The Shadows of Love and Light

Love, Loss and Family: Larry Americ Allen’s Haunting World Premiere New Play
Confronts the Ghosts of Choice and Consequence
New York, NY — The Shadows of Love and Light, a stunning world premiere, new play
by award-winning playwright Larry Americ Allen. The play offers an emotionally gripping
and metaphysically daring narrative that intertwines science, spirituality, and human
vulnerability into an unforgettable theatrical experience. What if the child you never had
came back to ask why? Directed by Jill Giedt and starring: Josie Seid, Marcel
Johansen, Kayla Kelly, Pancho Demmings
Set in a warm and intellectual San Francisco home on Thanksgiving Day, “The
Shadows of Love and Light” follows Regina Skygrove, a renowned astrophysicist and
professor, as she prepares dinner with her free-spirited daughter Imani. A mysterious
stranger changes their lives in surreal and soul-stirring evening: A decision and a lost
connection from thirty years ago—returns for an unusual meet and greet.
This provocative premise unwinds from an ordinary day with masterful dialogue, sharp
wit, and a deep poeticism as the play asks: Can healing happen across the veil of life
and death? Can unfinished acts on Earth still find an ending?
“Love can take many forms and happen in unexpected ways,” says Allen. “This play is
not about judgment, but about understanding, compassion, challenging all of us to
reexamine our truths and heal our scars.”
With themes of human rights, regret, familial reconciliation, and eternal love, “The
Shadows of Love and Light” resonates powerfully in today. Blending scientific realism
with spiritual metaphor, Allen’s work challenges audiences to consider the very
boundaries of life and consciousness.
The play is both intimate and limitless, moving from the kitchen table to cosmic
questions, all while keeping its heart rooted in the complexity of people. It’s a story
about what we have lost —and what may still return to us. The Shadows of Love and
Light earned a standing ovation at the International Black Theatre Festival’s play
reading series. The Pacific Northwest Multicultural Film and Theatre also selected The
Shadows of Love and Light for its play reading series.
Born and raised in the vibrant city of San Francisco, Larry Americ Allen’s journey into

the world of theatre and playwriting began at an early age, inspired by the rich cultural
tapestry and artistic dynamism of his hometown. Larry Americ Allen won the Perry
Award for Shakespeare’s Lost Masterpiece, a drama about burnt-out white professor
who discovers that at black homeless man who unknowingly has Shakespeare’s lost
manuscript. Mr. Allen’s play The Chef premiered at the Dunbar Repertory Company.
Recovery Theater produced his play Paradise Revisited, and Colors of Visions
presented The Expulsion of Malcolm X. Larry Americ Allen has a master’s degree in
creative writing from San Francisco State University.
Jill Giedt is a director, choreographer, and founder of Ballet the Black Way, a ballet and
movement program centering on black stories, healing, and cultural expressions. She
has directed and assistant-directed for PassinArt: A Theatre Company, a company in
Portland, Oregon. Her credits include The Hobo King (Portland Film Festival), Dot,
Seven Guitar, and Clean Sheets. Her directing experience spans staged readings and
live productions rooted in Black theatrical storytelling. Jill holds an BFA in Directing and
trained with the American Contemporary Ballet Company under Elizabeth Abts. She
also studied and performed African dance with Obo Addy. Her background includes
over a decade of teaching and directing musical theatre at Park Academy, and she
previously taught ballet through Oregon Ballet Theatre’s community outreach program.
As a resident artist with Young Audiences, she uses creative movement to honor the
African American experience and nurture resilience through storytelling.
Performance Dates:
August 28th to September 1st at Theater for the New City 155 First Avenue New York,
NY 10003
Running time: 2 hours
Buy Tickets: https://ci.ovationtix.com/35441/production/1245526

Showtimes:
Thursday – August 28 – 9pm
Friday – August 29 – 9pm
Saturday – August 30 – 5pm
Sunday – August 31 – 5pm
Monday – September 1 – 6:30pm