Children of the Sun
by Maxim Gorky
directed by Cassandra Alexander & David Pica

Pavel Protasov’s scientific experiments leave him oblivious to his surroundings -- namely his wife Yelena’s needs and the widow Melania’s adoration. Liza’s physical frailty and emotional sensitivity prevent her from embracing the love of Chepurnoy, the local veterinarian. Yelena’s sense of neglect in her marriage leaves her open to attention from the artist Dimitri Sergeyevich. Set on the cusp of a cholera epidemic, Gorky’s darkly comedic tale explores a family grappling with a disappointing present and conflicting ideas of the future.  Sharply resonant and deeply moving.

Honorary Producers: Pamela and Gresham Riley
As always, admittance to our Venture Reading Series is
COMPLETELY FREE!
We are also gratefully accepting donations of any size!
Your help lets us pay our artists and make this exciting work possible.
PRODUCTION TEAM:

Co-Director: Cassandra Alexander
Co-Director: David Pica
Producer: Natajia Sconiers
FEATURING:
Newton Buchanan
Vanessa Sterling
Bob Weick
Eli Lynn
Gabriel Elmore
Minou Pourshariati
Rachel O'Hanlon-Rodriguez
Stacy Skinner
ACCESSIBILITY & COVID INFO

The Bluver Theatre is wheelchair accessible. There are gender-neutral public restrooms available in the lobby.

For more information on transportation to The Drake, see InterAct's website here.

Audience masking for this reading is recommended, but not required. We will have masks available on-site for anyone who needs one.
Newton Buchanan - PAVEL
(he/him)
Vanessa Sterling - YELENA
(they/she)

Regional credits include: The Understudy, The 39 Steps (Montgomery Theater), Into the Woods (Arden Theatre Company), Life Is A Dream (EgoPo Classic Theater), Fun Home, American Hero (The Spot), Tartuffe (Mauckingbird Theatre Company), Wilde Tales (Quintessence Theatre Group), Hamlet (Capital Repertory Theatre), Henry IV: Parts 1&2 (Shakespeare Theatre Company), Blood Brothers, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Measure for Measure (Texas Shakespeare Festival), Sleeping Beauty, Snow White (Storybook Musical Theatre), The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, A Year with Frog and Toad (Arkansas Arts Center). Thank you so much to the whole team, and love always to Eli.
Bob Weick - YEGOR
(he/him)

Bob is the National Touring actor of Howard Zinn's MARX IN SOHO, directed by John Doyle, and a company member of the RADICAL ACTS division of Iron Age Theatre. A two time Barrymore nominee with Iron Age Theatre (TERRA NOVA) and Theatre Horizon (CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION), Bob has also performed locally with Commonwealth Classic Theatre Company, Curio Theatre, Delaware Shakespeare Festival, Eagle Theatre, Theatre XP, Theatre in the X, New Light Theatre, to name a few,  and is thrilled to be back with talented folks at The P.A.C.! - “ We all have a role to play in service to peace and justice. Play your part. - Bob “
 Eli Lynn - DIMITRI
(they/them)

Eli is a trans nonbinary actor and Artistic Associate at the PAC. Regional credits include: Orsino/Toby (Twelfth Night) and Jean 3/Prince (Thrive, American Shakespeare Center), Aramis (The Three Musketeers, Cleveland Playhouse), Raymond (The Sea Voyage, PAC), Flute/Thisby (Midsummer Night’s Dream, PA Shakespeare Festival), Dorcus/Dion (The Winter’s Tale, Folger Theatre), Danny/Diana (Sensitive Guys, InterAct), Flask (Moby Dick, Hedgerow). They are also an IDC-certified Intimacy Director and Barrymore-nominated fight choreographer whose fight/intimacy work has been seen at theatres including PA Shakespeare Festival, The Wilma, The Arden, People’s Light, Playwrights Horizons (NYC), and PAC. Love always to Vanessa. Soli Deo Gloria. www.Eli-Lynn.com
Gabriel Elmore -  CHEPURNOY
(he/him)

Gabriel has just finished a year-long research trip abroad with his wife, studying historical weaving patterns in Europe and Asia. He completed his MFA in acting from Temple University in 2021. Gabriel is currently learning Hindi, street photography, and photo editing, though he is horrible at all three. With a strong passion for classical work and its ability to address the sociopolitical problems that face our world today, Gabriel spends a good deal of his free time expanding upon and exploring the intricacies of lesser-known Elizabethan/Jacobean drama. His most recent work includes Student #1 in Joe Calarco’s R+J, Neil in Harrison D. Rivers’ THIS BITTER EARTH, Count Orsino in Twelfth Night, Dr. Thomas Stockman in An Enemy of the People, and Corin from the World Premiere of SOMEWHERE, by Marisela Treviño Orta.
Minou Pourshariati - LIZA
(she/her)

Minou is an Iranian-American actor, maker, and Philly native. She has performed locally with Shakespeare in Clark Park (The Taming!), Opera Philadelphia/Obvious Agency (Toshio Hosokawa's The Raven), EgoPo (Alice: not your child's...), Inis Nua (The Night Alive), Revolution Shakespeare, Delaware Shakespeare, Commonwealth Classic Theatre, and more, as well as at the National Constitution Center (Living News). Minou trained at the British American Drama Academy (LTP ’13) and is a proud member of Philadelphia Asian Performing Artists. www.minoupourshariati.com 
Rachel O’Hanlon-Rodriguez - MELANIA
(she/they)

Rachel is a Philly based actor, poet, organizer, trauma informed teaching artist and facilitator. They serve as Spiral Q’s Operations Associate and is a member of the Artistic Squad at Delaware Shakespeare. Rachel has spent the last decade working with theater companies throughout the region such as The Hum’n’Bards, Power Street, Die Cast, Theatre Exile, The Wilma Theater, and Philly Young Playwrights. Rachel received her Master’s in Theater from Villanova University where she provides Community Care. Catch Rachel in Philly Theater Week on March 31st and April 1st for late night sharing of their new one person show, She Was a Conquistawhore or give Rachel a follow on Insta @the.inter.section. www.rachelohanlonrodriguez.com
Todd Townsend - NAZAR
(he/him)

Todd is a creative visionary, passionate and unwavering in his conviction that every single human being encompasses an in-exhaustive work of art set forth by their own unique gifts. His appetite for the artful and artistic delivery of creative expression knows no limits, cultivating his mission to empower others to reach the full expression of their dreams. Having traveled around the globe as poet, hip hop lyricist, public speaker, song writer, actor, and author, Todd uses the world as his stage to fuel the flames of self mastery, creativity, leadership and effective social influence. Todd is currently enrolled in Berklee NYCs “Writing and Design for Musical Theater” degree program. Todd further graduated in 2011 with a Ph.D from Drexel University in “Couple and Family Therapy” and in 2012 with a Ed.D from Wilmington University’s “Innovative Leadership in Education.”

Stacy Skinner - NANNY
(she/her)

Stacy is delighted to be part of this thought-provoking PAC production. She has previously performed with a number of local theatres including Hedgerow Theatre, The Walnut Street Theatre, DelShakes, and the South Camden Theatre Company. Favorite roles include: Gertude (Hamlet), Miss Prism (The Importance of Being Earnest), Mrs. Dashwood (Sense and Sensibility), Don Joan/John (Much Ado about Nothing), Madeleine (Breath of Life), Isabelle (Mother of the Maid) and The Women (My Name is Asher Lev). Stacy holds degrees in both Theatre and Speech-Language Pathology and is profoundly grateful for the return of live theatre.