Middlebury Actors Workshop Stages Presents THE CHRISTIANS

Middlebury Actors Workshop kicks off its 2018 season with Lucas Hnath's, The Christians, a big-little play about faith in America - and the trouble with changing your mind. It had its New York city premiere at Playwrights Horizons in 2015 and quickly became one of the hottest tickets in town.

With sensitivity and clarity, Hnath (pronounced "nayth") explores the world of the mega church. "The Christians is different than anything I've read before. I love the way it dives into how beliefs shape our relationships, and how personal the story is, how nonjudgmental," says Artistic Director Melissa Lourie. "It seems to me this is a basic human problem - the effort to communicate across the divide of belief!"

In The Christians, Pastor Paul's church was nothing more than a modest storefront 20 years ago. Now he presides over a congregation of thousands, with classrooms for Sunday School, a coffee shop in the lobby, and a baptismal font as big as a swimming pool. Today should be a day of celebration. But Paul is about to preach a sermon that will shake the foundations of his church's belief. The Christians is a thoughtful exploration of the nature of faith and a compassionate portrait of the divisions that roil America's religious institutions.

"...powerful, riveting...handles a complex and intellectual debate in a relatable way, and that, more importantly, shows the human and real consequences of choices based in spirituality." - The National Catholic Reporter

"Mr. Hnath is quickly emerging as one of the brightest new voices of his generation." - The New York Times

Along with an onstage gospel choir under the musical direction of Chuck Miller, the cast includes Vermont actors Andy Butterfield, Nicholas Caycedo, Mary Krantz, Gary Smith and Molly Walsh. Melissa Lourie directs.

There will be two optional post-show talk-backs with audience, cast and local clergy. On Opening Night, UU Minister Rev. Barnaby Feder, Middlebury College Professor of Religion, Rebecca Kneale Gould, Ph.D. and Havurah member Emily Joselson will moderate. After the closing matinee on Sunday, April 29, Rev. Andy Nagy-Benson of the Middlebury Congregational Church and Rev. Travis Moses of the Panton Baptist Church will lead the discussion.

Performances are at Town Hall Theater on April 26 - 29. Thursday - Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday matinee at 2pm. Tickets at: www.townhalltheater.org or at the box office: 802-382-9222.

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