People's Light to Open 41st Season with ALL MY SONS

People's Light opens its 41st season with Arthur Miller's All My Sons running September 9 through October 4, 2015. Kamilah Forbes directs. People's Light is located at 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, PA 19355. For tickets, call 610.644.3500 or visit peopleslight.org. All My Sons is sponsored by PECO.

Following her acclaimed 2014 production of August Wilson's Fences, director Kamilah Forbes returns to People's Light to helm another American classic of epic proportions. Forbes reunites with numerous Fences alumni for an all African-American cast production of this Tony Award-winning drama from the legendary author of Death of a Salesman and The Crucible. Fierce and exhilarating, Miller's masterwork centers on the Keller family in the wake of World War II as secret romances, explosive betrayals, and the loss of a loved one threaten to unravel their lives.

For Producing Director Zak Berkman there is an artistic continuity from Fences to All My Sons. "These are kindred plays. Both explore mid-20th century American complexity through the experiences of one family and their neighbors," he observes. "Both blend myth and realism. Both chronicle the fall of a patriarch. Both feature major life events that unfold in quiet back yards."

Director Forbes also sees a compelling link between the plays. "There is a strong dramaturgical thread from Fences to All My Sons regarding the American dream," she notes. "In both works, a community is forced to grapple with the question, 'What cost am I willing to incur to achieve this dream?' In All My Sons, the family has to live with the repercussions of decisions they've made that have enabled them to experience the joys of a class they might not otherwise have been a part of."

"I find these elements of class struggle particularly intriguing in an all-Black setting," Forbes continues. "In our production, the African-American Kellers have achieved a certain amount of affluence in 1940s America, but there are still limitations on how far they can go. I'm interested in investigating those forces both within and outside the Black community that families like the Kellers went up against as they advanced."

Berkman aspires for a production that brings new dimensions to this iconic tale. "I am thrilled that these artists, their perspectives and life experiences, will inform this story. I am eager to see how their vision, skill and artistry shape Miller's exploration of our nation's soul."

Guest artist Michael Genet, who played former baseball legend Troy Maxson in Fences, takes on the role of Joe Keller, the self-made everyman at the center of All My Sons. People's Light company member Melanye Finister appears opposite Genet as she did in Fences, playing Kate Keller, matriarch and ferocious family protector. Other Fences veterans include Ruffin Prentiss as son Chris Keller, G. Alverez Reid as neighbor Frank Lubey, and Brian Anthony Wilson as neighbor Dr. Jim Bayliss. They are joined by Akeem Davis as George Deever, Taysha Canales as Lydia Lubey, Joilet Harris as Sue Bayliss, Yannick Haynes as Bert, and Margaret Ivey as Ann Deever.

The production team includes set designer Troy Hourie, costume designer Marla Jurglanis, lighting designer Jen Schriever, and sound designer Justin Ellington. Samantha Bellomo serves as fight director, and long-time People's Light alum Deborah Teller returns to stage manage the production.

CONNECT, ENGAGE, INTERACT AT PEOPLE'S LIGHT

People's Light continues its Scoop program on Wednesdays. Scoop on Wednesdays: History, Context, and Gossip is a lively discussion before every Wednesday 7:30 pm performance (September 16, 23, and 30). Resident Dramaturg Gina Pisasale will host an artist from the production and get the inside scoop about such things as the rehearsal and production process, design choices, and the world of the play. The program begins at 6 pm in The Farmhouse Bistro. Cost of $15 includes light fare. Call the Box Office at 610.644.3500.

Join us for Thursday Talkbacks following every Thursday 7:30 pm performance for an informal Q & A with the cast! Free with your ticket purchase.

Enjoy a prix fixe dinner and a show package for $75 (Wed, Thurs, Sat matinee, Sun eve) and $84 (Fri, Sat eve, Sun matinee) at The Farmhouse Bistro prior to Wed-Sun evening performances. That's a savings of up to 15% off the single ticket price! If you already have tickets, you can add dinner for just $39. Dinner and a show packages are available through the Box Office or online at PeoplesLight.org.

TICKET INFORMATION

All My Sons previews on Wednesday, September 9 at 7:30pm, Thursday, September 10 at 7:30pm, and Friday, September 11 at 8 pm. The play opens on Saturday, September 12 at 8 pm and runs through Sunday, October 4 at 7pm.

Single tickets start at $27. 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.

7-play subscription packages for the 2015-2016 Season are available for purchase and start at $154. Productions include All My Sons (September 9-October 4, 2015), Auctioning the Ainsleys (October 14-November 8, 2015), The Three Musketeers (The Later Years): A Musical Panto (November 18, 2015-January 10, 2016), Sense and Sensibility (February 10-March 20, 2016), Richard III (March 16-April 24, 2016), A Single Shard (April 27-May 29, 2016), and The Harassment of Iris Malloy (June 15-July 10, 2016). The Discovery series packages for children ages 5-12 start at $54 and include The Three Musketeers (The Later Years): A Musical Panto (November 18, 2015-January 10, 2016), and A Single Shard (April 27-May 29, 2016). The Teen Series for children ages 12-19 includes All My Sons, The Three Musketeers, Sense and Sensibility, Richard III, and A Single Shard. You can also add Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash (July 20-August 14, 2016) to your subscription series. 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.

To post a comment, you must register and login.