Refracted Light at The Becoming Arts Collective

Critically Acclaimed Play Refracted Light Shines at Carnegie Stage

“We’re all just learning how to bend without breaking- Refracted Light shows us how.”

PITTSBURGH, PA — The Becoming Arts Collective proudly presents Refracted Light, the critically acclaimed dramedy by award-winning playwright Dana Hall, directed by the incomparable Ponny Conomos Jahn.

A luminous blend of laughter, heartbreak, and hope, Refracted Light invites audiences to witness the beautiful chaos of a modern family navigating change, mental health, and what it truly means to love each other through the cracks. Set in a Chicago suburb as a daughter prepares to leave for college, the Harris family’s dinner table becomes a battleground and ultimately, a place of reconciliation. Between therapy sessions, late-night confessions, and moments of pure comic relief, Refracted Light paints an unforgettable portrait of resilience and renewal.

“It’s like looking through a window at a modern family: messy, funny, loving, and real,” says playwright Dana Hall. “You’ll laugh one moment and tear up the next, because that’s what family really feels like.”

Hall, a licensed therapist and playwright, brings authenticity and humor to the conversation about mental health, showing how one family’s struggle illuminates universal truths about anxiety, identity, and connection. The play reminds us that healing doesn’t always come in grand gestures, it happens in the quiet, everyday ways we reach for one another.

CAST Maya Anabella as Penny Harris Kaitlin Marie Cliber as Lucy Harris Patrick Daniels as Dr. David Daker Joe Eberle as Ted Harris Rebecca Godlove as Becky Mazur

CREATIVE TEAM Writer: Dana Hall Director: Ponny Conomos Jahn Presented by: The Becoming Arts Collective Stage Manager: Alexis Hawk Artisic Associate: Nathan Wagner Artistic Associate: Lillie Tuck Artistic Associate: Err Shirley Prop Master/Crew: Sylvia Sims-Linkish Assistant Stage Manager: Mari Weisberg Lighting Designer: Alyssa Martin

PERFORMANCE DETAILS

Venue: Carnegie Stage – 25 W Main Street, Carnegie, PA Dates: Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, 7:30 pm, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, 7:30 pm, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, 7:30 pm, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, 2:30 pm Tickets & Info: www.thebecomingartscollective.com/refracted-light (pay what you can option available)

ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT

Dana Hall is an award-winning playwright, actor, and licensed clinical therapist whose work bridges artistry and empathy. Her plays have been recognized by New Works of Merit, ScreenCraft Stage Play Competition, AACT NewPlayFest, Lanford Wilson New Play Festival and Smith & Kraus Best of Series. Hall’s writing is celebrated for its sharp wit, emotional honesty, and ability to connect the personal with the universal. Refracted Light has taken home over 12 major theatrical awards in the last two years. Visit DanaHallCreates.com for more information and licensing arrangements.

WHY THIS SHOW MATTERS Refracted Light doesn’t shy away from life’s fractures, it embraces them. Through humor, heart, and human imperfection, the play reflects the truth that every family bends under pressure but can still find its way back to the light.

It’s funny. It’s raw. It’s real. It’s Refracted Light.

What audiences are saying… “It’s not just a story about mental health, it’s a story about every family that’s ever tried to hold it together when life pulled them apart.”

“At its heart, Refracted Light is about what happens when love bends, not breaks. I saw myself for the first time on stage.”

“This play holds up a mirror to the moments we don’t post online, the quiet heartbreak, the awkward laughter, the small miracles of trying again.” “Part comedy, part catharsis, all heart. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll probably call your mom after.”

“Think Modern Family meets Ordinary People, with a fight with a squirrel and emotional breakthroughs.”

The Becoming Arts Collective | Pittsburgh Performing Arts Incubator Listen to Ponny Conomos Jahn director speak about the play process A Word About The Becoming Arts Collective: The Becoming Arts Collective is a vibrant group of theatre artists dedicated to amplifying the stories of emerging playwrights for the Pittsburgh stage. We celebrate the transformative power of live theater, inviting audiences to experience storytelling that fosters empathy and connection. Committed to crafting inspiring narratives, we welcome actors, directors, and theatre artists to join us in creating a space where every story matters. You are welcome here! Can't wait to see you at the show.

Darrin J. Friedman Founder & Managing Director Heather P. Friedman Artistic Producer Art DeConciliis Artistic Director