Harbinger Theatre will kick off its 2023 season with Theresa Rebeck’s “Dig”! This thrilling 2019 play is our 8th consecutive Capital Region premiere and we believe we are only the second company to produce it after its world premiere at Dorset Theatre Festival. Directed by Patrick White, we will be in collaboration with Circle Theater Players at Sand Lake Center for the Arts.
“Dig” is another fantastic addition to Harbinger’s relatively brief history of offering Capital Region premieres of new works. A dying plant shop in a dying urban neighborhood receives a visitor from the past: Megan, the neighborhood screw-up, whose suicide attempt followed a terrible tragedy. Roger, the store owner, wants nothing to do with this situation, but Megan is improbably clinging to life. Can a soul beyond saving be saved? A play about courage, redemption and photosynthesis.
“What I love about this play is that every character surprises you with their actions. They are deeply human, desirous beings who make decisions out of their needs that startle and amaze us for what they are capable of. It reminds me of how only a new work on stage can truly thrill us with its discoveries,” said White. This is Patrick’s fifth show directed at SLCA after “Men on Boats,” “In the Heat of the Night,” “Church & State” and “Admissions.”
Theresa Rebeck is the most Broadway-produced woman playwright today and she has another Broadway production, “I Need That” with Danny DeVito, and an off-Broadway production of “Dig” (we hear!) scheduled for next season.
“Dig” has received an Edgerton Foundation New Play Award to support the world premiere production at Dorset Theatre Festival. The Edgerton Foundation New Play Awards give plays in development extended rehearsal periods for the entire creative team, including the playwrights. The program launched nationally in 2007 and has awarded grants to nonprofit theatres for 393 new plays to date. The Edgerton Foundation was awarded the 2011 TCG National Funder Award.
“‘Dig’ is a thorny, urgent howl for compassion, understanding and honesty both with ourselves and with our dealings with others as a matter of life and death consequence,” said White in a review published in Nippertown in 2019.
Harbinger was formed during the pandemic seeking to produce impactful work by underrepresented playwrights creating more opportunities for all participants, audience and play makers, interested in change. Harbinger is very excited and honored to be working and learning from their skillful colleagues, Circle Theater Players at Sand Lake Center for the Arts for this performance.
The role of Megan will be played by Laura Graver. Roger will be played by Adam Coons. Everett will be played by Marquis Heath. Lou will be played by Michael Gialanella. Molly will be played by Amber Acosta. Adam will be played by TJ Collins.
Shows will be held on April 21, 22, 28, and 29 at 8 p.m., and matinee shows on April 23 and 30 at 2:30 p.m. The SLCA is located at 2880 New York 43 Averill Park, NY 12018.
Tickets will be $20 for general admission and $10 for students. Tickets can be purchased on the Sand Lake Center for the Arts website at https://slcactp.square.
There will be talkback nights held on Friday April 21 and Friday April 28.
The SLCA offers a year-round multi-disciplinary program informed by the following artistic and community values and their mission is to enrich community life and human understanding by fostering discovery, appreciation, and creation of the arts through education and engagement by both practicing artists and the broader community. There is a Community Arts Project being hosted by SLCA in the Center’s lobby during the run of the show.