When we go to a show, we see the actors, hear the music, watch the lights and sets change, and leave marveling at the performance. But have you ever thought about what it actually takes to put it all together? 

From letters on a page to lights and actors on the stage, we’re taking you behind the scenes of producing the world premiere of Sally: A Solo Play by Lansing’s own playwright, Sandra Seaton. 

Seaton is a playwright, librettist, and lyricist. Formerly a Professor of English at Central Michigan University, she is a recipient of the Mark Twain Award for “distinguished contributions to Midwestern Literature” from the Society for the Study of Midwestern Literature. Her residencies include Hedgebrook, Ragdale, and Yaddo, and she is a proud member of the Black Theatre Network (BTN), Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), and a Life Member of the Dramatists Guild. 

Her work, Sally: A Solo Play, is a powerfully moving, one-woman drama set at Monticello in the days before Thomas Jefferson’s death. Sabrina Sloan, known for her role as Angelica Schuyler in Hamilton, takes on the role of Sally Hemings—as well as Jefferson, his daughter Martha, and Sally’s brother James. Amid mounting family tensions, Sally must fight to ensure Jefferson’s long-ago promise to free their children from slavery is kept. 

The Journey from Page to Stage 

24 Months Out 

This is where the process begins. Early conversations focus on commissioning, scope, scale, and budget—defining the foundation of the production. As the presenter, Wharton Center oversees budgeting, contracts, logistics, and coordination between dozens of artists and technicians. 

For Sally, we partnered with a New York–based production management company to support the extensive behind-the-scenes work: negotiating designer schedules, coordinating travel, managing production meetings, and much more. 

12 Months Out 

A year before opening night, the creative team starts to take shape. Working closely with Sandra, we ensure her vision is realized exactly as intended. Because Sally is a world premiere, everything must be created from scratch: sets and costumes to lighting and projections. 

The creative team is led by Director Hannah Ryan, a Broadway veteran and former Resident Director of Hamilton. Ryan has been involved with Sally since the first table read and has collaborated with Sandra for years. The team also features two Michigan State University faculty members, showcasing that East Lansing not only attracts but produces top creative talent. 

4 Months Out 

Design becomes reality. The creative team begins building and refining sets, costumes, lighting, projections, and staging. 

1 Month Out 

Rehearsals begin at Wharton Center. What was once conceptual now starts to come alive. 

Show Weekend 

The cast, crew, patrons, and community come together to experience the world premiere of Sally: A Solo Play! 

A Labor of Love 

While this is only a high-level glimpse, the process reflects the world-class artistry and dedication that define one of the pillars of Wharton Center’s mission: to invest in and champion the performing arts and cultivate artistic excellence in Mid-Michigan. 

This project has been a true labor of love, especially for Sandra. From her first draft more than a decade ago to seeing her vision fully realized, Sally proves that powerful stories can start right here in our community and grow to stand alongside world-class theatre. 

We’re honored to partner with Sandra on this extraordinary new work and to experience the story of Sally Hemings, told entirely from her point of view. 

Learn more about Sally: A Solo Play.