PHILADELPHIA AND OTHER STORIES Begins 12/18 at Bushwick Starr

Writer Paul Rome and composer Roarke Menzies present a new work of performance literature about road trips, relationships and an irritating rash. A disgruntled writer grapples with the existential angst brought on by the appearance of a mysterious skin condition. A casual New Year's Eve hook-up turns into a spur-of-the-moment day trip to the City of Brotherly Love, complete with the songs-Paul Simon, Cyndi Lauper, Drake, Talking Heads-and memories encountered on the car ride there and back. A young musician revisits an ex-lover, while a young American recalls her time spent living in France post-college.

With Philadelphia and Other Stories, Rome and Menzies, along with performer Katie Schottland, deliver new works of fiction accompanied by original music. Taking cues from audio storytellers like Ira Glass, Jad Abumrad and Garrison Keillor, as well as innovative monologists like Joe Frank and Spalding Gray, Rome and Menzies draw equally on the traditions of radio drama, literary readings, performance art and theatre in this intimate new stage work. The evening also features solo performances by guitarist David Kammerer and singer-songwriter Katie Mullins.

Created and produced by Paul Rome and Roarke Menzies, Philadelphia and Other Stories features text by Rome and music by Menzies, with additional songs by David Kammerer and Katie Mullins, respectively. The production is directed by Mark Jaynes, with dramaturgy and production assistance by Rachel Levens.

Location:

The Bushwick Starr theater: 207 Starr Street, Brooklyn, NY [between Irving and Wycoff]

Directions:

Via Subway take the L Train to Jefferson Street, exit at Starr Street, walk against traffic on Starr, and the theater is 3/4 of a block on the right.

For detailed driving directions visit: www.thebushwickstarr.org/DIRECTIONS

Tickets are $18.00 at www.thebushwickstarr.org