This April, playwright Kelly Trumbull takes viewers back to the '90s with Morning Reckoning, an 8th grade fangirl adventure premiering at New Hazlett Theater. The play introduces audiences to the fictional Morning Reckoning band fan club as its members navigate the perils of 8th grade. When the club's plans start to go awry, teenage drama takes center stage.
"I think this play itself is putting the 8th grade experience under a microscope and examining it. I hope it makes people laugh and remember things. I hope it makes people cringe and remember things. I hope it makes people cry and remember things." Trumbull states.
Morning Reckoning is the final production in the Theater's 2022/2023 season of Community Supported Art (CSA), which provides emerging artists with the opportunity to develop new work for the New Hazlett stage.
“We are excited to present this world premiere to our audiences as our last production of our 10th CSA season,” says Executive Director Rene Conrad. “Kelly's exploration of the ups and downs of adolescence is something everyone can identify with...no matter what era they grew up in."
Photo courtesy of Kelly Trumbull
Morning Reckoning has three showings only: Thursday, April 20th at 8 PM and Friday, April 21st at 11 AM & 8 PM. Individual tickets are available for purchase on the New Hazlett website. Tickets range from $20–$30.
In addition to Trumbull's roles as playwright and director of Morning Reckoning, she has assembled a cast of multi-talented artists to bring this production to the next level. The cast include Jalina McClarin (Sue), Alex Manalo (Kandace), Julia Kreutzer (Nadia), Claire Sabatine (April), MaTia Martin (Trish) and Mia Kurlfink (Em).
While the characters are bonded through a mutual admiration of a boy band, Trumbull worked hard to create character distinctions and dive into deeper emotional waters as friendships are tested.
"I think these moments of fragility, of higher stakes, are interwoven with the lightness of the general meetings of this club," says Trumbull. "It's really fun to see how these characters deal with lighter, everyday situations and then also how these characters deal with situations that are more adult, and more challenging to navigate."
Morning Reckoning premieres Thursday, April 20, live onstage at the New Hazlett Theater. Read the most updated safety guidelines on the New Hazlett website. Accessible seating and assistive listening devices are available for all productions.
The New Hazlett’s mission is to create dynamic art through innovation and collaboration. We provide vital resources to creators from diverse backgrounds to enrich our cultural community. To learn more about upcoming events at the New Hazlett Theater, visit newhazletttheater.org.
Content Disclosure: Morning Reckoning contains mature language, mature themes, bullying, and descriptions of suicide.
Morning Reckoning is presented as a part of the New Hazlett Theater’s 10th Season of CSA, brought to you by Green Light Wireless.
Kelly Trumbull is a multidisciplinary theater artist. As a playwright, Kelly explores the fragility of the human experience by creating work that is raw, funny, and full of heart. She has worked extensively in the Pittsburgh region as an actor, educator, and director. Currently, she serves on the faculties of the University of Pittsburgh’s Theatre Arts Department and Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Music, where she is committed to creating empowering, inclusive spaces for the next generation of theater artists. www.kellytrumbull.com