INDEPENDENCE
by lee blessing
“We can’t save mom. Save me.”
Alchemical Theatre Lab
New York, NY
Best Revival of a Play (nom), 2018 New York Innovative Theatre Awards
Executive Producers: Erica Knight, Teryn Gray, Paige Felger
Co-Directors: Elizabeth A. Davis & Srđa Vasiljević
CAST
Jo - Teryn Gray
Evelyn - Susan Ferrara
Kess - Erica Knight
Sherry - Paige Felger
CREATIVE
Lighting Design by Savannah Bell
Sound Design by Isaac VanCurren
Costume Design by Holly McCaffery
Original Music by Elliah Heifetz
SUMMARY
Welcome to Independence, Iowa - the lifelong home of Evelyn Briggs, and generations' worth of familial misconnections. Evelyn's oldest daughter, Kess, a university professor, has long since decided to cut her family ties, but has come home at the sudden request of her sister; Jo, an incurable romantic, is unexpectedly pregnant and has become increasingly worried about Evelyn's mental health; while Sherry, salty-tongued and proudly amoral, wants only to finish high school so she can leave home for good. The sisters struggle to meet the expectations of their demanding mother, while the fight to pursue their individual aspirations for life and love test the bounds of family loyalty.