Five years after hurricane Camille, the second most intense hurricane to strike the
continental United States, we find ourselves inside the MaGrath family kitchen with
three sisters and a lifetime of challenges, faded dreams, and possibilities. Originally
produced in 1979, Crimes of the Heart moved to Broadway in 1981 and with it stole
the hearts of critics and audiences alike.
While this play masquerades as a bubbling comedy, it is also, unmistakably, a story
about a very troubled family in very troubled times. And playwright Beth Henley’s
characters seem largely unmoved by the current events of their outside world. I
have been intrigued with exploring these events and posing the question of how
much of what is transpiring outside of our immediate surroundings has an effect on
our daily lives. In 1974, the year in which this play takes place, the world is in quite
a bit of turmoil. The Vietnam War continued and was referred to as the ‘living room
war’ due to the tremendous amount of television coverage. Our involvement in this
war caused many rifts in the US, which were slow to heal. Watergate and the
unprecedented resignation of President Nixon also highlighted the stark divisions in
American society. Massive famine swept across Asia, South America, and Africa
while the West experienced inflation and an economic crisis. And although there
was a movement to improve equal rights amendments, this continued to be a time of
great racial and social divides.
This re-examination and re-envisioning of Crimes of the Heart will give us the
opportunity to experience the Pulitzer Prize-winning story of the MaGrath sisters
while reflecting on our own lives and our world today – and ultimately, leave us
asking a lot of questions about where we have been, where we are, and where we
must head…
About the Show:
Follow the story of three sisters as they escape the past to seize the future. This dark and hilarious Pulitzer prize-winning play is so true and touching and consistently funny it will linger in the mind long after the curtain has descended.
Winner of the 1981 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
Showtimes: Jan. 11 - Feb. 5
A two-act show.
Wednesday-Thursday, 7 p.m.
Friday, 8 p.m.
Saturday, 2 & 8 p.m.
Sunday. 2 p.m.
Tickets are available here. $45 single tickets. Call the box office at (727) 823-7529 for group sales.
