Community, Commercial & Repertory Projects
"One never knows exactly how what's on the written page will look once its runs through the director's imagination - until Opening Night. Watching it all come together on stage, for both amateur and professional actors, reminds me why I do this job!"
- Stephan Turner
- Stephan Turner
On December 12th, 2014 Land of Smiles opened to enthusiastic audiences at the Gate Theater Group in Chiangmai, Thailand. Written and composed by Erin Kamler, the show ran for four sold-out performances and received standing ovations every night. Read the review in Chiang Mai Citylife. In recent years, human trafficking has exploded onto the international stage as one of the most disturbing, complex and, many claim, pervasive issues of our time. Often dubbed “modern day slavery,” the focus of the movement that has sprung up to stop trafficking has been to “rescue” girls from situations of labor exploitation—specifically having to do with sex work. The problem with these tactics, and indeed, the entire movement to end human trafficking, is that often the most well intended of advocates do little to empower the women they are trying to “save.”
"Ten years after its New York premiere it still has the power to unsettle."
Ken Jaworowski for New York Times
"Its minimalist approach makes the piece speak even more powerfully to both mind and heart.”
Elisabeth Vincentelli for New York Post
"The work is extremely moving, and regardless of your political leanings, these stories will touch your heart."
Suzy Evans for Back Stage
"Retains its power to outrage."
THE STORY: Culled from interviews, letters, transcripts, case files and the public record, THE EXONERATED tells the true stories of six wrongfully convicted survivors of death row in their own words. In this ninety-minute intermissionless play, we meet Kerry, a sensitive Texan brutalized on death row for twenty-two years before being exonerated by DNA evidence; we meet Gary, a Midwestern organic farmer condemned for the murder of his own parents and later exonerated when two motorcycle-gang members confess. We meet Robert, an African-American horse groomer who spent seven years on death row for the murder of a white woman before evidence emerges that the victim was found clutching hair from a Caucasian attacker. We hear from David, a shy man with aspirations to the ministry, bullied into confessing at eighteen to a robbery/murder he had nothing to do with, scarred from a youth spent in prison and struggling to regain his faith; and from Sunny, a bright-spirited hippie who, along with her husband, spent seventeen years in prison for the murder of two police officers—while another man confessed and was ignored by the courts. And we meet Delbert, a poet who serves as the play's center, convicted of a rape/murder in the Deep South of the 1970s and later freed when evidence surfaced showing that he was not even in the town when the crime occurred. Moving between first-person monologues and scenes set in courtrooms and prisons, the six interwoven stories paint a picture of an American criminal justice system gone horribly wrong—and of six brave souls who persevered to survive it.
Ken Jaworowski for New York Times
"Its minimalist approach makes the piece speak even more powerfully to both mind and heart.”
Elisabeth Vincentelli for New York Post
"The work is extremely moving, and regardless of your political leanings, these stories will touch your heart."
Suzy Evans for Back Stage
"Retains its power to outrage."
THE STORY: Culled from interviews, letters, transcripts, case files and the public record, THE EXONERATED tells the true stories of six wrongfully convicted survivors of death row in their own words. In this ninety-minute intermissionless play, we meet Kerry, a sensitive Texan brutalized on death row for twenty-two years before being exonerated by DNA evidence; we meet Gary, a Midwestern organic farmer condemned for the murder of his own parents and later exonerated when two motorcycle-gang members confess. We meet Robert, an African-American horse groomer who spent seven years on death row for the murder of a white woman before evidence emerges that the victim was found clutching hair from a Caucasian attacker. We hear from David, a shy man with aspirations to the ministry, bullied into confessing at eighteen to a robbery/murder he had nothing to do with, scarred from a youth spent in prison and struggling to regain his faith; and from Sunny, a bright-spirited hippie who, along with her husband, spent seventeen years in prison for the murder of two police officers—while another man confessed and was ignored by the courts. And we meet Delbert, a poet who serves as the play's center, convicted of a rape/murder in the Deep South of the 1970s and later freed when evidence surfaced showing that he was not even in the town when the crime occurred. Moving between first-person monologues and scenes set in courtrooms and prisons, the six interwoven stories paint a picture of an American criminal justice system gone horribly wrong—and of six brave souls who persevered to survive it.
Executive Director Suman Tharan
Produced by Stephan Turner
Scenic Design & Stage Lighting by Stephan Turner
Almost, Maine is a play by John Cariani, comprising nine short plays that explore love and loss in a remote, mythical almost-town called Almost, Maine. It premiered at the Portland Stage Company in Portland, Maine in 2004 where it broke box office records and garnered critical acclaim.
Produced by Stephan Turner
Scenic Design & Stage Lighting by Stephan Turner
Almost, Maine is a play by John Cariani, comprising nine short plays that explore love and loss in a remote, mythical almost-town called Almost, Maine. It premiered at the Portland Stage Company in Portland, Maine in 2004 where it broke box office records and garnered critical acclaim.
Stage Direction by Stephan Turner
Set Design by Michael Allman
Art Director and Lighting Design by Stephan Turner
THE STORY: The action is set in Truvy's beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies who are "anybody" come to have their hair done. Helped by her eager new assistant, Annelle (who is not sure whether or not she is still married), the outspoken, wise-cracking Truvy dispenses shampoos and free advice to the town's rich curmudgeon, Ouiser, ("I'm not crazy, I've just been in a bad mood for forty years"); an eccentric millionaire, Miss Clairee, who has a raging sweet tooth; and the local social leader, M'Lynn, whose daughter, Shelby (the prettiest girl in town), is about to marry a "good ole boy." Filled with hilarious repartee and not a few acerbic but humorously revealing verbal collisions, the play moves toward tragedy when, in the second act, the spunky Shelby (who is a diabetic) risks pregnancy and forfeits her life. The sudden realization of their mortality affects the others, but also draws on the underlying strength—and love—which give the play, and its characters, the special quality to make them truly touching, funny and marvelously amiable company in good times and bad.
Set Design by Michael Allman
Art Director and Lighting Design by Stephan Turner
THE STORY: The action is set in Truvy's beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies who are "anybody" come to have their hair done. Helped by her eager new assistant, Annelle (who is not sure whether or not she is still married), the outspoken, wise-cracking Truvy dispenses shampoos and free advice to the town's rich curmudgeon, Ouiser, ("I'm not crazy, I've just been in a bad mood for forty years"); an eccentric millionaire, Miss Clairee, who has a raging sweet tooth; and the local social leader, M'Lynn, whose daughter, Shelby (the prettiest girl in town), is about to marry a "good ole boy." Filled with hilarious repartee and not a few acerbic but humorously revealing verbal collisions, the play moves toward tragedy when, in the second act, the spunky Shelby (who is a diabetic) risks pregnancy and forfeits her life. The sudden realization of their mortality affects the others, but also draws on the underlying strength—and love—which give the play, and its characters, the special quality to make them truly touching, funny and marvelously amiable company in good times and bad.
Stage Direction, Scenic Design & Stage Lighting by Stephan Turner
The Christmas choir has never sounded worse! Perhaps it’s because of a lack of talent or not enough rehearsals... or it could be because the choir members aren’t sincere in their reasons for being there. Dede is trying to drum up votes for the next city council election while Laraine just wants to get out of the house and away from her large, loud family. George is always trying to sell insurance while Phoebe is trying to catch the eye of choir director, Michael, whom she simply adores. Not even Ron, the photographer, can get them to cooperate! Fast lines fly in this zany send-up of human nature — some hilarious, some poignant — with each character getting his or her moment in the spotlight... literally! The good-hearted volunteer choir director thinks the only way to get someone to bless this group is if they all sneezed at the same time! If even the director has no faith, then what’s in store for this motley crew of would-be singers? In the end, we find out how a young preacher helps the choir find harmony and the true meaning of Christmas in this fast-paced Christmas comedy.
The Christmas choir has never sounded worse! Perhaps it’s because of a lack of talent or not enough rehearsals... or it could be because the choir members aren’t sincere in their reasons for being there. Dede is trying to drum up votes for the next city council election while Laraine just wants to get out of the house and away from her large, loud family. George is always trying to sell insurance while Phoebe is trying to catch the eye of choir director, Michael, whom she simply adores. Not even Ron, the photographer, can get them to cooperate! Fast lines fly in this zany send-up of human nature — some hilarious, some poignant — with each character getting his or her moment in the spotlight... literally! The good-hearted volunteer choir director thinks the only way to get someone to bless this group is if they all sneezed at the same time! If even the director has no faith, then what’s in store for this motley crew of would-be singers? In the end, we find out how a young preacher helps the choir find harmony and the true meaning of Christmas in this fast-paced Christmas comedy.