Amaryllis Theatre Company presents Brian Friel’s drama Molly Sweeney on November 1-18 at The Black Box at The Adrienne (2030 Sansom Street). The production, directed by Tom Reing, features Pamela Sabaugh in the title role appearing with Stephen Patrick Smith and Michael Toner. This is the first time since this play about a blind woman opened in 1994 that it has been performed by a blind actress. The fully-accessible production is one of the centerpieces of Independence Starts Here: A Festival of Disability Arts and Culture, running from October 18 through November 20 across Greater Philadelphia.

Except for Opening Night, Thursday, November 1, when the play begins at 7:00 PM, performances are Wednesday through Friday at 8:00 PM and Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 PM. Tickets, all at $10 each, are available by calling 215-564-2431 or on the website at amaryllistheatre.org. There will be a post-play discussion after the performance on Friday November 2, and again on Thursday, November 8 and November 15 focusing on the topic: “Does Disability Need A Cure?” More information about the Festival is available at www.independencestartshere.org.

The complex story of a woman, blind since infancy, whose comfortable world is transformed when she regains her sight, Molly Sweeney is based on a case study of Dr. Oliver Sacks. “This play is important for the Festival and for Amaryllis,” suggests Producing Artistic Director Mimi Kenney Smith. “Many of us who are sighted think of blindness as something we fear the most. However, the combination of Brian Friel’s gloriously poetic words and insight and actress Pamela Sabaugh’s personal understanding of blindness provides a positive view of blindness that jolts our preconception. It’s really thought-provoking and wonderful.”

Tom Reing (Director) is the Artistic Director of Inis Nua Theatre, a company committed to producing contemporary plays from Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland. He is the resident director for Shakespeare in Clark Park. He also has directed for Azuka Theatre, Brat Productions and the Abbey Theatre in Dublin for their Educational Outreach. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Temple University and West Chester University.

Pamela Sabaugh (Molly Sweeney) has just completed an Off-Broadway run in the NY premiere of John Belluso’s The Rules Of Charity, and was recently seen in Another Day On Willow St. at the 2007 New York International Fringe Festival. Other New York credits include frequent appearances at Theater By The Blind, Shotgun Productions, Lookingglass Theatre, Theater Rising, and The Shakespeare Theater of New Jersey as well as recurring roles in “One Live To Live” and “Guiding Light”. Sabaugh received the Princess Grace Award for emerging artists and the award for Excellence in Performance from the 2000 New York International Fringe Festival, where she appeared in the premier of her own play, Woman in the Animal Kingdom—a play about a vision impaired sculptor finding and feeling her way through New York City.

Stephen Patrick Smith (Frank Sweeney) was last seen at Amaryllis as John and the Good Thief in A Terrible Beauty last fall and also appeared in The Chairs at Villanova and Henry V at Delaware Theatre Company last season. In 2005, Smith directed Jewel Walker’s Tuesday for Amaryllis Theatre Company, which won 2005 Barrymore Awards for Best Choreography and Best Ensemble. With an MFA in Acting from University of Delaware and a MA in Theatre from Villanova University, he currently reaches full-time at Delaware County Community College.

Michael P. Toner (Dr. Rice) previously appeared with Amaryllis Theatre as Pat in Antoine O'Flathartha's Blood Guilty. Other roles include Jack Mullen in Conor McPherson's The Weir and Peter Shirley in Major Barbara, both at Arden Theatre Company, and Aston in Pinter's The Caretaker, Andrew McNair in 1776, Finney in Herb Gardner's Conversations With My Father, all with Walnut Street Theatre where he has also directed Stones In His Pockets.

Molly Sweeney brings together the creative team of Dirk Durossette (set designer), Jerold R. Forsyth (lighting designer), Noriko Takashimi (costume designer) and Christopher Colucci (sound designer).

Amaryllis Theatre Company is the theatre producing arm of VSA arts of Pennsylvania. For the last six years, Amaryllis has been producing world class theatre that is fully-inclusive and accessible, and celebrates the talents of professional artists with and without disabilities.