From ACTORS COLLABORATIVE TOLEDO
Actors Collaborative Toledo will Adam Rapp’s “The Sound Inside” Friday, July 25, and Saturday July 26 at 8:00 p.m. with a Sunday matinee July 27 at 3 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 316 Adams St. Toledo.
This will be the area premiere of “The Sound Inside,” which the New York Times hailed as “a psychological thriller. An astonishing new play!”
Directed by Toledo theatre veteran Joe Capucini and featuring Marissa Rex and Garrett Monasmith, “The Sound Inside” is a suspenseful psychological drama that follows Bella Baird, a creative writing professor at Yale (portrayed by Marissa Rex), and her brilliant but enigmatic student Christopher Dunn (Garrett Monasmith), as their relationship deepens into a chilling exploration of identity, mortality, and the boundaries of trust.
Director Joe Capucini says, “The Sound Inside’ is a powerful and intimate story about loneliness, connection, and the need to be seen. It speaks to the quiet struggles many people face and reminds us how meaningful even the smallest human connections can be. These two talented artists, Marissa and Garrett, bring this story to life with honesty and heart, making it deeply moving and timely.”
When asked about playing the role of Bella in ‘The Sound Inside,’” Marissa Rex stated: “Bella is a complex character who loves the power of words. The play honors that passion in the storytelling and dialogue, which can be both intimidating and thrilling as an actor. Bella experiences heartbreaking, humorous, thought-provoking, and beautiful moments throughout the play and I am so lucky to be trusted with her story.”
Garrett Monasmith spoke about his experience working on The Sound Inside, “This character is a large departure from any role I’ve played before. With this character, I am aiming to encompass all the layers that Adam Rapp has written into this show and bring a visceral perspective to the script. This is a beautifully written script, and it’s an absolute pleasure working with Marissa Rex again!”
Rex and Monasmith last appeared on stage together as Stella and Stanley Kowalski in The Toledo Rep’s production of “A Streetcar Named Desire.” Both actors won awards for their performances at The Ohio Community Theatre Association’s State Festival in 2023.
Tickets are $20, $10 for students under 25, and $15 for seniors, 60 years and up. Available in advance at www.act419.org or at the door one hour before the curtain time.
This production contains content that may be distressing to some audience members, including references to suicide and suicidal ideations.
About the playwright
Adam Rapp is an acclaimed American playwright, novelist, and director known for his raw, emotionally charged works that often explore themes of isolation, adolescence, and the underbelly of American life. His plays, including Red Light Winter (a Pulitzer Prize finalist) and The Sound Inside (Tony-nominated), have earned critical praise for their dark lyricism and psychological depth. Rapp’s work spans stage, film, and television, marking him as one of the most versatile and distinctive voices in contemporary storytelling.
