INHERITING THE WELL by Lisa McCree

PERFORMANCES:
Thursday, March 5th, 7:30pm
Friday, March 6th, 7:30pm

In honor of Women’s History Month, Theatre Artists Workshop presents the debut of its New Visions, New Voices initiative with a staged reading of Inheriting the Well by award-winning playwright Lisa McCree, whose work has been produced or developed by Harlem Theater Company, The Atlantic Theater, Access Theater, The Henry Street Settlement’s Women of Color Festival, and The National Black Theatre Festival. Performances are March 5 & 6 at 7:30 PM, followed by a talkback. All artists involved in this project are women.

• General Admission: $25
• Senior/Student: $20
• Free for HCC Student/Staff (Valid Housatonic ID required

Location: The Performing Arts Center, in Lafayette Hall at CT State Housatonic, 900 Lafayette Blvd, Bridgeport, CT 06604

• Free, security-patrolled parking in the CT State Housatonic Parking Garage on Lafayette Blvd. 
• Follow the “Guest Parking” signs. After you park, note your level and section, then walk to the north end of the garage for the elevators or stairs. Follow the signs to Lafayette Hall, which is to your left as you exit the parking garage.

Play Synopsis: Set in the charged aftermath of the Kempton Street riot, Inheriting The Well traces three generations of Black women navigating inherited trauma around mental illness, addiction, sexuality, and the fight for equality.

Historical context: In July 1970, New Bedford Massachusetts' West End/Kempton Street area saw a period of civil unrest rooted in long-simmering racial and economic tensions. The unrest escalated over several days and remains a significant moment in the city’s history and ongoing conversations about community, policing, and inequality. 

THE CAST: Dandy Barrett as Conkie, Dawn Vanessa Brown* as Sophia, Quadasia Collins as Lyla, Lena Whiteside as Kim, Kimberly Wilson as Mama Thee, and Jeanette Harris reading stage directions.

New Visions, New Voices (NVNV) was launched through a $10,000 anonymous grant “to enable the Theatre Artists Workshop to elevate and amplify under-represented and/or undiscovered voices, artists and issues, thereby promoting diversity of storytelling, membership, writing, dialogue and artistry,” with the intent to encourage inspiring, innovative, and challenging work that offers fresh perspectives on universal issues. All funds raised will replenish and enhance the NVNV fund established by the grantor.

Directed by Anissa Felix (Broadway; Netflix’s Survival of the Thickest), a Directing Fellow at Westport Country Playhouse, this presentation takes place at the CT State Housatonic Community College Performing Arts Center, reflecting generous in-kind venue support and ongoing relationships that help make this work possible. 

The professional actors, writers and directors of the Theatre Artists Workshop have been creating fresh new theatre for over four decades. Work developed at the Workshop has gone on to Broadway, off-Broadway and Regional productions.

Recommended for ages 13 +. Your ticket purchase benefits Theatre Artists Workshop, a 503(c)3 non-profit organization.

* These actors appear courtesy of Actors Equity Association