The Playground
A one-woman play with voices
Written & Directed by Jim Dalglish
How much of your integrity would you sacrifice for a life of wealth and privilege? The Playground follows Joan — former professor, new mother, displaced to New York — as she navigates a world of hedge funds, ambition, and the moral compromises each of us makes in Trump's America.
About the Play
The play follows the life of a former college professor named Joan - a mother of a four-year-old boy who has moved to New York to follow her mathematician husband after he takes a job at a hedge fund. The story is told from her perspective as she remembers her life in New York, her brushes with a life of wealth and privilege, and the decision she makes that will forever alter the course of her life and the lives of those around her.
The audience sees the world from her perspective and hears the voices of the people she encounters during her sojourn to New York. She shares her story in the attempt to understand the choices she makes as she looks for a way to gain some sort of redemption.
United Solo Theatre Festival…
Helltown Players is thrilled to announce that The Playground has been selected as an official presentation of the United Solo Theatre Festival™ — an annual international festival for solo performances held at Theatre Row in the heart of New York City's theatre district on 42nd Street.
United Solo celebrates the uniqueness of the individual through one-person performances from around the world, exploring foreign cultures, diverse traditions, and the perspectives of people from all walks of life. Productions are selected from openly solicited submissions and presented to New York audiences and industry professionals alike.
Details:
The Playground
Friday, November 6, 2026 at 7:00pm
Theatre Row
410 West 42nd Street
New York, NY, 10036
More information about the festival can be found at http://unitedsolo.org/us/
Reviews for The Playground…
Audience and critical reaction to Jim Dalglish’s The Playground has been ecstatic!
“…the most intense 100 minutes of your life…” — Cape Cod Times
“Botsford is one of the most incredible actors I have ever seen and I found myself in awe of her… It is a must watch…” — Cape Cod Times
“Ms. Botsford earned a well-deserved standing ovation on opening night. Mr. Dalglish’s play will leave you thinking well after the theater lights come back up.” — The Enterprise
“Deeply written, masterfully expressed. Brava… Bravo, Anna, Jim, and All!” — Celeste Howe
“In the hands of the extremely talented Anna Botsford, I was captivated, engaged in every breath, and profoundly moved.” — Donna Wresinski
“Incredibly moving, enthralling and insightful show… The extraordinary talents of playwright and actor make this a really, really exceptional experience.” — Bill Farrell
Cast:
Anna Botsford stars as Joan
Joan - Anna Botsford
Voices:
Will - Zack Johnson
Billy - Michael Becrelis
Ashley - Sara Bleything
Cyrus - Shepard Potash
Gracia - Natalia Molina Marín
Anthropology Professor - Janet Geist Moore
Britney #1 - Samantha McMahon
Britney #2 - Missy Potash
Britney #3 - Susanna Creel
Man’s Voice - Eli Woods
Roger - Sawyer Potash
Roger’s Mother - Kristen Winn
Little Girl - Fiona Botsford
Professor’s Daughter #1 - Karin Henderson
Professor’s Daughter #2 - Kelly Rowen
Professor’s Daughter #3 - Emma Engelsen
Gracia’s Mother - Luz Adriana Marín
Designers:
Original music composed and performed by Eli Woods
Projections designed, filmed, and edited by Jim Dalglish
Special thanks to:
Katherine & Demetrius Becrelis
Rob Phelps
The play is dedicated to Julie Balamut for her advice and wisdom concerning grace and living a compassionate and empathetic life.
Show sponsor:
Cape Cod 5