Orbiter 3 to Present James Ijames' MOON MAN WALK in July

This July Orbiter 3 will produce the world premiere of four-time Barrymore Award Winner James Ijames's Moon Man Walk. This production reunites Ijames with renown director Edward Sobel, who collaborated on last summer's smash-hit The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington.

Ijames describes Moon Man Walk as "a magical journey through space and time that takes us from Philadelphia to the moon and back." Upon hearing about the sudden death of this mother, Monarch returns to his home in Philadelphia to plan her funeral. Along the way Monarch falls in love, discovers the truth about his absent father and learns that his past is also the making of his present.

Whereas last year's Miz Martha took a searing look at our nation's birth, the impetus for Moon Man Walk was more personal:

"I wrote it for a friend. Reuben Mitchell died about 2 years ago and I was having a really hard time mourning. I felt a great deal of pain but wasn't really able to express it. So I put it into the writing. Moon Man Walk is for Reuben, and for me and for all the black and brown boys and girls out there that dream big and live full."

Moon Man Walk marks the debut of Orbiter 3, Philadelphia's playwrights producing collective dedicated to creating sustainable and radical theatre. Starting with Ijames' production this July and continuing through 2018, Orbiter 3 will produce six new plays in the city of Philadelphia. In 2018 when each production has been completed, the collective will release their plays and documentation of their development as a resource for theatremakers. The collective will then dissolve.

"We believe the next step in Philadelphia's growth as a theater community lies in fostering new work by local artists, and that a playwrights producing collective is integral to that effort," says Ijames.

With a burgeoning population of young playwrights committed to the city, Philadelphia is uniquely poised to become a hub for new plays. The members of Orbiter 3 created their company to advance that vision.

Starring in Moon Man Walk is Carlo Campbell, Aimé Donna Kelly, Jaylene Clark Ownes, and Lindsay Smiling. The production features scenic and lighting design by Thom Weaver, costume design by Millie Hiibel, projection design by Liz Phillips, props by Sara Outing, as well as sound design and original music by Alex Bechtel.

Members of Orbiter 3 include Emily Acker, Emma Goidel, James Ijames, Mary Tuomanen and Douglas Williams, the collective is led by Artistic Director Maura Krause.

Performances for Moon Man Walk run from 6/27 to 7/19 at the Prince Music Theater. Tickets are $15 - $20 and available online at www.orbiter3.org.