Meet Sophie Cripe (Dramaturg) 
Tell us something about your family that has shaped who you are as a person.
My family has a long history of liking to travel. My great grandfather, William Brewster, came over on the Mayflower. My great uncle explored the Niger River in Africa. I love to travel and have been to all 50 US states and over 100 countries in the world. A love of travel is in my blood!
What social issue(s) are you passionate about?
Besides a love of the arts, especially theater and dance, my biggest issue is water. I believe that clean water should be available to all for free throughout the world. It is my primary philanthropy internationally.
What was on your mind on the verge of the new millennium in 1999?
I retired at the millennium. My concern was finding ways to maintain my intellectual curiosity after retirement. Theater, and more specifically dramaturgy, has been a perfect outlet for that. (Also travel…see above.)
Tell us about one of your family heroes.
My family heroes are my parents. They taught me to work hard, be on time, and believe in myself. They gave me courage, flexibility, and a sense of humor.
If you met any of the characters on the street, who would you share a pint with and who would make you turn and walk away? And why?
I would love to spend time with Emma. As a former professional fundraiser, it would be fun to talk fundraising strategies with her. I would love to hear about how she started her “fund”. I would also like to hear her views on the “good politics” of today. Ben is so black and white about things. While I might not walk away from him, after a while, his one-sided attitude would start to annoy me.
Do you have a favorite moment in the play?
My favorite moment in the play is in Act Two, Scene Two, when Emma realizes that Morty and perhaps her other donors probably knew her family’s secret, and that they still supported her fund.
What excites you about this story and why should people come see it?
What excites me about this play is its statement that “in tough situations, it is difficult for bright, well meaning people to know what’s right”. So often today, people are so quick to judge or to jump to one side or another both in politics and in families. There is a common belief that things are black and white. This play shows that much of life is gray. It shows that there are many sides to a story. And it shows that sometimes it takes a long time for all the truth to come out. I believe these are important truths for all of us.
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