The Lifespan of a Fact

A critically acclaimed 2018 Broadway play, this fast-paced story explodes with blistering comedy and timely relevance. Facts become blurry when they’re twisted into fiction in the high-stakes world of publishing. Emily Penrose, the demanding editor-in-chief of a high-end magazine, hires a determined millennial fact-checker named Jim Fingal to work on a groundbreaking essay written by the famous author John D’Agata. The deadline is tight, the essay is dense, and everyone must make a good faith effort in telling the story honestly. But the overly eager Jim takes his fact-checking way too far, creating the ultimate showdown of fact versus fiction.

Directed by ACT Artistic Director, Cindy Alexander, Lifespan of a Fact has a wonderfully talented cast of three actors.

Francesca Bellavista, last seen in ACT’s production of The Dining Room, will play magazine editor, Emily Penrose. Francesca is very active in the St. Augustine theatre scene as she serves on the board of the Limelight and has appeared in shows on both ACT’s and The Limelight’s stages.

Gifted but difficult essayist John D’Agata will be played by Michael Lipp, last seen in St. Augustine in ACT’s production of The Rabbit Hole. He has been involved in nearly 85 productions in most of the greater Jacksonville area’s community, educational, and professional theatres as a director or performer since moving here from his home state of Connecticut in 1985.

Dexter McDaniel, a St. Augustine native, most recently played the title role in The Immigrant in ACT’s well-received production last spring. Dexter will take on the role of the over-eager fact checker, Jim Fingal. Dexter is an experienced film actor, having spent more than a decade working in Los Angeles.