This February, the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia is celebrating the theatre community's commitment to the development of new works. The month of February will be the perfect time to check out a Premiere in America's First Great Theatre City! There are a number of fully staged productions running throughout the month, as well as readings, workshops and discussions. On Monday, February 23, starting at 6:00 PM, the Theatre Alliance is hosting a celebration party, sponsored by Philadelphia Weekly, to honor the new works being developed and premiered right here.
While the Theatre Alliance has devoted February to new play development, this commitment to producing new works is not limited to any one month of the year. This past December, the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia commissioned a Theatre Snapshot report, with funding, guidance and support from The Pew Center for Arts and Heritage through the Philadelphia Theatre Initiative and additional funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. This Theatre Snapshot report, based upon data in the Pennsylvania Cultural Data Project (PACDP), found that, in 2006, 81 world premieres were presented in Philadelphia; a total that accounts for 26% of all productions. This total is significantly higher than the 12% proportion of world premieres-to-total productions from a comparative set of TCG theatres. In addition, 2006 boasted 63 workshops or readings of new works and Philadelphia Theatres also commissioned 17 new works.
The Walnut Street Theatre's 2008-2009 Independence Studio on 3 season continues with O Captain, My Captain: Whitman's Lincoln, the story of two great men with one grand vision for America. Directed by Barrymore Award winner Bruce Lumpkin and featuring Bill Van Horn as Walt Whitman, O Captain, My Captain: Whitman's Lincoln starts on January 20, opens on January 22 and closes February 8.
This year Walnut Street Theater celebrates its 200th birthday, and on February 3rd they will hold a big birthday bash.
Boasting over 56,000 subscribers, The Walnut is not only the most popular theater company in Philadelphia, but also the most subscribed theatre company in the world.
This season includes three magnificent and beloved musicals: get ready for DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, OLIVER! and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. The Walnut also offers two spellbinding plays: A world premiere production of Eric Conger's THE ECLECTIC SOCIETY and Noel Coward's classic comedy, FALLEN ANGELS.
The New Year brings new theatre to the Walnut stage with the world premiere production of Eric Conger's THE ECLECTIC SOCIETY (January 19 - March 7). It's the 1960's, and in order to become the big man on campus, you've got to play the game. In this fraternal society, new recruits need testing and traditions need to be upheld. This new American play celebrates the spirit of youth and the mischief that follows.
The Walnut Street Theatre continues its landmark 200th anniversary season with Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire. This all-new production of Williams' Pulitzer Prize-winning dramatic masterpiece erupts onto the Walnut stage with powerfully emotional themes brought to life amid the steamy urban jungle of 1940's New Orleans. The production runs January 13 through March 1 on the Walnut Street Theatre Mainstage.
Theatre Exile's 12th season is in full swing with the Philadelphia premiere of Blackbird by David Harrower, the 2007 Olivier Award winner for best new play in London. Directed by producing artistic director Joe Canuso, the show runs February 5 - March 1 at Plays and Players Theatre. Blackbird is recommended for mature audiences because of strong language and sexual content.
In the coming year, the Walnut Street Theatre, America's oldest theatre and the State Theatre of Pennsylvania, will celebrate its landmark 201st season of live entertainment and its 27th season as a not-for-profit producing theatre company. Boasting over 56,000 subscribers, The Walnut is not only the most popular theater company in Philadelphia, but also the most subscribed theatre company in the world!
Mauckingbird Theatre Company will present Hedda Gabler as a compelling lesbian drama with the professional premiere of playwright Caroline Kava's explosive new adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's classic. After the success of their critically acclaimed and sold-out inaugural season with all-male versions of The Misanthrope and Shakespeare's R & J, Mauckingbird's Hedda Gabler, explores lesbian relationships and the search for personal and sexual identity while exposing class divides, sexism, and the influence of money and status in aristocratic and bourgeois worlds.
George Street Playhouse begins 2009 with its production of Donald Marguiles' Sight Unseen. When first presented in 1992, the play won the OBIE Award for Best New American Play, was nominated for a Drama Desk, and was a Pulitzer Prize finalist. George Street Playhouse Artistic Director will helm the production, slated to run at the New Brunswick theatre January2020 - February 15, 2009. Matthew Arkin, last seen at GSP in their production of Theresa Rebeck's The Scene, leads an ensemble including Heidi Armbruster, Christopher Curry and Kathleen McNenny.
The Walnut Street Theatre's 2008-2009 Independence Studio on 3 season continues with O Captain, My Captain: Whitman's Lincoln, the story of two great men with one grand vision for America. Directed by Barrymore Award winner Bruce Lumpkin and featuring Bill Van Horn as Walt Whitman, O Captain, My Captain: Whitman's Lincoln starts on January 20, opens on January 22 and closes February 8.
Julie Wilson, the legendary theatre and cabaret star, will make a guest appearance at Steven Brinberg's A Simply Barbra Holiday Spectacular.She joins the previously announced Tituss Burgess and The Broadway Boys. The event will benefit The Ali Forney Center, New York's primary emergency housing resource for homeless LGBT youth. A Simply Barbra Holiday Spectacular will play at Symphony Space (2357 Broadway at 95th Street) on Saturday, December 20 at 8 pm.
Julie Wilson, the legendary theatre and cabaret star, will make a guest appearance at Steven Brinberg's A Simply Barbra Holiday Spectacular.She joins the previously announced Tituss Burgess and The Broadway Boys. The event will benefit The Ali Forney Center, New York's primary emergency housing resource for homeless LGBT youth. A Simply Barbra Holiday Spectacular will play at Symphony Space (2357 Broadway at 95th Street) on Saturday, December 20 at 8 pm.
The Walnut Street Theatre continues its landmark 200th anniversary season with Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire. This all-new production of Williams' Pulitzer Prize-winning dramatic masterpiece erupts onto the Walnut stage with powerfully emotional themes brought to life amid the steamy urban jungle of 1940's New Orleans. The production runs January 13 through March 1 on the Walnut Street Theatre Mainstage.
There is an excitement in the air on the opening night of HAIRSPRAY, as both Amy Toporek (Tracy Turnblad) and Michael Walker (Edna Turnblad) take a seat on the comfy couch in the green room at the Walnut Street Theater. It is ninety minutes before curtain and this talented pair is all smiles, each overflowing with wonderful things to say about one another.
Mauckingbird Theatre Company will present Hedda Gabler as a compelling lesbian drama with the professional premiere of playwright Caroline Kava's explosive new adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's classic. After the success of their critically acclaimed and sold-out inaugural season with all-male versions of The Misanthrope and Shakespeare's R & J, Mauckingbird's Hedda Gabler, explores lesbian relationships and the search for personal and sexual identity while exposing class divides, sexism, and the influence of money and status in aristocratic and bourgeois worlds.
MAC and Bistro Award-winner Steven Brinberg brings his acclaimed show Simply Barbra to the New York stage for 'A Simply Barbra Holiday Spectacular' along with Tituss Burgess, The Broadway Boys, and other special guests in a concert benefitting The Ali Forney Center, New York's primary emergency housing resource for homeless LGBT youth.
Frank Capra's classic film has been brought to vibrant theatrical life through the remarkable collaboration of Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning librettist & lyricist, Sheldon Harnick and Grammy and Emmy Award winning Composer, Joe Raposo.
The Walnut Street Theatre continues its landmark 200th anniversary season with HAIRSPRAY. This all-new production of the Tony Award-winning Broadway show explodes onto the Walnut stage with toe-tappin' hits including 'You Can't Stop the Beat' and 'Welcome to the 60s.' HAIRSPRAY brings big songs, big hair and even bigger dreams to life this holiday season.
InterAct Theatre Company will present the East Coast premiere of THE WAR PARTY by Vincent Delaney directed by Rebecca Wright. It will run from Oct. 24 - Nov. 23 2008 at The Adrienne in Center City, PA.
WritersBloc Productions will present the world premiere of NO ENTRANCE, written by Alec Gutherz on Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 8PM at the Access Theater, 380 Broadway, 4th floor. The official opening will be on Thursday, October 16, 2008 at 5PM. Sue Lawless will direct.
