RIDGEFIELD — ACT of CT is presenting Nickel Mines in its first professional theater engagement. Conceived, directed and choreographed by Andrew Palermo, with book by Shannon Stoeke and Andrew Palermo along with music and lyrics by Dan Dyer, this stunning interpretive musical tells the story of an unforgivable act, which is forgiven by those most traumatized.

In October 2006, an armed man entered a one room Amish school house. He ordered the adults and boys to leave, then systematically fired his weapon at the ten remaining girls before turning the gun on himself. Five of the girls died, the rest suffered severe injuries.

Andrew Palermo, a professor in the theater department at UC Irvine, was reminded of this tragedy several years later. In a pre-performance interview, Palermo described being troubled by the fact that he could not vividly recall the exact details. He went on to research the event.

Moved by the story of the Amish, who in this very dark time chose to forgive the shooter and his family, Palermo became determined to tell their story.

Palermo went on to explain that his vision of how to portray the events while keeping the focus on the aftermath was fundamental to the development of Nickel Mines. Gorgeously choreographed, the music and movement weave together a remarkable work filled with sharp edges and flowing movement.

From the first moments, with the girls all seated in their chairs, facing the blackboard, the choreography conveys dread and unrelenting heartache. The audience is reminded that forgiveness is not forgetting.

A line early in the play asks people to “forgive the sins of those who trouble me.” There is no “trouble” more horrific than the murder of children.

Palermo chose this unfathomable act on which to base this story. To him it not only revealed a depth of compassion, but also that this compassion is fundamental to the faith by which the Amish live.

The cast, to a one, is excellent. Their representation of the characters, individually and collectively, is ethereal and haunting. Cast members include Lauren Celentano, Anna Cooper, Shea Coughlin, Emma Lou DeLaney, Morgan Hollingsworth, Kelsey Jennison, Milan Magana, Mark Bradley Miller, Alex Nee, Eric Michael Parker, Justine Veronica Rafael, Josephine Rose Roberts, Hannah Joy Snyder, and Jayme Wappel.

In a post-performance audience talk back last weekend, ACT Artistic Director Daniel C. Levine recalled that Nickel Mines arrived on his desk via the theater’s New Works program. Once read, Levine felt compelled to stage this play.

The production was initially scheduled for 2020, but was closed down late into the rehearsal process due to the pandemic. Like all theaters ACT went dark.

When the lights came back on, Levine still felt Nickel Mines was not only important, it was also brilliant and beautiful. The show went back on the calendar and almost the entire original cast returned.

The talk back panelists included Levine, Palermo, and CT Against Gun Violence Executive Director Jeremy Stein and Urban Outreach Coordinator Sean Reeves. The conversation during the Q&A was emotional and yet positive, offering hope that, with enough effort, common sense gun laws will help to eradicate the culture of gun violence in communities across the country.

On the subject of forgiveness, Reeves — who lost his son to gun violence — was asked how he felt about the theme of forgiveness in Nickel Mines.

“I could not do the work I do if I could not forgive,” Reeves answered. The resiliency of humanity was palpable.

Not only does Nickel Mines foster conversation about an urgent issue, it is a graceful and exquisite production. This is the magic of theater.

Performances continue through Sunday, January 30. Visit ACTofCT.org or contact the box office at 475-215-5497 or boxoffice@actofct.org for full details, including ticket purchases and the latest COVID-19 guidelines.