PRESENTS
written by
DAVID YEE
directed by
PESHA RUDNICK^
performed by
BETTY HART*
February 1 - 18
Dairy Arts Center | Boulder, CO
DIRECTOR’S NOTE FROM PESHA RUDNICK
acts of faith by David Yee was never meant for the stage. In 2020, during the height of the pandemic and the international theater shutdown, Yee collaborated with a Toronto-based artist originally from Zambia and developed this story to perform and stream online simultaneously. You know what they say: necessity is the mother of invention.
Fortunately, Helen Murray saw the live stream and convinced Yee to bring it to the stage. I had the great privilege of directing the original live production starring Betty Hart last winter in Denver.
One year later acts of faith continues to feel new and relevant. Local Theater Company is honored to bring it to Boulder for a limited engagement. We even made a few discoveries this year and encouraged Yee to consider some adjustments for audiences in 2024.
acts of faith examines a young girl’s relationship to faith, and specifically to God. It is a story of survival and the power of storytelling to heal, two themes intricately and uniquely linked since the beginning of our species. What is better than a great story? A great storyteller and the community that gathers to witness and respond in real-time.
When you arrive at the Grace Theater, we invite you to look around, greet your neighbor, and enjoy the privilege of being together for a well-told story. You’ll decide what resonates, and we suspect you won’t all agree. That’s the fun part.
MEET THE TEAM
Tap each pic to meet the artists!
A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, KATE GIPSON
Welcome to Local Theater Company.
If this is the first time you’re joining us, or if you’ve been “Local” for years, we’re so glad that you’re here. The 2023-24 season–our season to Lose Yourself to Find Yourself–has already been a transformative one. With three full productions, the upcoming Local Lab new play festival, two additional new plays developed through Pop-Up Labs, the Democracy Cycle, and expansions within our LocalWRITES education program, we’ll serve more people across more stages locally, regionally, and nationally than ever before. It’s a season to explore and create. It’s a season to listen to- and learn from one another. And it couldn’t come at a more important time than this year of important political elections and increased divisiveness on the local and global scale.
There are so many things that distract us from one another. Important activities that need our attention. When you take the time to step into the theater with us, to let the lights go down and let your imagination be carried away to Kitwe, Zambia, or to Toronto, Canada, and into the world of a play like
acts of faith, you’re not only taking in a show for entertainment. You’re taking a journey into the lived experience of another human. You’re exploring a unique story, an expanded perspective. And that journey will transform you, if you let it.
Thank you for taking that journey with us. We’re all local to this experience today, in this room. And we’ve got a lot more journeys to take together…
So come back again and join us here at the Dairy Arts Center in March for Local Lab or in May at the Savoy Theatre in Denver for the world-premiere of 237 Virginia Avenue by David Myers. Our Co-Artistic Directors Pesha Rudnick, Nick Chase, and Betty Hart are leading a season that we promise, will transform you, if you let it.
In community,
Kate Gipson
Executive Director
ENTER THE WORLD OF acts of faith
From the African Copperbelt to the backwoods of Canada, 'acts of faith' by David Yee follows a young woman named Faith who is mistaken for a prophet.
Actor Betty Hart and director Pesha Rudnick explored the play's themes in a recent discussion. Listen as they discuss the humor and exploration of tough subjects in this 80-minute one-act play.
SYNOPSIS
From the African Copperbelt to the backwoods of Canada, acts of faith follows Faith, a young woman who is mistaken for a prophet. When a revered community member attempts to take advantage of her plight, Faith uses her ‘gifts’ to punish the wicked and restore hope. Following a sold-out run in Denver and nominated for “Best Play” by the Colorado Theatre Guild, acts of faith reunites Local Theater Company’s Co-Artistic Directors Betty Hart (as Faith) and Pesha Rudnick (Director).
80 minutes, no intermission
PLEASE NOTE: ‘acts of faith’ includes content that may be challenging for some audience members. If you wish to learn more, please click the content awareness button below.
Click here to read the content awareness for this production.
Word of mouth truly impacts our reach - we‘d appreciate it if you take a photo before or after the show and tag @LocalTheaterCo
COME TOGETHER
Want to process the experience out loud and hear what other theatergoers have to say?
Come back for more and engage with your community at a
Come Together event.
+ Fri, Feb 2, 7:30 pm - College Night includes a post-show conversation with playwright David Yee
+ Fri, Feb 9, 7:30 pm – Come Together Community Meal following
+ Sun, Feb 11, 2:00 pm —Solo Performance panel following with Karen Slack, Erik Sandvold, and Betty Hart, moderated by GerRee Hinshaw
+ Thurs, Feb 15, 7:30 pm – Come Together Post-Show Conversation
Bidding For Change:
Theater for our Evolving World
Support Local Theater Company through our online auction, curated for every taste, budget, and need.
Online auction items include dining, fine art, commissioned paintings, and a beginner bee-keeping kit alongside vacations, and theater, film, and museum tickets!
Your gift makes plays happen.
SPECIAL THANKS:
Jane Butcher
Boulder Ensemble Theater Company
Denver Center for the Performing Arts
Lara Maerz
Toni Meyers
Toni Meyers and Jason Boyett
Jill & Adam Pirozzi
Pesha Rudnick & Rob Wright
Soo Rhee & Nate Fristoe
The Spark
Ellen & Josh Taxman
CU Boulder
Mare Trevathan
Land Acknowledgement
Every community owes its existence and vitality to generations from around the world that contributed their hopes, dreams and energy to making the history that led to this moment. Some of the people from the history of this spot were brought here against their will, some were drawn to leave their distant homes in hope of a better life and some have lived on this land for more generations than can be counted. Truth and acknowledgment are critical to building mutual respect and connection across all barriers of heritage and difference. We begin this effort to acknowledge what has been buried by honoring the truth.
Local Theater Company acknowledges, with deep respect, that we are on unceded territory of Hinóno'éí (Arapaho), Tsitsistas (Cheyenne), Nuciu (Ute) Nations and this land is home to many Native Peoples today. We pay respect to their elders both past and present. We ask that you consider the many legacies of violence, displacement, migration and settlement that bring us here today.
This statement was crafted from information found in the #HonorNativeLand Guide from the US Department of Arts and Culture. You can access the guide at https://usdac.us/nativeland/ Thank you to the following organizations that helped deepen our understanding of land acknowledgement and historical truth:
Resources
http://www.nativepartnership.org
https://resourcegeneration.org
https://www.narf.org
https://president.cu.edu/statements/cu-systemwide-lands-recognition-statement