Lightning Rod Special, Creators Of Obie-Award Winning UNDERGROUND RAILROAD GAME, Present Their Newest Work, THE APPOINTMENT

Original performance company Lightning Rod Special (LRS) is reaching the culmination of a three year effort as it premieres its newest theater work, THE APPOINTMENT, at FringeArts (140 N. Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia), running for a limited engagement March 20 through 31, 2019. The piece, which examines the contemporary abortion debate in America, will serve as the centerpiece of the FringeArts High Pressure Fire Service Festival, dedicated to promoting the next generation of vital theatre coming from Philadelphia. Opening night for press is Thursday, March 21 at 8PM.

A dark satire co-created and performed by Lead Artist Alice Yorke with Scott Sheppard, Katie Gould, Brett Robinson, Jaime Maseda, Bren Thomas, and Lee Minora, with original music written by Alex Bechtel, THE APPOINTMENT examines the misogyny, hypocrisy, and absurdity of the contemporary abortion debate in America. The work, directed by Eva Steinmetz with music direction by Amanda Morton, unpacks the economic, societal, and political systems that disempower groups of people from making informed reproductive decisions.

A first draft of the work was presented in 2017 (formerly titled "Unformed Consent"). Tickets for the workshop were free with a suggested donation solicited at the door for Lightning Rod Special's partner organizations, Women's Medical Fund and Philadelphia Women's Center, who facilitated post-show conversations and assisted with the development of THE APPOINTMENT. With the audience's help, the workshop performances raised $4,818 for compassionate reproductive health services. For the March 2019 engagement, Lightning Rod Special will once again partner with Women's Medical Fund to feature presentations about reproductive justice, direct action opportunities for audiences to get involved, seminars on adult sex education, and listening sessions with people who are on the ground fighting for reproductive rights.

Tickets to THE APPOINTMENT are currently on sale. General admission is $31; student/artist tickets are $15. The show is part of FringeArts' new "High Pressure Fire Service" Festival and patrons can save if they buy a season subscription via FringeArts or are members of FringeArts.