Credit: David Mandel
A locked attic. Footsteps in the dead of night. A lamp that flickers just long enough to make you doubt your own eyes. Long before “gaslighting” became shorthand for manipulation in everyday vocabulary — and before it was named the 2022 word of the year — Gaslight was already doing what great thrillers do best: turning suspense into a slow, psychological squeeze.
This March, PURE Theatre brings that chilling legacy to the Cannon Street Arts Center with Steven Dietz’s Gaslight, running March 5–28, 2026, and directed by Rodney Lee Rogers.
“Gaslight is the kind of thriller that gets under your skin,” Rogers said. “It’s suspenseful, atmospheric and psychologically razor-sharp — built on the terrifying idea that the person closest to you can make you doubt your own reality. There’s something perfect about experiencing a lush period piece at this point in the season. Audiences will be leaning in, second-guessing every flicker and footstep, trying to solve the puzzle right alongside Bella.”
The production features Sarah Callahan Black and Josh Wilhoit as Bella and Jack Manningham, joined by Cristy Landis and Teresa Elj as Elizabeth and Nancy, the household maids, and Mark Landis as Sgt. Rough.
PURE will host acclaimed playwright Steven Dietz for a post-show talkback following the March 21 performance at 7:30 p.m. Moderated by former Post & Courier Editor-in-Chief Autumn Phillips, and featuring voices from Charleston’s film and literary communities, the discussion will explore the history, themes and contemporary relevance of Gaslight, offering audiences fresh insight into the play’s enduring impact.
Tickets range from $47 to $53. Pay-what-you-will performances will take place March 5 and 11, with tickets available online one week before the show’s opening. Student tickets are available for $15 for every performance. Gaslight is also included in PURE’s Season 23 Flex Pass, available in three- or five-ticket options.
Tickets and Flex Passes are available at puretheatre.org.
Additional information is available on PURE’s website or by calling the box office at 843-723-4444, Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.