Simpatico Theatre Project Announces Allison Heishman as New Artistic Director

Philadelphia's Simpatico Theatre Project is proud to announce that Allison Heishman has joined the organization as the company's new Artistic Director. Heishman will lead the company's exciting evolution that will continue to explore stories that celebrate, challenge, and expand our definitions of community and compassion.

"Since its founding, Simpatico Theatre Project has put community first," said Heishman. "The founders created a mission that set out to explore stories that celebrate, challenge, and expand our definitions of community and compassion. The high level of commitment to community partners makes Simpatico unique in its place in the Philadelphia theatre community, and this is what most excites me as the incoming Artistic Director. That connection to community will be at the forefront of our work moving forward."

Heishman currently serves as Artistic Associate at Azuka Theatre, and has directed a number of world premieres, including The Arsonists, Local Girls, Skin & Bone,and the terrible girls. Other directing credits include Tartuffe (Commonwealth Classic), Macbeth (Revolution Shakespeare), No Reservations (PNAA Productions, WP), Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll (Plays & Players), Pinkalicious, the musical (Walnut Street Theater, Kids' Series), A Respectable Widow Takes to Vulgarity, and Spacewang (Tiny Dynamite). Heishman was the Assistant Director under Blanka Zizka for the Wilma Theater's productions of Angels in America, parts I and II. She has written and directed for Theatre Programs at the National Constitution Center, where she is the director of Living News, a fast-paced show geared towards middle and high school students that discusses current events and the Constitution. She also serves as senior Lecturer at the University of the Arts and Rowan University.

Under Heishman's leadership, Simpatico will commit to Pay What You Decide (PWYD) ticketing for all productions through 2018, following the lead of Azuka Theatre. The PWYD program asks audiences themselves to decide the value of their experience, and to pay only after they have seen the performance. It removes the financial barrier from the theatre-going experience and is at the heart of Heishman's plan to make art a community-first experience.

"The award-winning quality of Simpatico's productions will not take a backseat to our community engagement," said Heishman. "I believe that theatre at its best draws us together. We seek connection when we seek out theatre, that ritual of coming together to experience something unique and ephemeral."

Simpatico's upcoming season will be announced shortly, and will investigate the needs and interests of those Philadelphians that would most benefit from alternative venue performances. Interested audience members are encouraged to "stay tuned" to simpaticotheatre.org and the theatre's social media outlets to receive information about future programming.

DETAILS:

Allison Heishman is a freelance director and educator based in Philadelphia. With Azuka (Artistic Associate): The Arsonists (NNPN Rolling World Premiere), Local Girls (WP), The (Curious Case of the) Watson Intelligence, Skin & Bone (WP), Failure: A Love Story, Hazard County, the terrible girls (WP), Azuka One Acts. Other credits: Tartuffe (Commonwealth Classic), Macbeth (Revolution Shakespeare), Rabbit Hole, Eurydice (Ruhl, Arcadia University), No Reservations (PNAA Productions, WP), Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll (Plays & Players), Pinkalicious, the musical (Walnut Street Theater, Kids' Series), A Respectable Widow Takes to Vulgarity, Spacewang (Tiny Dynamite, A Play A Pie A Pint, Barnes Foundation). Heishman was the Assistant Director under Blanka Zizka for the Wilma Theater's productions of Angels in America, parts I and II. She has written and directed for Theatre Programs at the National Constitution Center, where she is the director of Living News, a fast-paced show geared towards middle and high school students that discusses current events and the Constitution. Senior Lecturer at the University of the Arts and Rowan University. Proud alumna of Washington College, Chestertown, MD. Up next: Ready, Steady, Yeti, Go (WP) by David Jacobi at Azuka. Currently nominated for the F. Otto Haas Award for an Emerging Philadelphia Theatre Artist (2017). More info at www.allisonheishman.org.

ABOUT SIMPATICO THEATRE PROJECT: Simpatico Theatre explores stories that celebrate, challenge, and expand our definitions of community and compassion. We stage thought-provoking work that's grounded in social justice, civil rights, and community service. Our grassroots dedication to bridging communities fuels our work, reveals avenues of advocacy for our audiences, and leads to transformative collaborations in our city. More info at simpaticotheatre.org.

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