The Unreconciled Project presents a special performance of the award-winning play UNRECONCILED at the historic Academy of Music in Northampton.
The show will be followed by a discussion on healing trauma through theatre with Bessel van der Kolk (bestselling author of The Body Keeps the Score and foremost expert on trauma) and Licia Sky, (co-founder of the Trauma Research Foundation).
Galvanizing audiences nationally and internationally, UNRECONCILED is a solo tour de force of daring to stand up to an institution that wants nothing more than silence.
Thirteen-year-old Jay Sefton dreamed of being an actor and was cast as Jesus in a school play directed by the parish priest — later defrocked and named in a grand jury report for sexual abuse of minors.
Told with unflinching honesty and surprising humor, Sefton exposes the wider system that denies justice to survivors, taking audiences on a magic carpet ride through love and bewilderment in a whiskey-drenched, sports-crazed suburb of 1980s Philadelphia, where daily life is punctuated by church bells.
Hailed by critics and audiences, UNRECONCILED is the winner of the Berkshire Theatre Critics Association Award for Best New Play and Best Solo Performance, and Sefton has received numerous honors, including the Sean P. McIlmail Hero Award from CHILD USA. Mass Live called UNRECONCILED’s debut “The play to gain Chester Theatre and Sefton well-deserved national attention, whether it goes to Broadway, other regional theaters or to film. It’s just that good.”
UNRECONCILED sparks powerful conversations among audiences, survivors, and advocates. In conjunction with the July 25 performance at the Academy of Music and post-show discussion with Bessel van der Kolk and Licia Sky, the Unreconciled Project will offer a creative writing workshop and peer support group for survivors and their loved ones on July 26.
A feature-length documentary film of the UNRECONCILED journey is in production. The July 25 event will be part of the documentary.
unreconciledtheplay.com
“Sefton put on an acting clinic. It all added up to one of
the most amazing pieces of acting I’ve ever seen. It was
also funny as hell and very moving.”
—Daily Hampshire Gazette
“UNRECONCILED may be just the play to gain Chester
Theatre and Sefton well-deserved national attention,
whether it goes to Broadway, other regional theaters or to
film. It’s just that good.”
—MassLive
“UNRECONCILED will make you laugh, think, cry and
seethe: Theater at its finest.”
—National Catholic Reporter
“As the show unfurls, Sefton’s transformations dazzle, and
the pacing of the production is as precisely mapped as the
best poetry.”
—America: The Jesuit Review
“Sefton’s story is compelling not only in content but also
in presentation. For one thing, his acting is top notch.”
—Stage Raw
“UNRECONCILED is utterly moving and thoughtfully
made. Sefton’s magical, visceral performance is truly one
of the best I have seen on stage or screen for many, many
years.”
—NoHo Arts
“A genuine, raw, honest, and intimate portrayal. One must see it to understand the power of characterization and the finesse of storytelling.”
—Discover Hollywood
“An incredible performance from an incredibly honest actor.”
—Belfast Media
Show Date/Time:
Saturday, July 25th, 2026 at 7:00 pm
Doors at 6:30 pm
Ticket Prices:
General Admission: $41.42 After Fees
Students/Seniors: $30.83 After Fees
The Unreconciled Project Supporter: $57.90 After Fees
Where/ How Tickets Can be Purchased:
Purchase online at any time of the day using the button on the top or bottom of the page.
You can also visit or call our box office at 413-584-9032 ext.105.
Box Office Hours are 3pm – 6pm, Tuesday – Friday.
Service fees are applied per ticket to ALL transactions, including purchases by phone and in person.
We understand how pricey going to the theater can be. As a non-profit entity, the Academy strives to keep the cost of our tickets as low as possible. The service and processing fees on each ticket sold support the maintenance and upkeep of our local gem of a historic theatre. We appreciate your support as we continue to provide convenient box office services and keep your community theater a vibrant venue!
All Sales are final. If you have any questions about accessibility, please contact the box office at boxoffice@aomtheatre.com or (413) 584-9032 X105.
This event is participating in the Card to Culture Program! This show will be offering 10 seats at a discounted price of $10 to any patrons with a valid EBT, WIC, or ConnectorCare card. To purchase these tickets, please visit or call the box office Tuesday through Friday between 3:00pm and 6:00pm. Limit 4 tickets per cardholder per show. Tickets are sold on a first-come-first-serve basis. Find out more at: https://massculturalcouncil.org/organizations/card-to-culture/