About YOUR CHILDREN: The Testimony of Charles Manson adapted by David Garrett
“Charlie appealed to too many people to say that just a few nuts were attracted to him. If we’re going to pin a psychiatrist label on Charlie’s girls, then we’d have to say there are hundreds of thousands of kids in this country who are also mentally disturbed.”
— Dr. David Smith, Time Magazine
Founder Haight-Ashberry Free
Medical Clinic
Developed by playwright David Garrett for Emory University in the 1992 as a project exploring criminal psychology — YOUR CHILDREN went on to be staged in professional theaters in Atlanta, New York, and Los Angeles, also being made into a short film winning several independent film awards.
This chilling, penetrating piece asks us to look more deeply into the nature of truth, reality, our society and ourselves — and our personal and collective culpability for those. The issues raised by this piece have only become more relevant over 30 years later.
SAVE THE DATES — Performances of this Staged Reading will be held at New Surry Theatre in Blue Hill
RESERVE Your Tickets with New Surry Theatre HERE
Friday 10/23 at 7pm
Saturday 10/24 at 7pm, Talkback with Playwright David Garrett to follow performance
Sunday 10/25 at 3pm and 6pm
*For transparency, this performance touches the topics of sexuality, drug use, violence and homicide and is intended for mature audiences only.
Run time is 60 minutes with no intermission.
All Tickets are “Pay-What-You-Wish” — Reservations are strongly recommended.
Read our YOUR CHILDREN DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
CAST & CREATIVE TEAM for WinterSea Theatre Experiment / New Surry Theatre Production of “YOUR CHILDREN — The Testimony of Charles Manson” adapted by David Garrett
FAITH CHAPMAN (Assistant Director & Acting Ensemble, She/Her) has had an interest in storytelling for as long as she can remember. Faith loves to work on character development, memorization, and truthful acting. Setting a good example for her children is important, so Faith values the arts, sports, good food and good company!
DAVID GARRETT (Playwright, He/Him) — You can see David’s film work at his YouTube channel, Bull Run Pictures. He lives in Portland with his dog Roger.
MARK LIPSKI (Crew, He/Him) is a father, author, non-profit and business development consultant, and educator. During the summer of 2026, he participated in the WinterSea Theatre Experiment’s Pop-up The Duck Variations Improv Ensemble. He found within the group a unique experience and has decided to support WinterSea Theatre Experiment in it’s current YOUR CHILDREN production as support staff. He is grateful to support young people in this unique and insightful opportunity to explore the life and times of Charles Manson.
LISA ANN REILICH (Director & Acting Ensemble, She/We) is a mother, farmer, poet, theatre artist, teacher and spiritual seeker. Co-founder & former Artistic Director of Schoodic Arts for All’s Meetinghouse Theatre Lab, she is presently Artistic Director for WinterSea Theatre Experiment where she enjoys performance art experimentation focused on communal bridge building and deepening our individual and collective understanding and insight into the interrelated nature of reality. When not in the creative realm, she can be found tending the land and animals of Painted Pepper Farm on the Downeast coast of Maine with her daughter Margaret Mae, living the silver linings of life and surrendering gratefully to the present moment.
MARGARET MAE REILICH-GODINO (Acting Ensemble, She/Her) is a farmer who has enjoyed being a part of theater since she was four. She has been in productions such as Fiddler on the Roof (ACT & NST), Seussical the Musical (NST), Camelot (ACT), and most recently WinterSea Theatre Experiment’s Pop-up The Duck Variations Improv Ensemble. She also loves swimming, poetry, Goats, dancing, and adventures.
LOGAN SPERANZA (Acting Ensemble, He/Him) has taken an over decade long hiatus from acting but is excited to be back! This summer he was part of WinterSea Theatre Experiment’s Pop-up The Duck Variations Improv Ensemble, and previously appeared in a staged reading of The Velveteen Rabbit (Meetinghouse Theatre Lab). He also has enjoyed working backstage and building sets in his childhood. He enjoys spending time with his cats, chickens and a fluffy mop masquerading as a dog.
CYNDI STEIN (Stage Manager & Acting Ensemble, She/Her) is a mother, artist, traveler and seeker. Relatively new to the community theatre scene, she has found this art form to be full of opportunities for artistic expression and collaboration with others. Initially, she entered the theatre scene by assisting with youth programs, designing props and sets for musical productions. This gives her the opportunity to use a wide variety of craft and artistic skills to add to a production’s design and aesthetic. Cyndi welcomes this exciting opportunity to work with WinterSea Theatre Experiment and New Surry Theatre on the YOUR CHILDREN project.
MICHELLE “KRIS” WOITKO (Acting Ensemble, They/Them) in high-school did three musicals — Beauty and the Beast, Bye Bye Birdie and Anything Goes. They love cats, music and spending time with their family and friends. They want to thank everyone for believing in them and supporting their dreams.
MOXIE WOLF (Lighting Designer & Operator, They/Them) You may recognize them from their work on stage with New Surry Theatre in the Anastasia Trials in the Court of Women and as Miss Kerr in Conscience, or from up in the booth designing lights for The Roommate, The Shark is Broken, and Emma! And for their collaborations on the tech teams of Not Dark Yet, Six, Hadestown, and Misery. They are excited to be a part of this vibrant community that gives space for stories to grow.
