All My Sons

All My Sons

All My Sons

themes in all my sons

Thanks For Attending All My Sons!

This Tony and New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award-winning play is one of Arthur Miller’s most searing dramas. Set following World War II, All My Sons is the story of two families destroyed by deception and love. Joe Keller and Steve Deever were business partners and neighbors, but the War changed everything and tore their close families apart. As Kate Keller holds out hope for the return of her son Larry (missing and assumed killed in the war), her other son Chris invites Larry’s childhood sweetheart Ann Deever home for a visit, setting in motion the revelation of terrible truths they have fought hard to avoid. Will the Deever and Keller families survive their own secrets? The answers transform their secretive past into matters of life and death.

Arthur Miller was born in Harlem in 1915, to parents who were first-generation Jewish immigrants from Poland. His father had a business manufacturing clothing that suffered in the Great Depression, influencing Miller’s interest in the plight of the common man.

Though later in his career Miller wrote more explicitly Jewish plays, All My Sons was an attempt to have a commercial success, and he specifically tried to make his characters as universally American as possible. However, his play still contains deep Jewish themes and moral questions. Featured recently in Jesse Green’s article for The New York Times Magazine, he writes that “…it is virtually Talmudic in its exquisite weighing of individual and communal responsibility. Everything about it is Jewish except the characters.”

All My Sons was written in 1946 and put playwright Arthur Miller on the map, winning him a Tony Award for Best Author (a category later replaced by Best Play) in the first-ever Award Ceremony in 1947. The play touches on many themes and moral questions that are relevant today, including whether it is ok to act to protect your family at the expense of others and what makes one complicit in someone else’s crimes. It is also an interesting and moving take on what life looked like following the horrible events of World War II from both veteran and civilian perspectives.

Greg Johnston (Joe Keller) is happy to be back on the NJT stage! He has been in several productions here over the years, Life Sucks, New Jerusalem, and The Last Night of Ballyhoo, to name a few. Last year, Greg was seen in Uncle Vanya at the St. Louis Actors Studio and The Nerd at Moonstone Theatre Company. Greg has performed with several companies here St. Louis, including The Tennessee Williams Festival, Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis, Mustard Seed, Max and Louie, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, HotCity, TNT, and more. He has also worked away from the Lou, including theatres in Los Angeles, Kansas City, and other regional theatres. Some favorite productions include Waiting for Godot, Falling, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Tribes, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Lombardi. Greg has also worked as a director and a producer, including local RiverCity Theatre productions of Grace and Hamlet. Thanks for choosing to Go See A Play!

Amy Loui (Kate Keller) It is with deep gratitude (and glee!) that Amy returns to the NJT stage. A big believer in the power of the stories shared by this theater over the years, she offers a huge thank you to Rebekah, the NJT board, and all the powers that came together to make it possible for her to audition; re-opening the theater to members of Actor’s Equity Association, the union of professional actors & stage managers. By again opening the doors to those who hold Equity cards, NJT has returned to a policy of inclusion where all actors are welcome. And we are thankful. Please continue to support this (and all) theater! They will repay your support with memorable and life-changing experiences. Next up for Amy: Steel Magnolias at Stages this June. www.amyloui.com

Jayson Heil (Chris Keller) is thrilled to be making his New Jewish Theatre debut! St. Louis credits include The Mousetrap and Saturday Night Fever (Stray Dog Theatre), and A Christmas Carol (The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis). Jayson graduated from the Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University with a BFA in Acting. He’d like to thank his friends and family for their unwavering love and support. 

Zahria Moore (Sue Bayless) is a theatremaker, educator, and administrator from the metro Atlanta area. Regional credits include: Death of a Salesman, Fireflies (St. Louis Black Repertory Company); Four Wives and a Will (SheATL Summer Theatre Festival); Corduroy (Larry D. Clark Summer Repertory Theatre). Zahria is a member of the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas, a proud graduate of the University of Maryland-College Park, and a Forever Mizzou Tiger. She is very excited to work with the New Jewish Theatre. She would like to thank the cast, crew, and production for this experience. IG: @zahriaimani

Joshua Mayfield (Dr. Jim Bayless) is very excited to be part of the production of “All My Sons.” This is his first time working with New Jewish Theatre and is looking forward to bringing this classic piece to the stage. 

Riley Capp (Frank Lubey) is excited to be working with The New Jewish Theatre! He is eternally grateful for the support of his family and friends, without whom this journey would not be possible. He appeared in the Illinois Shakespeare Festival’s productions of King Lear and Much Ado About Nothing, playing Edmund and Claudio. Other recent roles include the title role in Henry V, Trofimov in Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, and Leopold in Never the Sinner. Training: University of Houston, Professional Actor Training Program, MFA | Principia College, Theatre, BA 

Summer Baer (Lydia Lubey) is ecstatic to be back at The J! Summer studied Theatre Performance at SIUE and is a proud St. Louis-based artist. Some of her favorite roles have been Catherine in Proof with Moonstone Theater Company, Gena Scott in Action, Nora in New Jewish Theatre’s Brighton Beach Memoirs, Lulu in Albion’s The Birthday Party, and Eloise in Midnight Company’s The Years. You may have also seen her in shows such as; Angela (The Game’s Afoot), Rodney’s Wife (Lee), As You Like It (Rosalind), Malkie (Waiting for Hecate), and Gruesome Playground Injuries (Kayleen). www.summerbaer.com

Joel Moses (George Deever) is delighted to return to NJT where he previously appeared in the 2022 production of Laughter on the 23rd Floor. He is a multiple St. Louis Theater Circle Award recipient for his work in Bronte Sister House Party (SATE), and The Christians (West End Players). Elsewhere in St. Louis, he has performed with St. Louis Repertory Theatre, The St. Louis Shakespeare Festival (TourCo), St. Louis Actors’ Studio, and the Midnight Company. Regional credits include productions with First Folio Theatre, 16th Street Theater, Theatre Y, and several seasons with the Organic Theater Company in Chicago. He received his MFA in Acting from Northern Illinois University and studied abroad at the Moscow Art Theatre.

Kristen Joy Lintveldt (Ann Deever) is thrilled to be returning to NJT after her debut in Into the Woods (Cinderella) this past December. Kristen recently returned to St. Louis after earning her bachelor’s degree in Theatre Performance from Indiana Wesleyan University. Previously, Kristen appeared in several productions with the Hoosier Shakespeare Festival including A Christmas Carol (Ghost of Christmas Past), Love’s Labour’s Lost (Rosaline), Othello (Bianca), As You Like It, and Richard III. Additional credits include Ajax (Tecmessa), The Diary of Anne Frank (Anne), Doubt: A Parable, Guys and Dolls, and Pride and Prejudice. Also, a passionate writer, Kristen has served as a dramaturg for Indiana Wesleyan University Theatre and Transformation Theatre Inc. Finally, Kristen would like to thank her family, friends, and fellow artists for their love, support, and inspiration. 

Shane Rose (Bert) ) is so excited to be a part of the All My Sons cast. He started acting two years ago and has enjoyed being in a number of productions at the J’s Youth Theatre including Newsies Jr., Annie Jr., Peter Pan Jr., and Willy Wonka Jr. Shane is in 5th grade at Holy Infant School in Ballwin. In addition to acting, Shane plays soccer and basketball and runs track. Shane is thankful to his mom, dad and big sister, Maeve, for all their support!

This post was last modified on December 1, 2024 12:22 pm