Centre Theater Independent Voices Festival Continues With Puppetry, Comedy and More, 1/20-2/6

The Centre Theater's Independent Voices festival begins it third weekend of performance with a focus on theatre. The Centre's fourth floor black box hosts events from two respected regional companies and two New Groups.

The weekend opens with a production from South Camden Theatre on January 20 and 21 at 8pm. Nick of Time by Joe Paprzycki is a new short play about Nick Virgilio, the famous haiku poet who was a Camden, NJ resident who is widely considered as America's greatest haiku poet. The play was the feature at a Virgilio festival in Camden on January 9th and played to a sold out crowd at the new Camden waterfront theater. In the play, Nick meets his writing mentor and confidant Walt Whitman as he struggles with his identity. The play takes us into Nick's world and motivation and we see the heart and soul of a great poet. Bob Weick, Rocky Wilson and Matt Mezzacappa will be performing and are directed by Henry Brann. On January 20, the production of Nick of time will be accompanied by Seventh Inning Stretch Puppet Company , a New Group developed at Temple University. Before both performances on Jan 20 and 21 there will be a screening of Sean Dougherty 's new documentary about Nick Virgilio. This celebration of a great regional poet is emotionally intense and informationally rich..

January 22 brings a regional favorite to the Centre Theater. Part Commedia dell'Arte part Clown, The Dead Man's Mambo is a solo show with one actor performing 11 characters in 80 hilarious minutes. Through traditional masks, physical story telling, and action-packed sword fights the audience is introduced to group of timeless human archetypes. The Dead Man's Mambo is a unique mix of highly structured scenario, wildly improvised performance and live music. The Dead Man's Mambo is written and conceived by John Bellomo and Brendon Gawel, directed by Brendon Gawel and performed by John Bellomo. John BellOMO began studying Commedia dell'Arte with Maestro Antonio Fava in 2003 and is a graduate of Fava's International School for the Comic Actor, in Reggio Emilia. He is also a founding member of Teatro Ronda, an international commedia dell'arte company and has performed commedia in Delaware, Philadelphia, Krakow Poland, and Monte Verita Switzerland. The live music for the show is written and performed by Andrew Clotworthy.

The New Mystics Theatre Company, a New Group in Philadelphia, brings two passionate performances to The Centre Theater on January 23. 7 REASONS Set in the visitors' room of a drug rehabilitation center, this collection of monologues details the drug and alcohol experiences of a divergent group of young people. Consequences of use, family dynamics, struggles with getting clean, peer pressure, and other aspects of their lives are presented in a straightforward and realistic manner sure to catch and keep the attention of teens. And I Am Not Other which is a piece about prejudice and violence including inspiring words from Dr. King. This event is perfect for students and and educators. Both plays are performed at 2 and 7pm.

The performances take place at The Centre Theater at 208 DeKalb Street, Norristown, PA in the 4th floor theatre. Tickets can be purchased by calling 610-279-1013 or online at http://thecentretheater.ticketleap.com/ All performances are $15.

The Independent Voices Festival runs January 7 and running through February 6. More than 20 performances span the five week festival from 11 companies. The events range from Improv Comedy to classical performance, from inflammatory African American theater to Comedia mask performances. The Centre Theater has been involved with the project to develop an arts district in Norristown. The Theatre has been the anchor for the arts in Norristown for more than15 years. The theater is located at 208 DeKalb Street one block from the Norristown Transit Station, the street that has become "Norristown Arts Hill". The facility is undergoing a massive renovation including the development of an new larger theatrical space.

The Centre Theater is in the Montgomery County Cultural Center at 208 DeKalb Street in Norristown. It is easily reached via routes 202, I-76, I-476 and Ridge Pike. There is plenty of free parking and the theater is one block from Septa's Norristown Transit Center on the Manayunk/Norristown line.

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