People's Light presents I AND YOU

People's Light stages the Philadelphia premiere of one of the most-produced new plays in America this past year, Lauren Gunderson's I and You. This "sharp and funny 80-minute drama" (Washington Post) centers on two quick-minded young people: Caroline, a sardonic social critic, and Anthony, an easygoing athlete. When they're thrown together to complete a school report on Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass, these perceptive teens discover they have more in common than they could possibly anticipate. An unconventional romance, "spring-loaded with the element of surprise" (Boston Globe), I and You explores the mysteries of human connection and the courage it takes to be vulnerable in our uncertain world. The production plays on the Steinbright Stage from March 29 through April 23, 2017. People's Light is located at 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, PA 19355. For tickets, call 610.644.3500 or visit peopleslight.org.

Playwright Lauren Gunderson wants audiences to know that there's a surprising twist at the heart of the story that most patrons won't see coming. In an interview with American Theatre magazine, Gunderson says, "This is a play about which you can say that there's more than meets the eye. When you just present it as being about two teenagers in a room, most adults go, 'I have two teenagers in a room. Dear God, don't make me sit through that all night long'," she laughs.

But the revelatory plot turn at the heart of I and You is only one element of a lively, spontaneous, relatable work that's captured audiences around the country. Gunderson delights in the way both younger and older patrons recognize themselves in the play. "In this world with these kids, there's a lot moving and shaking," she says. "There's something about the speed of their world and the-I don't know-the ephemerality of youth? But at the same time, it's interesting that people of all different ages are saying, 'This reminded me of me as a kid.'"

I and You debuted two years ago, and the connection between the characters-a white girl and an African-American boy-offers a hopeful alternative to our society's current racial, social and economic divides. Gunderson says that when audiences applaud at the final curtain, "I hope that that's what they'll be clapping for-some kind of universal goodness. Not that life is easy or that it's fair, but that there is some balance to it. That's kind of why I wrote the play."

Director Samantha Reading loved I and You immediately, partly because it poses big, relevant questions like, "How do we overcome our need to focus on our differences so that we are free to embrace the deep truths that connect us?"

"Also, the voices of these teens are so authentic that the dialogue flies off the page," Reading says. "And indeed there is a mystery in I and You. A big, astonishing event. What more could you ask of a play? Compelling characters, beautiful language, big ideas, and then bam! a surprise ending."

Long-time company member Claire Inie-Richards (Sense and Sensibility, The Cherry Orchard) plays Caroline opposite People's Light newcomer Ricardy Charles Fabre as Anthony. Resident artist Samantha Reading (Richard III, Biloxi Blues) directs. The Theatre's Assistant Technical Director Dylan Jamison teams up with Scenic Painter Will Scribner to create the production's seT. Wardrobe Supervisor Bridget Brennan designs costumes, and returning guest artist Maria Shaplin (Richard III) designs lights. Frequent collaborator Christopher Colucci (Stella and Lou, Row After Row) provides sound. Resident artist Gina Pisasale dramaturgs, and company member Kate McSorley Fossner stage manages.

CONNECT, ENGAGE, INTERACT AT PEOPLE'S LIGHT

Join the cast for AfterWORDS, an informal Q&A after Thursday evening performances on April 6, April 13 and April 20.

Scoop on Wednesdays: History, Context, and Gossip

Join us for a lively discussion before Wednesday 7:30pm performances. Resident Dramaturg Gina Pisasale hosts director Samantha Reading to get the inside scoop about the rehearsal and production process, design choices, and the world of the play. The program begins at 6pm in The Farmhouse Bistro on April 5, April 12, and April 19. Cost of $15 includes light fare. Call the Box Office at 610.644.3500 to purchase.

People's Light will present Open Caption performances of I And You April 5 at 2pm & 7:30pm and April 9 at 2pm.

Enjoy a prix fixe Dinner and a Show package for $76 (Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday matinee, Sunday evening) and $85 (Friday, Saturday evening, Sunday matinee) at The Farmhouse Bistro prior to the Wednesday through Sunday evening performances. That's a savings of up to 15% off the single ticket price. Call the Box Office at 610.644.3500.

Located next to the Bistro is a full service catering venue, The Farmhouse at People's Light, perfect for weddings, corporate events, and special celebrations. Contact the Sales Team at 610.647.1631 x156 or thefarmhouse@peopleslight.org.

TICKET INFORMATION

I And You previews on Wednesday, March 29 at 7:30pm, Thursday, March 30 at 7:30pm, and Friday, March 31 at 7:30pm. The play opens on Saturday, April 1 and runs through Sunday, April 23.

Standard single tickets start at $38. For tickets, call the Box Office at 610.644.3500. Special discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. For more information or to purchase group tickets, call 610.647.1900 x111 or email benedict@peopleslight.org.

Pick packages are available for the 2016-2017 season and start at $99. Productions include I and You (March 29-April 23, 2017), The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (April 29-June 4, 2017), Project Dawn (June 7-July 9, 2017), and Moon Over Buffalo (July 19-August 13, 2017). Visit peopleslight.org or call 610-644-3500 to order.

Actors, prices, productions, performance dates and times are subject to change. Additional service charges will apply. Contact the Box Office for more details.

ABOUT PEOPLE'S LIGHT

Now in its 42nd season, People's Light, a professional, not-for-profit theatre in Chester County, Pennsylvania, makes plays drawn from many sources to entertain, inspire, and engage our community. We extend our mission of making and experiencing theatre through arts education programs that excite curiosity about, and deepen understanding of, the world around us. These plays and programs bring people together and provide opportunities for reflection, discovery, and celebration. Founded in 1974, we produce eight to nine plays each season, in two black box theatres with 340 and 160 seats respectively, mixing world premieres, contemporary plays, and fresh approaches to classic texts for our 7-Play, Spark, and Teen Series.

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