Written by Jordan Harrison
Directed by Edd Miller
Performance Dates: January 12 - February 3, 2024
Run time: 1h 30m
(no intermission)
It’s the age of artificial intelligence, and 85-year-old Marjorie spends her final, ailing days with a computerized version of her deceased husband — otherwise known as a “Prime”. With the intent to recount their life together, Marjorie's Prime relies on the information from her and her kin to develop a more complex understanding of his history. As their interactions deepen, the family begins to develop diverging recounts of their lives, drawn into the chance to reconstruct the often painful past. What would we remember, and what would we forget, if given the chance? In this richly spare, wondrous play, Jordan Harrison explores the mysteries of human identity and the limits — if any — of what technology can replace.
To download the production postcard for Marjorie Prime to share with your friends, visit the Downloads page of our website and look under the Production Postcard heading. A PDF of the production playbill is also available in the same location.
About the Director
Marjorie Prime is about forming and reforming memories. Starting in 1971 Edd has directed many shows, mostly for The Colonial Players. How many do you remember?
The Appletree, Plaza Suite, I Never Sang For My Father (Ruby Griffith award), Blythe Spirit, 6 Rms Riv Vu, Carnival, The Curious Savage, On Golden Pond, Relatively Speaking, The Tale Of The Allergists Wife, Moon Over Buffalo, Two Rooms, Going to St. Ives (WATCH award), Coyote On A Fence (WATCH nominated), Maytag Virgin, Between Mouthfuls, Good People, The Diviners.
Edd has found time in between these productions to direct for other groups, design sets, and when possible do some acting. After retiring Edd was a standardized patient working with all the local teaching hospitals in the area. In the last few years he has joined the set construction crew at CP. Edd studied Theater at Chicago's Goodman Theatre.
Director's Notes
“Marjorie Prime is a play about Artificial Intelligence” is a falsehood. The truth is it's about memories, relationships, and communication. AI is the window from which the audience is allowed to visually eavesdrop. It is a glimpse into the future, or maybe today. The people are real, nuanced and familiar. Plumbing the depths of the individual characters, bringing them to life and watching them grow in the hands of a willing, hard working , talented cast, has been a joy.
Although the play is dark, we hope you find your theatre experience rewarding and provocative and a stimulant to your curiosity. How does AI fit into or alter your daily lives?
- EDD MILLER
The Cast
Ben Carr (Jon) Ben is excited to be back on stage at The Colonial Players. Some of his previous shows include Maytag Virgin (Jack), Dog Logic (Hertel), Two Rooms (Michael) and Stones in His Pocket (Various Characters). He would like to thank Edd, his castmates and the Production team for making this such a wonderful experience and I love you to Cassie, Wyatt and Henry.
Jeanne Louise (Marjorie) Jeanne Louise spent her first few actor's decades playing spunky ingenues and feisty leading ladies, before growing into quirky older characters. Over the years, she has moved on from portraying Juliet to Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet, and last summer played Lady Macbeth in Macbeth. She toured in Arsenic and Old Lace and as Alice in Wonderland in repertory around Paris for a year, and as the title character in Charlotte's Web across the USA. Musical roles include Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, Guinevere in Camelot, Marian the Librarian, then later Eulalie MacKechnie Shin in The Music Man. She has played Ebenezer Scrooge twice, once in the farce The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society's Production of A Christmas Carol (as woman playing a man), and last winter with Twin Beach Players' A Christmas Carol, playing a traditional male Scrooge. Other roles with TBP include irascible Ouiser in Steel Magnolias, and Olive (the slob) in the female Odd Couple. Jeanne was nominated for a WATCH Award for her performance as DiDi/Petey/Vera/Garland/Helen in BCT's A Tuna Christmas. Marjorie Prime marks her fourth onstage appearance with The Colonial Players, having played in Lucky Stiff, The Curious Savage, and in Christopher Durang's 'dentity Crisis, part of the Shades of Grey One-Act Festival. Jeanne received her BA in Theatre Arts and French from Simpson College in Iowa, then completed the Professional Actors' Training Program at Circle in the Square Theatre in NYC.
Dylan Roche (Walter) Dylan is glad to be back for another show at The Colonial Players, having recently appeared earlier this season as Jason in Wit. Other past CP performances include Doc in Crimes of the Heart and Ethan in Sex with Strangers. When he's not onstage, Dylan is a journalist, blogger, and novelist. His debut novel, The Purple Bird, released in 2019, and his next work, The Tide and the Stars, is slated for later in 2024.
Kate Wheeler (Tess) Kate’s love of theater has only grown over the years. Starting on stage in California (Kathy Juarez, ACT, Kim Darby, Kathleen Freeman) to working locally throughout Maryland. She has been fortunate to have worked with amazing actors, directors, and crew. Marjorie Prime is no exception. Kate is looking forward to working and learning from this incredibly talented ensemble. Her first production with The Colonial Players was over 25 years ago in Dearly Departed (Joe Thompson). Various productions at CP followed, from To Gillian on her 37th Birthday to the summer 2023 sneak peak of Wit (Michael Gillis). Kate would like to thank Edd for this wonderful opportunity and Lois for her insight, warmth and smile. The biggest thank you is to her 3, you are the white noise of my life and I love you more!
The Production Staff
Alex Brady (Lighting Designer) Alex is a critically acclaimed lighting designer with more than 20 years of experience working in professional, academic, and community theaters across Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington D.C. He has received critical acclaim and been nominated for multiple awards for his inventive and subtle approach to lighting design. He has also directed for CP, most recently with Season 74’s Ravenscroft. He regularly volunteers his talents with local high schools including Saint Mary’s High School, as a designer and technical advisor. He is a full-time audio engineer and an adjunct faculty member at Anne Arundel Community College, where he teaches courses in film and architectural history.
Jennifer Cooper (Producer) Even though she mistrusts technology, Jennifer is delighted to work with this talented team on such a thought-provoking piece. Jennifer is also the current Internship Coordinator for CP, and is proud to have Riley Boyer, Caroline McNeil, and Anna Porter as Production Assistants with Marjorie Prime. (For more information about obtaining high school or college internship credits with The Colonial Players, reach out to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Congratulations to the cast and creative team of Marjorie Prime, and HAPPY 75TH ANNIVERSARY to The Colonial Players!!
Herb Elkin (Co-Stage Manager) Herb has been an active member of The Colonial Players and volunteer for over twenty-five years. Having appeared onstage in several CP and other area productions, he now most enjoys stage-managing and relishes his continuing role in sustaining live theater on our stage. Recent CP credits include Agnes of God (2023), Maytag Virgin (2021), The Children (2020), Toward Zero (2019), Quartet (2018), 33 Variations (2017), Good People (2016), Side Man (2015), Rocket Man (2014), Coyote on a Fence (2014), Trying (2013), and Going to St. Ives (2012)... which received a regional WATCH award as Outstanding Play. He thanks CP's many volunteers and supporters who make everything possible, worthwhile... and enjoyable!
Barbara Kalafos (Props Designer / Co-Stage Manager) Barbara has worked most aspects of theater over the last 10 years, following her daughters’ interest from elementary school to college. She is excited at the challenge of learning Stage Management and props to expand her experience. She is always grateful to her family for their love, support and encouragement!
Linda Ridge (Costume Designer) This will be Linda’s third production as costume designer at The Colonial Players. She enjoyed costuming the cast of Crimes of the Heart and The Lost Boy in the last two years. She has spent the last 10 years costuming for the Annapolis Area Christian High School’s 3-4 productions a year. She has also worked in other community theatres costuming with Laurel Mill, The Salem Players, Spotlighters Theatre and recently with ASGT’s production of Footloose this past summer. Linda is a nurse with the Oncology department at University of Maryland. She loves working with the creative and talented, Edd Miller! She would like to thank Jan Blome for her friendship and assistance with costuming and her husband Ed for his love and support in pursuing this ‘hobby.’
Joe Thompson (Sound Designer) Joe became involved in Annapolis theater in 1967 when Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre moved to its current location. His first role was as a page in their production of Hamlet. His first show at The Colonial Players was Carousel, where he was a member of the ensemble. Over the years he has been fortunate to be given the opportunity by CP to act, direct, design sound, play guitar, serve on the Board of Directors, and have some of his original work produced. Among the plays he has directed at CP are The Lost Boy, Annie, Company, The Battle of Shallowford, A Christmas Carol, and Dearly Departed. His most recent onstage appearances include 1776 and The Diviners. Joe has also worked with Children’s Theater of Annapolis, where he directed an awardwinning production of Beauty and the Beast, The Canterville Ghost, and an evening of his original one-act plays entitled Say What. His original childrens music from CPs 1999 - 2002 productions of his Cabaret for Kids is available on his website: Imaginesongs.com.
