A Love Offering

T’Wana Jepson has been bit before. And scratched. And kicked. And punched. And called every dirty word in the book. But so has her co-worker and work mama, Miss Georgia. It comes with the territory as a nurse’s aide caring for patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia. You learn to not take it personally and to lean on your co-workers for support. But after T’Wana is attacked by the patient in E 204, something happens that threatens the bonds of trust and friendship.

A Love Offering is a co-production of Pyramid Theatre Company and The Playhouse.

There will be conversations inside the theatre with audience, cast, directors, and playwright Jonthan Norton (via Zoom) following the Friday performances. There will be no preshow talks for this production.

 

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Three ways to see A Love Offering


In-person:
7:30 PM Fridays & Saturdays, 2:00 PM Sundays, June 4-20, 2021
Click here to read our safety guidelines for in-person performances. Policies change and our website will reflect those changes and your Welcome email will contain expectations of all audience members at the performance which may include wearing a face mask.

Opening Night Livestream: 7:30 PM, Friday, June 4, 2021

Video-on-Demand: Thursdays, June 10 & June 17, 2021

Livestream and Video-on-demand (VOD) guidance

  • When you order a streaming option, you will receive a link in the Your Confirmation email that comes from djacobson@dmplayhouse.com. (Check your junk/spam folder as it sometimes ends up there.)
  • The stream can be cast to your smart TV if your TV can accept casting. (The newer models do.) Or if you have ROKU or Chromecast, they too can accept your casting.
  • If you purchase VOD, you can watch the video as many times as you want in a 24 hour period from the first time you start the video. Your link can only be used on one device.
  • For both Livestream and VOD, there are three cameras in the house. While there are some varied angles, there are no movie/Hamilton on Disney+ close-ups. This is not a film; it is a recording of a live theatre production.
  • FAQ: Why is video-on-demand only offered for a limited number of days? As with live performances, The Playhouse has to pay royalties on the show.

 

If you are using 2020-21 Flex Four season tickets, credit, a gift certificate, or a Guest Pass or volunteer comp voucher for your purchase, please click here or call the ticket office at 515.277.6261 to make your reservation. Ticket office hours are Noon-3:00 PM, Tuesdays-Fridays.

Performance Times:
7:30 PM Fridays-Saturdays & 2:00 PM Sundays
Theatre:
John Viars Theatre
Run Time:
90 minutes; performed without intermission
Content Advisory:
Contains adult language. The Playhouse does not rate subject matter as sensitivities vary from person to person. If you have questions about content, age appropriateness, or other aspects of the show (ie strobe lights and other theatrical effects), please contact the ticket office at 515.277.6261.

Company

  • T'wana

    Heaven Booker

    T'wana
  • Miss Georgia

    Courageous Fire

    Miss Georgia
  • Stewart

    Sean Kanuso

    Stewart
  • Mr. Turner

    Mark Pullen

    Mr. Turner
  • Josie / Fight Choreographer

    Jackie Schmillen

    Josie / Fight Choreographer
  • Director

    Tiffany Johnson

    Director
  • Director

    Katy Merriman

    Director
  • Scenic Designer

    Erin Wegleitner

    Scenic Designer
  • Costume Designer

    Angela Lampe

    Costume Designer
  • Lighting Designer

    John G. Pomeroy

    Lighting Designer
  • Properties Designer

    Hannah Cummins

    Properties Designer
  • Stage Manager

    Paige Beck

    Stage Manager
  • Assistant Stage Manager

    Kiera McGregor

    Assistant Stage Manager
  • Pyramid Theatre Company Managing Director

    Alexis J. Davis

    Pyramid Theatre Company Managing Director
  • Des Moines Playhouse Executive Director

    David R. Kilpatrick

    Des Moines Playhouse Executive Director
  • Playwright

    Jonathan Norton

    Playwright

Photos/Video

  • Mortality, relationships, loyalty, love, honor, trust, assumptions, bias, family, how we treat caregivers, and dealing with dementia are all themes in A Love Offering by Jonathan Norton. A Love Offering features (left to right) Jackie Schmillen, Courageous Fire, Mark Pullen, Heaven Booker, and Sean Kanuso. A Love Offering is a co-production of Pyramid Theatre Company and The Des Moines Playhouse, and is performed June 4-20, 2021, at The Playhouse. Photo by Brent Isenberger.

  • Mortality, relationships, loyalty, love, honor, trust, assumptions, bias, family, how we treat caregivers, and dealing with dementia are all themes in A Love Offering by Jonathan Norton. The Pyramid Theatre Company/Des Moines Playhouse cast features (left to right) Jackie Schmillen, Heaven Booker, Courageous Fire, Mark Pullen, and Sean Kanuso. A Love Offering is performed June 4-20, 2021, at The Playhouse. Photo by Brent Isenberger.

  • Mortality, relationships, loyalty, love, honor, trust, assumptions, bias, family, how we treat caregivers, and dealing with dementia are all themes in A Love Offering by Jonathan Norton. The Pyramid Theatre Company/Des Moines Playhouse cast includes Courageous Fire and Mark Pullen. A Love Offering is performed June 4-20, 2021, at The Playhouse. Photo by Brent Isenberger.

Press Release

Des Moines Playhouse Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Kill Date: June 20, 2021 Subject: Des Moines Playhouse & Pyramid Theatre Company Present A Love Offering Contact: Lee Ann Bakros, Playhouse Marketing Associate, 515.974.5358 The Des Moines Playhouse and Pyramid Theatre Company present A Love Offering by Jonathan Norton, June 4-20, 2021. Tickets may be purchased online at dmplayhouse.com and by phone at 515.277.6261. An opening night livestream and video-on-demand dates will also be offered. Mortality, relationships, loyalty, love, honor, trust, assumptions, bias, family, how we treat caregivers, and dealing with dementia are all themes in A Love Offering by Norton, playwright of Mississippi Goddamn which was produced by Pyramid Theatre Company in 2017. Pyramid Theatre's production artistic director, Tiffany Johnson, said the play, "reminds us we can't change what we are taught but we can change what we believe." Playhouse artistic director Katy Merriman added that we "don't know what's going on in others' lives so we need to treat each other with grace and look at things from another's perspective." T’Wana Jepson has been bit before. And scratched. And kicked. And punched. And called every dirty word in the book. But so has her coworker and work mama, Miss Georgia. It comes with the territory as a nurse’s aide caring for patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia. You learn to not take it personally and to lean on your co-workers for support. But after T’Wana is attacked by the patient in E 204, something happens that threatens the bonds of trust and friendship. A Love Offering is directed by Johnson and Merriman. Pyramid Theatre Company and The Playhouse are excited for this co-production. Johnson said of the collaboration, "This play addresses issues important to all audiences. It is a first step to having the conversations that art provokes. It can help our community understand, communicate, and reshape perspectives if necessary." Pyramid Theatre Company provides a gateway to the arts for the Des Moines community by illuminating the presence of Black artists in the theatre canon and providing a means of artistic expression to emerging Black voices. The company commits itself to the tenet of Sankofa, a word in the Akan language of Ghana meaning "return to retrieve." With this in mind, PTC offers works firmly rooted in the lessons of the past in order to serve needs of the present. The Playhouse is Iowa's oldest and largest producing theatre. Located at the 42nd Street exit of I-235, the theatre has presented a full season of shows since 1919 and also offers a wide variety of educational experiences including classes for ages 4 to adult, theatre trips to New York, and volunteer opportunities onstage and backstage. For more information about A Love Offering, contact The Playhouse ticket office at 515.277.6261. A Love Offering In-person Performances: June 4-20, 2021 7:30 PM Fridays-Saturdays 2:00 PM Sundays A Love Offering Virtual Options Livestream: 7:30 PM, Friday, June 4, 2021 Video-on-demand: Thursdays, June 10 & June 17, 2021 A Love Offering Tickets In-person: $29 Adults, $15 Students Livestream & video-on-demand: $25 per device To purchase tickets, livestream and video-on-demand: dmplayhouse.com 515.277.6261 Des Moines Playhouse Ticket Office, 831 42nd St., Des Moines, IA 50312 ###  

Show Credits

By Jonathan Norton