Burning Leaves

Burning Leaves
TOSOS Theatre Company
Gural Theatre (A.R.T. New York Theatres)
October 2, 2026 

Photo courtesy of TOSOS

The TOSOS Theatre Company production of Tom Rowan's        Burning Leave is sensitive and stunning.  Mr. Rowan develops multi-layered characters through witty and natural dialogue.  His characters are vulnerable, sympathetic, and full of heart.  Director Graydon Gund maintains a continual flow from scene to scene, allowing the audience to connect to the action as it innately rises.  The cast builds genuine relationships as their characters face monumental challenges, revealing their secrets and truths. 

Sophie Tananbaum, Becky Rusch, Brady Dalton Richards, & Campbell Idol
Photo courtesy of TOSOS

Matt Leland (played by Brady Dalton Richards) nervously faces his first class as the new Drama Teacher in a high school in Pittsville, Illinois.  He recently relocated from New York City, leaving behind a budding career as an actor.  He rents a room in the house of the school guidance counselor, Jane Potter (played by Annemarie Rosano).  The students respond well to Mr. Leland’s enthusiastic approach, especially Jesse Wade (played by Campbell Idol).  Jane is thrilled about Jesse’s interest in Drama.  He started withdrawing after his mother passed away from cancer, triggering him to attempt suicide the previous school year.  After a theatre trip to Chicago, Jesse writes openly about his attraction and feelings for Mr. Leland in his drama journal.  Mr. Leland confronts Jesse about what he read in the journal.  This opens more doors to deeper feelings than either of them intended.

Brady Dalton Richards & Campbell Idol
Photo courtesy of TOSOS

Brady Dalton Richards is charming and vulnerable as Matt Leland.  His quirky nervousness and unease are endearing.  He holds back on the reasons why he left NYC, which leads the audience to suspect there was a traumatic break-up of some kind.  It is riveting when he finally tells the story to Jesse in the second act.  Playwright Tom Rowan exceeds all expectations with this monologue, and Mr. Richards delivers it flawlessly.

The relationships Brady Dalton Richards develops with Campbell Idol (Jesse Wade) and Annmarie Rosano (Jane Potter) are touching and genuine.  This is what keeps the audience fully engaged in the story.  Mr. Idol portrays Jesse as awkward and full of pain.  The character gradually transforms through self-awareness and acceptance.  The audience cares about him and is fully on his side.  Ms. Rosano is warm and giving as Jane Potter.  Even when she takes a hard stance with Matt on his actions, she is ethical and caring. 

Jonathan Stewart, Annemarie Rosano,
& Brady Dalton Richards
Photo courtesy of TOSOS

Sophie Tananbaum plays Halli Potter, Jane’s teenage daughter and a student of Matt Leland.  She is eager and open.  Her character matures through Matt’s mentoring and her mutual confiding with Jesse.  Becky Rusch plays Alicia Hogan, another high school drama student.  She is the product of her small-town influence, and highly self-centered.  This character adds conflict and raises the stake in the main action.  Also enriching the conflict is Jonathan Stewart, who plays Jesse’s father, Carl Wade.  These two characters bring a strong sense of location to the story though their narrow mindedness and opposition. 

Burning Leaves is playing at the Gural Theatre (A.R.T. New York Theatres, 502 W. 53 St.).  It is a simple and impressive production, skillfully written and directed, and beautifully performed. 

Domenick Danza