SPIRITUALIST SEEKS HELP IN THE TEST OF OUR TIMES. MIGHT TWO MINDS, PROPERLY ATTUNED IN THIS LIFE, MEET IN THE NEXT?

Inspired by the real experiment conducted by Thomas Lynn Bradford and Ruth Doran in 1921, this world premiere play by Philadelphia playwright Evelyn Richardson takes us to a stately manor where five occultists gather, joining hands and lighting candles to pierce the veil into that unknown country which none of us has ever seen, yet all of us must ever go.

Esme's Last Seance is an original drama that delves into questions of love, death, and purpose in life as Esme's unwavering faith is challenged by companions who refuse to believe that she can make contact with the man she loves even after his death.

Performances will run from October 18th-27th, 2024 in the Skinner Studio upstairs at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey St, Philadelphia PA 19103.

About the creative team

This new play was written by Evelyn Richardson. The production will be directed by and will feature Sarah Billings, associate artistic director of Sewer Rats Productions.

Sarah Billings is a theatre artist and educator whose credits with the rats include Edmonton and The Red Drops (director, designer), Spring Awakening (director, designer, actor), and Perils of the Flowerbed (designer, actor). Sarah moved to Philadelphia after graduating from Barnard College with a degree in theatre. She is now active in the community as a teaching artist and theatre practitioner, working with organizations including the Philadelphia Dramatists Center, Azuka Theatre, Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership and Yes! And... Collaborative Arts. She has been working with Sewer Rats Productions since 2020.

Evelyn Richardson is the founder and editor of Worthy Tales Magazine, an independent magazine of new, interesting fiction, and the author of Barnacle Goose, an epic narrative poem currently available in print. Originally from Delaware, Evelyn studied playwriting & screenwriting at SUNY Purchase and now lives in Philadelphia.

In addition, this production will feature an ensemble of Philadelphia actors collaborating with designers, musicians, and theatre technicians who are all volunteering their time and craft to create this new production.

What your support can do

Sewer Rats Productions is an independent theatre company with no outside sponsor or source of funding. Our only source of income from our productions is ticket sales. Money from ticket sales goes directly back into paying our artists, buying materials, and renting space for our shows. However, ticket sales only cover a portion of our production costs. It's only through donations and gifts that we are able to build the props, costumes, and sets that can create a new world on stage.

Our fundraising goal for this production is $1,000, which will bridge the gap between our current funds, raised through our past productions, and our total budget goal of $3,500 for Esme's Last Séance. The rest of our resources will come from program ads, in-kind donations (i.e. donations of time, space, or materials), and box office sales. Your gift, big or small, will make it possible for us to offer another surprising, inventive, and affecting production to fulfill our mission statement of producing new and unfamiliar works that embrace a compassion for all aspects of humanity.

Through your generous support, we can carve out a space for independent art outside of the mainstream, uplifting scripts and artists who may never be chosen for large-scale, commercial theatre productions. A donation to this campaign is a gift directly to the artists who are so passionate about this work.

Reaching our fundraising goal will support us in covering our theatre rental fees, props, costumes, and set pieces for this world premiere play. Any money raised above and beyond these production costs will be distributed to the artists on stage and behind the scenes.

Finally, if you would like to support Esme's Last Séance by increasing our visibility, please share this campaign to social media and use the hashtag #esmeslastseance to spread the word!