NICKEL MINES

JANUARY 20 - JANUARY 30, 2022

NICKEL MINES is a new musical centered around the 2006 Lancaster, PA Amish schoolhouse shooting in which a lone gunman shot ten girls (five fatally) before taking his own life. This breathtaking piece of theater combines spoken dialogue, movement, and original music to explore multiple viewpoints and perspectives from that fateful morning. NICKEL MINES is a living memorial to the young girls who tragically lost their lives and is an entry point to a conversation on how violence, faith, forgiveness, and justice speak to and interact with one another. NICKEL MINES is a powerful exploration of community, perseverance, and ultimately one of hope.

ACT of CT was the first professional theater to premier this fascinating, elegant, and moving new musical. Due to COVID-19, NICKEL MINES (which was originally scheduled for March 19-29, 2020) was canceled just days before opening. We were ecstatic to be able to bring back this important and powerful new musical as part of our 2021-2022 season. 

Cast & Creative Team

Cast: Daxton Bloomquist*, Lauren Celentano, Anna Cooper, Shea Coughlin, Emma Lou DeLaney, Morgan Hollingsworth, Kelsey Jenison, Eleni Kutay, Milan Magana, Mark Bradley Miller*, Alex Nee*, Eric Michael Parker*, Justine Rafael, Josephine Rose Roberts*, Hannah Joy Snyder, Claire Sorlie, Zoie Tannous, Jayme Wapple*

Conceived by: Andrew Palermo
Book: Andrew Palermo and Shannon Stoeke
Music and Lyrics: Dan Dyer
Director and Choreographer: Andrew Palermo
Music Supervisor: Bryan Perri
Music Director: Tom Cuffari
Costume Designer: Sera Bourgeau
Lighting Designer: Christopher Chambers
Sound Designer: Emma Wilk
Production Stage Manager: Katie Girardot
Presented in association with Anita Donofrio

* Indicates member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers.

Community Talkbacks Guests:
Jeremy Stein and Sean Reeves (CT Against Gun Violence)
Niro Feliciano (LCSW, Integrative Counseling and Wellness Group)
Alexis Koukos (Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement)
Dr Carol Mahlstedt (M.S.W., Psy. D, Compassionate Ridgefield)

“…fascinating, always elegant, and ultimately powerfully moving”

— NANCY SASSO JANIS, CT CRITICS CIRCLE

“A graceful and exquisite way to continue an important conversation.”

— THE NEWTOWN BEE

“… a triumph of a production for all involved - told with such force, boldness and volatile inspiration.”

— JAMES V. RUOCCO

“Theater can move you in a way unlike any other medium can, and ACT’s production of Nickel Mines will do just that.”

— HAMLETHUB

“The depth, power, messages, and entertainment value of this production are all so strong that it is difficult to put them into words.”

— BROADWAYWORLD

“You’ll be moved to dig deep.”

— NEWSBREAK

Photo credit: Jeff Butchen