DEAR DIARY, BYE Comes to the Skinner Studio at Plays and Players Theater, Now thru 4/13

Fresh new comedy Dear Diary, Bye coming to the Skinner Studio on the 3rd floor of Plays and Players Theater, from today, April 4-13th.

Address: 1714 Delancey Place, Philadelphia, PA 19103. Tickets can be purchased by visiting: http://dear-diary-bye.ticketleap.com/tickets/.

A humorous juxtaposition between a male voice and a girl's thoughts, Dear Diary, Bye is based on the diary of nine-year old Ellie Brown from 1984, with a twist. Philadelphia actor Arlen Hancock presents the diary as his own, exploring thoughts on school-yard scrapping, a fickle stream of crushes and love interests, a post-divorce family situation, and naïve misunderstanding of some very adult concepts. The contrast of a young girl's words and a man's voice is both funny and thought provoking. The play circumvents ideas about age and gender, and speaks to human notions of love, loss, play, joy, family and maturity.

The play is directed by Seth Reichgott and written/ produced by Ellie Brown. This play is Brown's first. She has a B.F.A. and M.F.A. in photography and has been involved in the visual arts professionally since 1997. The play came to into existence when Brown's father came to Philadelphia for a visit in March 2013. Brown showed him the diary and he began to read it out loud. Hearing the male voice read the diary sparked the inspiration and drive to put the piece on stage. The adapted script is full of hysterical and cringe worthy moments. It is a fresh idea and one that audiences from past readings laugh with, relate to and feel empathy towards.

The piece was originally work shopped for the SoLow Festival in 2013 with actor Harry Watermeier, also directed by Seth Reichgott.

The play is appropriate for audiences 11 and up. The theater is NOT wheelchair accessible. Student tickets are $15 and adult tickets are $20. Show times are: Preview 4/4 8pm; Opening Night 4/5 8pm; 4/6, 4/9-13 8pm; 4/6, 4/13 3pm.