Pulse: Local Talent: Bruce Graham and Jennifer Childs

“I don’t like plays that have 30 scenes. I like the lights to go up and stay up,” says playwright Bruce Graham. This may explain why Graham — a Media resident who’s also had a long and successful career writing for Hollywood — has come out with Dex & Julie Sittin’ in a Tree, a two-character play about college sweethearts who rendezvous 25 years after graduating. As he was scripting the play, Graham realized that he was writing the female title character for a particular person: South Philly actress Jennifer Childs, 38, who doesn’t often find herself cast in leading roles. “I’m five feet tall. I was always the sidekick,” she says. “I’m the girl who would run onstage, make a funny noise, then run off.”
Graham, who turns 50 during the play’s run at the Arden Theatre Company January 11th to March 4th, will also be featuring Dex & Julie in the Philadelphia New Play Festival from February 8th to 18th.