Lives of unwed teenage mothers and a dying saxophonist intersect in Camden Rep’s new production

“Because our stories aren’t told, it’s easy for us to be invisible,” said Desi P. Shelton, artistic director of Camden Rep, who founded the company in 2005. She is talking about Black women and girls from the neighborhood, not the privileged middle or upper class, and not the ones depicted in plays written by men, Black or white, Shelton said.

Camden Rep’s latest production, Unfinished Women Cry in No Man’s Land While a Bird Dies in a Gilded Cage, written by Aishah Rahman, takes a step back in history to tell the story of teenage pregnant girls living in a home for unwed mothers, trying to decide whether they’ll keep their babies and struggle alone, or give their babies up for adoption, leaving a permanent hole in their hearts.

“Birth is painful,” Shelton said, and so is the birth of art. In the play, the story of the unwed teenagers is juxtaposed with the last days of Black jazz saxophonist Charlie “The Bird” Parker, wasting away in his gilded cage, his mistress’ boudoir.

“It hits me, the sacrifices African Americans have made for the arts,” Shelton said, before paraphrasing Parker’s words from the play, “I can’t even go into these clubs and people are getting rich trying to sound like me.”

It’s heavy stuff, but Shelton doesn’t want a visit to Camden Rep to feel overburdened.

“It’s supposed to be a good time out, a good time for you and your friend,” she said. The theater itself is a rowhouse, necessitating an intimate experience. There’s even a band.

“It’s like you come out to someone’s house,” Shelton said. “You offer them something to eat. You offer them something to drink. You have great conversations and hopefully you see good art and that becomes a point of discussion about what the playwright brought up.”

Through March 12, “Unfinished Women Cry in No Man’s Land While a Bird Dies in a Gilded Cage,” Camden Rep, 445 Mechanic St., Camden, 856-438-8430 or camdenrep.com

Let’s start with Anton Chekov, the famous Russian playwright known for Uncle Vanya and not as well-known for The Bear. Then add in the inspiration of Brian Friel, an Irish dramatist, considered to be among the best. That’s the recipe for Friel’s The Bear & Afterplay, two paired works that take up where Chekhov left off. Peggy Mecham directs. Presented by the Irish Heritage Theatre.

March 2-19, “The Bear & Afterplay,” Irish Heritage Theatre, Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Place, Phila., Irishheritagetheatre.org

Nothing important will get lost in the bilingual world premiere of All My Mothers Dream in Spanish or Todas Mis Madres Sueñan en Español, coproduced by Azuka Theatre Co. and Teatro del Sol. Three generations of women encounter their ancestor, Guiomar, a queen with magical abilities. She leads them to connect their pasts to their futures, all under the shade of a mango tree. AZ Espinosa’s play is inspired by Afro Venezuelan folk history. José Avilés directs.

March 1-19, “All My Mothers Dream in Spanish” or “Todas Mis Madres Sueñan en Español,” Azuka Theatre Co. and Teatro del Sol, Proscenium Theatre at the Drake, 302 S. Hicks St., Phila., 215-563-1100 or azukatheatre.org

As an incarcerated teenager in solitary confinement, Reginald Dwayne Betts begged the others in his unit for a book. Somehow, The Black Poets by Dudley Randall turned up in Betts’ cell, changing his life. He became a poet and a playwright, adding a diploma in law from Yale and a 2021 MacArthur Genius Fellowship to his resume. Now, 23 years after his release, Betts presents his one-man show: Felon: An American Washi Tale, based on his poetry book, Felon, at Princeton University. The university is hosting a variety of related events, including an art exhibit.

March 2-4, “Felon: An American Washi Tale,” McCarter Theatre Center’s Berlind Theater, 91 University Place, Princeton, 609-258-2787 or mccarter.org

Audience and actors travel from ballroom to drawing room in Greystone Hall, a stately 115-year-old manor in Chester County. Marriage and money couple with politics and power in The Manor, written by Kathrine Bates and performed in cooperation with the Colonial Playhouse. Since the plot includes a wedding, save room for a slice of cake, part of the refreshments served during the show.

March 2-12, “The Manor,” Greystone Hall, 2450 Aram Ave., West Chester, 610-696-1272 or greystonehall.com

Sweat, Lynn Nottage’s play about discrimination at the workplace and the effect of economic downturns, returns to Philadelphia, courtesy of the Old Academy Players. Nottage researched her work in Reading and while there, gathered material for her play Clyde’s, now extended through March 12 at Arden Theatre Co.

March 3-19, “Sweat,” Old Academy Players, 3544 Indian Queen Lane, Phila., 215-843-1109 or oldacademyplayers.org

Tuck Everlasting, a family-friendly musical, comes to you from the Centre Theater in Norristown. Directed by Rena Stover and based on the children’s classic.

Through March 19, “Tuck Everlasting,” Centre Theater, 208 DeKalb St., Norristown, 610-292-1971 or thecentretheater.com