Easton, MD — The Factory Arts Project is bringing John Logan’s Never the Sinner to the stage this March at the Waterfowl Festival Building in Easton, MD. The play, which follows the shocking true crime story of Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, two wealthy young men who committed murder in pursuit of the “perfect crime,” is a departure from The Factory’s previous productions. We sat down with director, Talley Wilford, to discuss why this production was chosen, what audiences can expect, and how the cast is bringing this dark but compelling story to life.

What made The Factory want to do this show? What interests you about this play?

The Factory’s Creative Director, Cece, has long been a supporter of Groove Theatre, the Cambridge-based company where I served as founding Executive Director for its first five years. She appreciated my sense of taste and saw that I worked well with many Factory members during Stage Fright 3, so she was open to my pitch for Never the Sinner—for which I’m incredibly grateful.

What fascinates me about this play is how it taps into the millennial obsession with true crime. Growing up in the late ’80s, ’90s, and early 2000s, we were raised on a steady diet of suburban panic—child abduction fears, Satanic Panic, and sensationalized 24-hour news. Much of that hysteria never actually happened, but it left an imprint on us. So when we do look at true crime stories, we are drawn to the rare and sensational cases that did happen.

The story of Leopold and Loeb is particularly striking because of their calculated, almost academic approach to murder. They weren’t driven by rage or desperation but by a desire to prove their intellectual superiority. They had one victim, they planned everything out, and they had no real motive beyond proving they could do it. And on top of that, they were lovers in an era when being openly gay was impossible. Their story is tragic, twisted, and utterly fascinating.

Who are you excited about in the cast?

We have an incredibly talented ensemble. Max Brennan, Tyler Henry, Roegan Bell, and Alex Greenlee are all actors I’ve had the pleasure of directing before at Groove Theatre, and Alex and I go back decades.

I’m especially excited to work with Max again—he left for college to train professionally as an actor, and this is his first performance since returning. Seeing him bring that formal training into the role of Richard Loeb is going to be thrilling.

Beyond them, I’ve worked with Ray Nissen, Erik Fair, and Clay Owens in Stage Fright 3, so there’s already a foundation of trust and collaboration. It might seem odd to say, but we’re having a great time bringing this dark, intense material to life. There’s a sense of camaraderie that I think will translate to a really strong performance.

What’s it like staging this production at the Waterfowl Festival Building? Are you planning anything unique?

The Waterfowl Festival Building has hosted everything from jazz concerts to wrestling matches, but I don’t think a play has ever been done there. It’s known for being great for big, loud events, but I’m excited to prove it can also be a space for intimate storytelling.

We’re going minimalist with this production—both in set design and costuming. Unlike Stage Fright or A Midsummer Night’s Dream, this won’t be an extravagant production. True intimacy in theater feels like being let in on a secret, and my hope is that audiences leave feeling like they were part of something special and rare.

Who should come see this show? Is it intense? Are there any content warnings?

If you love true crime, history, or just well-crafted storytelling, this play is for you. Never the Sinner was John Logan’s first published play—he went on to write Red (about the artist Mark Rothko) and the screenplays for Gladiator, The Last Samurai, The Aviator, and Skyfall. His writing is phenomenal.

That said, this show deals with serious subject matter. The themes are dark, and the psychological elements can be unsettling. It’s not for the faint of heart, but it’s not sensationalized violence either. It forces the audience to think about crime, justice, and morality in a way that lingers long after the final scene.

Are you doing anything different with this production? Any unique artistic choices?

Every production I direct has something new and different. This might be the first play I’ve done where the protagonists are completely unlikable. Usually, even in dark stories, there’s some redeeming quality or charm in the lead characters. Here, you have two sociopaths who the audience is actively rooting against. The play challenges the audience to resist the impulse to wish for vengeance and, instead, grapple with the larger questions about justice and punishment.

A lot of people have asked why I’d take on a play that spends so much time debating the death penalty. For me, the core message is simple: two wrongs don’t make a right. We live in a time where revenge often feels like justice, but Never the Sinner forces us to think deeper about what true justice looks like.

Stylistically, my approach is minimalist. I want the script and the actors to carry the weight of the performance. If the text moves the audience the way it moved me, then we’ve done our job.

Final Thoughts

This production of Never the Sinner is a bold step for The Factory, and I couldn’t be more excited. It’s an intense, thought-provoking, and deeply engaging play that I think will resonate with audiences in ways they may not expect.

Join us at the Waterfowl Festival Building for an unforgettable theatrical experience.