Black Theatre Troupe launches its 56th season with Grace and Glorie, a warm, funny, and deeply human two-character play by Tom Ziegler. Directed by Chanel Bragg, the production runs September 5–21, 2025, at the Helen K. Mason Performing Arts Center.
Set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, Grace and Glorie brings together two women from vastly different worlds. Grace, a fiercely independent 90-year-old cancer patient determined to spend her final days in her mountain cabin, is played by veteran actress Shari Watts. Opposite her is Glorie, a hospice volunteer and former New York City executive struggling with personal grief, portrayed by Ryan Jenkins. What begins as a clash of personalities unfolds into candid, often humorous exchanges that reveal the surprising power of empathy, humor, and intergenerational connection.
“I truly believe that Grace and Glorie beautifully captures the transformative power of intergenerational connection,” says director Chanel Bragg. “In a world often divided by age, culture, race, and experience, this story reminds us that healing, understanding, and profound growth can occur when we simply take the time to listen.”
Celebrated Cast and Director
Audiences may recognize Shari Watts from her standout performances in Black Theatre Troupe’s Black Pearl Sings and The Taste Test. Her career highlights include Jeri Neal in Dixie Swim Club, Kate in All My Sons, and her ariZoni Award-winning role as Martha in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf at Theater Works.
Ryan Jenkins is no stranger to BTT’s stage, having appeared in Sunset Baby and Barbecue. Jenkins’ range extends across the Valley, with credits at Southwest Shakespeare Company and Stray Cat Theatre, bringing depth and nuance to the role of Glorie.
Returning to direct is Chanel Bragg, a dynamic force in Arizona theatre. Bragg directed BTT’s 2024–25 productions of The African Company Presents Richard III and Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill. Her regional credits include Waitress and Looking Over the President’s Shoulder (Phoenix Theatre Company), The Glass Menagerie (Arizona Theatre Company), and The Hula-Hooping Queen (Childsplay).
A Play with Enduring Appeal
Since its premiere in 1991, Grace and Glorie has resonated with audiences across the country. It gained national attention in its off-Broadway run starring Estelle Parsons and Lucie Arnaz, and its Hallmark Hall of Fame television adaptation—with Gena Rowlands and Diane Lane—won the Christopher Award for works that “affirm the highest values of the human spirit.”
Known for its balance of humor and poignancy, the play’s enduring appeal lies in its ability to portray resilience, unlikely friendship, and the surprising ways lives can intersect.
Performance Details
Grace and Glorie
By Tom Ziegler
Directed by Chanel Bragg
Helen K. Mason Performing Arts Center
1333 E. Washington St., Phoenix
September 5–21, 2025 Tickets: $50
blacktheatretroupe.org | 602-258-8128
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