The Firehouse Theatre is proud to present the world premiere of Safety written by Irene Ziegler, with music by John Winn. Safety – a comedy about trauma – is a powerful new musical that blends humor, heart, and magical realism as it explores the universal search for security in an uncertain world. Ziegler and Winn are a dynamic creative duo whose contributions to Richmond’s arts community have helped shape the local theatre landscape for decades. Leading the cast is Grey Garrett, a true RVA theatre star and local legend, whose remarkable stage presence and celebrated career have made her one of Richmond’s most beloved performers. Safety also marks Garrett’s second time assuming a leading role in Firehouse Theatre’s 32nd MainStage season.The production will be directed by Firehouse Executive Director, Nathaniel Shaw.
Safety opens on Friday July 10th, 2026, on the Carol Piersol Stage at the Firehouse Theatre, 1609 West Broad Street. Prior to opening, Firehouse will host two Pay-What-You-Will preview performances on Wednesday, July 8th and Thursday, July 9th. The production will run through Sunday July 26th, 2026.
After a traumatic event, Camille tries to hold things together for herself and her ailing mother. A series of escalating complications challenge her newfound sense of safety and force her to confront the source of her fear. Blending humor, romance, and magical realism, this provocative new musical explores the quest for safety—both external and within—and the strength it takes to embrace hope in the face of uncertainty.
Irene Ziegler is an actor, playwright and author. She is two-time fellow in Cadence Theatre’s Pipeline New Works Initiative, mentored by the multi-decorated playwright, David Lindsay-Abaire. Firehouse Theatre will produce the world premiere of the musical SAFETY in July 2026, music by John Winn.) Irene’s full length plays include RULES OF THE LAKE (Mary Roberts Rinehart Award), FULL PLATE COLLECTION (Theresa Pollack Award for Excellence), and THE LITTLE LION (commissioned). CHIMBORAZO HILL was nominated for the Susan Smith Blackburn Award, was a semifinalist at The Road Playwrights Festival, and the Audience Favorite at the Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights. Irene is the author of two novels and eight collections of monologues and short plays. She preceded Siri as the voice of techno-navigation and airport announcements. She was once yelled at by Anne Bancroft.
John Winn grew up in Richmond theater as a child actor. He has since built a music career that has included a variety of composing opportunities – but none more exciting than this collaboration with Irene Ziegler!
John works regularly as a pit musician for regional and touring Broadway productions and has served as music director for shows at Virginia Repertory Theatre (RTCC award, Musical Direction, Dreamgirls). He also stays busy as a performer (singer/saxophonist) outside the theater, and received Richmond Magazine’s 2005 Pollak Prize for “Outstanding Vocalist.” He has performed more than 25 times at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, and has performed/taught jazz workshops in countries as diverse as Cambodia, Russia, South Korea, Mexico and Turkey.
Nathaniel Shaw is the Executive Director for the Firehouse Theatre. He was the Founding Artistic Director for The New Theatre, served as Artistic Director for Virginia Repertory Theatre, and was the founding Artistic Director for The Active Theater (NYC). He was the inaugural New Play Development Director for Glass Half Full Productions, Tony and Olivier Award Winning Producers of Betrayal and was an Associate Choreographer for Once, supervising both the Broadway production and the First National Tour. Richmond directing credits include the world premiere of Memories of Overdevelopment and the US premiere of The Barber Of Moville at Firehouse (Richmond Theatre Community Circle Award for Outstanding Original Work), Peter and the Starcatcher (RTCC Award for Best Direction), the world premiere of The End of War (winner of 4 RTCC Awards), the world premiere of River Ditty (in collaboration with Glass Half Full Productions), In The Heights starring Arielle Jacobs with Choreography by Karla Garcia (winner of 5 RTCC Awards including Best Direction), West Side Story (RTCC Award for Best Musical), The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, The 39 Steps, and Once (Co-Produced with The Fulton Theatre).
The design team includes costume designer Jeanne Nugent and sound designer Grace Brown LaBelle, with scenic design by Chase Kniffen and lighting design by Michael Jarett. Joe Revell joins as music director, and the production stage manager will be Isabel Stone.
Tickets can be purchased by calling the Box Office at (804) 355-2001 and are available online at www.firehousetheatre.org. Tickets cost $45. A 15% discount is available to active duty military and veterans. $15 tickets available for college and high school students. Pay-What-You-Will performances will be offered for both preview performances, as well as all matinees (excluding closing weekend).
PRODUCTION TEAM
| Playwright | Irene Ziegler |
| Composer | John Winn |
| Direction | Nathaniel Shaw^ |
| Asst. Direction | Lian-Marie Holmes Munro |
| Music Director | Joe Revell |
| Scenic Design | Chase Kniffen |
| Lighting Design | Michael Jarett |
| Costume Design | Jeanne Nugent |
| Asst. Costume Design | Brad Watson |
| Sound Design | Grace Brown LaBelle |
| Props Design | Tim Moehring |
| Stage Management | Isabel Stone |
| Asst. Stage Management | Marcely Villatoro |
| Intimacy Coach | Katrinah Carol Lewis |
| Firearms Consultant | Davis Theakston |
Musicians
| Guitar | Lake Stiles |
| Bass | Alex Kehayas |
| Drums | Jim Bannow |
Cast
| Camille | Grey Garrett |
| George | Nathan Whitmer* |
| Margaret | Jackie Jones |
| Randy | Tyler Stevens |
| Vershay | Zakiyyah Jackson |
| Crank | William Vaughn |
| Boogeyman | Nick Aliff |
| Camille understudy | Alexandra Kaprielian |
| George, Randy, Crank understudy | Michael McMullen |
| Margaret understudy | Kerrigan Sullivan |
| Vershay understudy | Sydnee Graves |
| Boogeyman understudy | William Vaughn |
*Actors’ Equity Association ^Stage Directors and Choreographers Society
ABOUT FIREHOUSE For more than three decades, Firehouse Theatre has been Richmond, Virginia’s home for the most thought-provoking, contemporary live performance. It is a thriving hub of creative activity and a center for community engagement where new work takes center stage. As an incubator of new plays, Firehouse strives to amplify the diverse voice of the New American Theatre and advance the art form and industry through innovative artistic and organizational practices.
In 2024, Firehouse received an MLK Drum Major Award for addressing the systemic issues in the theatre impacting BIPOC communities and other marginalized groups, and was named Style Weekly’s “Theatre of the Year.” Firehouse also swept the major awards at the 2025 Richmond Theatre Community Circle Awards, winning for Best Play (Detroit ‘67), Best Musical (A Strange Loop, co-produced with Richmond Triangle Players), and Best Original Work (Burial Tax written by Andrew Gall).