The Firehouse Theatre is proud to present Richmond director, actor and playwright Andrew Gall’s latest work, the World Premiere of Burial Tax. Gall’s work often explores the complexities of human nature, relationships, and societal themes–drawing his inspiration largely from diverse sources such as literature, music, and regional history. Burial Tax will also see Duke Lafoon’s awaited return to the Richmond stage alongside award-winning actress, Laine Satterfield, RVA favorite Nicole Morris-Anastasi, and relative newcomer to the Richmond stage, Matt Meixler. This play opens on Friday July 11th, 2025, on the Carol Piersol Stage at the Firehouse Theatre, 1609 West Broad Street. Burial Tax will have two Pay-What-You-Will preview performances on Wednesday, July 9th and Thursday, July 10th, and will run through Sunday July 27th, 2025.
Burial Tax depicts two bitterly estranged siblings and their unwitting spouses navigate an uncomfortable and chaotic reunion at the old family lake house to spread the ashes of their father. Past pains get wrapped up with current struggles in the sardonic and wrenching examination of ‘adulting’.
Andrew Gall is a playwright, screenwriter, director, and actor based in Richmond, Virginia. He is an Artistic Associate with Richmond Shakespeare, a teaching artist with Northern Michigan University’s Forest Roberts Theatre, and a recent Pipeline New Works Fellow with Cadence Theatre. In Richmond, Andrew has directed and performed with Cadence, Firehouse Theatre, and Richmond Shakespeare, where his production of Born With Teeth earned him the RTCC Award for Best Director. Recent directing
credits include Cyrano de Bergerac for Richmond Shakespeare Festival. His broader credits span regional theatres and institutions such as the Goodman Theatre, Barter Theatre, Flat Rock Playhouse, Chicago Dramatists, and a host of beloved off-off-Broadway and storefront venues. Andrew was a co-founder and Artistic Director of Chicago’s Wing & Groove Theatre, where his direction of Three Sisters, The Taming of
the Shrew, and his original adaptation of The Misanthrope earned multiple Joseph Jefferson Award nominations. He later founded Highland Repertory Theatre in Western North Carolina and served as Producing Artistic Director of Parkway Playhouse for over a decade. He also led Asheville’s Magnetic Theatre as Artistic Director, further cementing his reputation for bold, language-driven storytelling and inventive programming. He is a member of the Writers Guild of America (WGA), the Dramatists Guild, and the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers (SDC). Andrew holds an MFA in Playwriting and Screenwriting from Augsburg University, an MA from Louisiana Tech University, and a BA from Northern Michigan University. He is the proud father of three children, two dogs, and one cat, and credits his partner Amanda as a constant source of love, inspiration, and creative fuel. More at andrew-gall.net.
Paul Takacs (he/him) is a Richmond, VA based director and most recently directed Mo Willems and Deborah Wicks La Puma’s Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus! for Virginia Repertory Theatre. He was the founding Artistic Director of The Shop in New York City, where he directed the New York premieres of David Harrower’s Knives in Hens for The Shop at 59E59 Theaters and Philip Ridley’s Dark Vanilla Jungle at HERE Arts Center. Other credits for The Shop include the U.S. premieres of Jon Fosse’s I Am The Wind
translated by Simon Stephens and Philip Ridley’s Tender Napalm, both at 59E59 Theaters. Other work: Roald Dahl’s Charlie & the Chocolate Factory and Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery for Virginia Repertory Theatre in Richmond, VA; The world premiere of David Pinski’s Yiddish play Professor Brenner and the premiere of a new translation of Peretz Hirshbein’s Yiddish play Carcass both for the New Worlds Theatre Project at HERE Arts Center, NYC. He holds a BA in Drama from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and an MFA in Directing from The New School for Drama. Paul is currently Head of Upper School Theatre at St. Christopher’s School in Richmond, VA and Artistic Director of Ampersand, the joint theatre company of St. Christopher’s and St. Catherine’s Schools. www.paultakacsdirector.com
The design team includes costume designer Sassy Rychalski, props designer Cai Hayner, sound designer Grace LaBelle, with scenic design by Chris Raintree and lighting design by Gretta Daughtry. Emily Sanford Hicks will stage manage. Original music will be composed by Daniel Clarke.
Tickets can be purchased by calling the Box Office at (804) 355-2001 and are available online at www.firehousetheatre.org. Tickets cost $35. 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, July 27th).
Production Team
Direction – Paul Takacs
Scenic Design – Chris Raintree
Lighting Design – Gretta Daughtry
Costume Design – Sassy Rychalski
Sound Design – Grace LaBelle
Props Design – Cai Hayner
Original Music – Daniel Clarke
Playwright – Andrew Gall
Asst. Director – Rachel Dilliplane
Stage Management – Emily Sanford Hicks
Asst. Stage Management – Isabel Stone
CAST
Cora: Laine Satterfield
Samantha: Nicole Morris-Anastasi
Steve: Max Meixler
Dar: Duke Lafoon
Cora understudy: Donna Marie Miller
Samanatha understudy: Rachel Dilliplane
Steve and Dar understudy: Andy Braden
ABOUT FIREHOUSE
The Firehouse Theatre is a thriving hub of creative activity and a center for community engagement where new work takes center stage. Firehouse strives to amplify the diverse voice of the New American Theatre and advance artform and industry through innovative artistic and organizational practices.