Feeding on Light
by Lenora Champagne
Directed by Bruce DuBose

Streaming April 28 - May 2, 2021

Synopsis:
Nora is a curious writer who seeks to understand her friend and collaborator Katherine’s obsession with 20th-century French philosopher and activist Simone Weil. As their discussion deepens, Nora and Katherine embody scenes from Simone’s life in an attempt to communicate with her across time and space. Feeding on Light is based on playwright Lenora Champagne’s personal relationship and discussions with Undermain Theatre’s late Founding Artistic Director Katherine Owens, to whom the play is dedicated.

“I approach Feeding on Light with trepidation. Simone Weil is as fascinating as her ideas are demanding. Her mother remarked that it was hard to have a daughter who was a saint.
I was asked to write this play by Katherine Owens, a friend, director and supporter of my work, and founding Artistic Director of Undermain Theatre in Dallas.  We met in New York City and upstate to discuss the project and work on it together.  She was happy for me when I was awarded a residency fellowship to work on the play in France.  Over the summer of 2019, I was deeply involved in re-reading Weil’s biography and her work, which had fascinated me some years ago, when I learned that Katherine had died.  She was only 61, and I’d had no idea that she was ill.  She only knew she was ill a short time herself, and had thought she would recover.
I have tried to take to heart the exhortation to wait for the light, to humbly hope for grace to somehow lift these words to a place of joy. Thanks to the Brown Foundation Fellows program and the Dora Maar House, in Menerbes, France, where most of this play was written.”
- Lenora Champagne on her inspiration for Feeding on Light

Cast:

Christen Clifford - Nora
Jenny Ledel - Simone
Paula McGonagle - Katherine