PACA Tackles Timeless Themes of Addiction, Illness, and Family Dynamics

Contributed

PACA's latest production of Long Day's Journey Into Night is a theatrical classic with timeless themes of heartbreak, addiction, and difficult family relationships. The play has won multiple awards throughout its tenure in the canon and will soon be brought to life locally under the direction of Josh Mizikowski.

PREMIERES FRIDAY, MAR. 8

"The past is the present, isn't it? It's the future, too..." is what Mary Tyrone replies to her husband James, when he tells her to forget the past in Eugene O'Neill's classic,  Long Day's Journey Into Night.

That sentiment is echoed by play director Josh Mizikowski, "The show takes place around the 1910s. Every issue this family has: drugs, alcohol, possible fatal illness, are all things we face today just as much as we did then — the heartbreak is the same as it ever was."

Mizikowski, no stranger to the Erie theater scene, has been involved as both an actor and director for over 25 years at the Erie Playhouse, A3, Dramashop, Laugh/Riot, and others including PACA. Last year he co-directed Mauritius in addition to having to jump into an acting role. The cast for this production includes familiar PACA faces Lisa Simonian, Michael Burns, and Luke Scribner as well as Roland Robbinson and Gretchen Knapp, who are PACA newcomers.

The Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning play follows the Tyrone Family "over the course of one day where a number of secrets and hard truths are confronted. As the day progresses this downhill snowball of truth and revelations eventually becomes an avalanche," explains Mizikowski. When asked about the play selection process, Mizikowski says that he and PACA Executive Director Mark Tanenbaum discussed a few options by great American playwrights and decided on a "go big or go home" approach. "Arguably, this is the greatest American play ever written and Erie has an amazing talent pool — our loyal audiences deserve this amazing work," adds Mizikowski.

Whether you are new to PACA or a regular attendee, Mizikowski says "this will probably be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. A great American classic play that is rarely done — to see it locally shouldn't be missed."

Fridays and Saturdays, Mar. 8 through 23 at 7:30 p.m. // Thursday, Mar. 14 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Mar. 17 at 2 p.m. // PACA, 1505 State St. // $20 // For tickets and info: tickets.eriereader.com