The first play of our 2016-2017 season is Jane Anderson's play, Defying Gravity. This play is a free-structured look at the 1986 Challenger disaster that centers around humanities desires to define the undefinable by reaching beyond ourselves. This semi-surrealistic memory play tells a web of stories revolving around the Challenger crash: the story of the teacher selected as the first civilian astronaut, the memories of her grieving daughter, the travels of a retired couple across country, and the lives of NASA support staff. All of these stories are interwoven with impressionist painter Claude Monet's artistic quests in a way to draw parallels between the past and present.
Cast:
Claude Monet - Ryver Nakayoshi
Elizabeth - McKinley Friesen
Teacher - Bella Fox
Betty - Madelyn Hurst
Ed - Josiah Henifin
C.B. - Ashton Thomas
Donna - Annie Purkey
Miscellaneous Voices - Spencer Lamb & Steven Cummings
This play is rated PG-13 for the use of adult language which might be considered innapropriate for children under 13.