Strand Theatre Closes PEPPERMINT PATTY CHRISTMAS, 12/18

The Strand Theater proudly presents A Peppermint Patty Christmas by local playwright and lesbian activist, Kate Bishop. A Peppermint Patty Christmas runs from December 2 - 18, 2010, at the Strand Theater Company in Baltimore.

The Strand Theater is very excited to be working with Kate Bishop again this season. Bishop first introduced herself to the Strand last summer when her play How I Learned to Eat Pussy was featured in the 2010 Friends and Neighbors Festival: Works by Women. "Kate's plays are the first I have ever read that discuss being a lesbian in a mature way. The women she writes about are adults, comfortable in themselves. Her plays are not about women figuring out that they are lesbians, her plays are about human experiences" says Jayme Kilburn, Artistic Director. Bishop was commissioned by the Strand to write a comedy Christmas story that focuses on lesbian issues. A Peppermint Patty Christmas is a response to the overwhelming outcry by the community for more roles and portrayals of lesbians in theater.

A Peppermint Patty Christmas puts the focus first and foremost on family. Parents Rita and Ted Bialecki are like most parents, a tad dysfunctional. Rita the homemaker and Ted the recovering gambler are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their daughter, Patty. This year Patty brings home her long time partner Marcie, in the hopes of finding the courage to finally come out to her parents. What she discovers is that her family has bigger problems than her sexuality.

Kate Bishop (playwright) is a social worker, sex educator, theater dabbler and vaginal enthusiast.  A Pittsburgh native, Ms. Bishop spent her young adulthood in Cleveland until moving to Baltimore four years ago.  She has a Bachelor of Arts in Gender Studies from Hiram College and a Masters in Social Work from Case Western Reserve University. Ms. Bishop's performance experience follows her pathological longing to wear a costume every few weeks. Bishop is active as a volunteer for NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland, a member of the Charm City Kitty Club queer performance collective, a Friend of the Maryland Film Festival, and plants bulbs with the Friends of Mt. Vernon Place.  She lives with Tori McReynolds, her sweetheart of nine years, in Mt. Vernon.  

About the Play / Blurb- Patricia dreads going home for the holidays. It seems her winter gloom descends like the dancing robot Santas and the light-up Messiahs, earlier and earlier every year. But this year, she's going to set a different dinner table. Patricia made a promise to herself, her girlfriend, and her therapist that this is the year -- no matter how much her mom tries to keep conversation meteorological in nature -- this year she's going to try something new. She will tell the truth. The whole truth. And nothing. But. The truth.

About the Strand - The Strand is now entering a very exciting third season! As The Strand continues to grow and evolve, there have been many important successes. Over the last two years the Strand has produced eight full-length season plays (all Baltimore premieres), began a 6 week festival of new work, assisted small companies with gifted space, offered 75% of all opportunities within the theater to women, served over 2500 patrons, and played an integral role in the revitalization of Station North Arts & Entertainment District.

A Peppermint Patty Christmas will be performed at the Strand from December 2nd until December 18th. General admission is $15; Students/Seniors are $10.  Reservations can be made by phone 443-874-4917. For more information please visit www.strandtheatercompany.org.
The Strand Theater is offering 2-for-1 tickets to any persons bringing a toy to the performance as part of our Toys for Tickets campaign. All toys must be new and in the original unopened package. Patrons will also receive discounts on tickets for canned food items and toiletries. All donations collected will be given to Project PLASE (http://www.projectplase.org).