STILL - New England Premiere

Northampton, MA – After two previously sold out staged readings, the New England Premiere of STILL, a performed musical memoir, written and composed by Marcia Gomes, and directed by Roberta Uno, opens with two performances on July 12, 2025 at 8:00 pm, and July 13, 2025 at 2 pm at the A.P.E. Workroom Theater at 33 Hawley Street, Northampton, MA. STILL portrays a Black woman's journey to heal herself and liberate the women in her family from a cycle of generational trauma. Through compelling storytelling and original songs, the path to healing is revealed as the wisdom of her ancestors lights the way to wholeness. The music was stunning, and the acting was poignant and evocative… Never have I seen the portrayal of human strength, resilience, and recovery so beautifully rendered.— (Carolyn Dubois, retired professor of clinical social work) This piece touches places so deep and tender, so sacred and precious, so grateful and still healing — (Audience Member, January performance) This moving and powerful production is the first musical composed and written by Marcia Gomes, an accomplished vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, actor, and graduate of Berklee College of Music. The play is directed by Roberta Uno, an award-winning theater director, dramaturg, and founder of New WORLD Theater at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Sheryl Stoodley, Artistic Director of Serious Play Theatre Ensemble, serves as production advisor and Mollye Maxner, Co-director of A.P.E., is a dramaturg for the production. The play is made possible with support from A.P.E. and a grant from the Scarlet Sock Foundation in Northampton, MA. The talented cast includes Michelle Dowd, an Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) award winner for best actress, along with Hala Lord, Angelica Canlas Castro, and Kenna Harrison, professionally trained and seasoned actors and vocalists. Live music is performed by Ruth Mendelson, Emmy-nominated, Berklee College of Music professor in film scoring; Andrew Wilcox, award-winning jazz pianist; and JoBeth Umali, Berklee College of Music graduate. Olivia Ilano Davis, founder of Spectrum in Motion in Hartford, CT, and Tiffany Joseph, choreographer, educator, and health and wellness practitioner, are choreographers for the production.