Simpatico Theatre Project Presents TIME IS ON OUR SIDE Beginning Today

Simpatico Theatre Project's Season 11 exploration of progress and freedom continues this June with the commissioned world premiere of TIME IS ON OUR SIDE by R. Eric Thomas at our brand new home at the Theatre at the Drake.

TIME IS ON OUR SIDE features 4 half-priced previews beginning today, June 3rd - 8th, opens on Thursday, June 9th at 8 pm, and runs through Sunday, June 26th (performance schedule on page 3) with special programming events highlighting Philly Pride 2016.

Annie loves the past. Curtis lives for the future. Together they host The Schuylkill River Project, Philly's hottest history podcast...at least among its dozen listeners. When an unearthed artifact reveals a buried story, the political suddenly gets personal for our queer co-hosts. Bouncing from the Underground Railroad to the LGBT+ rights movement to pop culture futurity, playwright R. Eric Thomas exquisitely matches humor with heart in Time Is On Our Side, delivering a gleeful mystery that celebrates the intersection of our city's past, present and future. Just in time to celebrate Philly Pride 2016!

R. Eric Thomas is a playwright and stand-up dramedian. He has been called "one of the most talented storytellers in Philly" by the Philadelphia Weekly. He is the long-running host of "Songbird: The Search for Philly's Best Singer" and The Moth in Philadelphia; and frequently lectures and leads workshops on intersectional comedy, storytelling and using narrative structure to transform business practices. Eric has appeared on Risk! and The Soundtrack Series multiple time. He also gave a talk at the 2011 TEDxPhilly conference. His writing has appeared in Fusion, Philadelphia Magazine, Newsworks, and ThinkingDance, among others. His produced plays include Human Resources (City Theatre Summer Shorts, 2015, 2015 City Theatre National Award for Short Playwriting), the wordless puppet play Frieda the Invisible Woman (developed with Aaron Cromie, FringeArts 2015), When You Put It Like That It Just Sounds Ridiculous (2014 City Theatre National Award for Short Playwriting), Always the Bridesmaid (First Person Arts Festival, 2012, Gayfest! 2014), Will You Accept This Friend Request? (First Person Arts Festival, 2011), and The Spectator (Run of the Mill Theatre Company 2003). He is a second year member of The Foundry, a Philadelphia playwrights lab.

Simpatico has teamed up with the William Way LGBT Community Center for a series of post- show discussions framed around Time Is On Our Side and Philly's LGBT+ history. The Center serves the LGBT community of Philadelphia and its allies 365 days a year ~ from social groups, networking events, and counseling and support services to art exhibitions and cultural experiences.

We are also thrilled to team up with SUPER|Object for a one of a kind performance experience that explores LGBT+ hidden histories on Sunday, June 19th at 7pm.

TIME IS ON OUR SIDE

THE CAST:

Brandi Burgess as Claudia
Carl Clemons-Hopkins as Curtis
Kristen Norine as Annie
Ryan Walter as Rene

THE DESIGN TEAM:

SCENIC DESIGN - Christopher Haig
LIGHTING DESIGN - Alyssandra Docherty
SOUND DESIGN & COMPOSITION - Elizabeth Atkinson
MOVEMENT DESIGN - Amy Smith
COSTUME DESIGN - LeVonne Lindsay
DRAMATURGY - Sarah Totora

IF YOU GO:

Running June 3rd - 26th, 2016.

At The Louis Bluver Theatre at the Drake, 302 S. Hicks Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102 (at the historic Drake Tower, 1512 Spruce Street).

Tickets: $10 - $25 General Admission; Discounts available (with valid ID) for students, seniors, military and city officials.

Tickets available at: www.simpaticotheatre.org. Box Office Queries or Group Sales: 267-437-7529 or tickets@simpaticotheatre.org.