Nickel Mines tells the story of the 2006 Lancaster, PA Amish schoolhouse shooting in which 10 young girls were shot, (5 fatally) before the killer turned the gun on himself. This new musical work investigates the ramifications of that event and the various responses it evoked. Built on the assertion that history offers us more relevant drama than fiction, this original script (co-written by Andrew
Palermo and Shannon Stoeke with a score by Dan Dyer) prioritizes allegiance to the facts of the case, utilizing transcripts of the crime and its aftermath and allowing the story to emerge through dramatic interpretation. At its core, Nickel Mines is an exploration of the power of forgiveness, and the ways in which choosing forgiveness over retribution mitigates the sensationalism and cyclical escalation born of revenge. It is also an examination of the stories of lives spoken in their own words, a rethinking of the notion of victimhood, and a survey of the public's preconceptions about Amish religion and culture. Palermo says the piece aims to "look at the events of that fateful October morning through a variety of lenses while making no judgments, professing no morals. Utilizing both historical and interpretive text, music and movement, Nickel Mines shines a light on this recent tragedy, and in the process, hopes to continue a dialogue on how violence, faith, forgiveness and justice speak to and interact with one another." Director/Choreographer-Andrew Palermo
Orchestrations/Arrangements-Or Matias
Lighting Design-Howell Binkley
Sound Design-Nevin Steinberg
Costume Design-Sera Bourgeau
General Management-Staci Levine
