Theater News

Arden Theatre Company Set to Begin Performances of John

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Annie Baker’s play starts its run tonight.

Carla Belver, Kevin Meehan, and Nancy Boykin star in Annie Baker's John, directed by Matthew Decker, at Arden Theatre Company.
Carla Belver, Kevin Meehan, and Nancy Boykin star in Annie Baker's John, directed by Matthew Decker, at Arden Theatre Company.
(© Mark Garvin)

John begins performances tonight at Arden Theatre Company. The script is the first from playwright Annie Baker since her 2014 Pulitzer Prize winner The Flick.

John follows a young couple from Brooklyn, Elias Schrieber-Hoffman and Jenny Chung, as they come to stay at a bed and breakfast in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, looking to visit the historical sites of the famous battlefields. Mertis, the B&B’s proprietor, welcomes them to her overwhelmingly cozy home filled with tchotchkes, dolls, stuffed animals, and a player piano. Mertis cares for her guests, her sickly (unseen) husband, and her dear, blind friend Genevieve with consummate grace, and provides a real contrast to the young couple, who may be taking this trip to repair a rift in their relationship.

The cast features Carla Belver as Genevieve, Nancy Boykin as Mertis, Kevin Meehan as Elias, and Jing Xu as Jenny. Matthew Decker directs.

Supporting the cast is the creative team of scenic designer Tim Mackabee, costume designer Rebecca Kanach, lighting designer Maria Shaplin, sound designer Michael Kiley, stage manager Katie Ringwood, and assistant director Emilie Krause.

Performances continue through February 26.

For more information and tickets, click here.

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John

Closed: February 26, 2017