Celebrating the life and work of Graham Smith
New project in development for 2024
Graham appeared in over 200 plays and eleven films, and was a long-time company member with Charlotte Repertory Theatre, People's Light in Philadelphia, Florida Rep, and The Works. He was a force, a friend, and a champion of the arts, education, and professional regional theatre. Read more about Graham's work here.
Looking forward to a reschedule of Shea Sizemore's Bygone Billy after its premiere at RiverRun International Film Festival was postponed. (The cast of the film includes Danielle Deadwyler, R Keith Harris, Craig Hensley, Tonya Bludsworth, Brian LaFontaine, Rebecca Koon, Maria Howell, Steve Umberger)
Call Me By My Name (2023)
~ A film about the creativity of the unhoused community ~
Directed by Steve Umberger
Director of Photography Jay Thomas
Produced by The Playworks Group
Produced by The Playworks Group
Call Me By My Name is the recipient of a NC Humanities development grant.
The film is dedicated to Lighting Designer Eric Winkenwerder (1960-2021)
One Century in Seven Voices (2019)
Voices of the Pandemic (2021)
Using Our Voices (2022)
~ A series with people whose lives show how history was made ~
Created by Lyndall Hare and Steve Umberger
Directed by Steve Umberger
Stage productions and films produced by The Playworks Group
Project and stage productions sponsored by Aldersgate
Stage productions and films produced by The Playworks Group
Project and stage productions sponsored by Aldersgate
Featuring members of the Aldersgate resident community
Acting Our Age continues in 2024 with a new project, production and sponsor. More information soon.
Acting Our Age and Call Me By My Name are part of a developing series of stage-and-film documentaries that tell the life stories of the people involved, and the bigger story of the collective experience. Using a professional team, the projects are created with sponsors and producing partners over the course of 1-3 years. For more, see the documentary page.
Older projects / news (2015 forward)
The Ascent of Angels in America
Alongside the 2018 Broadway revival of Angels in America, the book The World Only Spins Forward (Bloomsbury) by Isaac Butler and Dan Kois, tells how Angels changed the world through interviews with 250 people who have worked on Tony Kushner's landmark plays, including Steve Umberger and the Charlotte Rep team.
Alongside the 2018 Broadway revival of Angels in America, the book The World Only Spins Forward (Bloomsbury) by Isaac Butler and Dan Kois, tells how Angels changed the world through interviews with 250 people who have worked on Tony Kushner's landmark plays, including Steve Umberger and the Charlotte Rep team.
The professional area premiere of Lucas Hnath's nationally acclaimed play was produced by The Playworks Group and The Pine Hill Project at Blumenthal Performing Arts and was a six month project that involved participation by all faiths and denominations.
The original musical by best selling novelist Clyde Edgerton and Drama Desk Award winner Mike Craver was developed by Playworks over a decade in three productions, at the York Theatre Company, NY, and at Blumenthal Performing Arts
...
.png)