The beauty of this full-circle moment was palpable. Now, 50 years later, Neverland calls again, casting her and her siblings back to this faraway dreamscape where the refusal to grow up confronts the inevitability of growing old. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Now, 50 years later, Neverland calls again, casting her and her siblings back to this faraway dreamscape where the refusal to grow up confronts the inevitability of growing old. Page 1 of 10 February 28, 2017. Ghosts, pets and arguments without outcomes: These are reliable telltales of the work of Sarah Ruhl, whose new play, "For Peter Pan on her 70th birthday," includes a long . members. Join our e-mail list to receive LEO exclusives and special offers on tickets and giveaways. Anns father, now an elderly man, lies motionless in a hospital bed, his five grown children surrounding him. Directed by Les Waters And eventually the wake gives way to a scene in which the creaky, arthritic siblings take on the roles of Peter Pan, Wendy, the Lost Boys, and Captain Hook complete with aerial work. And that was the extent of feeling I mustered for these siblings through the evening. awarded Playwrights Horizons four out of a possible four stars. Except, of course, when Chalfant takes. Trenton, MI 48183. 610-644-3500 or peopleslight.org. For Peter Pan on her 70th Birthday March 17 April 16, 2023 For Peter Pan on her 70th birthday : Playwrights Horizons Daniel Jenkins, Keith Reddin, Kathleen Chalfant and Lisa Emery; photo by Joan Marcus Overview Playwright Director Calendar + Info For Peter Pan on her 70th birthday August 18, 2017 - October 01, 2017 Mainstage Theater Written by Sarah Ruhl Directed by Les Waters New York premiere Ann By Sarah Ruhl. After Beth (the number-crunching traveler) sets off for Nepal, her brother Tim (at Beths prompting) starts reading the obituaries of people who share his name. That said, this is strong, well-directed (by Meredith McDonough) cast from top to bottom. And if youre a fan or student of comic acting, you absolutely must see Friedman in this role. Now, 50 years later, Neverland calls again, casting her and her siblings back to this faraway dreamscape where the refusal to grow up confronts the inevitability of growing old. For Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday Theater, Drama Buy ticket Time Out says Theater review by Adam Feldman Sarah Ruhl's notes in the script of her new play describe it as a "Midwestern Noh. It moves on to a little family wake with five fully adult siblings remembering their dead father, veering awkwardly into politics, expounding on the notion of faith, and trying to define what it means to be grown-ups. For Peter Pan on her 70th birthday, directed by Les Waters at Playwrights Horizons, begins with five siblings keeping vigil around their father's hospital bed. Very nostalgic and well-written. What is most impressive is how her evocative use of language tantalizes all of our senses, letting audiences catch glimpses of how her characters lives sounded, smelled, and tasted. There was a lot to enjoy, and the ending was thought provoking for me. And the thing that Ann doesnt want to talk about is death. Death, it turns out, is the theme that unites both plays that opened last week as the second and third productions in this years Humana Festival of New American Plays at Actors Theatre of Louisville. Bosque de Palabras for peter pan on her 70th birthday dead man's cell phone dear elizabeth demeter in the city eurydice how to transcend a happy marriage in the next room, or the vibrator play late, a cowboy song melancholy play melancholy play: a chamber musical orlando (adapted from the original by virginia woolf) passion play scenes from court life stage kiss . Only the most important aspects of this world are rendered: the foreboding hospital bed; the small round table where the family used to eat together; a treasure chest on a theaters stage. This is only an estimate. The curtains open to reveal a hospital room where her father (Ron Crawford) is hooked up to the usual beeping, buzzy gadgets while her brothers and sister (Scott Jaeck, Keith Reddin, David Chandler, and Lisa Emery), grasp whatever fragile strands of control they can find (the doctors in the family rush to the bed when the beeps summon them, but theres little they can do). Citation styles for For Peter Pan on her 70th birthday (TCG Edition) How to cite For Peter Pan on her 70th birthday (TCG Edition) for your reference list or bibliography: select your referencing style from the list below and hit 'copy' to generate a citation. Much love. Lisez For Peter Pan on her 70th birthday (TCG Edition) de Sarah Ruhl disponible chez Rakuten Kobo. #Enough: Every Fifteen Minutes A lyrical new play about yearning for youth, the pangs of aging, and the enduring bonds of family. A loving look at a familys view of death, life and the allure of never growing up. And as Bernadettes sister Rhonda, Deonna Bouye has a brilliant turn as the funeral home clerk on duty when Tim shows up in an effort to have his fake obituary yanked from the web (shes heard tales that sometimes the wraiths of the recently dead show up at the funeral home office). $15 industry on Thursdays with code INDUSTRY. Tickets are currently available at www.theaterwit.org, in person at the Theater Wit Box Office or by calling (773) 975-8150. Lisa Emery and Kathleen Chalfant Joan Marcus. Coupled with Thebus skilled direction, a subtle magic combines with these everyday and universal themes to create a heartfelt performance that resonates on multiple levels. For Peter Pan on her 70th birthday August 18, 2017 - October 01, 2017 Mainstage Theater Written by Sarah Ruhl Directed by Les Waters New York premiere Playing Peter Pan at her hometown. Dying too young on her wedding day, Eurydice must journey to the underworld, where she reunites with her father and struggles to remember her lost love. OOOOOOOFFFFFF This one HURT!!! I dont know whether she has changed her mind on reading reviews, but I had hoped she would create more personal plays, since Eurydice is (still) my favorite play she has written, in part because I found it so moving. Jarrott Productions presents Sarah Ruhl's bittersweet comedy, FOR PETER PAN ON HER 70TH BIRTHDAY, February 14ththrough March 10th at the intimate Trinity Street Playhouse, located inside the First Baptist Church of Austin at 901 Trinity Street. In her highly anticipated return to Playwrights, Sarah Ruhl conjures a tender, yearning tale that flies in the face of time, in the search for a second youth.FEATURINGKathleen Chalfant AnnDavid Chandler JimRon Crawford The FatherLisa Emery WendyDaniel Jenkins JohnKeith Reddin MichaelMacy A dogLearn more: https://www.playwrightshorizons.org/shows/plays/peter-pan-her-70th-birthday/Playwrights Horizons is a not-for-profit theater. After Anns monologue, Ruhl plunges us into the life of her family. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. If anyone could convince me to run off to Neverland, it would be Kathleen Chalfant.Stepping out in front of the attractive blue show curtain at the beginning of Sarah Ruhl's wry and rueful little charade, the actress instantly wins us over with her warmth and wit.Chalfant is Ann, an academic who is closing in on her seventieth birthday; she is clutching a program for a production of Peter Pan . (Courtesy of Mark Garvin). . 1. Kathleen is starring in the show, "For Peter Pan on her 70th Birthday," performed by Shattered Globe Theatre. For Peter Pan is a three act play that follows five grown siblings as they hold vigil in their dying father's hospital room (in . yellowbrick scholarship reviews. But it will strike a chord with adults who have been. A group of siblings, themselves approaching senior age gather together as their father dies and work through their views on life, death and growing up. Sarah Ruhl's "For Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday" digs down a little deeper to uncover the fears that underly that wish the fear of growing old and ultimately dying. Copyright 2023 Open Book Theatre Company, A Commitment to Change: OBTCs Anti-Racist Policy. (left to right) Kathleen Ruhl, Ben Werling, Eileen Niccolai, Patrick Thornton and HB Ward in Shattered Globe Theatre's Chicago premiere of FOR PETER PAN ON HER 70th BIRTHDAY by Sarah Ruhl, directed by Jessica Thebus. And another piece in the program lays out the plays backstory: Ruhl, a sharp, inventive playwright, wrote it as a gift for her moms 70th birthday. I love Sarah Ruhl! While this isnt my favorite Ruhl, this charming piece is most certainly worth a read. Not that mystical plays cant make sense when they do, they can radiate satisfying magic. Learn more about Social Responsibility at WHYY. Their father, played by Graham Smith, has the thankless job of being dead and, in spite of it, manages to be livelier than youd suspect at first. in March, Body Cam Footage: Louisville Police Officer Did Not Request Teens Surrender Before Shooting Department Called Accidental, 3 Concerts To Catch In Louisville This Weekend (3/3-3/5). Aug. 11, 2017. Classes begin September 13th). Answer & Explanation. Please give today. These vivid descriptivesspeak volumes to each character'shumanity. Kathleen Ruhl, a well-known Chicago actor, is performing as Ann/Peter Pan in this production. She is a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and a Tony Award nominee. 1. Anns opening monologue details her role as Peter Pan at a local theatre in home, growing up believing in the magic of. On The Shore of The Wide World is at the Linda Gross Theater,. Two shows with strong female protagonists - Steven Dietz's "Becky's New Car" at the Players Guild of Dearborn and Sarah Ruhl's "To Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday" will warm up local stages during winter's lingering days. Her siblings are Leonard C. Haas, Stephen Novelli, and Mary Elizabeth Scallen (their characters are Michael, John and Wendy, same names as the kids in Peter Pan), and Peter DeLaurier. A loving look at a family's view of death, life and the allure of never growing up. Funny, smart and compassionate but never sentimental this is a fabulous piece of theater with great production values (scenery, Annie Smart; costumes, Kristoper Castle; lighting, Matt Frey; sound, Bray Poor; and a fun bit of piratical combat choreographed by Drew Fracher). Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. But now its many years later. The Little Red Hen Theatre presents "For Peter Pan on her 70th Birthday" Special to the Daily News Mar 2, 2022 Cast members rehearse a scene of "For Peter Pan on her 70th. The first scene is a tense hospital-room death vigil. That thin premise doesnt make you cheer her on; it more likely makes you feel sorry for her. Performances began August 18 for the Off-Broadway debut of For Peter Pan on her 70th birthday, a play by two-time Pulitzer Prize . (Enrollment begins August 15th. Her plays have been produced on and Off- Broadway, regionally and internationally . Note: An excerpt of this review appears in Theatre in Chicago. September 18, 2017. FOR PETER PAN ON HER 70TH BIRTHDAY Playing Peter Pan at her hometown children's theater is one of Ann's fondest, most formative memories. Put it all together, with a fantasy ending, and you have Im still not sure what. Written by Sarah Ruhl. Full-Length Play, Dramatic Comedy There is an intrinsic lyricism to Ruhls ideas as well as her language in this work Ruhls writing also gives voice to a binding love between siblings that overcomes conflicting beliefs. The Courier-Journal, Read More, A work that is equal parts dark and light, recalling the ebullient excitement of youth, but also confronting the hard fact of mortality Ruhls imagination is among the most adventurous at play today in the theater. The New York TimesSarah Ruhl imbues the fantastical with a singular logic that is only hers but becomes yours during the course of the evening. This tool is unavailable at the moment. Support this unique home for new plays and musicals and make a gift today: http://bit.ly/WTg7jhhttp://www.phnyc.orgFacebook: http://facebook.com/playwrightshorizonsTwitter: http://twitter.com/phnycInstagram: http://instagram.com/phnyc They recount tales of youthful double standards (the boys got away with more than the girls). Your email address will not be published. A tender, yearning tale that flies in the face of time, in the search for a second youth. 'For Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday' Playwrights Horizons 416 W. 42nd St. Tickets: 212-279-4200 or PlaywrightsHorizons.org Running Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes (no intermission) Closes: Oct. 1. WHYY provides trustworthy, fact-based, local news and information and world-class entertainment to everyone in our community. With For Peter Pan on her 70th birthday (and yes the upper and lower cases are correct) now at Playwrights Horizons, Ms. Ruhl has hidden the welcome mat for out of towners. The production of Sarah Ruhl's "For Peter Pan on her 70th Birthday" continues through April 10 as part of Actors Theatre of Louisville's 40th Humana Festival of New American Plays. It appears to be a high point and maybe the high point of her life, not least because her father, sparse with his praise, brought her a bouquet after the performance. They argue the politics of the time (the Clinton era which yields some great nuggets of timely humor). This Random World also happens to be one of the funniest plays ever to premiere at the Humana Festival. (front right) Kathleen Ruhl with (back, l to r) Doug McDade, HB Ward, Ben Werling, Eileen Niccolai and Patrick Thornton in Shattered Globe Theatre's Chicago premiere of FOR PETER PAN ON HER 70th BIRTHDAY by Sarah Ruhl, directed by Jessica Thebus. A 70-year-old woman named Ann (Kathleen Chalfant) recounts her experience playing Peter Pan on stage as a child in 1940s Davenport, Iowa and meeting famed actress Mary Martin, who made the . (Ill avoid elaboratingno spoilers.) It's the 1990s, and the . . It also has fine-tuned ensemble acting, all by Peoples Light ensemble members who know how to build characters in a play that doesnt give some of them much of an opportunity. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. Now,over 50 years later, Neverland calls again, casting Ann and her siblings back to this faraway dreamscape wherethe refusal to grow up confronts the inevitability of growing old. It was simply beautiful. Mayoral candidates discuss Philly arts sector at Kimmel Center forum. If your style isn't in the list, you can start a free trial to access over 20 additional styles from the Perlego eReader. I know what Abigail Adams, the leader of Peoples Light and director of the show, says: She writes in an essay that For Peter Pan is about family storytelling. Crocodile Day by P.C. Playwrights Horizons, 416 W. 42nd St., NYC. A sweet spot for Sarah Ruhl. The eldest, Ann, reminisces about her days playing Peter Pan at the local children's theater, and soon the five are transported back to Neverland. For Peter Pan on her 70th birthday is a fantastical exploration of the enduring bonds of family, the resistance to "growing up," and the inevitability of growing old. For Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday Sarah Ruhl 3.93 125 ratings18 reviews After their father's passing, five siblings gather to reminisce and recount the memories that shaped their childhoods. That accomplished woman, Kathleen Ruhl, played Peter Pan when she was a teenager in Davenport, Iowa, and went on to become a professional actress. By Marty Rosen. FOR PETER PAN ON HER 70th BIRTHDAY CAST/CREATIVES By SARAH RUHL Directed by KAREN JAMBON February 14 - March 10, 2019 When Ann thinks of her father, she immediately remembers playing Peter Pan in her hometown theatre in Iowa, particularly when he used to bring her flowers after her performance. Themes overlap some, but not in the same way. 'BECKY'S NEW CAR' AT THE PLAYERS GUILD OF DEARBORN . Technical credits: scenery, Daniel Zimmerman; costumes, Kathleen Geldard; lights, Paul Toben; sound, Christian Frederickson. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The cost and license availability quoted are estimates only and may differ when you apply for a license. It's a talking heads show and the youngest character is still 15-20 years older than me but I found bits to relate to from each of the characters (and some things from each that I absolutely did not, of course) and it moved me. If it ultimately proves the rare miss for her, it continues the playful formal experimentation that has made her one of the most important American playwrights working today. There is one more aspect of For Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday that helps to vividly paint a portrait of five siblings grieving the death of their father and confronting the realization that they have become the defacto adults of the family, and that is Ruhl's writing itself. Scripts and rental materials are not included in this estimate. This is one of the best plays about both family and the theater I have ever read. Concord Theatricals The eldest, Ann, reminisces about her days playing Peter Pan at the local children's theater, and soon the five are transported back to Neverland. Anns opening monologue details her role as Peter Pan at a local theatre in home, growing up believing in the magic of Peter Pan as well as the theatre, and her relationship with her parents. When Ann thinks of her father, she immediately remembers playing Peter Pan in her hometown theater in Iowa, particularly when he used to bring her flowers after her performance. por | Jun 9, 2022 | eastmont oakland crime | ripple vape buzz | Jun 9, 2022 | eastmont oakland crime | ripple vape buzz for peter pan on her 70th birthday monologue. She not only thinks outside the box, she dwells there. $20 tickets available with code ACCESS., Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave, Chicago. Required fields are marked *. Its set in a world of smartphones and tablets, where people get frustrated when their cell phones fail to get a signal in the highlands of Nepal, and where online funeral home message boards serve as virtual wakes. Anns world was shaped by a loving, if contentious, family (her father never missed an opportunity to see her playing Peter Pan). Yes, this is a gift to the theater. On opening night, there were several seats marked with Ruhl underneath the words Reserved Seats. Ruhl took the stage to begin the plays opening monologue in front of a radiant red stage curtain, framed by an ornate, golden proscenium arch, her family and daughter a few rows away. Ann, the oldest, reminisces about her star turn as Peter Pan at the local children's theatre fifty years ago, and now leads her siblings on one final journey to Neverland as they confront growing old . They revisit well-worn and loving discussions about whether their father favored one child over the other. I cried a lot. New York, NY 10107-0102. The cast in this Shattered Globe production excels at grounding their characters in the quotidien, while still highlighting each character's unique perspectives about the world and their father. Just answer a few questions. directed by Les Waters and designed by Scott Bradley. Equal parts funny and fascinating, Bullseye sifts the wheat from the chaff, and brings you hot culture picks, in-depth interviews with the most revered and revolutionary creative people and irreverent original comedy. Lets not talk about that, says Kathleen Chalfant toward the end of the monologue that opens Sara Ruhls new play, For Peter Pan on her 70th Birthday. Its a monologue that begins with Chalfant in her role as Ann bursting on stage and announcing, Ill be playing Peter Pan. Then she regales us with funny, richly detailed anecdotes of her young years in Davenport, Iowa, the city where she learned to act and learned to fly at least on the stage. Click here to read Top Picks for Theater in Chicago NOW Chicago Plays PICTURE THIS POST Loves. The sparsedesign by Jack Magaw, combinedwith Sarah Jo Whites subtle costuming nods to the characters of Neverland, allows. What is most impressive is how her evocative use of language tantalizes all of our senses, letting audiences catch glimpses of how her characters lives sounded, smelled, and tasted. To sit in the audience of Shattered Globe Theatres Chicago premiere of Sarah Ruhls play. Both plays run through April 10 If that sounds a bit bleak, dont be troubled. At the end of the script in Sarah Ruhl's " For Peter Pan on her 70th birthday ," photographs suddenly appear: a young woman in a Peter Pan costume; that same woman on a . For Peter Pan on her 70th BirthdaY / This Random World (left to right) Ben Werling, Eileen Niccolai, Kathleen Ruhl, HB Ward and Patrick Thornton in Shattered Globe Theatre's Chicago premiere of FOR PETER PAN ON HER 70th BIRTHDAY by Sarah Ruhl, directed by Jessica Thebus. For Peter Pan on her 70th birthday is a fantastical exploration of the enduring bonds of family, the resistance to "growing up," and the inevitability of growing old. FOR PETER PAN ON HER 70TH BIRTHDAY, produced by Jarrott Productions at Trinity Street Playhouse (Black Box Theatre, 4th floor, First Baptist Church, 901 Trinity Street, Austin, TX, 78701 . This setting forms the basis of the first third of Ruhls play, which moves from hospital to childhood home to dreamy memory as it progresses. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. When Ann thinks of her father, she immediately remembers playing Peter Pan in her hometown theater in Iowa, particularly when he used to bring her flowers after her performance. Want a digest of WHYYs programs, events & stories? Peter/Wendy by Jeremy Bloom. The hospital scene is a bravura piece of writing and virtuosic ensemble acting (under the leadership of Director Les Waters) right down the splendid, moving climax of the scene. I did, however, find the ending extremely moving. Deep truths about life, death, religion, and existence are pondered throughout the piece, and each actor treats these revelations with an everyman simplicity. "For Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday" runs through May 12 at People's Light, 39 Conestoga Rd., Malvern. Additional hours will be available on performance days. A lyrical new play about the suddenness of growing older and the enduring bonds of family, For Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday is a sentimental tribute to feeling forever young"-- Sarah Ruhl; dir: Les Waters. Two recent plays are Sarah Ruhl's For Peter Pan On Her 70th Birthday, which ran off Broadway in 2017, and Lauren Gunderson's girl-powered Peter Pan and Wendy, which ran in Washington, D.C. in 2019. Your email address will not be published. If youre curious about the theory and practice of the contemporary break-up, you have to see this play. (left to right) Kathleen Ruhl, Eileen Niccolai, Patrick Thornton and HB Ward in Shattered Globe Theatre's Chicago premiere of FOR PETER PAN ON HER 70th BIRTHDAY by Sarah Ruhl, directed by Jessica Thebus. Grief and loss and family, then suddenly Peter Pan. August 30, 2017. For Peter Pan on her 70th birthday, at Playwrights Horizons, is Ruhl's second premiere of 2017. Sarah Ruhl, the distinguished and celebrated, two-time Pulitzer Prize-nominated playwright, has followed up her most famous works with a play that feels very personal and truly touches audiences of a certain age with sadness. These vivid descriptivesspeak volumes to each character'shumanity. Sarah Ruhls plays include In the Next Room, or the vibrator play, The Clean House, Passion Play, Dead Mans Cell Phone, Melancholy Play, For Peter Pan on her 70th Birthday, The Oldest Boy, Stage Kiss, Dear Elizabeth, Eurydice, How to Transcend a Happy Marriage, Orlando, Late You'll have to sign in before you share your experience. Playing Peter Pan at her hometown childrens theater is one of Anns fondest, most formative memories. His death sparks a conversational wake that includes everything from arguments over politics to when each sibling realized that they grew up. Performances are at 7:30 pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, with a 2:30 pm matinee on Sundays. sale of united methodist church property. A loving look at a familys view of death, life and the allure of never growing up. 610-644-3500 or peopleslight.org. The story was inspired by her family life as well as her role playing Peter Pan at a community theatre in Davenport, Iowa. . Playing Peter Pan at her hometown childrens theater is one of Anns fondest, most formative memories. When the red curtain gracefully opens at the culmination of her soliloquy, we bear witness to a colder reality than the warm portrait of the past she has just painted. LCT presents 'For Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday' Lubbock Community Theatre presents, "For Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday," April 1-2 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday and April 3 at 2:30. I'm sure not wanting to grow up/age factors in, but I didn't feel it. Even Michael Stanfills projection design is economical in its use, a collection of monochromatic cut-outs reminiscent of shadow puppetry that transform in a pivotal and moving scene. "For Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday" is a play that follows the story of a family as they gather to celebrate the 70th birthday of the family's matriarch, who is also named Peter Pan. Sie befinden sich hier: pisces celebrities male; phil knight house oregon; for peter pan on her 70th birthday monologue . TueFri 7:30pm, Sat 2pm & 7:30pm, Sun, 2pm & 7pm. Verrone. 2f, 4m. The Barrymore Award ceremony, Monday night at the Merriam Theater, is the way metropolitan Philadelphias professional theater community celebrates its accomplishments. 1621 West Road Broadway in Chicago presents 1776 Review Taking Liberties on the Road to Liberty, About Face Theatre GENDER PLAY, OR WHAT YOU WILL, Subtext Theater Company A BUMP ON THE LEG, Bramble Theatre Company FESTIVAL OF UNFINISHED WORK, Stage Access Presents MARK MORRIS DANCE GROUPS GRAND DUO Dance Review Dance as Music Megaphone, Hell In A Handbag I PROMISED MYSELF TO LIVE FASTER, Young Peoples Theatre of Chicago DORY FANTASMAGORY, Jackalope Theatre LIVING NEWSPAPER FESTIVAL, Raven Theatre Presents RIGHT TO BE FORGOTTEN Review Human Perspective on Internets Influence, Timeline Theatre WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME. Discounts: $15 students, $28 seniors, $20 under 30. This setting forms the basis of the first third of Ruhls play, which moves from hospital to childhood home to dreamy memory as it progresses. that helps to vividly paint a portrait of five siblings grieving the death of their father and confronting the realization that they have become the defacto adults of the family, and that is Ruhls writing itself. Maybe I was being too literal the other night when I saw For Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday at Peoples Light in Malvern, but I couldnt see the point of Sarah Ruhls mystical and mystifying play. After their fathers passing, five siblings gather to reminisce and recount the memories that shaped their childhoods. Sarah Ruhl (born 1974) is an American playwright. . Ruhls new play was written as a birthday gift for her mother, Kathleen. WHYY offers a voice to those not heard, a platform to share everyones stories, a foundation to empower early and lifelong learners and a trusted space for unbiased news.