PTC Hosts Student Written And Performed PHILLY REALITY Program 5/8

Philadelphia Theatre Company presents its week-long, student-written and performed PHILLY REALITY program, culminating in a public performance of the student works on Friday, May 8 at 7:00 PM at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets).

PHILLY REALITY is part of PTC's Barrymore Award-winning year-long Passport Residency Program. Students from Olney, Masterman, CAPA, and Parkway Peace and Social Justice high schools participated in the program this year. In addition, 16 students from Stephen Douglas, Parkway Peace and Social Justice, Franklin Learning Center, Ben Franklin and World Communications Charter participated in a volunteer after-school program.

Each class spent six-weeks of the residency creating a performance of monologues. This year's theme for the monologues was "change", and students explored words and images that they associated with this concept as they created their monologues.

Each class chose the monologues which would best represent their class, and is limited to a ten-minute presentation for the May 8th performance. Then, each student selected a specific responsibility for the rest of the process, choosing from actor, director, lighting designer, sound designer, set and props designer, costume designer, and marketing/front of house management.

"The purpose of PHILLY REALITY is not to train theatre professionals but to give students the opportunity to allow their opinions, values and concerns to be heard through the vehicle of theater," said Maureen Sweeney, PTC's Director of Education. "The Ensemble process teaches students the value of personal responsibility and accountability when working as part of a team."

"I really want all schools in Philadelphia to participate in this activity. It is so beautiful seeing the different types of talent from different groups of young people. PHILLY REALITY is the kind of program that helps children stay off the street," said Shanee Keeys, a student from Parkway Peace and Social Justice who will be participating this year through the Afterschool group.

Philadelphia Theatre Company is Philadelphia's only non-profit professional theater dedicated exclusively to producing world and regional premieres of works by contemporary American Playwrights. Sara Garonzik has been the company's Producing Artistic Director since 1982, and in October 2007, Diane Claussen became its Managing Director. Philadelphia Theatre Company has received numerous "Best Theater Company" citations from media sources such as the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Magazine, Philadelphia Weekly, Philadelphia Style Magazine, and Philadelphia City Paper. Since 1995, Philadelphia Theatre Company has received 134 nominations and 36 awards from Philadelphia's Barrymore Awards.

For further information on Philadelphia Theatre Company, call 215-985-0420 or visit PhiladelphiaTheatreCompany.org.