The pandemic lockdowns sure were a weird time, eh? Early on, some STC ensemble members, being stuck in the same house together, ran a weekly variety show out of the attic:
The ensemble adopted digital solutions and launched a weekly Writer’s Club (also coming soon to your friendly Substack Land), and even set its sights on live streaming an episodic series, conceived by Phillip Lewis, a member of the aforementioned Writer’s Club.
Shot at the Tapestry Fellowship, this radio drama-infused horror story brought out the South Side of Chicago in digital hum and bright rhythm, featured some incredibly talented performers, some new to the stage, and fused theatre, radio, film, streaming, and music in one ambitious effort to create a performance event of its time and outside of it, simultaneously.
As a continuation of our 20th year anniversary, and our promise to release a full production once a month, we are releasing all six episodes of Unearthed Crown, written and directed by the fabulous Phillip Lewis and edited for a digital stream by the inimitable Paul Brennan. For a background of the production and its journey to fruition, here’s a word from the man, the conceiver himself, Mr. Phillip Lewis:
Four Years Later – A Look Back at Unearthed Crown
In the fall of 2021, I had the great honor to present with Silent Theatre Company to bring Unearthed Crown into the world—a visually enhanced radio drama ghost story laced with South Side grit, ancestral memory, and Afrofuturist heart. What began as a haunted whisper in my imagination became a six-part journey into legacy, neighborhood, and the truths we bury.
To those who tuned in on Sunday nights, who shared the story, who saw themselves in Cooper, Bree, or the building with a heartbeat—thank you. Your presence gave this piece its breath.
To the artists, engineers, and ensemble at Silent Theatre such as Paul, Tonika, Nessmarie, and the beloved Michelle who took a bold risk with me—thank you for trusting my vision and infusing it with your own.
Unearthed Crown was a dive into the personal and political, past and present, ghost and truth. Four years later, I still feel its pulse.
With gratitude,
Phillip “Lip” Lewis
Writer & Director, Unearthed Crown
EPISODE 2
EPISODE 3
EPISODE 4
EPISODE 5
EPISODE 6
Thank you, cast and crew of Unearthed Crown, for your talent and dedication to making this ambitious project happen!
And for the monthly round-up of social media (click on the image if interested in knowing more):
Celebrate Silent Theatre’s 20th anniversary by subscribing or making a one-time tax-deductible donation to help kick-start our live presentations post-hiatus. You can also contribute in any of the ways below:
*cure for the common bore* *creating a universal language one gesture at a time*
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