Local Jewish playwright Sarah Aptilon’s newest play, “The Signer,” will debut next month. Commissioned by Spinning Tree Theatre and produced in partnership with SevenDays, the play will premiere from April 17-26 at the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center (8788 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, KS 66212).
“The Signer” is an intergenerational drama about memory, legacy and listening. Spinning Tree Theatre commissioned the play as part of its commitment to developing new work and “amplifying stories of connection and empathy.” SevenDays’ involvement ties to its mission to overcome hate by promoting kindness and understanding through education and dialogue.
“At its heart, ‘The Signer’ is about listening — to the past, to one another and to the quiet voices that guide us forward,” said Michael Grayman-Parkhurst, the play’s director and producing artistic director of Spinning Tree Theatre. “Sarah Aptilon has written a beautiful and deeply human play, and we’re honored to bring its world premiere to Kansas City audiences in partnership with SevenDays.”
The play follows the story of a teenage dancer, who, after the sudden loss of her mother, travels with her father to clear out a mysterious family home by the sea. When she discovers a hidden journal belonging to a young ancestor, the past begins to unfold alongside her own story. As their journeys intertwine, she must decide whether to walk away from what she loves or listen to the voice calling her forward.
Aptilon told The Chronicle that there is a “small but important Jewish dimension to the play, which is set in both present day and 1781. A young Jewish character during the Revolutionary War speaks about the founding structures of this nation — the idea of justice and the rule of law — having their origins in the Torah.”
Sarah Aptilon
The production features professional actors Matt Rapport, Lynn King and Doug Weaver alongside young artists Molly Affleck, Carl Brock, Maggie Cain, Leo Covitz, Mia Hauschild, Sophia Payton and Cristian Sorto-Salinas.
Performance dates include Fridays, April 17 and 24 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, April 18, at 7 p.m.; Sundays, April 19 and 26 at 2 p.m.; and Saturday, April 25, at 2 p.m. The April 17 and 25 shows will include American Sign Language interpretation.
Tickets and more information are available at spinningtreetheatre.com.