Listen to Me: The Women of the Bible Speak Out

The newly released book “Listen to Me: The Women of the Bible Speak Out” is now a workshop production of a play with music. We invite you to attend this free performance, part of the 2025 Philadelphia Fringe Festival.

The book, written by St. Peter’s parishioner and author Cordelia Biddle, explores well-known and lesser-known ancient scripture stories through a contemporary, feminist lens.  Irreverent, often scathing, and full of crackling wit, the play offers a new, unapologetic vision of an old story. The workshop performance will feature an amazing cast of local actors and original songs by Betsy Alexander and Maddy Vaver.

Monologues by a radicalized, time-travelling Eve, a nonbinary and initially defensive God, a pragmatic Ruth, and angry Bathsheba build momentum and urgency. The women demand to be heard. A resentful Cain and his grieving mother bring human tragedy to the tale.

The cast of biblical women come together with Eve in Part II, when the women and their laments take center stage. As they confront the myths and personal histories that bind them, they begin to imagine a future in which they, and all women, control their own fates.

We envision a full stage production in future where Lot’s wife, Vashti, Delilah et al add their vital voices.