EVENTS

Presented in partnership with Citizen56 and Uncommon Productions.

Please join us for a limited-run opportunity to see The Poisoner, which had its first run at the historic La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club in NYC in April of 2024. We are thrilled to be the first stop on this 7-city touring production.  

A universal tale, The Poisoner is an unraveling of the deception, abuse of power, and utter negligence of early 2000’s Midwestern water politics. In a neo-noir thriller driven by a determined journalist who returns to his hometown and uncovers more than he bargained for, The Poisoner invites you to question, are we ever safe? 

The Poisoner is a fictional work inspired by the Flint water crisis of 2014 that aims to engage audiences to amplify awareness about the persistent challenges faced in Flint, Jackson, Newark, and other communities grappling with similar crises. The Poisoner spotlights the critical need for accountability and vigilance in public health and safety decision-making, to ensure that such a grievous mistake is never repeated. The play is a tribute to the resilience and spirit of activism; it celebrates the relentless efforts of journalists, artists, and activists who have tirelessly worked to give voice to those in their fight for justice and change. 

Written by first-time playwright M. M. Haney and directed and developed by two-time Obie Award-winning director Lee Sunday Evans, The Poisoner asks not just how a crisis happened, but whether we have truly done enough to prevent the next one. 

Learn more about The Poisoner here.

WHAT TO EXPECT

RUN TIME: 90 minutes with no intermission.

POST-PERFORMANCE: Check back soon for scheduled talkbacks!

PARKING/TRANSPORTATION: There is a small parking lot directly behind Touchstone Theatre that will be available for you to park in. If that is full, there is nearby street or lot parking (here is a link to Bethlehem parking options). Recommended options include: 1) Mechanic Street Parking Lot between Webster & Taylor Streets and Mechanic Street and the Greenway 3 min walk or 2) the Polk St. Garage (400 Block E. 3rd St.) 3 min walk. Additionally, there is a bike rack next to our theatre in Parham Park. We are adjacent to the South Bethlehem Greenway bike path/pedestrian trail, as well as five LANTA routes GREEN, BLUE, 103, 105, and 605.

ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION: Accessible seating and a non-gendered, ADA accessible bathroom available. Touchstone strives to create an environment where all members of our community feel welcome. Please contact (610) 867-1689 or via email at touchstone@touchstone.org to request accessibility accommodations in advance.

[Image description: A moody and grainy shot of a cup of water perched on a damp ledge. Beyond the ledge, out of focus, are what appear to be dark looming factory buildings, stretching off into the distance. Next to these buildings is a small body of water. The sky above the buildings is a dark grey, like a storm might be rolling in, and everything besides the glass of water is hazy. Above this image are the words “THE POISONER” and below it is written “BY M.M. HANEY; DEVELOPED AND DIRECTED BY LEE SUNDAY EVANS.”]