Phoenix Rising -- A New Play by Jessica W. Bonds

For the weekend of September 12 through 14, Westchester Collaborative Theater (WCT) will debut Phoenix Rising, an inspiring new play written by and starring Jessica W. Bonds (Yonkers) that explores themes of resilience, transformation, and self-discovery. The play is directed by Catherine Banks (Brookfield, CT).

Phoenix Rising delves into the struggles of a woman who suffers a series of life-shattering losses, manages to confront the pain, prejudice, and self-doubt that have held her back, and rises from the ashes to embrace her worth, her strength, and a new chapter of life.

Phoenix Rising lays bare the ways trauma and upbringing quietly script our relationships, interactions, and sense of self-worth. It reveals our unconscious drive to seek connections that mirror our skewed sense of self, until a single ember sparks a blaze. The play underscores the truth that we are often both the warden and the prisoner—until the moment we awaken and, through guidance and compassion, shake off the shackles and realize we have held the key all along.

In addition to Bonds, the play features: George Burns (White Plains), Patty Griffith (Ossining), Jessica Valente (Brewster), Annette Van Ommeren (Katonah), Gretchen Metzloff (Ossining), and Rofa Abayon (Katonah). Allison Schneider (New City) is the stage manager. Dan Forman (Yorktown Heights) is the lighting operator. MC De La Cruz is the sound operator.

Performances will be held at Westchester Collaborative Theater (WCT), 23 Water Street in Ossining, Friday evening, September 12 at 7:30 pm; Saturday matinee, September 13 at 2 pm and evening at 7:30 pm; Sunday matinee, September 14 at 3 pm. A talkback will follow the Saturday, September 13 matinee. Tickets are $25, $20 for WCT members, students and seniors. Tickets can be purchased online (Limited seating available; advance purchase is strongly recommended.)

About Jessica W. Bonds

Jessica W. Bonds is an actress, playwright, producer, and emerging director. Her work spans staged readings, online plays, commercials, and films including Invisible Shark and M**der by the Lake. She has appeared in multiple productions at WCT, including Gladys Day, which she co-authored and starred in. Bonds recently performed in a play she wrote for Glass Ceiling Breakers and has performed monologues she wrote for two consecutive years in WCT’s That’s Not All She Wrote. She is thankful for the support and encouragement of Alan Lutwin in allowing this workshop to be performed at WCT.

About Catherine Banks

Catherine Banks is an actor, director and producer who has been active in Westchester County theater for the last 10 years. Directing credits include Glass Ceiling Breakers, Aery Festival, Twisted Valentines and mainstage productions for Axial Theatre such as August: Osage County and Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, co-directed with Rachel Jones. She teaches acting for SUNY Westchester. Banks has a BA in Theater from UNC Chapel Hill and has studied acting in Chicago, New York and locally with Rachel Jones and Howard Meyer.

About Westchester Collaborative Theater

Since its opening in 2017, the WCT black box performance space has become increasingly known as a venue showcasing WCT plays and readings, as well as live music and a variety of performance artists. For upcoming theater and music events visit http://www.wctheater.org/

Westchester Collaborative Theater is a multicultural, cooperative theater company located in Ossining, NY, dedicated to developing new work for the stage and bringing live theater to the community. It is comprised of local playwrights, actors, and directors who employ a Lab approach in which new stage works are nurtured through an iterative process of readings, critiques, and rewrites. When work is ready for production, it is presented to the public.

WCT is committed to furthering theater arts in our community. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation and a recipient of production grants from ArtsWestchester and New York State Council on the Arts.

Also check out other Arts events in Ossining, Theatre events in Ossining, Entertainment events in Ossining.