The Permanent Night

On August 14th, 2003 – the night of the blackout that plunged New York City and much of the East Coast into darkness – Heather and Spencer Lawson (a well-to-do Upper East Side couple) are awaiting the arrival of Spencer’s rebellious and troubled younger sister, Jane, as they plan to head to the Hamptons for their mother’s birthday party. When Jane finally arrives at their apartment, she reluctantly agrees to stay overnight, despite her bitterness towards Heather. With Heather and Jane at each other’s throats, relief only comes in the form of an impromptu gathering when their neighbor Justin stops by at Spencer’s suggestion and is taken with the tough, sarcastic Jane. When the unsuspecting duo is sent out on a search for an open liquor store, the darkness brings secrets to light. While Jane and Justin bond outdoors over a bottle (or four) of wine, Heather and Spencer’s marriage is threatened by a series of confrontations. The unbearable heat, alcohol, loneliness, and heartbreak give way to a series of revelations that cannot be unsaid.
Upon Jane and Justin’s return to the apartment, they find that everything is threatening to unravel, including the very new relationship they have formed. Ultimately, Heather and Jane are both forced to face major truths about themselves…and each other. Marking the world premiere of playwright Kari Bentley-Quinn, The Permanent Night is a story of family, regret, betrayal, and the quest for happiness in the early and turbulent years of the new millennium.