On stage Oct. 23-Nov. 15 at Limelight Theatre
'A big-little play about faith in America - and the trouble with changing your mind'
St. Augustine, FL - The Christians, a contemporary drama, opens Friday, Oct. 23 at Limelight Theatre and runs through Nov. 15, staged in the Koger-Gamache Studio Theatre, an intimate 75-seat black box space.
Written by Lucas Hnath, the play is currently on stage at Playwrights Horizons in New York City. It was first introduce at the Humana Festival of New American Plays (where Charles Isherwood of The New York Times
called it
"the finest of the bunch"). It has also been staged at theaters in Texas and Ohio.
Directed by Richard Curran-Kelley, this thought-provoking play asks, "What does it take to be a Christian in today's world?"
The local cast includes
Everette Street as Pastor Paul; Daniel Carter as Associate Pastor Joshua;
Jim Fellows as Elder Jay; Tracey Gallagher as Elizabeth; and Jennifer Latka as Jenny.
THE STORY: Twenty years ago, Pastor Paul's church was nothing more than a modest storefront. 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. A big-little play about faith in America-and the trouble with changing your mind.
Opening night on Oct. 23 includes pre-show champagne and a meet-the-cast party following the performances. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, with a 2 p.m. Sunday matinee. Two Terrific Tuesdays feature two tickets fro $30 on Oct. 27 and Nov. 3. Tickets to all other shows are $26 for adults; $24 for seniors; $20 for students and military; $10 student rush tickets (30 minutes prior to each performance); and one free child ticket (12 and younger) with full price paid adult ticket.
For reservations, go to limelight-theatre.org or call the box office at 904-825-1164. Limelight Theatre is located at 11 Old Mission Ave., uptown St. Augustine. Free parking is available street-side and in a parking lot on site.
REVIEWS
"... raises probing questions about how and why organized religion can be a divisive, if not
abusive, social force ... consistently combines formal invention with intellectual inquiry. Mr. Hnath is quickly emerging as one of the brightest new voices of his generation."
-NY Times
"... 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." -National Catholic Reporter
"... plants the audience squarely in the thick of the battle ... utterly engrossing ...
many attendees bowed their heads at each call for prayer before reminding themselves
that this is, in fact, just a play." -BroadwayWorld.com
DATES
- October 23 - November 15, 2015
- Preview: Oct. 22
- Terrific Tuesday: Oct. 27 and Nov. 3
- No show on Nov. 5
THE CAST
Pastor Paul: Everette Street
Associate Pastor Joshua: Daniel Carter
Elder Jay: Jim Fellows
Elizabeth: Tracey Gallagher
Jenny: Jennifer Latka
