Plays and Players Presents EARLY IN THE MOURNING, 11/5-11/22

Plays & Players, Center City Philadelphia's longest continually operated theater at 1714 Delancey Place, will present the world premiere of Early in the Mourning, running November 5 - November 22 in the 3rd Floor Skinner Studio.

At the beginning of Early in the Mourning, Leo and Betty Rosen recall a recent car crash involving their son, Daniel, and his long-time partner whom they never accepted. While debates on little league strategy, the frugality of firewood, and Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve ensue, unexpected visitors arrive at their Newtown, Massachusetts home, including Daniel himself and is the latest offering by Philadelphia playwright P. Seth Bauer. Early in the Mourning takes us through the emotional and unexpectedly humorous journey of familial love and loss, and the struggle for Leo and Betty to face reality before it is too late.

Bauer also authored Over the Line, Iphigenia, The Umbrella Play as well as last season's 1812 Production's hit comedy The Karma Cookie. His first play The First Time Out of Bounds won The New York Innovative Theatre Award for Best Short Play. His plays have been presented and developed by The New Group, Signature, EST, Epic Theatre Ensemble, TheAtrainplays, 24 Hour Play Co., The Lark, the WorkShop, PSNBC at HERE, Hypothetical, 78th St. Theatre Lab, Drilling Company, and Algonquin, among others. Regional credits include New York Stage and Film, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Sundance, Cleveland Public Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre, Eureka Stage, Hangar Theatre, Iron Wings Theatre Company, his work has also been performed in the U.K., Germany and Italy. Currently he teaches playwriting at Temple University and University of the Arts.

Early in the Mourning is directed by Plays & Players very own Daniel Student. Last season Daniel directed Oleanna and starred as The Bard in the hit William Shakespeare's Land of the Dead. He is a member of the Board of Plays & Players and serves as the Chair of the theater's new Executive Committee and Development Committee. Daniel's other directing credits include Star Wars! The Musical at TCNJ Musical Theater, And Baby Makes Seven during the 2009 Philadelphia Gay & Lesbian Theater Festival and Salesmanship for Life and Limb presented by Tall Grass Productions at the 2009 Philadelphia Fringe Festival.

Early in the Mourning stars Mark Cairns as Betty and Leo's son, Daniel. Mark is a local actor who recently appeared in the starring role of Hamlet at the Arden Shakespeare Gild in Arden, DE and in Tom Stoppard's Rock and Roll at The Wilma Theater. Appearing as Daniel's protégé Jacob is Robert Daponte who was recently seen in Quince Production's Mister, Mister and Theater Exile's American Buffalo. Longtime Plays & Players member Helen McCrane and New Jersey actor John Devennie will be portraying Betty and Leo Rosen. McCrane appeared as The Duchess in last year's Alice in Wonderland and as the Narrator in Secret Garden. Devennie, who has acted for the last twenty-years in New Jersey, will be making his Philadelphia debut.

Performances are slated for November 5 - 22, Thursdays-Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 4pm. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door for adults, $15 student rush, and $10 for groups of 10 or more. November 5 and 6 are special preview performances, and regular priced tickets will be $5 off. All performances will be given in Plays & Players Skinner Studio on the third floor at 1714 Delancey Place (between Spruce & Pine Streets). Tickets may be purchased at www.playsandplayers.org or by calling (800) 595-4TIX. For further information, call (215) 735-0630.

ABOUT PLAYS & PLAYERS - Plays & Players is celebrating its 97th Season of performance in Philadelphia. Located in the historic Plays & Players Theatre at 1714 Delancey Place, which includes two performance spaces, Plays & Players offers year-round memberships that include both social and entertainment possibilities. To learn more about memberships go to www.playsandplayers.org or call (215) 735-0630.

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