FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Creative Team Announced for ‘The Waterfall’ at New Harmony

South Norwalk, CT – May 20, 2025 — Thrown Stone Theatre Company is proud to announce the director and cast for The Waterfall by Phanésia Pharel, selected as a 2025 Production in Residence at the New Harmony Theatre Project.

Directed by Taylor Reynolds (Man Cave, Tambo & Bones), the residency production will feature celebrated performers Malika Samuel and Patrice Johnson Chevannes, with dramaturgy by Kristin Leahey. A public reading will take place on May 31, 2025, at Thrall’s Opera House in New Harmony, Indiana.

Originally conceived during Thrown Stone’s 2022 068 Magazine Playwriting Fellowship, The Waterfall has been developed in partnership with The Old Globe and WP Theatre, and was honored with the Kennedy Center Lorraine Hansberry Playwriting Award. The play explores the fierce, complicated bond between a Haitian American mother and daughter and confronts the expectations placed on women across generations.

“We’re honored to support Phanésia as The Waterfall enters its next stage of development,” said Thrown Stone Co-Artistic Director Jonathan Winn. “With Taylor Reynolds at the helm and this remarkable cast, the residency promises to be a profound step forward for the play.”

The Waterfall is one of only two works selected as a Production in Residence from a record-breaking 530+ applications to the New Harmony Project’s 2025 Writers’ Residency.

For more details about the New Harmony Project’s 2025 Writers’ Residency and the full list of selected artists, visit The New Harmony Project’s announcement.

About The Playwright

Phanésia Pharel

Phanésia Pharel (Playwright) is a Haitian-American playwright from a dragon fruit farm in Miami. The daughter of an immigrant teacher and farmer, she writes to honor people. Her full-length plays include DEAD GIRL’S QUINCEÑERA, THE WATERFALL, R&B, LUCKY, and BLACK GIRL JOY.

She is the incoming playwriting fellow at Emory University… Read more

Acknowledgements

With support from the Maximilian E. & Marion O. Hoffman Foundation

About the Maximilian E. & Marion O. Hoffman Foundation

Established in 1986 and based in West Hartford, CT, the Hoffman Foundation continues a legacy of philanthropy focused on education, healthcare, and the arts throughout central Connecticut. Their investment helps make new theatre possible.


With support from the Burry Fredrik Foundation.

Burry Fredrik Foundation

ABOUT THE BURRY FREDRIK FOUNDATION

The Burry Fredrik Foundation’s overall mission is to champion the growth and the continuing health of Connecticut’s non-profit professional producing theaters. The Foundation supports Connecticut theaters and associated artists with a proven track record of accomplishments. An emphasis is placed on supporting theaters working with playwrights and composers who are actively developing and producing new works. In addition, through its Burry Fredrik Design Fellowship, the Foundation supports Connecticut college or university training of new design talent for the theater.


With the support of the Department of Economic and Community Development Office of the Arts.

 Department of Economic and Community Development Office of the Arts

About the Connecticut Office of the Arts

The Office of the Arts is the state agency charged with fostering the health of Connecticut’s creative economy. Part of the state’s Department of Economic and Community Development, the Office of the Arts is funded by the State of Connecticut as well as the National Endowment for the Arts.


ABOUT THROWN STONE THEATRE COMPANY

 Thrown Stone’s mission is to make new theatre. Through commissions, development, and production, we empower artists and audiences to engage on the important questions of our time.

CONTACT:

Jonathan Winn
info@thrownstone.org
Phone: (203) 442-1714

###