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An audio docudrama series inspired by the true story of one child, his mysterious lead poisoning and his mother’s unwavering fight to keep him safe.
PLOT
After a routine check-up reveals elevated lead levels in her nine-month-old son, Shannon sets out on a quest to find the source of the exposure and keep her son safe. Finding herself powerless against the devastation lead is wreaking on her son’s body and brain, Shannon goes back to school to obtain a nursing degree. Armed with knowledge, science, and everyday angels, the family begins to unravel the mystery. True recovery and healing begin when mother and son discover the power in sharing their story, working together, and advocating to end this perfectly preventable disease.
INSPIRATION
Yes, lead poisoning is STILL an epidemic.
In 2022, over 5,000 children in New York City were diagnosed. In 2023, there were another 5,000. There are thousands more across the state. The Lead Paint Right to Know Act simply ensures that a buyer or renter will be provided with the knowledge of whether or not lead is present in the home and where it is located, so they can protect themselves and their family.
CAST
FEATURING
Merritt Wever (Unbelievable, Severance)
Alessandro Nivola (The Brutalist, The Many Saints of Newark)
Cooper Burkett (Lead Advocate, High School Student)
Alysia Reiner (The Diplomat, Better Things)
Cynthia Nixon (The Gilded Age, Sex and the City)
Amy Acker, Carolyn Baeumler, Eboni Booth, Tom Butler, Dennis T. Carnegie, James Carpinello, Geneva Carr, Daphne Gaines, Sasha Eden, Dann Fink, Michael Gaston, Kevin Kane, Alice Kris, Adriane Lenox, Jenny Maguire, April Matthis, JD Mollison, Laith Nakli, Keith Nobbs, Deirdre O’Connell, Katie O’Sullivan, Zak Orth, Greg Pirenti, Armando Riesco, Shirley Rumierk, Mandy Siegfried, Thom Sesma, Zach Shaffer, Frank Wood, and Lana Young
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LEAD DUST
Below are photos of the construction dust from the store space.
THE TEAM
DIRECTOR
Alan Taylor
Alan Taylor is known for his Emmy-winning direction on The Sopranos, Deadwood, Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, Sex and the City, and Nurse Jackie. His feature film work includes Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World and Palookaville.
(IMDb)
WRITER/PRODUCER/EDITOR
Shannon Burkett
Shannon Burkett is a writer, actor, filmmaker, registered nurse/valedictorian of her class, advocate, and mother of three. The theatrical play version of LEAD is a finalist for The National Playwrights Conference at the O’Neill Center Playwriting Conference.
www.shannonburkett.com / (IMDb)
CO-PRODUCER
Jenny Maguire
Jenny Maguire is an actor, voiceover artist, filmmaker, mother, producer of the Channel4 More4 documentary 21 BELOW, and the award-winning short Pretty Doesn’t Hurt. Jenny is a longtime collaborator and champion of Shannon’s vision/work.
(IMDb)
SOUND MIXER
Andy Kris
Andy Kris is an Emmy-winning sound mixer who has worked on Elsbeth, The Penguin, Succession, Treme, The Good Fight, The Wire, The Plot Against America, The Gilded Age, Evil, The Deuce. Andy is also Shannon’s husband and Cooper’s father.
(IMDb)
COMPOSER
Peter Salett
Peter Salett a is songwriter and composer. His music has been featured in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Wet Hot American Summer, Keeping the Faith, Down in the Valley, and Role Models. Salett founded The Hometown Project.
(IMDb)
CASTING DIRECTORS
Alaine Alldaffer & Lisa Donadio
Alaine Alldaffer and Lisa Donadio have proudly served as the casting directors for Playwrights Horizons for over two decades. Among many awards and achievements, they have cast and won awards for notable shows Stereophonic, Tony, Drama Desk, and ARTIOS Award for Casting, A Strange Loop, Tony Award, Clybourne Park, Tony Award, Circle Mirror Transformation, Drama Desk, Obie and ARTIOS award and Knights of Prosperity for ABC.
(Alaine’s IMDb) & (Lisa’s IMDb)
| EXECUTIVE PRODUCER | Nora Matz |
| LINE PRODUCER | Steve Dunayer |
| ASSOCIATE PRODUCER | Amanda Kate Joshi |
| ASSISTANT TO PRODUCER | Alice Kris |
| PRODUCING CONSULTANT | Sasha Eden |
| PRODUCTION ASSISTANT | Arjun Govind |
| ADR ENGINEER | Krissopher Chevannes |
| ADR ENGINEER | Bryant Falk/Abacus Studios |
| WEBSITE, GRAPHICS & PROMOS | Kyle Walters |
| CASTING DIRECTOR | Alaine Alldaffer, CSA and Lisa Donadio |
PICA
Pica – the eating of non-food items.
TAKE ACTION
Tell your representatives to pass
“THE LEAD PAINT RIGHT TO KNOW ACT”
“The Lead Paint Right to Know Act” simply ensures that a buyer or renter will be provided with the knowledge of whether or not lead is present in the home and where it is located so they can protect themselves and their family.