PRESS RELEASE: Is evil inherited? Find Out in Bad Seed – Opening Oct 3
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 4, 2025
Contact: Kira Catanzaro, Marcom Manager
kira@6thstreetplayhouse.com
Bad Seed: A Chilling Classic Reborn on 6th Street’s Monroe Stage
A Perfect Home and a Perfectly Terrifying Secret.
SANTA ROSA, CA (Sept. 4, 2025) – This October, 6th Street Playhouse brings a psychological thriller rarely seen on stage to the heart of Sonoma County. Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Maxwell Anderson and based on William March’s 1954 novel, Bad Seed shocked Broadway audiences with its unflinching look at innocence, morality, and the terrifying possibility that evil can be inherited. Adapted into the acclaimed 1956 film, this chilling story continues to mesmerize audiences nearly 70 years later. This passion project, years in the making, opens Friday, October 3, and runs through October 26, 2025, on the Monroe Stage, directed by David Lear.
“A well-paced stage thriller…”
– Jeffrey Ellis, Broadway World“…a taut and terrifying piece of work.”
-Brooks Atkinson, The New York Times
Sylvia Whitbrook (Elf: The Musical) plays Rhoda Penmark, a seemingly perfect child whose charm masks something dark. When tragedy strikes her community, her mother Christine, played by Sandra Ish (What the Constitution Means to Me), begins to question whether her daughter’s innocence is genuine. She faces an unthinkable question: How far can a mother’s love go when it collides with the darkest of secrets?
For actor and co-producer Sandra Ish, the project has been a labor of love:
“The journey began two years ago when I contacted David Lear to see if he wanted to direct me in a show. Kimberly Kalember mentioned Bad Seed, and once we read it, we knew it was the perfect fit. This is a dark, real story about the struggle between love and sacrifice. As an artist, I seek roles that challenge me, and Christine is one of the most powerful roles I’ve ever encountered. A mother’s love of her child and the obligation to do what is needed proves to be the most difficult decision of a lifetime.”
Co-producer and cast member Kimberly Kalember (Smell of the Kill) plays Mrs. Hortense Daigle. She has carried the story with her since childhood:
“The 1954 Broadway production and the 1956 film stayed with me for decades. It was ahead of its time—disturbing, fascinating, and unforgettable. Bad Seed is rarely performed, but it has always been a bucket-list show for me. We’re blessed to have an A-list cast. This production re-envisions the story with deeper nuance—exploring darkness and light, compassion and relationship.”
The Cast of Bad Seed is as follows:
Rhoda Penmark – Sylvia Whitbrook
Col Kenneth Penmark – Thaddeus Louviere
Christine Penmark – Sandra Ish
Monica Breedlove – Mary Gannon Graham
Emery Wages – John Gibbons
Leroy Jessup – John Craven
Miss Fern – Priscilla Locke
Reginald “Reggie” Tasker – Edward McCloud
Mrs. Hortense Daigle – Kimberly Kalember
Richard Bravo – Mike Pavone
Rhoda Penmark Understudy – Alina Blascow
Showing: Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 pm, from October 3 – 26, 2025
Run Time: 2 hours 30 minutes, including intermission
Content Warning: This show contains mature language, action, and themes which may not be appropriate for all viewers. Parental discretion is recommended for patrons under the age of 13.
Tickets cost $33 – $47.95 (including all applicable fees) and are available online at 6thStreetPlayhouse.com or by calling the Box Office at (707) 523-4185.