The Docent (World Premiere) - Lakewood Playhouse

“It’s almost as if when they were young they decided they could only survive if they helped each other out. So they grew together, one supported the other until it grew taller and then the other took over.”
As Urban Forestry expert Edna Gregory guides us through the trees of Central Park, her story unfolds into a deeply human journey - one that begins with a young woman finding her place in New York City and blossoms through her profound friendship with Charles, a vibrant soul who opens her eyes to a community, a calling, and a deeper understanding of love. Set against the backdrop of 1981 New York, this moving tribute honors both the beauty and heartbreak of a pivotal moment in history, revealing how ordinary people rise to extraordinary courage in the face of uncertainty and loss. In The Docent, heroism takes root in the quiet, transformative power of connection.
In keeping with Lakewood Playhouse’s mission to uplift voices and foster empathy through storytelling, The Docent - first introduced in our inaugural Festival Of New Voices - celebrates the heroic act of bearing witness, of caring for one another, and of new meanings of the word "family".
World Premiere
By Donna Kaz
Directed by Joseph C. Walsh
October 9th-25th, 2026
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm
Sundays at 2:00pm
ASL Interpreted Performance: October 17th, 7:30pm
Pay What You Can/Industry Night: October 18th, 7:30pm
www.lakewoodplayhouse.org