Interview with the cast members of ABSENCE

We asked Greg Wood and Judith Lightfoot Clarke, Peter and Mary from Absence, to tell us about their characters and describe some of the elements of the play. It was a fun interview to do!

The Scoop!

Peter DeLaurier (who played the The Patriarch in Nathan the Wise) just sent us this photo from The Scoop, our pre-show discussion which he led before each performance of Nathan. We had to share!


The Scoop has been very interesting so far, so the next time you come to a show, arrive an hour before performance time and get some insight into the show!

In & Out: Production Photos!

Recently, one of our production team members (the very talented Michael Hahn, Sound Operator) handed us a disc full of photos he had taken of various sets being made. These photos go back to when he started at People's Light, and include shows like Cinderella, End Days, A Tale of Two Cities and The Persians. You can see the works-in-progress and get a feel for how much work is involved!



And if you're curious about the members our shop team, see below!
















Will Scribner, Scenic Painter
















Bridget Brennan, Wardrobe Supervisor





















Jefferson Haynes, Scenic Carpenter
(You may remember him as Hackin' Devil Dan from Treasure Island!)


















Greg Miller, Master Electrician
















Dylan Jamison, Scene Shop Foreman
















Kate Nelson, Stage Management Associate, and Michael Hahn, Sound Operator (and provider of all these wonderful photos!)

College Night 2009

We invited college students and their professors to the October 1st performance of Nathan the Wise, just like we did for The Persians last season. Included was a pre-show discussion led by Nathan actor and Resident Company member Peter DeLaurier, and a talk-back with the actors after the show. Prior to the show we invited everyone to hang out in the upper lobby, enjoy refreshments and check out the lobby display. Here are a couple photos!

Faith & Frienship: A Conversation with Scholars on NATHAN THE WISE

We held a free discussion on Nathan the Wise this past Sunday. Dramaturg Graham Graves moderated the panel, joined by three scholars, Elliot Ratzman, Visiting Professor of Jewish Studies and Religion, Temple University; Simon Richter, Professor of Germanic Studies, University of Pennsylvania; and Andrea Schatz, Fellow at the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies, University of Pennsylvania and Lecturer in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, King’s College, London.

Media Goodness!

We've got a couple of really interesting Nathan the Wise-related videos for you: an interview with the director Abbey Adams, done by philly.com, and part 1 of our interview of dramaturg Graham Graves. Enjoy!

Abbey Adams Interview, Philly.com


Graham Graves Interview, Part 1

A Day in the Life Photoblog - Brian Anthony Wilson

We asked actor Brian Anthony Wilson, who plays Al-Hafi in Nathan the Wise, to document a normal day in his life--with pictures! And here they are, complete with captions from Brian:

"Parker & me brushing our teeth."

“Parker & Dad having breakfast.”


“Recycling—yay planet Earth!”


“Mowing the lawn.”


“Checking my e-mail.”


“Driving to work.”


“Learning my lines.”


Brian on Stage.

People's Light at the Game

People’s Light and Theatre Company’s Front of House Staff attended the Philadelphia Phillies game on July 20th versus the Chicago Cubs. The Front of House Staff gladly gives our support to such a great baseball team so close to home. With the help of the Phillies Box Office we were able to get great seats and a winning game. The Phillies won 10-1.

Elizabeth Gardner
Box Office Manager

The New Voices Ensemble Performs at the NCC

On January 19th, 2009, eight members of the People’s Light & Theatre Company’s New Voices Ensemble participated in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. day of service at the National Constitution Center. The Ensemble, along with other area students, professional actors, and educators, performed a dramatic and choral reading of the historic MLK Speech that was given in 1963 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.



In addition to performing and assisting NCC staff, Ensemble members took part in a quilting project for Women Against Abuse shelters and homeless shelters. Groups took turns assisting families and volunteers, cutting and sorting fabric, hand stitching, ironing, and finishing blankets and pillows. Following their day of service the students received a private tour of the exhibit “America I Am,” a celebration of African-American contributions throughout history in the United States, featuring not only a variety of famous artifacts such as Malcolm X’s personal diary and the jail door where Martin Luther King, Jr. was held in Birmingham, but also an assortment of multimedia presentations showcasing famous African-Americans throughout U.S. history.

Floor Thirteen and a Half, Summerstage 2009, by Kelsey Hodgkiss

This summer, Teen 1 from the People's Light & Theatre Summerstage program is tackling something new. We are creating and putting on and original play based on the themes of End Days.

Floor Thirteen and a Half tells the story of 15 strangers who take an emotional and psychological journey while stuck during a blackout in a broken down luxary hotel elevator. Will they get out? Well, we don't know yet, but you will when you come to see it Friday, July 17th at 1:00pm at Delaware Valley Friend's School.


-Kelsey Hodgkiss