Everyman Theatre Presents World Premiere of 'Dawn'

Everyman Theatre in Baltimore is set to debut a powerful new work this winter with the world premiere of Dawn a soul-stirring play by award-winning playwright, Associate Artistic Director, and Resident Company Member Tuyết Thị Phạm. Directed by Seonjae Kim, the production runs February 1 through March 1, 2026, at Everyman Theatre, 315 W. Fayette St. in Baltimore.

Dawn at Everyman Theatre

And while Dawn is happening just north of the District, it’s an easy theatre trip for DC-area audiences looking to expand their weekend plans. Baltimore is roughly an hour from Washington by car and a straightforward ride by train, making it a very doable evening out or Sunday matinee adventure.

Following the success of her acclaimed play Dinner and Cake, Phạm returns with a deeply moving story centered on Mary, a first-generation Cambodian American. As Mary navigates the complex emotions of guilt, anger, and grief, she must confront her parents’ harrowing experiences as survivors of the Khmer Rouge – the radical communist movement that devastated Cambodia in the late 1970s. Set against this backdrop of historical trauma, Dawn follows a mother and daughter as they reconcile their differing beliefs and seek a path toward liberation and healing.

For DC theatre fans, part of the play’s story is also its regional journey. Anticipation for this full-stage production has been built across a multi-year development trajectory at some of the region’s most prestigious institutions, including momentum that began in 2023 with workshops at Spooky Action Theater and the Washington Women in Theater Festival, followed by Signature Theatre’s SigWorks and Everyman Theatre’s Script Tease reading series, before a recent showcase at the 2025 Colorado New Play Festival.

“Dawn is exactly the kind of dynamic play the American theater needs,” states Vincent M. Lancisi, Founder and Artistic Director. “Tuyết’s original and gripping story confronts history with immense personal bravery and grace. Bringing this world premiere to Baltimore audiences – a piece developed right here with our Resident Company – is a core part of Everyman’s mission: to invest in bold, transformative theater that speaks directly to the complexities of the world we share.”

The production features a first-rate ensemble, starring playwright, Resident Company Member and Associate Artistic Director Tuyết Thị Phạm, as Mother, Ashley D. Nguyễn (Mary / Young Mother), Resident Company Member, Tony K. Nam (Commune Director), and newcomer to Everyman Taylor Witt in the roles of Doctor / Sam. The creative team includes Paige Hathaway (Scenic Designer), Juan Juarez (Lighting Designer), David Burdick (Costume Designer), Adam Mendelson (Sound Design), and Chris Carcione (Projection Design), with stage management led by Molly Prunty.

“When I write, I hope to reveal the interconnected web, circular and tethered, that binds us all together,” Tuyết Thị Phạm remarks. “Regardless of time, location, or circumstances, shared experiences are happening to all of us, all the time, everywhere, all at once. So, the grief Cambodians experienced during the Khmer Rouge is the grief Americans felt during Covid, is the grief Palestinians in Gaza feel now, etc. I hope to evoke a sagacious empathy that goes beyond merely validating another’s experience. I hope to encourage us to recognize the roots and patterns of our lives and see how very much we are the same.”

Tickets for Dawn start at $55, and Everyman is also emphasizing access throughout the run, with more than 700 Pay-What-You-Choose seats available across performances, plus an entire Pay-What-You-Choose performance on Sunday, February 1. Student discounts are available at all performances with a valid student ID, underscoring the theatre’s commitment to removing barriers and welcoming as many people as possible into the room.