RIFT, OR WHITE LIES

National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere

by Gabriel Jason Dean
directed by Seth Rozin

April 4 - 27

Run Time: 2 hours including a 15-minute intermission

Based on the playwrights’ true story…

Two estranged brothers – one a progressive novelist, the other a convicted murderer and high-ranking member of a white supremacist prison gang – are united through their traumatic childhood. Now adults, they attempt to navigate the edges of their brotherly bond, as well as a path forward toward understanding and forgiveness. In an increasingly polarized world, is it possible to love someone whose beliefs you hate?

RIFT, OR WHITE LIES Company

Cast

Jered McLenigan* - OUTSIDE BROTHER/INSIDE BROTHER

Matteo Scammell* - OUTSIDE BROTHER/INSIDE BROTHER

* appearing courtesy of a contract agreement with Actor’s Equity Association

Please Note: Matteo and Jered will be alternating their roles each night during the full run of RIFT, OR WHITE LIES. You can RETURN to see the actors alternate their roles at a $12 rate. $12 RETURN tickets cannot be purchased online. $12 RETURN tickets are for current ticket holders only. Reach out to the InterAct box office to buy your RETURN ticket.

Status: Currently in rehearsal

Rehearsals: March 10-April 3

Show Runs: April 4-27 Free Ice Cream Previews: April 4-9 Young Friends Night w/ Ben: April 4 Artist Q&A w/ Chaz: April 12, 19, 26 Expert Q&A w/ Seth: April 13, 20, 27

Production Team

Seth Rozin - Director

Hunter Smith - Stage Manager

Nick Embree - Scenic Designer

Julia Gerbino - Assistant Set Designer

Kyra Zapf - Costume Designer

Christopher Colucci - Sound Designer

TalkBacks at InterAct

Speaker Saturdays

Following our Saturday 2pm non-preview matinees, join Literary Manager Chaz Martin with an expert speaker in a moderated conversation digging into the themes of RIFT, OR WHITE LIES.

April 12 - TBA

April 19 - TBA

April 26 - TBA

Speaker Sundays

Following our Sunday 2pm non-preview matinees, join Producing Artistic Director Seth Rozin with an expert speaker in a moderated conversation digging into the themes of RIFT, OR WHITE LIES.

April 13 - Frank Meeink, author of Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead, is a former white supremacist skinhead gang member. After a three-year stint in prison, he left the racist skinhead movement and now lectures against it.

Born in South Philadelphia, Meeink lived a violent and unpleasant childhood. At age thirteen, Meeink discovered the Neo-Nazi Movement. By the age of eighteen he was a well-respected Neo-Nazi leader and recruiter. After Meeink served his prison sentence, he went back to where he had spent his childhood in South Philadelphia and by helping with the local hockey team, the Philadelphia Flyers, he created Harmony Through Hockey, a member of the Against Violent Extremism Network, and has been a member, consultant, and speaker for a wide range of nonprofit groups dedicated to preventing hatred and violence.

His story, in part, became the inspiration for Edward Norton’s character, Derek Vinyard, in the 1998 Academy Award-nominated film American History X, who ditched his racist views after kindling friendships with Black inmates.

In March last year, the New York Post revealed that Meeink took a 23andMe DNA test and discovered that he has Jewish ancestry – and has now embraced his heritage.

April 20 - Salman Akhtar is a Professor of Psychiatry & Human Behavior at Jefferson Medical College, a psychiatrist at the Jefferson University Hospital, and a Training and Supervising Analyst at the Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia. He has served on the editorial boards of the International Journal of Psychoanalysis and the Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association. Salman Akhtar has authored, edited, or co-edited more than 300 publications, including 100 academic books. He has also served as the Film Review Editor for the International Journal of Psychoanalysis, and is currently serving as the Book Review Editor for the International Journal of Applied Psychoanalytic Studies.

April 27 - Pennsylvania Prison Society (SPEAKER NAME TBD) is an organization that has worked for over 230 years to promote the health, safety and dignity of people behind bars. Their start dates back to May 8, 1787, just weeks away from the start of the Constitutional Convention, our nation’s founders established the Pennsylvania Prison Society out of the conviction that “The obligations of benevolence are not canceled by the follies or crimes of our fellow creatures.” A community dedicated to the proposition that all among us are entitled to a life of dignity and caring—regardless of commission of crime, mistakes, or poverty. A community that believes that the criminal justice system should restore hope and the possibility of a life of virtue and happiness, not dash hope and end lives. We are a community dedicated to extending compassion to those living behind prison walls because we know it benefits us all.

Audience Discussions

Discussions occur after every Wednesday and Thursday non- preview 7pm performance. Facilitated by Seth Rozin.

Wednesday, April 16 | Thursday, April 17 | Wednesday, April 23 | Thursday, April 24

Please note:

• InterAct’s COVID Policies: We are currently mask optional, but offer COVID safety performances on select dates. Click here for more about COVID safety nights!

• Speaker Hosts & Guests are subject to change. Please call the BOX OFFICE before your show date to hear about any possible changes.