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Orphans
Lyle Kessler
Opening Date:
January 9, 2009
Closing Date:
January 31, 2009
In a rundown Philadelphia row house, two orphaned brothers live in isolation until a mysterious stranger turns their world upside down. A failed kidnapping develops into a complicated surrogate family, as power struggles, vulnerability, and unexpected affection reshape their lives. Rhonda Clark directed Lyle Kessler’s darkly funny, affecting drama.
Cast & Crew
CAST
Phillip — Matthew Charnay
Treat — Wil Rogers
Harold — Ben Hall
CREW
Director, set design, and costume design — Rhonda Clark
Lighting design — Steven Gillmore
Stage manager and sound technician — James Tyra
Lightboard operator — Kathy Marrs
Sound engineer — Steven Gillmore
Set construction — Steven Gillmore
Scenic artist — Nick Backes
Additional scenic painting — Rhonda Clark; Steven Gillmore; Jason Moore; Tessa Dillman
Running crew — Jason Moore
Properties — Rhonda Clark
Rehearsal stage manager — Sarah Johnston
Poster and advertising design — Jonathan Siler
Website photography — Rhonda Clark
CST Webmasters — Don Lusk; Phil Carlton
CST STAFF
Artistic Director — Rhonda Clark
Box Office Manager — Vicky Zipf
Technical Director — Steven Gillmore
SPONSORS
Cast sponsors: Cindy and Mel Ables; Opening-night party sponsors: Ruth and Richard Charnay and The Lunch Box
SPECIAL THANKS
Rodney Brazil; Terry Veal; Jon Womastek; Doobie Potter; Dottie Overall; Sheila Clark; Roger Oxford; Sue Ellen Reiman; Mona Cross
Production Notes
Fourth production of Season 25. Three actors: Matthew Charnay (Phillip), Wil Rogers (Treat), Ben Hall (Harold). The older brother steals to support his sheltered younger sibling, who believes he is allergic to the outdoors; the would-be kidnapping victim Harold becomes a surrogate father figure. Rhonda Clark directed and designed sets/costumes. Steven Gillmore remained technical director. Rehearsal stage manager Sarah Johnston was credited separately from production stage manager James Tyra. Kessler wrote the screenplay for the 1987 film with Albert Finney, Matthew Modine, and Kevin Anderson. Original announcement referred to a proposed 2009 Broadway production starring Al Pacino; that plan should not be treated as an actual production (Broadway debut was 2013). Contemporary Oklahoma Gazette preview and a positive review titled Orphans Features Excellent Actors, Adept Direction provide press leads. Supplemental reporting lists adult tickets $18, senior/military $15, student $5 and talkbacks/Friday food, but these are not on original page. Two original photographs credited to Rhonda Clark.
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