PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles Community Players is producing a gripping new play that deals head-on with domestic violence.
What do a retired Jewish Mahjong player, a nursing mom, a devoted Christian, a former shelter resident, an Ivy League-trained doctor, an LGBTQ Ph.D. philosophy student and a dance instructor have in common? All are victims of DV and all are characters in this new play, which premiered at the Creede Repertory Theatre of Chicago in 2021.
The Port Angeles Community Players’ (PACP) production of “To The Moon,” by Beth Kander, is a 90-minute one-act docudrama that will run over two weekends (and one Tuesday) from Friday, Oct. 6, to Sunday, Oct. 15.
The show will be at the Playhouse on the main stage at 1235 E. Lauridsen Blvd. Friday, Saturday and Tuesday performances are at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for students. Tuesday performances are $8 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at pacommunity players.org or at the box office on the day of the performance. A limited number of free passes will be available at the box office for anyone in need at all performances.
“October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It’s a time to raise awareness of Domestic Violence (DV) in communities, acknowledge DV survivors and raise a voice for its victims,” organizers said.
“To The Moon” isn’t about “an issue” flat and removed from actual experiences. The characters in this play are heartbreakingly human; all are based on the dozens of real survivors who inspired their creation.
“The survivors who shared their stories are brave and quiet and fierce and mild and funny and as varied a community as you can imagine. Their compelling stories will keep you riveted to your seats as they shine a light on the dirty little secrets of DV,” organizers said.
This play is being presented in collaboration with Healthy Families of Clallam County (HFCC). Donations for HFCC will be accepted both online during ticket purchases and at the Playhouse at every performance.
Co-directors Mindy Gelder, Ph.D., LMFT, and Ken Winters conveyed that “This is a play everyone should see. Because DV doesn’t discriminate based on economic status, educational level, ethnicity, gender, age or religion. It can reach anyone and might be occurring right under people’s noses.”
For more information, call 360-452-6651 or send an e-mail to Pacommunity players@hotmail.com.
