York College of PA Theatre Prof to direct original play from words of York residents at DreamWrights on Aug. 25 and 26 as part of York Arts Week

An original play written from the words of York residents, directed by York College of Pennsylvania Associate Professor of Theatre Suzanne Delle, will premiere at 7 p.m., Aug. 25, and at 3 p.m., Aug. 26, at DreamWrights Center for Community Arts, 100 Carlisle Ave., York.

“If You Knew York” features York College alumni Patrick Czawlytko ’22 and Zachary Claghorn ’21, current student Acell Spencer ’24, and former theatre guest artist and director Paul Hood.

The performances are part of a York mini-fringe festival scheduled during York Arts Week. Tickets are $10 and can be reserved at https://dreamwrights.org/2023-season/mini-fringe or by calling 717-848-8623.

The Artistic Director of DreamWrights, Gregory DeCandia, interviewed 100 residents of York in 2021 and 2022 and crafted the script from the videos of the conversations. In November 2022, a staged reading of the play was held at DreamWrights. The actors embody multiple members of the York community regardless of race or gender, with Spencer playing both Sergio, a York Academy student, and Rachel, a York Catholic student. Claghorn tackles the roles of artist and Audubon enthusiast Clifton, as well as Jewish Community Center Board Member Lou.

Other local York personalities featured in the play include Mayor Mike, Ophelia Chambliss, Mrs. Ilgenfritz, and Bob Pullo. Delle has been working with the cast of community actors throughout the summer on their monologues, and with the design team, which includes Seth Werner ’06, to create a fun and thoughtful evening of theatre.

Setting the action at a backyard block party, the team created a space that will invite the audience to recall the best and worst of York’s history while focusing on its future.