World Premiere of Cross Stitch Bandits Opens This March

World Premiere of Cross Stitch Bandits Presented by Cadence Theatre and Virginia Rep Opens This March

By Liv Wilson

Written by Sanam Laila Hashemi and Steven Burneson, Cross Stitch Bandits was developed through Cadence’s Pipeline New Works Fellowship. Hashemi, Burneson, and three other writers spent two years under the mentorship of renowned playwright and Pulitzer Prize winner, David Lindsay-Abaire, to create new, intentional pieces of theatre from the ground up.

Hashemi and Burneson recall how daunting yet exciting it was to approach writing a full-length play, noting the “built-in sense of camaraderie and accountability” of the Pipeline Fellowship. They comment that as a mentor Lindsay-Abaire was “always game to meet us where we were at, treat us like peers, and keep us moving forward, even when imposter syndrome came for us (always).”

Cross Stitch Bandits follows the story of David, who for the last 27 years has dutifully climbed the ranks at the same engineering firm and placed his family on a trajectory for success. His wife is a well-respected vice principal, his daughter is weeks away from graduating from law school, and his son should be going back to school any day now. Today, his family has gathered to celebrate his retirement by permanently laying his career to rest. The kooky party soon divulges into David scrambling to get everyone's lives back on track.

Hashemi details the inception of the piece, recalling that the idea came from an old family story. She explains, “Steven's dad wanted to put Steven's mom in a fake coffin for her 40th birthday and have friends and family recite eulogies. She declined, but through writing this play we got to make it happen anyway.” The playwrights describe wanting to expand the living room drama to demonstrate that “a kooky, everyday American family doesn't look, sound, or act in one particular way.” Each member of this family is going through their own type of transition and can't quite figure out how to communicate with one another, a vastly universal experience.

Since this piece is a brand new work, we asked some of our actors how it feels being a part of a world premiere. Otto Konrad, who plays David in the show, noted the heightened importance of learning each line word for word as each was chosen carefully and intentionally by the playwrights. Konrad voices the considerable responsibility that comes with bringing a playwrights’ vision to life, commenting, “When Sanam and Steven see the show on opening night I want them to see their play fully realized.” Actor, Cyrus Mooney, who plays the role of Drew, David’s son, expresses his excitement toward the notion of a “blank slate” that he gets the first and honorable opportunity to mark.

Director Sharon Ott shares thoughts on her connection to this new piece as someone who is now in her early 70's, pondering the idea of retirement often. Ott feels a certain affinity and sympathy for David, who also has a hard time actually imagining what to do post-retirement. Ott finds herself drawn to the piece because of the richness of characters, all facing major transitions in their lives. She also expresses her interest in the tone of Steven and Sanam's writing, describing it as “genuine and heartfelt, but also with some fun quirky comic elements.”

Ott directs both classics and new plays, but this is the first world premiere she has directed in about seven years. Sharon expresses the excitement of being able to enter “on the ground floor of something”, noting David Lindsay-Abaire's marvelous mentoring job, calling the script “completely ready to produce.”

With rehearsals just beginning, the cast and creative team are already diving into the world of the play. As everyone brings unique points of view and life experiences to the process, Playwright Sanam Hashemi is curious to see how these characters (and the world they live in) get fleshed out through the rehearsal and production process. She states, “It's a collaborative thing to bring a play to life and we're looking forward to seeing how the play evolves over the next few weeks as a team of storytellers digs in.”

Otto Konrad has the tremendous task of taking on the lead character of David, the everyman “who faces hurdles many of us must face as we head into the back end of our lives.” He must ponder the questions: Who am I now? Do I matter? How do I love? How do I parent? Konrad observes of his character, “His efforts to right his family-ship are relentless and his corresponding emotional trajectory is considerable. The audience is going to laugh and cry right along with David and his family.”

Landon Nagel, who plays the role of Neil, David’s former coworker, hopes audiences will leave the show ready to actively focus more of their time and energy on their family and supporting their children, rather than their work. Cross Stitch Bandits speaks to the uncertainty of transitional periods in life, the humor in growing up and older, and the importance of family through it all.

Finally, our cast shared some of their favorite lines from the show, including…

“Thanks for showing me how to yoga.”

“Honey, I’d like to introduce you to the Gas Blaster 3000.”

"I love magic because of you."

Cross Stitch Bandits will be presented at the Libby S. Gottwald Playhouse from March 9-19, 2023. Join us for a post-show talkback with artists and the creative team after the performance on March 12th.

Tickets are on sale now! Use the special Valentine’s Day code LOVE25 and get tickets for $25 (before fees). Offer expires February 28, 2023. Applicable to online purchases only.