EVELYN IN PURGATORY at The Sherman Playhouse

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On Friday, June 7, The Sherman Playhouse will open its second production for the 2024 season, the dramatic comedy EVELYN IN PURGATORY.  Witten by Topher Payne, directed by Terry Sagedy and produced by Steve Stott, the curtain rises at 8:00 p.m. for a four-week run. 

It is 2008, a complaint against any one of the 70,000 NYC public school teachers could find them removed from their classroom and sent to a non-descript room at the Department of Education’s Reassignment Center. There, they sit and wait for their case to be reviewed. Usually for months. Sometimes for over a year.   

In EVELYN IN PURGATORY, a claim of improper behavior by a failing student lands Evelyn Reid (Erin Shaughnessy – New Milford, CT) in “the rubber room” where she encounters a disparate group of teachers, some guilty, some not, who have long since lost any hope of returning to a classroom.  Over the course of the school year, these colleagues form an unlikely alliance, reminding each other of forgotten passions, emerging to face life outside in unexpected new directions. They also learn French and workshop a screenplay!

“A serious problem in the universal school system is uncovered in this script. However, how the characters deftly form their tribe and define its rituals to overcome their mutual adversity is a delight to behold. There is something for everyone to relate to in this funny and complex script,” said Terry Sagedy, director.

This highly successful play from Atlanta-based playwright Topher Payne, has been described as “The Breakfast Club for Public School Teachers” by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.  Filled with refreshingly real characters – flawed, funny, and layered - we’re carried along by the impact of dynamic new-arrival Evelyn on the long-term room-residents as she galvanizes them, and we learn their stories and their fates.  But what of Evelyn herself?

The cast features Madison Alexander (Torrington, CT), Stacy-Lee Frome (New Milford, CT), Gregg Guest (Carmel, NY), Jimmy Hunter (Southbury, CT), Lynn Nissenbaum (New Milford, CT) and Alexa Wild (Danbury, CT).

Besides Mr. Sagedy, the production staff for EVELYN IN PURGATORY consists of Lynn Nissenbaum (Stage Manager), Al Chiappetta (Technical Director, Set Construction and Lighting Designer), “Krispy” Kreho (Set Decoration), Dave White (Sound Designer), Anna Martinez (Technical Assistant) and Terry Hawley (Costumes).

EVELYN IN PURGATORY runs June 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29 at 8:00 p.m. on Fridays & Saturdays, with two 2:00 p.m. Sunday matinees on June 16 and 23.

Reservations can be made online at shermanplayers.org/buy-tickets or by calling the box office at (860) 354-3622.

Tickets are $24 for adults and $12 for under 13s or Students carrying valid ID.

Current Public School Educators can buy discounted tickets for any performance for $20 – a valid current Public School ID must be shown at the performance.

The Sherman Players Inc. is a non-profit, non-union theater company located at The Sherman Playhouse, 5 Route 39 North (between the Fire House and Mallory Town Hall) in Sherman, CT.