In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Passage has committed to producing new and engaging work that meets its mission, while also ensuring that its programming is made available to the public in healthy and responsible ways. The theatre has adapted some of its regular live performances and added a number of online programs aimed at ensuring the safety of its audiences, artists, and staff.

Launching its 35th season, Passage will implement a digital streaming of play readings, artists interviews, educational learning labs, and exciting videos that will give an in-depth look at its new play development program, PlayLab. They will resume live performances at the Mill Hill Playhouse in February 2021, pending CDC safety regulations for public gatherings.

Passage’s 2020-21 Season centers on Connection and Caregiving. Passage believes that theatre is an integral part of how communities connect with one another, whether this connection is online or in person. During this difficult time in the nation’s history, Passage plans to present both virtual and live programming that will connect its audience members through shared experiences, thus encouraging empathy and understanding within the community.

Passage’s Artistic Director, Ryanne Domingues, has also chosen shows that will inspire healing as we head into 2021. The shows will explore what it means to care for oneself, one’s family, one’s friends, or one’s community. Two of Passage’s live shows planned for the coming season, Mother (and me) by Melinda Buckley and A Twister of Water by Caitlin Parrish, were originally planned for our 2019-2020 season, but were postponed due to the pandemic. Passage looks forward to finally bringing these shows to the stage this season, as their stories are even more relevant in our current climate. Passage also plans to produce its third Theatre for Families and Young Audiences show, Surely Goodness & Mercy by Chisa Hutchinson (which is appropriate for those ages 10 and up), and the in-person readings of two plays that are just emerging from our PlayLab program.

Ms. Domingues says, “This season’s themes of connection and caregiving are reflective of where our country is right now and the issues that many of our community members are facing. In the time of COVID-19, many are struggling to find connection, and to redefine how to connect with and communicate with one another. Additionally, our country is grappling with enormous cultural and racial divides, and struggling to find out how we can better connect and listen to each other. All of this has resulted in a lot of physical and emotional trauma that is going to require caregiving. Whether this caregiving takes place within a hospital, a community, or a family, I wanted to explore the ways in which we can care for ourselves and each other as we navigate this difficult landscape.”

For a full schedule of programming, visit https://passagetheatre.org.

Passage Theatre’s season is made possible in part by the N.J. State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the NEA; the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation; The City of Trenton; Trenton Downtown Association; WIMG 1300; The Curtis McGraw Foundation; PNC Bank; Trinity United Methodist Church, Ewing, NJ ; First Presbyterian Church of Ewing; New Jersey Manufacturers (NJM); Educational Testing Service (ETS) New Jersey Theatre Alliance; Janssen Pharmaceuticals; Philadelphia Indian Committee; I Am Trenton; Otsuka Pharmaceutical; Mathematica Policy Research; Thomas Edison State University; The Bunbury Fund of the Princeton Area Community Foundation; The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey; The Shubert Foundation; The MAP Fund, and Mary G. Roebling Foundation.

About Author