North Atlanta High School graduate Allen Worthy has returned to Atlanta from his Palm Springs home to direct the one-act play "Life in the Park," which concludes a three-week run this Sunday at the 14th Street Playhouse.
The 90-minute drama, written by Gary W. Heath and featuring Thomas Silcott and Pamela Hamill, explores the roots of homelessness and follows five characters through a day in the park. The action is punctuated with songs, and includes musical backing from a trio of keyboards, percussion and cello.
Worthy graduated from North Atlanta -- then Northside High School -- in 1980. He has studied in New York and performed in regional theater, recovering from a near fatal auto accident 10 years ago to begin focusing on directing.
He answered three questions Tuesday:
Q: Tell us about the play.
A: It's a great little story. Nobody’s shouting at each other, the music is strong and powerful, it makes me want to cry every time, it's so subtle. It's not avant-garde, it is very Stephen Sondheim-like. Think "Into the Woods" and "Sweeney Todd."
Q: Why did you pick Atlanta for the world premiere of the show?
A: It was just my brainstorm. I had gone to [classes] at the Alliance and at the 14th Street Playhouse when it was still the Academy Theater. And it was available.
Q: You've had a hard time getting an audience for the show. Why is Atlanta reluctant to watch a story of homelessness?
A: Compassion fatigue and a sense of being overwhelmed. But we can’t be that way. This is a dangerous attitude that we as an American people, we cannot do that. Our resources are in North Africa, they continue to go to Pakistan, but they are not here in this country for the American people. And there are plenty of new homeless, living in their brothers' and sisters' basements.
"Life in the Park," 8 p.m. through Sunday at the 14th St. Playhouse, 173 14th Street, 2:30 p.m. matinees on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets, $42-56, available at the 14 Street Playhouse and the Woodruff Arts Center box office; information: 404-733-5000; www.lifeinthepark.com/
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