For Immediate Release: September 19, 2006
Media Contact: Christine Barbush, The People's Light & Theatre Company, 610.647.1900 x103

People’s Light & Theatre Company presents a world-premiere production of a new play, Something You Did, by Willy Holtzman, running October 18 – November 19, 2006 on the Steinbright Stage.

Artistic Director Abigail Adams says, “I am very much looking forward to directing this piece. We have enjoyed a relationship with Willy Holtzman since we premiered his Hearts, the Forward Observer in 2000. His work is provocative and insightful and we’re happy to have him back at People’s Light. I am also excited to work with the cast that we have assembled to tell this story.”

Three guest artists will join People’s Light company members Melayne Finister and Cathy Simpson as cast members. Amy Van Nostrand plays Allison, the lead character, Jordan Charney portrays her lawyer, and Tony Campisi plays her one-time friend. “Our guest artists are all highly accomplished theatre, film and television actors,” says Adams. “We are thrilled to have our company members work with other artists of this caliber.”

Something You Did is about a former underground radical in jail for 30 years for accidentally killing an African American police officer during an explosive protest. She now seeks parole in a world that has changed politically, where the word “terrorist” has a whole new meaning—and where one-time “Leftists” have become staunch neo-Conservatives.

“This production,” says director Abigail Adams, “is based loosely on events of the 1960s, but takes a hard look at what they mean to who we are now. We’re sure this play will get viewers thinking about what yesterday can tell us about today, and how we might consider a retreat from our current fascination with extreme political views. How we might see political differences with cautious empathy rather than reflexive anger.”

Adds Holtzman, “The similarities of the characters in the script to any real-life individuals serves not to tell their story, but rather, to use the events of the past to pose politically relevant questions today.

“The 1960’s were violent, polarized and confusing times. The hope is that out of those times came some understanding. But we seem to be back where we were then, and perhaps heading for a worse place.

Holtzman continues, “This play asks questions about our National character today. Do we have forgiveness for people in our society, let alone outside our society? Why are politics so dirty today? Was there ever a common humanity and can we find it again? How can people’s political views radically change?”

“We are facing many of the same political challenges today that we faced in the late 1960’s,” says Holtzman. “This nation is as divided now as it was then. And yet, people don’t seem to care as much. People aren’t writing about it. As a child of the 60’s, I feel it is necessary to ask these questions. I believe it is my job as a playwright and that the best theatre is the theatre that leaves you a little bit different.”

About the Playwright

Willy Holtzman is a nationally known playwright who was recognized with a Pulitzer Prize nomination for Hearts, the Forward Observer, which premiered at People’s Light & Theatre Company in 2000. For this same work he also received a Barrymore Award, Arthur Miller Award, Smith and Kraus Best New Plays. Hearts was also produced by Long Wharf Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Alliance Theatre and the New Jewish Theatre of St. Louis. His other plays include: Sabina (Primary Stages, Theatre Yearbook 2004-5 Best Plays of the Year), Bovver Boys (Primary Stages, Cleveland Play House, Berkshire Theatre Festival), The Closer (Davie Award, Working Theatre, GeVa Theatre), Inside Out (New Federal Theatre/Theatre for a New Audience, Portland Stage, Nebraska Rep) San Antonio Sunset (New York, Los Angeles, London, Dublin, Bombay; Best Short Plays).

Mr. Holtman’s film credits include Edge of America (Humanitas Prize, Peabody Award, Writers Guild Award, Sundance Film Festival Opening Night 2004), Favors (starring Sissy Spacek and William H. Macy), which is scheduled for production in 2007.

Willy received the HBO Award at the O’Neill National Playwrights Conference. He taught as a visiting artist at Bronx Regional High School in the South Bronx, and was Resident Playwright at Juilliard from 1990-92. He has worked with the 52d Street Project in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen and on the Navajo Reservation. He is a proud board member of New Dramatists.

About the Cast

Jordan Charney (Arthur) just appeared in the critically acclaimed production of Jean Anouilh's Ring Round the Moon for the Barrington Stage Company. Earlier this year he appeared in Hamlet at the GeVa Theatre in Rochester and then in Trying at Buffalo Arena Stage and in the NYC production of The Gold Standard. Broadway appearances include Talley's Folly, The Birthday Party, Slapstick Tragedy and Shadowlands. Television audiences will recognize him from his appearances as Judge Karan on Law & Order and re-runs of Three's Company (Mr. Angelino). Movie credits include Ghostbusters, Network, Plaza Suite, Hospital, Raccoon, Maybe Means No and the soon to be released Anamorph and Mo. Mr. Charney has served as artistic director and teacher for the STEPS Theatre Company in New York, Boston, and LA and is the author of The Sad Tale of King Leerio—or Everyone Deserves a Second Chance (music by Richard Demone) and the co-author of A Chechov Concert, which was premiered at the Moscow Art Theater.

Tony Campisi (Gene) is very pleased to make his first appearance at People’s Light. Most recently, he covered two roles in the Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of Awake & Sing. Other Broadway credits include Pvt. Wars and The Nerd. Off-Broadway, Tony performed in Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, If Memory Serves, K—the Trial and several plays with the Lion Theatre Company. He has been a regular participant at the O’Neill Playwrights Conference and the Sundance Playwrights Lab. Regional credits include the McCarter Theatre, Philadelphia Drama Guild, Philadelphia Festival of New Plays, Chicago’s Body Politic Theatre, GeVa Theatre, The Kennedy Center and several theatres in Los Angeles. On TV, Tony has been seen on Law & Order, SVU and Law & Order, Criminal Intent, Ally McBeel and numerous soaps. His film credits include A Home of Our Own, Neighbors Café and Tyson (HBO).

Melanye Finister (Uneeq), who was most recently seen in Fabulation and The Member of the Wedding, is currently the Director of Audience Development at People’s Light. She has been a company member since 1991 and has appeared in over a dozen plays at PLTC, including 30FEST: The Moon Please and July 7,1994, String of Pearls, Afternoon of the Elves, Gospel at Colonus, More Grimm Tales and Beauty and the Beast. She has also worked for the Arden, InterAct Theatre Company, Venture Theater, The Wilma and The Walnut Street Theatre.

Cathy Simpson (Lenora), a company member at People’s Light since 1994, was recently seen here in Fabulation, 30FEST, Jungalbook and A Higher Place in Heaven. Other PLTC performances include Pretty Fire, Arthur’s Stone, Merlin’s Fire, The Little Prince, In the Blood and He Held Me Grand—reprising her role in that production at Indiana Rep. Cathy has also performed with The Philadelphia Theatre Company, Interact Theatre, Freedom Theatre, Philadelphia Young Playwrights and Philly Shakes. Cathy's regional credits include Arena Stage, The Kennedy Center, Woolly Mammoth, The St. Louis Black Repertory Company and St. Louis Rep. She has received two nominations and one “special mention” for the Helen Hayes Award in Washington D.C., and is a 2002 Barrymore Award winner for her performance in Freedom Theatre’s production of The Old Settler.

Amy Van Nostrand (Alison) has appeared regionally with Trinity Rep, Guthrie Theater, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Shakespeare Theatre, Huntington Stage, George Street Playhouse, Westport Playhouse, Pittsburgh Public, Coast Playhouse, Barrington Stage and the Weston Playhouse Theatre Company. Off-Broadway, Amy was seen at Lambs Theatre (The God Committee) and Pearl Theatre (Dance With Me). Broadway credits include The Hothouse. On TV, she can be seen on Law & Order, Chappelle's Show, The Practice, Frasier, The Fugitive, L.A. Law, Cagney and Lacey and Viet Nam War Stories (HBO). Her film appearances include Bereft, Outside Providence, Partners in Crime, Execution of Justice and The House of Mirth. She has a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Brown University.

About the Production Team

Abigail Adams (Director) is Artistic Director of the People's Light & Theatre Company. During her 28-year association with the Theatre, she has directed more than 50 plays. Recent productions include The Member of the Wedding, The O’Conner Girls, Sleeping Beauty, The Miser, String of Pearls, Arthur’s Stone, Merlin’s Fire, In the Blood, The Little Red Riding Hood Show and The Little Foxes. Abbey served for ten years on the faculty at Swarthmore College and has also taught at New York University, Bryn Mawr College, Carnegie Mellon University and the Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario.

Marla J. Jurglanis (Costume Designer) is Resident Costume Designer here for the past 16 years and manager of our Costume Shop. Marla’s recent designs include The Imaginary Invalid, The Foreigner, The Crucible, The Member of the Wedding, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Sleeping Beauty: A Comic Panto in the British Style. She has designed costumes for over 70 PLTC productions, including Born Yesterday, Holes, The Fantasticks, The Little Foxes, He Held Me Grand, Book of Days; The Memory of Water, Hearts: the Forward Observer and many more. Marla’s designs have also been seen at the Delaware Theatre Company, The Arden Theater Company, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Virginia Stage Company, Alliance Theatre Company and George Street Playhouse.

Michael Keck (Composer and Sound Designer) previously designed for Fabulation, Jungalbook and Looking Over the President’s Shoulder. His music and soundscapes have been featured at The Kennedy Center, Mark Taper Forum, Arena Stage, The Children’s Theatre Company of Minneapolis, Santa Fe Stages and many others. He composed original music and soundscapes for Derek Walcott’s The Odyssey and OyamO’s I Am A Man at Arena Stage, as well as Cornerstone Theater’s A Community Carol. He is the composer of A Village Fable (book and lyrics by James Still), which is published by Dramatic Publishing. His international credits include The National Theater of Croatia’s productions of A Streetcar Named Desire and Death Of A Salesman. He is a member of AEA, AFTRA, ASCAP and The Dramatists Guild.

James Krozner (Set Designer) has designed for several Philadelphia theatres, including The Arden, Philadelphia Theatre Company and the Wilma. He recently completed work for Disney on a new musical called Twice Charmed. He resides in Washington DC, where he has worked with Woolly Mammoth, The Shakespeare Theatre, Studio Theatre, Olney Theatre, Round House and the Folger Theatre. Off-Broadway: Under the Bridge (Zipper Theater) Regional work: Cradle of Man (Florida Stage), Slam (San Diego Rep). National Tours: Seussical the Musical (First National), Showboat, Big, Damn Yankees, Fosse (Design Coordinator) Annie (Design Coordinator) directed by Martin Charnin. All with the NETworks touring company. James was the Design Assistant at both the Royal National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company in England.

Kate McSorley (Stage Manager) previously served as stage manager for The Foreigner, Fabulation, Jason and the Golden Fleece, 30FEST, Jungalbook and A Higher Place in Heaven. Past shows at People’s Light include String of Pearls, Arthur’s Stone, Merlin’s Fire, Midons—or The Object of Desire and In the Blood, among others. Kate has worked with many theatre companies in and around Philadelphia, including Brat Productions, The Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival and Amaryllis Theatre Company.

Dennis Parichy (Lighting Designer) has created several designs at People’s Light, including The Man From Nebraska, Fabulation, The Member of the Wedding, A Higher Place in Heaven, Sleeping Beauty: A Comic Panto in the British Style, The Miser, String of Pearls and In the Blood. Other credits here include He Held Me Grand, Book of Days, The Memory of Water, and More Grimm Tales. He has worked throughout the United States in stock, regional theatre, Off-Broadway, Broadway and internationally since 1959. He was Resident Lighting Designer for Circle Repertory Company from 1976-1995 and designed the premieres of many of Lanford Wilson’s plays. He designed the American premieres of Athol Fugard’s recent plays, including Valley Song, Playland, My Children! My Africa! and the New York premiere of The Road to Mecca. Broadway credits include Talley’s Folly, Burn This and Penn & Teller. Recent designs include Lucia di Lammermoor for Portland Opera, The Rivals for the Huntington Theatre and Winesburg, Ohio for the Arden.

TICKET INFORMATION

For information or to purchase tickets, call the box office at 610-644-3500, Monday – Friday, 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. or visit www.peopleslight.org. Subscriptions to the 2006/2007 Season are also still available at a savings of up to 33% over single ticket prices.

Group discounts for parties of 10 or more are also available. For more information on student performances or group tickets, call 610.647.1900, ext. 191 or group@peopleslight.org.

Audiences are encouraged to join the artists after each Thursday night performance to discuss the production.

People's Light is a professional, non-profit theatre operating under an agreement between the League of Resident Theatres and Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers. The Theatre is located on Route 401 between Routes 30 and 202, 40 minutes from Center City Philadelphia.

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