(CHATHAM, NJ) -- Chatham Players presents Things I Know to Be True by Andrew Bovell across two weekends from June 5-14, 2026 as part of their Black Box series. In the play, Bob and Fran Price have worked their fingers to the bone, and with their four children grown and ready to fly the nest, it might be time to relax and enjoy the roses. But, as each season brings changes, it becomes clear that life never works out as planned.
With insight and humanity, playwright Andrew Bovell taps into the poetry, beauty, and tragedy of everyday life to create a deeply moving play that will resonate with anyone who has ever been part of a family.
Directed by Sharon Garry, the cast includes Lauri MacMillan (Fran), Bill Barry (Bob), Brooke A. Stephenson (Rosie), Robert Colon (Ben), Aaron Carr (Mark), and Wendy Schibener McMullen (Pip).
The production stage manager is Sarah Pharaon, who co-produces as well alongside Jeanne Johnston. Rounding out the production team is Set Design & Fight Choreography by Steve Ruskin, Lighting Design by Alex Fritsch, Sound Design by Alan Ellis, Publicity by Emily Miller and Costumes by Johnston.
Performances take place Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00pm; Sunday matinees at 3:00pm. Tickets are available for purchase online. The theater is located at 23 N. Passaic Avenue in Chatham, New Jersey. Content Notice: the play includes discussions of gender identity and transphobic language.
The Chatham Community Players’ Black Box series features smaller casts, smaller sets, and are staged up close to the audience. These productions burn bright - but only for a very short time. Garry is grateful that Things I Know to Be True was selected for this type of series. She loves this type of theatre because it allows for, “Freedom to experiment and create in non-traditional ways.” Actor Carr, who is involved in his first Black Box show is also excited to bring this show to this type of theatre. “I love the mission of the program: to bring productions full of depth and experimentation to CCP and the community. I am so thrilled to be a part of that.” He continued, “as an artist, I aim to shed light on the parts of our lives that we otherwise don't want to talk about. By having conversations about those unspoken things, we can find a deeper sense of love, connection, and appreciation for one another.”
Building off the success of three seasons of One Weekend Only, Chatham Players has expanded the run of these small cast shows to two weekends. Everything beloved about the series stays the same, just with more opportunities to see the show.
The Chatham Community Players have been entertaining residents of Morris County and the surrounding area since 1922. They continue to be a vital cultural component of the Chatham community, Morris County, and the surrounding area. Their mission is to produce high quality theater for a diverse audience, while elevating our standard of excellence and providing a creative outlet with educational opportunities and outreach programs.
Andrew Bovell's beautifully touching, funny and bold play Things I Know To Be True was premiered in Adelaide, Australia, as a co-production between Frantic Assembly and the State Theatre Company of South Australia.
Bovell is a celebrated writer for both stage and screen. Andrew’s plays have won numerous awards in Australia, including the Victorian Green Room, State Premier’s Awards, and the peer-judged AWGIE awards. Equally successful are his films, which include "Lantana," which won over ten major awards in Australia in 2001 and was critically acclaimed internationally. It won Best Screenplay at the 2003 London Critics’ Circle Film Awards. Additionally, his feature film "Head On," which was co-written with Ana Kokkinos and Mira Robertson, premiered at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival to plaudits. Andrew also co-wrote the original screenplay of "Strictly Ballroom" with Baz Lurhmann and Craig Pearce.
