Blue Skies Yonder: Dark Comedy Murder Mystery Staged Reading with Peter Fenton & Monah Yancy

"Blue Skies Yonder" Staged Reading

• 💡 A free staged reading of "Blue Skies Yonder," a new dark comedy murder mystery by Peter Fenton, is scheduled for October 19, 2025, at Artworks in Downtown Trenton, NJ.
• 🎭 The play is directed by Monah Yancy, marking her directorial debut, and stars Peter Fenton in the lead role of Harrison Fowler.
• 📌 This event represents the first public presentation of the play and is open to the public, recommended for audiences aged 14+ due to mature themes.

Play's Core Themes

• 🔍 "Blue Skies Yonder" is an Agatha Christie-inspired locked-room mystery exploring themes of late-stage capitalism.
• 💬 The narrative delves into queer survival, creative ownership, and the pressures artists face to maintain a "perfect story" and stay relevant.
• ⚠️ It examines unchecked ambition and how the pursuit of perfect aesthetics can consume professional and personal relationships, leading to destructive outcomes.

Collaboration and Artistic Vision

• 🤝 Peter Fenton and Monah Yancy, colleagues at Passage Theatre, highlight their strong friendship and collaborative spirit in bringing this project to life.
• 🎨 Fenton wrote the script over 15 months, using his own experiences as inspiration for the main character, Harrison Fowler, and Monah served as a consistent sounding board.
• 🚀 Their partnership exemplifies the belief that great art thrives on community and shared passion, rather than competition, enabling artists to create opportunities for themselves.

Diverse Cast and Societal Impact

• 🌍 The play features a diverse, multi-generational cast from the tri-state area, including Peter Fenton's father and actors portraying a gay and Chinese character.
• ⚖️ The story illustrates how every character is both a victim and aggressor within the capitalist system, regardless of their background or perceived success.
• 💰 It critically examines the disparities created by capitalism, where some accumulate vast wealth at the expense of others, and the moral compromises made in pursuit of immediate desires.