light as light

Set in 1917, light as light follows a group of “fallen women” confined to the Inwood House reformatory as they reckon with their own power and consider how far they might go to break free. 

Written by Sophie McIntosh as her third-year thesis for the Columbia MFA Playwriting Cohort, and directed by Nina Goodheart, light as light will be presented as a staged reading with performances on May 17th at 7:30pm and May 18th at 3pm and 7:30pm at Theatre Row. 

light as light will feature Rachel Ravel*, Livvy Marcus*, Deychen Volino-Gyetsa, and BT Hayes*. Asterisks indicate indicates an actor appearing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association.  

Content warnings for graphic sexual situations, abortion, and violence.

About the Playwright

Sophie McIntosh (she/her) is a New York–based playwright and the co-founder of Good Apples Collective, a developmental orchard for new theatrical works that she co-leads with her frequent collaborator Nina Goodheart. Recent productions of Sophie’s work include the world premiere of macbitches (New York Times Critic’s Pick; published and licensed by TRW), the premieres of cunnicularii (recommended by Sara Holdren in NY Magazine) and cityscrape with Good Apples Collective, and Eleven Weeks of Nuclear Summer at Notre Dame University and the University of Michigan. She is a proud recipient of a BA in drama from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and will soon graduate with an MFA in playwriting from Columbia University. Sophie is represented by Chris Till with Paradigm. sophiemcintoshwrites.com

About the New Plays Festival

Columbia University School of the Arts presents a festival of new plays written by the 2025 Columbia MFA Playwriting Cohort. The esteemed faculty who nurtured these students, including Tony©, Pulitzer, and Obie Award winners, such as Lynn Nottage, Rogelio Martinez, Blair Singer, Noelle Vinas, Charles L. Mee, Michael Korie, David Auburn, and David Henry Hwang invite everyone to experience these innovative new playwrights. Organized by Leslie Ayvazian, Theatre.