Inis Nua Theatre to Present American Debut of Pub Play LEPER + CHIP

Inis Nua Theatre Company jumps into 2017 with the raucous, fast-paced and heartful Leper + Chip, an American premiere by Lee Coffey at the Louis Bluver Theater at The Drake (203 South Hicks Street).

Leper + Chip opens tomorrow, February 17, at 8:00 pm, with previews on Wednesday, February 15, and Thursday, February 16, at 7:00 pm. Leper + Chip runs for a total of 16 performances, through March 5, 2017. Tickets are on sale now for $25-35 at www.inisnuatheatre.org/leper-chip.

"Two star crossed lovers who knew each other but a day." This Romeo and Juliet tale, set in poor urban Dublin, unfolds at breakneck speed over roughly 36 chaotic, violent and funny hours. Boy (Leper) meets Girl (Chip) during a fight at a party. He's out to get even the next day, but antagonism turns to love.

Her nickname is from a chipped tooth, his from a large burn scar on his leg-they hate those nicknames and just about everything else about their lives. That fight at the party? Chip and her pals are the instigators. Chip holds her own but it's her friend Pringle (nicknamed for her massive consumption of said snack food) who knocks Leper to the floor and fuels his hunt to find the girls and take revenge. This explosive tale races through madness and mayhem: she walks in on a friend's murder by machete, while he gets set up to take a beating from the crazed husband of a one-night stand. In their boozy, violent, gang-ridden world, joys are fleeting and hope is even scarcer. These tough and cynical teenagers don't expect connection ("She tells it like it is. Like me."), much less love-they certainly don't expect to want to fight for a future together. Frantic and funny, Leper + Chip is a gritty, inner city Dublin odyssey of two young lovers trying to get out.

Mark O'Rowe called this spectacular writing debut "Hilarious, fast-paced and deeply heartfelt". Caitlin Hobbs of Broadway Baby writes, "The script itself is a knockout; funny yet heartbreaking and shockingly intelligent, Leper + Chip leaps the hurdle that many productions about young people trip on. It's genuinely cool. Leper and Chip aren't half-arsed teen stereotypes with teen problems-they're all too real and they're here to be taken seriously."

Lee Coffey is based in Dublin and is a founding member and the artistic director of Bitter Like a Lemon Productions. Leper + Chip was Coffey's professional debut, a full length show that opened to critical and popular acclaim in April 2014 at Theatre Upstairs in Dublin. After successfully transferring to the Project Arts Centre, Leper + Chip then made the trip to Edinburgh to become a breakout hit. This American premiere of Leper + Chip is directed by Tom Reing and stars newcomers Liam Mulshine and Katie Stahl. The show's honorary producer is Louis Bluver.

Inis Nua Artistic Director Tom Reing explains why he was drawn to Leper + Chip: "I like to sample plays from both ends of the spectrum, from The Abbey to the pub plays of Theatre Upstairs. This is an Irish pub play along the lines of Hooked! It's a two-hander that is storytelling at its simplest and best."

Leper + Chip opens tonight, February 17 at 8:00 pm, with previews on Wednesday, February 15, and Thursday, February 16, at 7:00 pm. Leper + Chip runs for a total of 16 performances, through March 5, 2017. All shows are at the Louis Bluver Theater at The Drake, 203 South Hicks Street. South Hicks Street is right next to The Drake apartment building at 1512 Spruce Street.

Tickets are on sale for $25-$35 by calling (215) 454-9776 or visiting inisnuatheatre.org. To join the conversation, like Inis Nua Theatre Company on Facebook and follow @InisNuaTheatre on Twitter.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

Tom Reing (Director) has made a career directing Irish and UK theatre in Philadelphia. Reing founded Inis Nua Theatre Company in 2004 to bring plays to Philadelphia that don't travel the Dublin-West End-Broadway-Regional Theatre route. Apart from his directing at Inis Nua, other work includes Eden for Brat Productions and Molly Sweeney for Amaryllis Theatre Company, as well as directed for the Walnut Street Theatre,Shakespeare in Clark Park and Revolution Shakespeare. Reing recently was nominated for Outstanding Direction of a Play for The Radicalization of Bradley Manning.

Liam Mulshine (Leper) is thrilled to be making his Inis Nua debut. Recent credits include The Just, Levée des Conflits at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and understudy roles at the Arden, Walnut Street Theatre and Theatre Horizon. Founding member of Commedia dell'Arte theatre company Tut'Zanni. BFA from Boston University. liammulshine.com

Katie Stahl (Chip) is thrilled to be here! She has worked regionally at People's Light, The Eagle Theatre, Inis Nua and more! Training: West Chester University and BADA. Up next: Brighton Beach Memoirs (Act II Playhouse).Thanks to the Inis Nua team, Mom, Dad and Tim. www.katiestahl.com.

Shon Causer (Lighting Design) is excited returning to Inis Nua. Previous designs: Ciphers, Midsummer, Blink, Hand of Gaul, Little Gem. Selected credits: Doubt, Beauty Queen of Leenane, A Skull In Connemara (Lantern), Arsenic and Old Lace, God of Carnage, Good People(Walnut Street Theater), Chicago, South Pacific (Maples Rep), I Am My Own Wife (Penobscot Theater). Thanks to Tom and Jess. Love to Christine.

Meghan Jones (Set Designer) has designed with Inis Nua for several seasons; highlighted designs include The Radicalization of Bradley Manning, Spine, and My Romantic History. Recent designs in the Philadelphia community include Lantern Theater Company's As You Like It and Photograph 51, and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf with Theatre Exile. Upcoming designs include Lantern's An Iliad and Dublin By Lamplight with Inis Nua. She is currently the Production Manager for Lantern Theater Company. She holds her MFA in scenic design from Temple University. Most appreciation to Inis Nua's staff, cast, and crew for all their support. www.mcjonesdesigns.com

Rebecca Kanach (Costume Designer) is a Philadelphia based designer with a special interest in new and devised work. She is resident designer for the Bearded Ladies Cabaret and works regularly with Lightning Rod Special and Medium Theatre Company. Recent projects include a collaboration with Opera Philadelphia to premier Andy: A Popera and Holden with George & Co. at the 2015 Ice Factory Festival. Up Next: The Jungle Book with the Pennsylvania Ballet.

Zachary McKenna (Sound Designer) is a graduate of Arcadia University and a native of Philadelphia where he is a freelance Sound Designer, composer and video en­gineer. Previous works include Alive! and Midway at Arcadia University, Speech and Debate with Azuka Theatre, Juno and the Paycock with the Irish Heritage Theatre, and Underneath the Lintel at The Lantern Theater Company.

Lisa Sullivan (Stage Manager) Lisa previously stage managed Inis Nua's Barrymore Recommended Production of Radiant Vermin. Highlighted Stage Manager Credits Include: Luna Theater Co. (The Pillowman), Flashpoint Theatre Co. (Lulu's Golden Shoes), New Freedom Theater (Liberty to Go to See). Recent Asst. Stage Manager Credits Include: People's Light (Ring of Fire, A Single Shard, Sense & Sensibility, All My Sons), Wilma Theater (Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead, Hamlet, The Body of an American; Rapture, Blister, Burn). Training: B.A. in Theater from Temple University. Sending love to her family, friends, and Wesley.

Lauren Tracy (Production Manager) is thrilled to be returning to Inis Nua after production managing last season! She serves as the production manager for Theatre Horizon, Simpatico Theatre Project, InterAct Theatre Company, Revolution Shakespeare and Cheltenham High School. She holds a B.F.A. in Stage Management from Syracuse University. She would like to thank her friends, family and Andrew for all of their love and support.

Inis Nua's mission is to produce contemporary, provocative plays from Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales which reflect those cultures' new identities in today's world. Inis Nua also seeks to cultivate and produce contemporary, provocative work from American Playwrights who deal with the Irish-American, Welsh-American, Scottish-American and Anglo-American experiences.

To date, Inis Nua has produced one world premiere, twelve American premieres and twelve Philadelphia premieres. Our 2016-2017 season offers two American premieres. Inis Nua Theatre Company has been the recipient of grants from the William Penn Foundation, the Wyncote Foundation, the Independence Foundation, the Fels Fund, the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, and the Charlotte Cushman Foundation. Inis Nua Theatre has also had seven playwrights visit during production of their shows.

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