Photos: BASIL BIGGS Workshop Premiere Closes at Wilma Theatre
Anna Deavere Smith's work stars John Clarence Stewart, Kristolyn Lloyd, and Kalyne Coleman.
Anna Deavere Smith's world premiere workshop production of Basil Biggs concluded its four-performance run at the Wilma Theatre in Philadelphia on June 28 as part of ArtPhilly's What Now: 2026 Festival. Check out photos of closing night.
Directed by Leonard Foglia, with costumes by Ann Hould-Ward, and original music composed and performed by Dr. Edward W. Hardy, the play traces the life of Smith's great-great-grandfather, a farmer, veterinarian, and prominent Gettysburg figure who received the contract to disinter and rebury Union soldiers following the Civil War's bloodiest battle. Drawing on archival materials, the work imagines how Biggs, his family, and their community navigated the aftermath of the war.
The cast included Kalyne Coleman as Mary Biggs ('Interview with the Vampire"), Tony, Emmy and Grammy Award-winning artist Kristolyn Lloyd as Lucinda, Laëtitia Hollard as Hannah Biggs ("The Pitt"), Edward W. Hardy as Cuffy/Violinist ('The Woodsman'), and John Clarence Stewart as Basil Biggs ('Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist') in the title role. The cast also includes Robby Clater as Calvin Biggs, Sumaya Bouhbal as Cecilia Biggs, Doron Jépaul as Jupiter, Jake Horowitz as Ned Biddle, Ken Marks as Benjamin Biddle/Sam Weaver, Savannah Lee Birdsong as Anna Butler/Mignon, Francesca Faridany as Sarah, Victor Williams as John Fisher, Dax Richardson as Mouse, Eric Crist and Patrick Voss Davis as Male Ensemble, Vida Sophia Stephens as Tibby/Amy, and Jaxson Fortunato as Young Calvin.
The workshop production was commissioned by ArtPhilly as part of the What Now: 2026 Festival, produced in conjunction with theater artists LaNeshe Miller-White and Zuhairah McGill and historian Andrew Dalton, CEO of the Adams County Historical Society. The Basil Biggs Project has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.
Photo Credit: Lia Chang
Patrick Voss Davis, Eric Crist, Dr. Edward W. Hardy, Dax Richardson, Ken Marks, Doron J paul, Kristolyn Lloyd, Jake Horowitz, John Clarence Stewart, Anna Deavere Smith, and Robby Clater
Lia Chang and Sarah Fazendin
Dr. Edward W. Hardy and Kalyne Coleman
John Clarence Stewart, Lia Chang, and Dr. Edward W. Hardy
Sarah Fazendin, Bill Adair, Tom Grammer, and Dr. Edward W. Hardy
Bill Adair, Tom Grammer, and Dr. Edward W. Hardy
Bruce Cohen and Dr. Edward W. Hardy
Sumaya Bouhbal and Dr. Edward W. Hardy
Kristolyn Lloyd, Dr. Edward W. Hardy, Ken Marks, Savannah Lee Birdsong, and Francesca Faridany
Kristolyn Lloyd and Dr. Edward W. Hardy
Eric Crist, Dr. Edward W. Hardy, and Lia Chang
Eric Crist, Dr. Edward W. Hardy
Eric Crist, Dr. Edward W. Hardy, and Victor Williams
Norman Anthony Small, Amelia McGinnis, Yumin Oh, John Clarence Stewart, Kalyne Coleman, Jake Horowitz, Robby Clater, Dax Richardson, Jaxson Fortunato, Victor Williams, La titia Hollard, Eric Crist, D
Doron J paul, Kristolyn Lloyd, Jake Horowitz, John Clarence Stewart, Kalyne Coleman, Katherine Sachs, Bill Adair, Anna Deavere Smith, Robby Clater, Sumaya Bouhbal, Jaxson Fortunato, and La titia Hol
Guests
John Clarence Stewart and Dr. Edward W. Hardy
Lia Chang and Dr. Edward W. Hardy
John Clarence Stewart and Dr. Edward W. Hardy
Lia Chang and Dr. Edward W. Hardy
Dr. Edward W. Hardy and Sarah Fazendin
Dr. Edward W. Hardy and Eric Crist
Dr. Edward W. Hardy and La'ticia Hollard
Dr. Edward W. Hardy and Anna Deavere Smith
Jake Horowitz and Dr. Edward W. Hardy
Dr. Edward W. Hardy and Dax Richardson
Robby Clater and Dr. Edward W. Hardy
Norman Anthony Small, Amelia McGinnis, Yumin Oh, John Clarence Stewart, Kalyne Coleman, Jake Horowitz, Robby Clater, Dax Richardson, Jaxson Fortunato, Victor Williams, La titia Hollard, Eric Crist, D
John Clarence Stewart, Kalyne Coleman, Jake Horowitz, Robby Clater, Dax Richardson, Jaxson Fortunato, Victor Williams, La titia Hollard, Dr. Edward W. Hardy, Eric Crist, and Doron J paul
Norman Anthony Small (with Small family) and Dr. Edward W. Hardy
Dr. Edward W. Hardy and Doron J paul
Dr. Edward W. Hardy and Sarah Fazendin
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