Drexel’s Co-Op Theatre Company presents:

Essential
Directed by Bill Fennelly
Co-Conceived by Bill Fennelly, David Lee White, and members of the Company

Essential is a documentary theater project that explores who and what became essential during the unprecedented moments of 2020. Presented as a 24-episode original series, Essential explores the richness of the human experience in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our company members share incredibly moving and personal stories with you through a series of monologues based on interviews with real people from all walks of life. Student actors portray frontline workers, medical professionals, creatives, community leaders, drag queens, Black Lives Matter organizers, parents, and more. Join Drexel students on their journey to answer the question, “What does it mean to be ‘essential’ in this moment?”

Episodes are listed below!

Watch a preview of Essential

Meet the creative team

Director: Bill Fennelly
Assistant Directors: Lizzy Friedman, Liv Shoup, Chloe Tolderlund
Playwright: David Lee White
Dramaturg: Adrena Williams
Voice and Text: D'Arcy Webb
Video Production Designer: Jorge Cousineau
Video and Media Designer: Janelle Kaufman
Composer/Sound Designer: Shammy Dee
Sound Designer: Michael Kiley
Scenic Designer: Melpomene Katakalos
Lighting Designer: Patricia Nichols
Costume Designer: Alison Roberts
Stage Manager: Lyndsey Connolly

Read their bios here.

Meet the actors

Stream Essential 

Essential has been curated into several playlists. You can find these playlists below and on our YouTube channel!