July 17-19 and July 22-26
at Ancram Center for the Arts

By Sarah Ruhl

Based on the book by Sarah Ruhl and Max Ritvo

An adaptation of Sarah Ruhl and Max Ritvo’s 2018 book, Letters from Max: A Poet, a Teacher, a Friendship, this intimate, poetic play explores the relationship between Sarah and her former student, Max. With humor, lyricism and candor, the two friends share letters and poems as Max faces terminal illness and tests poetry’s capacity to put to words what otherwise feels beyond words.

“Warm and literary... a theatrical act of remembrance and a sacrament of grief, but it’s also a comedy….Go see the play, and feel their relationship alive and tingling.” –The New York Times

“Intimate... a work about art and death and about how art deals with death.” –New York Stage Review

“Affecting... This epistolary play sends the message that a life cut short can call us to embrace our own lives and—as Max tells Sarah in a dream—to feel them swaying.” –Time Out NY

Sarah Ruhl is a writer…

EVA STEINMETZ (she/her) is a Philadelphia-based theater director, filmmaker, and educator. She has directed and co-created more than a dozen new works including Poor Judge (Pig Iron Theatre Company), Penelope (Alex Bechtel & Grace McLean), The Appointment (Lightning Rod Special – two-time NY Times Critic’s Pick; Time Out NY Critics Pick; New Yorker “Best of 2023;” 6 Barrymore nominations, including Best Director), Sad Boys in Harpy Land (Alexandra Tatarsky), Art Houses (Theatre Horizon), The Caregivers (Pig Iron), Hart Island Requiem (Ty Defoe & Tidtaya Sinutoke), Wolfthicket (Lily Kind), and Krapp Hour (Anne Carson & Lightning Rod Special). Her short film, Marina, starring Grace McLean and Succession’s Peter Friedman, received a Gotham Award and distribution through Focus Features. Eva was also a performer/creator in Josephine Decker’s acclaimed movie, Madeline’s Madeline. In collaboration with her producing partner Tommy Butler, Eva is currently developing her own first feature-length films. Eva serves as Artistic Producer for the Pig Iron Theater Company, creating digital and live performances, and piloting educational and workshop-based initiatives. She is a graduate of Bard College (BA, theater directing), the Pig Iron School (Graduate Certificate, devised performance), and Temple University (MFA, film). www.evasteinmetz.org