Everyman Theatre is proud to present the world premiere of Dawn, a soul-stirring new play by award-winning playwright, Associate Artistic Director, and Resident Company Member Tuyết Thị Phạm that tells a story of love and connection. Directed by Seonjae Kim, the production runs from February 1 through March 1, 2026. Following the success of her acclaimed play Dinner and Cake, Phạm returns with a deeply moving story centered on Mary, a first-generation Cambodian American. As Mary navigates the complex emotions of guilt, anger, and grief, she must confront her parents’ harrowing experiences as survivors of the Khmer Rouge – the radical communist movement that devastated Cambodia in the late 1970s. Set against this backdrop of historical trauma, Dawn follows a mother and daughter as they reconcile their differing beliefs and seek a path toward liberation and healing. Anticipation for this full-stage production has been built across a multi-year development trajectory at some of the region’s most prestigious institutions. The play first gained momentum in 2023 with workshops at Spooky Action Theater and the Washington Women in Theater Festival, followed by Signature Theatre’s SigWorks and Everyman Theatre’s Script Tease reading series. Most recently, it was showcased at the 2025 Colorado New Play Festival, solidifying its reputation as a highly anticipated new play ready for its premiere. “Dawn is exactly the kind of dynamic play the American theater needs,” states Vincent M. Lancisi, Founder and Artistic Director. “Tuyết’s original and gripping story confronts history with immense personal bravery and grace. Bringing this world premiere to Baltimore audiences – a piece developed right here with our Resident Company – is a core part of Everyman’s mission: to invest in bold, transformative theater that speaks directly to the complexities of the world we share.” The production features a first-rate ensemble, starring playwright, Resident Company Member and Associate Artistic Director Tuyết Thị Phạm, as Mother, Ashley D. Nguyễn (Mary / Young Mother), Resident Company Member, Tony K. Nam (Commune Director), and newcomer to Everyman Taylor Witt in the roles of Doctor / Sam. Joining Seonjae Kim, the creative team features Paige Hathaway (Scenic Designer), Juan Juarez (Lighting Designer), David Burdick (Costume Designer), Adam Mendelson (Sound Design), and Chris Carcione (Projection Design), with the stage management team led by Molly Prunty. “When I write, I hope to reveal the interconnected web, circular and tethered, that binds us all together,” Tuyết Thị Phạm remarks. “Regardless of time, location, or circumstances, shared experiences are happening to all of us, all the time, everywhere, all at once. So, the grief Cambodians experienced during the Khmer Rouge is the grief Americans felt during Covid, is the grief Palestinians in Gaza feel now, etc. I hope to evoke a sagacious empathy that goes beyond merely validating another’s experience. I hope to encourage us to recognize the roots and patterns of our lives and see how very much we are the same.” Dawn runs February 1-March 1, 2026,at Everyman Theatre, 315 W. Fayette St, Baltimore, MD. Weekday and weekend performance tickets start at $55. Purchase tickets online or by contacting the box office at [email protected] or calling 410.752.2208. Standard box office hours are Monday through Friday 12pm-5pm and closed on Saturday and Sunday. The Box Office will open 2 hours before every performance, including weekends.  Everyman offers more than 700 Pay-What-You-Choose seats across the entire run, with seats allocated to every performance, as well as an entire Pay-What-You-Choose performance on Sunday, February 1. Student discounts are available at all performances with a valid student ID. These discount programs serve Everyman’s mission to remove barriers and enable as many people as possible to share the joys of theater. Special Performances  Sunday, February 1, 7pm – Pay-What-You-Choose: The entire theater for this first preview is reservable at a pay-what-you-choose price point.  General Admission of seating is on a first come-first serve basis, and reservations are encouraged.  Learn more here Sunday, February 1, 5:30pm- Theatre-Night-For-Teens: A social event for high-school aged students who want to see a play and meet other teens interested in theatre. Students in grades 9-12 are invited to join us for dinner with inside access to the show, including pre- and post-show discussions with production artists. TNT purchase includes tickets to see the show at 7PM that evening, dinner, and conversation access. More details here.  Tuesday-Thursday, February 3, February 4, and February 5- 7pm – Preview Performances: Be among the first audience to see Dawn during one of our three preview performances. https://everymantheatre.org/event/dawn/ Sunday, February 15, 2pm – Childcare Matinee: The Everyman Theatre Education staff will provide childcare for children ages 3 – 12 during the show ($20 per child). Take a moment to relax and enjoy a show knowing your child is safe and having a wonderful time with an Everyman Theatre Teaching Artist!  https://everymantheatre.org/event/childcare-matinees/ Sunday, February 15, 5:30pm to curtain, Illuminate – A special happy hour event to celebrate and connect the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Come for the mingle, stay for the magic of live theatre. Join us for our 7pm performance of Dawn. https://everymantheatre.org/event/dawn/ Thursday, February 19 – Cast Conversation (post-show): Ticket holders are invited to stay after the performance and meet the cast in a 30-minute facilitated talk back. https://everymantheatre.org/event/cast-conversations/ Saturday, February 21- 2pm Audio Description Performance: A narrator provides a verbal description of key visual elements like sets, costumes, and action.   Tuesday, February 24, 12pm Midday Matinee – A special early start time offers a perfect way to experience the charm of live theater with friends, family, or colleagues.  ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT Tuyết Thị Phạm is a Helen Hayes Award-winning actor living in Washington, DC. After earning her masters, she moved to Washington, DC to become an Artistic Fellow at the famed Living Stage Theatre Company at Arena Stage. Following her fellowship, she has worked in theater, television, film, and print as an actor, director, and writer for over twenty years. She has been seen in over 40 productions in the Baltimore-Washington DC area that include roles at Centerstage, Everyman Theatre, Olney Theatre, Constellation Theatre Company, RepStage, Roundhouse Theatre, Imagination Stage, Signature Theatre, The HUB Theatre, NextStop Theatre, The Inkwell, Ford’s Theatre, The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, Arena Stage, and The Capital Fringe Festival. She is currently an Associate Artistic Director at Everyman Theatre in Baltimore, Maryland. ABOUT EVERYMAN THEATREEveryman Theatre is a professional Equity Theater company in Baltimore’s Bromo Arts District. Founded in 1990 by Vincent M. Lancisi, Everyman centers its storytelling with a Resident Company of artists to carry out its mission of offering transformative, accessible theatre experiences. Led by Lancisi and Managing Director Marissa LaRose, Everyman Theatre, now in its 35th season, invests in its community, believing that theater is at its best when it’s “Built in Baltimore.” Each season, the theater employs over 150 full and part-time staff, actors, designers, and teaching artists to bring its programming to the people of Baltimore and the surrounding counties. The post Everyman Theatre announces soul-stirring new play ‘Dawn’ appeared first on DC Theater Arts. ...read more read less