoming a household name as the “Great Dissenter” and first African American to serve on the Supreme Court—Thurgood Marshall devoted his life to the pursuit of a more just world. Brian Marable (Skeleton Crew) brings Marshall’s signature poise, wit, and storytelling skill to this captivating one-man play, directed by People’s Light Associate Artistic Director Steve H. Broadnax III (Bayard Rustin Inside Ashland, Mud Row, Skeleton Crew).
Single tickets are $47 for Mushroom and Thurgood and $52 for Alice in Wonderland (including fees) regardless of performance day or time. Streaming access to the film of 9 Parts of Desire is $25. People’s Light offers a range of ticket discounts throughout the season, like 50%-off Access Nights, Youth Tickets, discounts for students and educators, and more. Learn more about ticket discounts here. Special rates are available for groups of 10+. Contact the Group Sales Associate at 610.647.1900, x111.
Bundle all three plays in the Fall/Winter Series—Mushroom, Alice in Wonderland, and Thurgood—for $117 (plus a one-time $10 order fee) and save 15% compared to single ticket prices. Subscribers can mix and match performance times and days of the week, as well as select your own seats, to build the subscription package that works best for you. A Fall/Winter subscription automatically includes free streaming access to 9 Parts of Desire.
You can purchase tickets and subscriptions online at any time, or contact the Box Office at 610.644.3500 or tickets@peopleslight.org
ACCESSIBILITY AT PEOPLE’S LIGHT
People’s Light aims to break down barriers and ensure that theatre is accessible for everyone. In addition to the date-specific accommodations listed below, People’s Light offers a range of resources at every performance. Please let us know if you require accessible seating or other accommodations when you purchase your tickets.
Open Caption (OC) performances feature an LED screen near the stage that displays text simultaneously with live speech and action, for individuals with hearing impairments and English language learners. No other elements of the performance change for these shows. People’s Light offers a week of OC performances for Alice in Wonderland and Thurgood:
- Alice in Wonderland: December 27–January 1
- Thurgood: March 14–19
Relaxed Performances offer a judgment-free environment that invites individuals with autism, ADD, ADHD, dementia, and other sensory sensitivities to enjoy theatre in a relaxed, “shush-free” zone—a great option for parents with young children, too. For each Relaxed Performance, People’s Light offers a pre-show Sensory Tour, during which patrons may enter the theatre space, view the set and props, and ask questions.
- Mushroom: October 9, 2pm * †
- Alice in Wonderland: December 11, 2pm * †
- Thurgood: March 12, 2pm * †
- American Sign Language interpretation at this performance
† Audio Description available upon request at this performance
People’s Light’s revolutionary Smart Caption Glasses offer immersive, customizable real-time captioning for select performances, listed below. These revolutionary glasses display a synchronized transcript of the play directly on the lenses and are customizable for your comfort.
- Mushroom: October 4–16
- Alice in Wonderland: December 20–January 1
- Thurgood: March 9–19
People’s Light offers a range of Audio and Visual Aids freely available to patrons, including audio headsets, T-Coil “induction” loops, sensory supports like fidgets, noise-canceling headphones, and more. These supports are available on a first-come, first-served basis, no reservations required. Please pick them up from the House Manager in the theatre lobbies. Learn more about Accessibility at People’s Light here.
THE FERN & FABLE AT PEOPLE’S LIGHT
Scratch cooking and theatrical sensibilities meet in the laid-back atmosphere of The Fern & Fable, just steps away from the Leonard C. Haas Stage. The Theatre’s newly renovated on-site restaurant occupies three rooms of a 1700s farmhouse, complete with two working fireplaces and plenty of historic quirks. During warmer months, guests dine al fresco among lush gardens. Make a reservation on OpenTable. More information at TheFernandFable.com.
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