The national tour of Jake Broder’s UnRavelled kicks off with the East Coast premiere as part of the Penn Live Arts 2026/27 Season at the Harold Prince Theater, Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6219. Performances: *Thursday, October 8 at 7PM, Friday, October 9 at 7:30PM, Saturday, October 10 at 2PM, and Sunday, October 11 at 3PM. Tickets are available at https://pennlivearts.org/event/UnRavelled. For more information, visit https://www.unravelledplay.com//

“This story defies the typical ‘diagnosis-to-death’ dementia narrative, focusing instead on creativity and hope.” — Jake Broder, Creator

A powerful synthesis of theatre, music, science and visual art, UnRavelled explores the complexities of the human mind through the parallel lives of scientist-turned-painter Anne Adams and composer Maurice Ravel, both affected by frontotemporal dementia. With a cast of 10 actors and musicians, this East Coast premiere follows Adams, a gifted biologist whose life unravels as she abandons her career, consumed by the desire to paint and an obsession with Ravel’s iconic Boléro. As Adams’ cognitive decline accelerates, her art flourishes, revealing a surprising link between neurological disease and creativity. “An exquisite example of epic theatre” (Colorado Boulevard), UnRavelled sheds a new, empathetic light on dementia.

UnRavelled is made possible in part with support provided by the Penn Live Arts Accelerator Program. UnRavelled is presented in partnership with Penn Medicine as part of the International Conference for Frontotemporal Dementias.

UnRavelled has received five Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award nominations, the LADCC Award for Streaming Design, and the Beverly Hills Theater Guild Playwriting Award.

Creative Team:
Created and Written by Jake Broder
Directed by James Bonas
Produced by Cath Brittan

Composer & Sound Designer: Mark Grey
Co-Director: Cydney Uffindell-Phillips
Resident Director: Nina Goodheart
Set Designer: Emma Kingsbury
Lighting Designer: Masha Tsimring
Video Designer: Adam Larsen
Costume Designer: Molly Irelan
Outreach Director: Samantha Rose Williams
Production Manager: Kerstin Heinrich

Starring: Lucy Davenport, Andrew Borba, David Aaron Baker, Leo Marks, and Tracey A. Leigh
Musicians: Rachel Iba, violin; Michelle Elliott Rearick, cello; Aron Kallay, keyboards; Nathaniel Edison, winds; and Randy Gloss, percussion