Acts On Stage Presents “Sadie’s Kitchen”: A Story of Family, Love, and Community
Acts On Stage Theater is set to present its latest production, “Sadie’s Kitchen,” a play that delves into the heart of family dynamics, love, and community. The production, featuring Fa’izah Bradford in the titular role of Sadie and Selena Whitaker Paquiet as her sister Vesta, promises to be a powerful and moving experience. They joined The Day With Trae this week to discuss the show.
A Story Set in the Heart of the Home
“Sadie’s kitchen is dynamic,” says Fa’izah Bradford, who plays Sadie. “Sadie’s kitchen is kind of a central point where lots of things happen. Okay, there's lots of conversations that happen, there's lots of love, there's lots of struggle, there's lots of challenge. But ultimately, I think there's lots of joy.” The kitchen, in this context, becomes a metaphor for the core of family life, where emotions and experiences intertwine.
Selena Whitaker Paquiet, who portrays Vesta, echoes this sentiment. “I mean, that's home to me, is the kitchen. It's the warmest place in the house. It's where the food is. It's where, you know, good conversations happen. It's where confrontation happens.” The kitchen is depicted as a place of both comfort and conflict, a central hub where life unfolds.
Fa’izah Bradford who plays Sadie, in Sadie’s Kitchen, sits down with Deaunte Damper on The Day With Trae
Characters and Connections
Fa’izah Bradford describes Sadie as “a mother. She's a sister. I call her a little big sister to her sister, Vesta. Sadie is an unassuming, central part of her community.” Bradford emphasizes Sadie’s role as someone who “holds things together” and views her as “love.”
Selena Whitaker Paquiet shares that her character, Vesta, is “a bit of a fireball, but a very she carries a lot of pain and emotional stress within her, and that sort of magnifies itself in different ways.” Whitaker Paquiet also notes that playing Vesta has been deeply personal, as the character reminds her of herself and her mother. “Vesta is actually quite a bit like myself, and it reminds me a bit of my mother. So it was easy drawing on personal experiences to sort of flesh out Vesta.”
Selena Whitaker Paquiet who plays Vesta in Sadie’s Kitchen, sits down with Deaunte Damper on The Day With Trae.
A Community Effort
Both Bradford and Whitaker Paquiet speak highly of the cast and the community that Acts On Stage Theater fosters. Bradford says, “The cast is amazing. I learned so much from them,” and praises director Isaiah Anderson for his “confident, quiet, nurturing” direction. She notes the strong sense of community, saying, “Every single time I come through the doors, I'm going to get a hug. And it's not like one of those, like little pats on the back, like, Hey girl, but it's a it's an embrace.”
Whitaker Paquiet also emphasizes the “family environment” and the “genuine concern” among the cast members. “I love the family environment. It really, truly is like a family coming together. I mean, after a few days, I feel like I've been working with these people, and know these people my entire life.”
Show Dates:
The show runs from March 7th through the 16th, with performances on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Where to Get Tickets:
Tickets can be purchased at www.ActsOnStage.com
