A high school student named Zan is assigned community service after getting into trouble—his task: reading to Dorothy, an ailing librarian. Their initial clashes give way to an unlikely bond as they explore literature and language together. Over time, their connection grows, shaped by shared grief, resistance, and discovery. The two-character drama unfolds book by book, revealing the quiet depth of human connection and the power of words.

This production marks the New York premiere of a play by E.M. Lewis, an award-winning playwright known for The Gun Show, Apple Season, and How the Light Gets In (Steinberg Award, Primus Prize). The show is co-directed by Andrew W. Smith and Michole Biancosino, co-Artistic Directors of Project Y Theatre Company. Biancosino’s previous directorial work includes Trump Lear and David Carl’s Celebrity One-Man Hamlet (Edinburgh Fringe, Underbelly), while Smith’s credits span Arena Stage, Woolly Mammoth, and The National Players.

The production is presented as part of Project Y’s 10th Annual Women in Theatre Festival at the Gural Theatre in the A.R.T./New York Theatres complex. The show runs approximately 75 minutes without intermission.