Mira, a biracial Korean American violinist, and her boyfriend Beckett reconnect with her estranged grandfather and delve into the joys and pains of the past. In the mountains of North Carolina, they discover the ability to bridge divides and heal wounds through the power of music. Set against a backdrop of authentic “old-time” and bluegrass melodies, this heartwarming tale combines endearing characters and traditional instruments in a harmonious exploration of heritage and human connection.

EPSG:4326

The Porch on Windy Hill, a new play with old music

People's Light

As the allure of the American Dream beckons, Reina Quijada travels along a very different yellow brick road from El Salvador to the United States. Along the way, she makes friends, dodges imminent danger, and searches for the almighty "wizard" in this nod to Oz. With onstage musicians weaving together cumbia, Mexican mariachi, boleros, American rock, and hip hop, up-and-coming writer and composer Brian Quijada honors his mother in a fantastically true tale of determination, family, and friendship. This co-production takes to the People’s Light stage following a critically acclaimed run at Pittsburgh's City Theatre.

Somewhere Over the Border

A wrong-number text brings strangers together in a web of curiosity and memory, with magnetic poet Douglas Roote (multi-award winner David Strathairn, The Cherry Orchard) at the center. As two women bond over the late writer's work, this gentle narrative explores questions of fate, coincidence, and the profound impact of a seemingly small life. In this poignant world premiere written by Emmy Award winner Joseph Dougherty, directed by Abigail Adams (Lettie, The Vinegar Tree) and featuring Company Artists Claire Inie-Richards (The Vinegar Tree), Aubie Merrylees (The Vinegar Tree), and Mary Elizabeth Scallen (Alice in Wonderland: A Musical Panto), Off By One grapples with the deeply human impulse to seek meaning and connection in the accidental and unknown.

Off By One

Meet Diane: a charming butch permaculture gardener with a mission. Secretly Dionysus— the god of wine, revelry, and vegetation—Diane returns to Earth to rally followers for an environmental revolution. Four mortal women are in dire need of a bacchanalian catharsis, and this clique of New Jersey housewives won’t know what hit them when Hurricane Diane makes landfall. Directed by Associate Producing Director Molly Rosa Houlahan and featuring Company Artists Teri Lamm (Lettie, The Vinegar Tree) and Julianna Zinkel (The Vinegar Tree, The Harassment of Iris Malloy), this hilarious parable of climate reckoning and liberation is “the perfect storm of timely tragicomedy” (NY Times).

Hurricane Diane

Despite growing up in landlocked Kansas, Janice Collen’s childhood is defined by water—her mother and father are prominent activists in the movement to desegregate local swimming pools. As Janice comes of age and seeks meaning away from her parents’ politics, an unspoken distance grows within the family. Decades later, when Janice is asked to speak at a ceremony honoring her father, she must delve into her family’s past and reconcile the personal truths and public legacy of her inheritance. With “passages that ripple towards poetry,” (Chicago Sun-Times) this “poignant, transporting, and quietly subversive” (TheaterMania) new play takes us on a journey through the decades, from 1930s segregation to Rodney King, and establishes Christina Anderson as “a playwright to pay attention to” (Variety).

the ripple, the wave that carried me home

written and performed by stage, film, and television star Robert Montano (Cats on Broadway, Barcelona at People’s Light). As the young jockey starts to literally outgrow his childhood dream, he resorts to more and more extreme measures to remain “small” before ultimately finding freedom in a new path. From Belmont Park to Broadway stages, Montano’s vivid and highly entertaining coming-of-age story explores the complex realities of pursuing a dream at all costs.

SMALL

Infused with original music and traditional English carols, and performed by a stellar ensemble—featuring Ian Merrill Peakes as Scrooge—this jubilant retelling of the beloved yuletide ghost story is the perfect way to celebrate the holidays. Bring your loved ones ages 6-106!

A Christmas Carol

In the middle of June, a snowstorm hits the County. Chëlilis is homesick, Gayatri's eyes are getting worse, and Sheriff Fred's caught in the center of the maelstrom. As the snow threatens to put the County in disarray, their journeys unexpectedly intersect as they search for a way home.

Crushed Earth

Vrialto Inc

Knock. The bruhs gather to slap "bonez" at Trey’s “de-luxe apartment in the sky.” Knock. As drinks flow, dominoes are drawn, bets escalate and the game intensifies; all the while a mysterious banging grows louder and louder next door. KNOCK. Before long, childhood demons are revealed, causing the men to question what they think they know about masculinity, intimacy, and what makes a man, in this social horror from acclaimed writer/director Steve H. Broadnax III (Bayard Rustin Inside Ashland, director of Broadway's Thoughts of a Colored Man).

Bonez

The creative team behind Alice in Wonderland: A Musical Panto invites you to explore the whimsical world of Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, and Captain Hook! People’s Light continues its winter holiday tradition with a cast of Lost Boys, pirates, fairies, and a trio of card-playing dogs. Meanwhile, a TikTok-famous croc is on the loose, hunting down dance moves, followers, and Captain Hook’s right hand. Cheer the heroes, boo the villains, clap, and sing while eating all the Swedish Fish you can catch. Join Wendy, Michael, and John in this “Darling” trip to Neverland for ages 5-105.

Peter Panto: A Musical Panto

Company Artists Melanye Finister (Lettie, Skeleton Crew) and Eric Robinson Jr. (Bonez, Mud Row) lead a stellar ensemble in this award-winning classic. Simultaneously intimate and mythic in scope, Lorraine Hansberry’s pivotal drama “changed American theatre forever” (The New York Times). Three generations of the Younger family share a cramped apartment on the segregated South Side of 1950s Chicago. The late Mr. Younger’s life insurance policy could mean a fresh start, but disputes surrounding how to spend the money reveal deep generational divides.

A Raisin in the Sun

Unwrap this “true gift” of a play (Variety), and journey through 80+ years of Ernestine Ashworth’s life: from her 17th to her 101st birthdays, marked by her mother’s golden butter cake and a kaleidoscope of experiences. With each passing year, Ernestine grapples with the insignificance of her existence while cherishing the ordinary and extraordinary moments that shape her. This poignant and humorous exploration of life’s highlights and heartbreaks offers a moving tribute to the resilience and complexity of the human spirit.

Birthday Candles

From the minds behind Disney’s The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast comes this witty and macabre musical masterpiece. Follow an unfortunate florist who unwittingly cultivates a singing botanical menace. Featuring iconic melodies like “Skid Row (Downtown)” and “Suddenly, Seymour,” Little Shop serves up a delightful sci-fi musical sensation that has consumed hearts and minds for 40 years. Complete with an award-winning, mouth-watering musical score, this tongue-in-cheek comedy is a whimsical warning to be careful what you wish for.

People’s Light

Nov 20, 2024 - Jan 5, 2025

Peter Panto: A Musical Panto

Feb 19 - Mar 30, 2025

A Raisin in the Sun

Apr 5 - May 1, 2025

Birthday Candles

Jun 25 - Aug 3, 2025

Little Shop of Horrors

Sep 24 - Oct 20, 2024

The Porch on Windy Hill, a new play with old music

Jul 17 - Aug 11, 2024

Somewhere Over the Border

People’s Light