Tony-nominated writer and director Douglas Carter Beane is returning to the stage where his love of theater first began, debuting a new production at Genesius Theatre that celebrates art, imagination, and Pennsylvania roots.
Beane, who grew up performing at Genesius in the 1970s, is launching his tenure as the theatre’s new artistic director with The Behavior of Light, an original play he wrote and is directing. Described as a “battle cry for art,” the story blends nostalgia, local references, and heartfelt themes centered on creativity and compassion.
Set in West Reading in 1972, the play follows the staff and adult students of a night school art class. Many of the students are mill workers working toward their GEDs amid looming layoffs, guided by Caroline, an enthusiastic but inexperienced teacher determined to champion the value of art. Her efforts run counter to the skepticism of the school’s analytical principal, Robert.
But it is Teddy — a shy janitor with schizoid personality disorder — who becomes the emotional core of the production. Observing the class from the shadows, he begins expressing his inner world through vivid artwork. As the story unfolds, audiences watch two narratives develop side by side: the muted struggles of everyday life and the vibrant fantasy realm Teddy creates to make sense of the world around him.
The play features seven local cast members portraying both the grounded characters of Teddy’s life and the colorful figures populating his imagination, including whimsical villains, heroic leads, and humorous sidekicks — from a frog prepared for dissection to a dragon voiced in the style of Joan Rivers.
“We are trying to tell this as freely and simply as possible,” Beane said. “There is no New York City production of this play yet. There is nothing for us to emulate. We only have our heart, our experiences and our instincts to guide us.”
Beane said the story draws heavily from his interest in “outsider artists,” creators who work outside traditional structures simply for the love of expression. He hopes the production encourages audiences to look more closely at unnoticed people and to recognize that creativity can emerge anywhere.
“I hope the community sees that art can happen anywhere, even here, and to look around for it, and to find it in themselves, too,” he said. “I want them to stop and look with kindness at the people they usually pass by.”
Joining Beane on the production is fellow Pennsylvania native and Tony-nominated Broadway designer Allen Moyer, who recently joined the Genesius Board of Directors. Moyer is collaborating with longtime Genesius set builder Brent Beckner to transform the theater’s 10th and Walnut Street stage. The creative team also includes Assistant Director James Haggerty, Stage Manager Bill Eschbach, and Dramaturg Ellen Dash Walter.
The cast includes: James Haggerty as Teddy, Sarah Althen-Haggerty as Caroline, Jonathan Erkert as Robert Norton, Becka-Anne Malanios as Helen, Daphnee McMaster as Rowena, Alvin Green-Lewis as T. and Abby Hannis as Gina.
Performances are scheduled for Dec. 12–14, Dec. 18–20, and Dec. 26–27. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m., except for the Sunday, Dec. 14 matinee at 3 p.m.
Genesius Theatre is located at 135 N. 10th St. in Reading. Free parking is available next to the building, with an overflow lot accessible by pass from the parking attendant.
Tickets and additional information can be found at genesiusdifference.org. Genesius Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
The theater is also continuing its partnership with the DoubleTree by Hilton Reading, offering guests the option to enjoy dinner at Cheers American Bistro and take a complimentary shuttle to and from the show.
