The Shadow Box

Gualala Arts Theater is proud to present The Shadow Box, the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play by Michael Cristofer.

Set on the grounds of a hospice in three separate cottages, The Shadow Box weaves together the stories of three families confronting terminal illness. Through moments of humor, honesty, tenderness, and raw emotion, the play explores how people navigate love, denial, anger, fear, and acceptance when time feels painfully short. Rather than focusing solely on dying, the play ultimately celebrates living — and the deep connections that give life meaning, even in its final chapter.

First produced on Broadway in 1977, The Shadow Box was groundbreaking in its honest portrayal of terminal illness and its exploration of hospice care at a time when the concept was still new and not widely understood in the United States. The play captures a moment in history when families were only beginning to confront death outside of hospitals, offering a perspective on end-of-life care that is markedly different from what we know today — yet still deeply relevant.

Directed and produced by Tony Salamone, this production offers an intimate and deeply human theatrical experience. “This play speaks directly to the heart,” says Salamone. “It reminds us that even in the face of loss, there is beauty, humor, courage, and the possibility of genuine connection.”

The production features an outstanding ensemble of local performers:

Judi Johnson as Maggie
Vinoo Vijay as Joe
Sam Linker as Steven
John Carlson as Brian
Beverley Fagundes as Beverly
Leif Rasmusen as Mark
Celeste Linker as Agnes
Katherine Conrad as Felicity
Jean Gallagher as the Interviewer

Since its acclaimed Broadway premiere in 1977, The Shadow Box has moved audiences around the world with its honesty, compassion, and emotional depth. Gualala Arts Theater’s production brings this timeless and profoundly relevant story to the Mendonoma coast with sensitivity, skill, and heart.

Performance Dates & Times:

October 23 & 24 at 7:00 p.m.
October 25 at 2:00 p.m.
October 30 & 31 at 7:00 p.m.
November 1 at 2:00 p.m.

THE SHADOW BOX is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com