Broadway Hit VENUS IN FUR Plays Philadelphia Theatre, Now thru 6/23

Seduction and power, desire and sex are themes of David Ives' dark comedy Venus in Fur, receiving its Philadelphia premiere at Philadelphia Theatre Company tonight, May 24-June 23 at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets). Directed by Kip Fagan, the two-person cast features Mark Alhadeff and Jenni Putney.

Previews begin Friday, May 24 with Opening Night on Wednesday, May 29. Performances run Tuesday through Sunday until June 23. Tickets starting at $46 are available by calling the PTC Box Office at 215-985-0420 or visiting PhiladelphiaTheatreCompany.org. Philadelphia Theatre Company's Suzanne Roberts Theatre is located at Broad and Lombard Streets. Venus in Fur is a co-production with New Brunswick, NJ's George Street Playhouse.

The cunningly comedic David Ives tells a darkly seductive tale of Vanda, an unusually talented young actress determined to land the lead in Thomas' new play based on the classic erotic novel, Venus in Fur. Vanda's emotionally charged audition for the gifted but demanding playwright/director becomes an electrifying game of cat and mouse that blurs the lines between fantasy and reality.

Venus in Fur represents PTC's third production by David Ives, having produced All in the Timing and the world premiere of The Lives of the Saints. Venus in Fur received its world premiere at the Classic Stage Company and then moved to Broadway where it garnered two Tony nominations (and a win for Best Actress), two Drama League nominations and was named one of the Top 10 Best Plays of 2011 by the New York Times.

David Ives (Playwright), named one of the "100 Smartest New Yorkers" by New York Magazine, received an Outer Critics Circle Award for Playwriting for All in the Timing, the Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play for his adaptation of Pierre Corneille's comedy The Liar, a Joseph Jefferson "Jeff" Award for his adaptation of A Flea in Her Ear, and a Hull-Warriner Award for New Jerusalem. He has been a regular adapter for New York's Encores! series, working on two or three plays a year for more than fifteen years.

Kip Fagan (Director) is currently represented Off-Broadway with The Revisionist starring Vanessa Redgrave and playwright Jesse Eisenberg of The Social Network fame. Other credits include the world premiere of Christopher Durang's Not a Creature Was Stirring at The Flea as well as and Asuncion at Cherry Lane Theatre, The Young Left by Greg Keller at Cherry Lane Theatre and the new musical Caravan Man by Tommy Smith and Gabriel Kahane at Williamstown Theatre Festival. He has also directed productions at the Humana Festival of New American Plays, Pittsburgh City Theatre, Marin Theatre Company, Seattle's Empty Space Theatre, and Playwright's Center in Minnesota.

Mark Alhadeff (Thomas) returns to the role he played in the Broadway production of Venus in Fur where he understudied for lead Hugh Dancy. Off-Broadway he has appeared at New York Stage and Film, Manhattan Theatre Club, Cherry Lane Theatre and several productions with The Actors Company Theatre. Regionally, he has been seen at Cincinnati Playhouse, Pittsburgh Public, McCarter Theatre and in The Wilma Theater's production of The Invention of Love.
Jenni Putney (Vanda) makes her PTC debut with this production. In addition to appearances at La Jolla Playhouse, Portland Center Stage, and Shakespeare Orange County, she has been featured in several Shakespeare productions at Shakespeare Santa Cruz.

Venus in Fur brings together the creative team of set designer Jason Simms (recipient of 2012 USITT Rising Star Award, sponsored by Live Design); lighting designer Thom Weaver (recipient of seven Barrymore Award nominations and one Barrymore Award, and the artistic director of Flashpoint Theatre Company); costume designer Richard St. Clair (world premiere of PTC's Golden Age and winner of two Barrymore Awards); and sound designer Bart Fasbender (PTC's reasons to be pretty and The Outgoing Tide).

Founded in 1974, Philadelphia Theatre Company is a leading regional theatre company whose mission is to produce, develop and present entertaining and imaginative Contemporary Theatre focused on the American experience that both ignites the intellect and touches the soul. By developing new work through commissions, readings and workshops, PTC generates projects that have a national impact and reach broad regional audiences. Under the leadership of PTC's Producing Artistic Director Sara Garonzik since 1982 and Managing Director Shira Beckerman, who joined PTC in August, 2011, PTC supports the work of a growing body of diverse dramatists and takes pride in being a home to many nationally recognized artists who have participated in more than 140 world and Philadelphia premieres. PTC has received 46 Barrymore Awards and 155 nominations. In October 2007, PTC opened the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, their home on Philadelphia's Avenue of the Arts, which has helped contribute to the revitalization of Center City Philadelphia's thriving arts district.

Venus In Fur plays in previews Friday, May 24 at 8:00 PM, Saturday, May 25 at 8:00 PM, Sunday, May 26 at 3:00 PM and Tuesday, May 28 at 6:30 PM, with an opening set for Wednesday, May 29 at 7:00 PM. The production will close on Sunday, June 23 at 3:00 PM.

Performances continue:
Tuesday evening at 6:30 PM on May 28, June 4, 11, 18
Wednesday matinee at 1:00 PM on June 5, 12, 18
Wednesday evening at 7:00 PM on May 29, June 5, 12, 18
Thursday evening at 8:00 PM on May 30, June 6, 13, 20
Friday evening at 8:00 PM on May 24, 31, June 7, 14, 21
Saturday matinee at 2:00 PM on June 1, 8, 15, 22
Saturday evening at 8:00 PM on May 25, June 1, 8, 15, 22
Sunday matinee at 3:00 PM on May 26, June 2, 9, 16, 23

All shows run at Philadelphia Theatre Company's Suzanne Roberts Theatre at Broad and Lombard Streets. Tickets: Tuesday evening, Wednesday matinee and Wednesday evening: $46; Thursday evening, Friday evening and Saturday matinee: $52; Saturday evening and Sunday matinee: $59. Student, Senior Citizen and Group Discounts available.

Tickets are available at PTC's Suzanne Roberts Theatre, Broad & Lombard Streets, Monday-Friday 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM, by calling (215) 985-0420 or online at PhiladelphiaTheatreCompany.org.

Onsite parking is available at the Symphony House LAZ parking garage, as well as many other parking facilities on Broad Street. The theater is also accessible by taxi, SEPTA buses and trains, and the PATCO Highspeed line.

Accessibility" PTC provides large print, Braille and audio cassette programs upon request.

SPECIAL EVENTS:

Meet-the-Artists on May 30, June 4 and June 13 - A post-performance event that allows the audience to learn about the creation of the production and ask the cast questions

American Playwrights in Context on June 2 - A post-performance event that allows audiences to meet the playwrights and hear them speak about their work in a broad context

Special Topics on June 5 - From Furs to Fifty Shades: The History of Frisky Fiction - A post-performance discussion with special speakers pertaining to the production and the ideas and issues that the production raises

Backstage Tour on June 8 - A post-performance Backstage Tour will be offered for a Behind-the-Scenes look of the inner-workings of Venus in Fur

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