Events
The Christians Play
September 29 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Join us for a unique Gifts of the Arts offering as John Gancar directs an all-star cast in this big-little play about faith in America – and the trouble with changing your mind.
Ten years ago, Pastor Paul’s church was a modest storefront. Now it houses thousands, with a coffee shop in the lobby and a baptismal font as big as a swimming pool. But Paul is about to preach a sermon that will shake the foundation of his congregation’s beliefs. Backed by a live choir, The Christians is both epic and unexpectedly intimate, an unflinching look at faith in America — and its power to unite or divide.
The Obie Award, Kesselring Prize, and Outer Critics Circle Award-winning play The Christians will be presented on:
Friday, September 29th at 7pm
Friday, September 29th at 7pm
Saturday, September 30th at 7pm
Sunday, October 1st at 3pm
**There will be an audience talkback after each performance**
Friday -Father Bryce Wandrey, Christ Episcopal Church
Saturday – Reverand Amy DeBeck, First Unitarian Universalist Church of Berks County
Sunday – Rabbi Brian Michelson, Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom
Purchase discounted tickets online at thechristians.eventbrite.com
Tickets can be purchased at the door, $20 cash or check.
About the Playwright:
Lucas Hnath is a Tony Award nominated playwright whose plays Hillary and Clinton and A Doll’s House, Part 2 have recently played on Broadway. Hnath’s other plays include The Thin Place, Red Speedo, The Christians (Obie Award, Kesselring Prize, Outer Critics Circle Award), A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay About the Death of Walt Disney, Isaac’s Eye and Death Tax. His plays have been produced Off-Broadway at New York Theatre Workshop (where he is a Usual Suspect), Playwrights Horizons, Soho Rep and Ensemble Studio Theatre (where he is a member). Hnath’s plays have also premiered at the Humana Festival of New American Plays, Victory Gardens Theater and South Coast Repertory. Awards include the Whiting Award, Guggenheim Fellowship, Steinberg Playwright Award and Windham-Campbell Literary Prize.
Lucas Hnath is a Tony Award nominated playwright whose plays Hillary and Clinton and A Doll’s House, Part 2 have recently played on Broadway. Hnath’s other plays include The Thin Place, Red Speedo, The Christians (Obie Award, Kesselring Prize, Outer Critics Circle Award), A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay About the Death of Walt Disney, Isaac’s Eye and Death Tax. His plays have been produced Off-Broadway at New York Theatre Workshop (where he is a Usual Suspect), Playwrights Horizons, Soho Rep and Ensemble Studio Theatre (where he is a member). Hnath’s plays have also premiered at the Humana Festival of New American Plays, Victory Gardens Theater and South Coast Repertory. Awards include the Whiting Award, Guggenheim Fellowship, Steinberg Playwright Award and Windham-Campbell Literary Prize.
From the Critics about The Christians:
“…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.” —The New York Times.
“…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.” —The New York 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.
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