Cadence Theatre Company Announces Season 13

Featuring two world premieres from Cadence’s Pipeline New Works Fellowship, led by Chris and David Lindsay-Abaire

Richmond, VA – Cadence Theatre’s Artistic and Managing Director Anna Senechal Johnson announces Season 13, featuring two world premieres, a site-specifc production and a holiday musical.

Cadence is eager to bring innovative shows to audiences in this lucky thirteenth year of producing contemporary theatre in Richmond. The season reflects Cadence’s commitment to artistic excellence by celebrating the works of emerging playwrights from the Pipeline New Works Fellowship Program. Through these pieces, Cadence seeks to inspire and transform our community while creating safe spaces for critical dialogue across boundaries. The upcoming season of theatrical works strives to uplift the spirit, challenge the mind, and honor both our individuality and our shared humanity.

Overcoming setbacks as a result of the pandemic, Cadence is ready to bring Fisher, Hashemi, and Burneson's amazing stories to life, born out of the Pipeline New Works Program, spearheaded by Chris and David Lindsay-Abaire. Says Johnson, “I think what I love the most about all of these plays is that they are meaningful, relevant, and often filled with humor! We all need more laughter these days.”

Cross Stitch Bandits

March 9–19, 2023
Libby S. Gottwald Playhouse

Written by Sanam Laila Hashemi and Steven Burneson
Directed by Sharon Ott

For the past 27 years, David 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.

Q&A with Playwrights Sanam Laila Hashemi and Steven Burneson

How was the process of developing your piece through the Pipelines New Works Fellowship program with the mentorship of Chris and David Lindsay-Abaire?

Before the Pipeline New Works Fellowship, we'd only ever written short screenplays, so the thought of approaching a full-length play was daunting and exciting. From day one, David's ability to break down and teach story in an accessible way gave us a foundation to develop our play from scratch. Going through this process alongside a group of kind and talented writers created a built-in sense of camaraderie and accountability. As mentors, David and Chris were 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).

How did you begin developing this work? Why this piece now?

The idea for the play itself came from an old family story. 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.

How do you feel your piece connects to the mission of Cadence to create inspiring, honest and uplifting theatrical experiences?

We wanted to expand the living room drama to show 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 universal experience.

How to Bruise Gracefully

May 11–21, 2023
Libby S. Gottwald Playhouse

Written by Brittany Fisher
Directed by Melissa Mowry

A young YouTuber, Vi, is hiding something. What begins as a typical workday at Burger King soon spirals into a deep exploration of fear, trauma, and inner strength through the eyes of women who have both nothing and everything to lose. This is a crash course on survival and how to cope with the reality of not being in control of your own body.

Brittany Fisher is an NYC-based playwright from Richmond, VA and a recent graduate of Juilliard's Lila Acheson Wallace American Playwrights Program. Her play How to Bruise Gracefully was a finalist for the Alliance/Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition, won the 2021 Kennedy Center Lorraine Hansberry Award, and was recognized by the Rosa Parks Award and Paula Vogel Award.

Q&A with Playwright Brittany Fisher

How was the process of developing your piece through the Pipelines New Works Fellowship program with the mentorship of Chris and David Lindsay-Abaire?

The process of developing How to Bruise Gracefully through Pipeline was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life and I am forever changed by this journey. It created an environment for me to be able to be myself as an artist and to try, fail, and try again. I’ve learned that there is no one-size-fits-all process and that no process is perfectly linear. Their mentorship has taught me to give myself grace during the process and helped me understand that it’s okay to make mistakes - just be open to learning from them.

How did you begin developing this work? Why this piece now?

HTBG represents a world that prioritizes giving a voice to Black women when it comes to their own bodies, while silencing people that oppress and dismiss them. I can’t think of a time in history where that wasn’t desperately needed.

How do you feel your piece connects to the mission of Cadence to create inspiring, honest and uplifting theatrical experiences?

Brutal honesty was laid in the foundation for HTBG as it was being developed, and while brutal honesty is so necessary, it isn’t always comfortable. This play is a lot to take in visually and emotionally in the best way, and I believe that’s what will make it a theatrical experience that will really stick with people once they’ve left the theater.

My favorite quote of all time is by Maya Angelou and says, “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Because of that, I’ve always believed that if you have the ability to tap into people’s emotions through your artistry, then you have the chance to make an impact on them that can last a lifetime.

Cross Stitch Bandits and How to Bruise Gracefully are both World Premieres, created and developed through the Pipeline New Works Fellowship Program, led by Chris and David Lindsay-Abaire.

Native Gardens

June 21–26, 2023 (Rain Dates: June 27–28, 2023)
Back lawn of Wilton House Museum

Written by Karen Zacarías
Directed by Rusty Wilson

Pablo and Tania, a high-powered lawyer and doctoral candidate respectively, have just moved into their dream home in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. With it being a fixer upper and all, they decide to transform their yard into a lovely native garden. Their next door neighbors, Frank and Virginia, also enjoy tending to their garden, a blooming brigade of non-native plants grown to win them the annual gardening competition in the neighborhood. Frank and Virginia give a hearty welcome to Pablo and Tania, however these pleasantries soon vanish when Pablo discovers that their property line is 2 feet into Frank’s beloved garden. Friction ensues, then an all-out border dispute erupts as the two couples show their true colors.

Cadence is thrilled to revive the Sitelines program this year with Native Gardens at Wilton House Museum. Members of the Cadence community may remember Annie Baker's The Flick at The Byrd Theatre years ago. This production proves to be as exhilarating and experiential on the back lawn. The lawn opens at 6pm to the public for picnics. The show will begin at 7pm and will run for 90 minutes.

In addition, for the holidays, Cadence Theatre is also producing Annie JR. Directed by Desirèe Dabney, with Musical Direction by Billy Dye, and Choreography by Emily Berg-Poff Dandridge, the 90-minute show is a family-friendly musical about the story of little orphan Annie and her journey to find family. Join Cadence at The Libby S. Gottwald Playhouse from December 16th -23rd 2022. Remember, you are never fully dressed without a smile!

Cadence Theatre is proud to partner with Virginia Rep on its state-of-the-art TRAIN Pre-Professional Actor Training Program. Due to the impacts of the pandemic, Cadence has opted to present in a larger space with more seating capacity for this year.

Artistic and Managing Director, Anna Senechal Johnson says it best. “We are committed to inspiring, honest and uplifting theatrical experiences, whether it is new work or previously produced. We are so happy to return to the stage.”

TICKETS

Tickets for Cross Stitch Bandits, How to Bruise Gracefully and Native Gardens will be on sale by November 4th at 10 am. Access season ticketing links by visiting our season page.

Annie JR tickets be on sale by October 25th at 10 am.

Cadence will not be offering Season Subscriptions but will offer early bird discounts for tickets purchased before December 31st for the three-show season (excluding Annie Jr.). All seating is by General Admission.