Synopsis: A remarkable, funny, and emotional journey about the evolution of love and identity in the face of memory loss.
Recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New Play Award. Written by Pulitzer Prize Nominee Dr. Steven Drukman, this ATC world premier is a remarkable, funny, and emotional journey about the evolution of love and identity. When her memory begins to fade, esteemed critic Prudence “Pru” Payne – widely recognized as a wit, a scholar, and a public intellectual – questions preconceived notions about her identity and discovers unexpected love.
Artistic Statement: "The grant ATC received from the Edgerton Foundation is essential to developing Pru Payne as a new play, “ said Matt August, Arizona Theatre Company Kasser Family Artistic Director. “Whenever new works are done, creative teams always run into the tension between developing the play to its fullest potential and the time the artists and creatives have to work on it. By allowing us to add a week to the production process, ATC can get this powerful new play further toward its greatest potential and strongest position for success beyond its world premiere at ATC. Pru Payne is a remarkable, funny and emotional portrayal of a mother, her son and her memories, and we’re thrilled to be able to put it on stage for the first time. Sean Daniels, the show’s director and former ATC Kasser Family Artistic Director, loves that the show poses a very important question: as a character, as a country, and as people, can we unlearn how we think we are supposed to be to truly see who is standing next to us?"
Grant Statement: “The gift of time is always precious, and extra time with the cast and crew to ready a new play for the stage is invaluable,” said Geri Wright, Arizona Theatre Company executive director. “As the only LORT theatre producing in two cities, this generous gift from the Edgerton Foundation affords us additional rehearsal time before Pru Payne’s 21-show run in Tucson and 16-show run in Phoenix.”
Director: Sean Daniels