Dominion Stage is currently showing a world premiere of the play Dead Air, written by Greg Jones Ellis, an inaugural winner of Dominion Stage’s Playwriting Competition, which began during the pandemic. The show centers on a family in the mid-’90s: daytime TV host Reggie’s advice show skyrockets by using her “genius son” as a gimmick, while her real life, ironically, crumbles around a failing marriage and a reclusive son who deeply resents her.
Directed by Eleanore Tapscott, the production makes excellent use of an intimate black box theater. Set designer Alex Bryce effectively splits the stage into two distinct worlds: the son’s bedroom and the set of the Reggie show. The latter features a classic talk show setup with a large sign on the back wall and host and guest chairs slightly angled toward a central coffee table.
The family of three serves as the core and crux of the narrative, brought to life by complex and nuanced performances. Lisa Hill-Corley plays the Mother, a conflicted character lacking in warmth where her family is concerned, yet able to adopt the persona of a caring listener for her callers and fans. She somehow manages to seem sincere on the air while simultaneously lacking any kind of compassionate understanding for the struggles her son is dealing with.
Opposite her is Peter Fannon as the Father. Fannon delivers a strong performance as the highly passive husband, whose personal struggle is fascinating to watch: he clearly wants to support his son but remains entirely incapable of asserting himself with any kind of authority. Together, Hill-Corley and Fannon portray two adults in a marriage sustained by a sense of expectation and habit rather than love.
Caught in the middle is their son, played by John Paul Odle, who gives a well-crafted portrayal of the resentful genius. His character is trapped in a cycle where he ultimately manifests his own bleak destiny. The Son is paralyzed by anxiety and fear of everything his mother’s success stands for, yet continues to immerse himself in her world and does nothing to help himself get out of it.
While the family anchors the plot, a talented supporting cast enriches the world around them: Amber Champ as Laurie and Caller 2, Amarah Ennis as Mallory and Caller 1, Kadira Coley as Dr. Kolodner and the Announcer, and Dana Gattuso as Leelee and Dr. Moore.
None of the characters in this world is wholly blameless, making it hard to know whom to root for from one moment to the next. However, the mental journey is fascinating. Dominion Stage’s Dead Air highlights the risks of pushing someone outside of their comfort zone, the murky overlap between mental health and discipline, and the isolating rifts created when family members simply cannot comprehend each other’s perspectives.
The title itself is highly symbolic. The term “dead air” signifies an excessive silence that risks alienating an audience by making them believe a broadcast has failed. In the production, Reggie frequently struggles to maintain the broadcast at critical moments, creating a symbolic connection between the technical silence of the airwaves and her own overwhelming internal stress. Furthermore, as playwright Greg Jones Ellis noted in an interview, the play intentionally leaves certain elements unexplained. This reinforces a point the son keeps reminding his mother about: she and her guests are always looking for easy answers and quick fixes, which life rarely offers.
I attended the show with my 20-year-old son, and the piece evoked an extensive conversation between us about the artistic norms of having clear protagonists and antagonists, and prompted a debate over the choices made on stage. Overall, Dead Air is well-produced, and the performances are interesting to watch. The material is incredibly thought-provoking and offers a refreshing change from formulaic and predictable story tropes. While the ultimate outcome of the story is intentionally ambiguous, one thing is clear: if you want a brain tickle and an excellent conversation starter, this show is not to be missed.
Running Time: Two hours, including one 15 -minute intermission.
Dead Air plays through June 13, 2026, presented by Dominion Stage performing at Theatre on the Run, 3700 S. Four Mile Run Drive, Arlington, VA. Tickets ($30 for general seating) are available for purchase online or at the door.
Dead Air
By Greg Jones Ellis
CAST
Mother (Reggie): Lisa Hill-Corley; Father: Peter Fannon; Son: John Paul Odle; Laurie/Caller 2: Amber Champ; Mallory/Caller 1: Amarah Ennis; Dr. Kolodner/Announcer: Kadira Coley; Leelee/Dr. Moore: Dana Gattuso
PRODUCTION TEAM
Executive Producers “Team Bruneldo”: Gary Bernard Dinardo, Chanel Lancaster, & Bruce Herr, Jr.; Producer: Jenn Robinson; Director: Eleanore Tapscott; Stage Manager: Michael O’Connor; Set Designer: Alex Bryce; Co-Lighting Designers: Kim Crago & Jeff Auerbach; Sound Designer: David Correia; Special Effects Designer: Gary Bernard Dinardo; Set Dresser: Charles Dragonette; Set Construction: Alex Bryce & Gary Bernard Dinardo; Set Painting: Gary Bernard Dinardo & Alex Bryce; Props Designer: Gary Bernard Dinardo; Costume Designer: Farrell Hartigan; Hair & Makeup Designer: Chanel Lancaster; Graphic Designers: Chanel Lancaster; Playbill Designer: Bruce Herr, Jr. & Chanel Lancaster
