The Sanctuary at Theatre NOVA

The Sanctuary is set in Detroit and follows Little Man, a young boy struggling with grief and displacement after his father's death. Recently relocated by his financially strained mother, Little Man searches for belonging and finds himself drawn toward a neighborhood gang. Tasked with stealing from the yard of Mrs. Johnson, an eccentric woman who has built a sanctuary from discarded objects, he instead forms an unexpected bond with her. Written by Ann E. Eskridge and directed by Byron Keys, the play explores grief, faith, and community resilience, and is presented as a reading with talkback and audience feedback as part of the 2026 Michigan Playwrights Festival.