1812 Productions' 2015-2016 Season to Feature THE SHOPLIFTERS, I WILL NOT GO GENTLY & More

1812 Productions has announced its 2015-2016 theatre season. The 2015-2016 season will pair three mainstage comedy productions with three limited engagement events, including classic material and several 1812 originals.

Our season begins with The Shoplifters, a new comedy from Morris Panych that premiered at Arena Stage in 2014. This Philadelphia premiere features five-time Barrymore Award-winner Mary Martello and Johnnie Hobbs Jr. in his 1812 debut. Martello stars as Alma, an outraged senior citizen who's got a big problem with the law. Her problem is, she got caught. But the steak in her blouse and cake fixings in her coat are the least of her troubles when we meet Otto (Johnnie Hobbs Jr.), a past-his-prime security guard with too much experience and too little time. It's a fierce battle of wits and wills as Alma and Otto face off over the haves, the have-nots, and all the regular folks caught in the cross-fire. The Shoplifters will play from August 27th thru September 20th, 2015 on The Arcadia Stage at Arden Theatre Company, located at 2nd and Market Streets in Old City. Opening Night will be Wednesday, September 2nd, 2015 at 7pm.

In December, 2015, 1812 Productions celebrates the 10th annual production of its political comedy sensation This Is The Week That Is. Written (and rewritten nightly) by the This Is The Week That Is ensemble, this 10th anniversary production dives head-first into the coming primary season with the Hillary Clinton Comeback Cabaret, Rand Paul's Economics 101, and the latest prophesies from St. Ted Cruz of the Iron Cross. We'll also take a rollicking ride through 10 years of This Is The Week productions, touring scenes like Occupy Wall Street with Richard Simmons, Chris Christie's Ultimate Rap Battle, and The Biden/ Palin Swimsuit Competition. This Is The Week That Is will play from November 27th thru December 31st, 2015 at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Street, in Center City. This Is The Week That Is is part of The June and Steve Wolfson Family Foundation Series. Opening Night will be Wednesday, December 2nd, 2015 at 7pm.

1812 Productions will close its season with I Will Not Go Gently, a new one-woman comedy written and performed by Jennifer Childs. In the theatrical style of Anna Deavere Smith, Lily Tomlin, and John Leguizamo, Jennifer Childs brings us an eclectic cast of characters, from Rock and Roll Widows to Welfare Queens, who are straddling the divide between the past and the future-each working to figure out just what the hell they're supposed to do in the present. The second initiative of The Women and Comedy Project, following 2013's It's My Party, I Will Not Go Gently will play from April 21st thru May 15th, 2016 at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Street, in Center City. I Will Not Go Gently is part of The Phoebe and Otto Premiere Series, sponsored by Wyncote Foundation, and welcomes its Honorary Producers Sharon and Jeff Weiss. Opening Night will be Wednesday, April 27th, 2016 at 7pm.

2015-2016 Special Limited Engagements

Back by popular demand-as This Is The Week That Is plays through the month of December, one of the show's favorite storytellers, Uncle Shotsie (created and played by Thomas E. Shotkin), takes a break from politics to host Improvukkah: Improv for the Holidays. Improvukkah will be an evening of on-the-spot comedy featuring a host of Philadelphia favorites as The Festival of Lights comes to a close. Improvukkah: Improv for the Holidays will play for two performances only, Monday, December 14th and Tuesday, December 15th at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Street in Center City.

In Spring, 2016, 1812 Productions is pleased to present A Tribute to Joan Rivers-a special two-night only event where we salute the famous, and infamous, work of one of the 20th century's greatest comedians, performed by an amazing cast of Philadelphia funny ladies. A Tribute to Joan Rivers will be performed Monday, February 29th and Tuesday, March 1st, 2016 at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Street in Center City.

Finally, 1812 Productions will present the newest chapter in its An Evening Without... series. Over the past five years, 1812 has celebrated classic American humorists like Steve Martin, Wood Allen, David Sedaris, Tom Lehrer, and many more. We're still creating this season's An Evening Without... and will announce our featured funny person soon. An Evening Without... will be performed Monday, May 2nd and Tuesday, May 3rd, 2016 at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Street in Center City.

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