Redemption Story

A.R.T./NY

2024

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Written by Peregrine Heard
Directed by Sarah Blush
Presented by The Associates
Produced by Shannon Sindelar

Featuring José Espinosa, Christine Toy Johnson, Dee Beasnael, Gregory Saint Georges, Emily Stout and Mitchell Winter
Set by Emmie Finckel
Costumes by Dan Wang
Lights by Neil Jiahao Qiu
Sound by John Gasper
Props by Rhys Roffey
Rehearsal SM Aisling Galvin
PSM Caroline Wilkes
Technical Director Jack Woods

INT. DINER - LOS ANGELES, 1971. CONNIE LEE (50s, hardened glamor) drinks coffee, fingers her cigarettes. A MAN (20s, blond and eager) pushes through the door, and Connie does a double-take, then turns away. She's already made the worst mistake of her life, and a fresh face can't fix it.

"Characters light cigarettes with sultry indifference; actors pivot a spotlight on a rolling floor-mount to catch each other in the accusing glare or carve out menacing silhouettes...acute in its observance of the disturbing, still-familiar power constellation among the characters...somewhere between high style and relatable realism"

Sara Holdren, Vulture

"Directed by Sarah Blush, this story of Hollywood in the 70's will make you want to binge some classic Noir movies...and then take a shower."

-Young-Howze Theatre Journal

"Stylistic flair...intriguing sexual spark...in the pair’s steamier scenes, conjuring noir-tinged imagery that blurs Hollywood fantasy and grim reality"

-Joey Sims, Transititons

"Blush’s skillful direction blends a noir sensibility...without staging the whole enterprise in that form...Finding the right balance is tricky, but Heard and Blush have succeeded in finding that balance."

-Scotty Bennett, Theater Scene

TV:

Abby Glusker, UTA