Letters to Medford: A Play about the Future, According to the Past

Two Roads Performance Projects will present an original play, Letters to Medford: A Play about the Future, According to the Past, at the Medford Historical Society & Museum, 10 Governors Avenue, on October 17, 18, 24, 25 at 7:30 PM and on Oct. 25 at 3:00 PM. All performances are $10 for adults; $5 for seniors and children. Seating is limited, it is recommended that tickets be purchased ahead of time at www.tworoads.org.

Inspired by a letter to the future written in 1855 by the Medford historian Reverend Charles Brooks, the play weaves together excerpts from historical and contemporary letters, and brings the past, present, and future together in a tale that is both a charming ghost story and a vigorous debate about history and the future. When the spirits of Reverend Charles Brooks, Lydia Maria Child and Lucy Osgood -- historical figures with ties to Medford -- return to see how the future has turned out, they learn a thing or two from modern-day Medford teenagers who have their own strong opinions about the future.

The play is adapted by Kyna Hamill from original Medford letters dating from 1830 to 2014. The production is directed by Wanda Strukus with an art installation by Hannah Verlin.

According to the writer, Kyna Hamill, “Turning the Medford Historical Society & Museum into a performance space has been so much fun. The actors and the director have brought to life these letters, some of which have been closed away in books and boxes for decades. Juxtaposing the old letters with the new ones really makes us reflect on how we understand our place in history, then and now.”

Letters to Medford: A Play About the Future, According to the Past features an ensemble of local actors including Matthew Arnold, Alona Bach, Melissa Bergstrom, Nicole Howard, Geoffrey Van Wyck and Sloane Zwanger.

There will be a reception following the show on opening night, Friday, October 17th. On Saturday, October 15th, the public is invited to a talk-back after the show with the writer, director, and actors at 4:30 PM.

Two Roads Performance Projects, produced the award-winning Dance in the Fells in 2010 and Dance in the Fells: Wrights Pond in 2013. Founded by Wanda Strukus and Kyna Hamill, Two Roads was created to support site-specific and environmentally-base performance. Collectively, Kyna and Wanda have produced, created, and facilitated over 50 theater, dance and movement-based productions.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit the Two Roads website at www.tworoads.org.

Letters to Medford: A Play about the Future, according to the Past is supported in part by the Medford Arts Council, a local agency supported by the MA Cultural council, a state agency. It is also supported by Medford Historical Society & Museum. We are also proud to be part of Cache’s Arts Across Medford Festival.