InterAct Theatre Kicks Off 25th Anniversary with Philadelphia Theatre Story Slam Tonight, 10/1

Funny, surprising, sentimental and sometimes scandalous stories are all part of InterAct Theatre Company's season kick-off event tonight, October 1. The unique event brings together Philadelphia theatre favorites not only to celebrate InterAct's 25 years, but also in celebration of Philadelphia's theatre boom, which started 25 years ago as well.

Overseeing the night is Philadelphia favorite and Barrymore award winner Tom McCarthy. Assisting in the slamming will be Tony Award winner Frank Wood; Barrymore winners Catharine Slusar, Grace Gonglewski, and Frank X; playwrights Michael Hollinger and Thomas Gibbons; as well as actors Johnnie Hobbs, Jr., Tim Moyer, Bi Ngo; and of course, InterAct's Producing Artistic Director Seth Rozin.

"We really wanted to create a special event that not only celebrates InterAct's 25th anniversary, but also shines a light on Philadelphia theatre," explains Producing Artistic Director Seth Rozin. "Philadelphia has a long theatre tradition, but it wasn't until 25 years ago that the professional theatre boom really started. We thought that an event bringing together Philadelphia theatre favorites would be a perfect celebration."

While kicking off a season of celebration, tonight's October 1 event also serves to launch InterAct Theatre Company's 2012-13 season of four Dynamic Productions. Opening on October 24 will be the National New Play Network rolling world premiere of William Missouri Downs' The Exit Interview – a raucous comedy that breaks every theatre convention in the book in search of the answer to the question "Do things really happen for a reason?"

The season continues with the world premiere of Assassin – a taut thriller inspired by a true football drama and written by Philadelphia's own David Robson and co-produced with Act II Playhouse. Assassin runs January 18-February 10.

Fans of InterAct and art lovers will be thrilled to see the remounting of Thomas Gibbons' Permanent Collection, which is inspired by controversies at the renowned Barnes Foundation and runs April 5-28.

InterAct wraps up its season with a scathing satire of American goodwill abroad – the world premiere of Eric Pfeffinger's Some Other Kind of Person – runs May 31-June 3.

For more information or tickets, call the Box Office at 215-568-8079 or visit www.interacttheatre.org. The Story Slam and all performances are held on the Main Stage at The Adrienne at 2030 Sansom Street, Philadelphia.

Celebrating its' 25th anniversary season, InterAct remains at the forefront of new play development, while continuing to produce plays which explore the relationship between the individual and the larger world. InterAct's goal is to entertain, while creating thought-provoking productions to foster conversations. To date, InterAct has presented 78 main stage productions, including 34 world premieres, two U.S. premieres, and over 30 regional premieres. InterAct has received 52 Barrymore Award nominations and 18 awards and has provided work for over 500 local artists. Additional programming includes InterAction, an education program that uses theatre as a tool to illuminate social problems; the 20/20 New Play Commissions; and New Play Development. 

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