Neo-Noir Play The Poisoner to Launch Seven-City National Tour

Written by M.M. Haney and developed by two-time Obie Award winner Lee Sunday Evans, the play follows a journalist who returns to his hometown only to uncover deep-seated corruption and environmental abuse. The tour begins at the Touchstone Theatre in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, before moving through Pittsburgh, Kenosha, Madison, De Pere, and Kalamazoo, eventually concluding in Detroit. In each location, the production team plans to coordinate with local organizers and activists to highlight ongoing issues such as toxic lead pipes, unregulated PFAS chemicals, and the environmental impact of data center expansion.

Filmmaker Michael Moore, who praised the play's immersive nature, noted its ability to place the audience directly into the perspective of those affected by such crises. Evans emphasized that the production aims to bridge the gap between abstract economic ideologies and their tangible, often devastating, consequences for local communities. The cast includes Aaron Morton, Brett Diggs, Haskell King, and Maude Mitchell, with performances running through the end of October. Ticket proceeds for the Madison dates will benefit the André De Shields Fund, and the producers intend to host several community talkbacks throughout the tour to further facilitate dialogue on clean water and environmental accountability.