February Declared 'New Play Month' In Greater Philadelphia

This February, the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia is celebrating the theatre community's commitment to the development of new works. The month of February will be the perfect time to check out a Premiere in America's First Great Theatre City! There are a number of fully staged productions running throughout the month, as well as readings, workshops and discussions. On Monday, February 23, starting at 6:00 PM, the Theatre Alliance is hosting a celebration party, sponsored by Philadelphia Weekly, to honor the new works being developed and premiered right here.

While the Theatre Alliance has devoted February to new play development, this commitment to producing new works is not limited to any one month of the year. This past December, the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia commissioned a Theatre Snapshot report, with funding, guidance and support from The Pew Center for Arts and Heritage through the Philadelphia Theatre Initiative and additional funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. This Theatre Snapshot report, based upon data in the Pennsylvania Cultural Data Project (PACDP), found that, in 2006, 81 world premieres were presented in Philadelphia; a total that accounts for 26% of all productions. This total is significantly higher than the 12% proportion of world premieres-to-total productions from a comparative set of TCG theatres. In addition, 2006 boasted 63 workshops or readings of new works and Philadelphia Theatres also commissioned 17 new works.

New work development happens all year-round and examples can be found in current events such as the play readings occurring on Monday nights in January at The Wilma Theater, or the Society Hill Playhouse's New Works Festival playing through January 25th which features readings of four new plays and a workshop presentation of a new musical. Additionally, each year Philadelphia is home to such events as the PlayPenn playwrighting conference and Philadelphia Live Arts Festival & Philly Fringe. Already this season, audiences have witnessed the world premieres of The Do's and Don'ts of Time Travel, Unusual Acts of Devotion and Cherry Bomb, in addition to several local premieres, and there is yet more to come. This continued commitment to new works further adds to the vibrancy of the Philadelphia theatre scene, and adds to the cultural fabric which makes Philadelphia a world-class theatre city.

Shows running in Philadelphia during New Play Month:
Arden Theatre Company is presenting My Name is Asher Lev, a World Premiere by Aaron Posner adapted from the novel by Chaim Potok. Running now through March 15.

Exit, Corpse a World Premiere by local playwright Nicholas Wardigo is presented by Plays & Players Theatre; running now through February 1.

Footlighters Theater presents Imagination's Revenge, a World Premiere by local playwright R. Bruce Warren, which opened January 16 and runs through January 31.

Walnut Street Theatre is presenting O Captain, My Captain: Whitman's Lincoln, a World Premiere of a new play in celebration of Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday, written by Bill Van Horn. Currently running through February 8th in the Independence Studio on 3.

Philadelphia Theatre Company is presenting the World Premiere Resurrection by Daniel Beaty - one of the hottest young African-American actor/playwrights working in this country today. Opening Friday, January 23rd and running through February 22nd.

InterAct Theatre Company's World Premiere The Rant by Andrew Case deals with the fallout of racism and sexism when a mother accuses the police of murdering her son. Opening Friday, January 23rd and running through February 22nd.

People's Light & Theatre Company is presenting The Day of the Picnic - a World Premiere by Russell Davis. Opening January 28th and running through February 22nd.
Join the Philadelphia Young Playwrights on January 31 and February 28 for readings of winning plays written by elementary and middle school students.

Curio Theatre's CURIOsities reading series offers workshop productions of two World Premieres: a new adaptation of Don Quixote by Tim Martin running February 5 through 8; and running February 12 through 15, A Funeral Farce by Joe Orton which will open as a fully staged production by Curio in April.

Fresh Voices at Touchstone Theatre is the Touchstone Apprentice's opportunity to stage a new work that they fully created, designed and performed themselves. Runs February 6 and 7.

Writing Aloud, a series by InterAct Theatre Company, celebrating its 10th year offers short writings by regional playwrights a voice on stage with readings by local actors. Held every other month, Writing Aloud will be offered on February 9th.

Opening February 10th, Bristol Riverside Theatre presents the world premiere event of What You Will, an original interpretation, using contemporary rhythms and movement, of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, Or What You Will.
The Philadelphia Premiere of Jump/Cut by Neena Beber will be presented February 11 through 28 by the 5 year old Flashpoint Theatre Company.

InterAct Theatre Company is hosting an industry-based conference for playwrights on Saturday, February 14th and the public is welcome to attend A Conversation with [playwright] Paula Vogel on Sunday, February 15th at Plays and Players Theatre. Reservations are not required, and attendance is free.

Hugging the Shoulder by Jarrod Bogard and presented by Represented Theatre Company will have its Philadelphia Premiere February 19 to March 8.
The Arden Club Theatre of Delaware will present its Annual One Act Play Festival on February 20 and 21; with the audience choosing one new play to win a spot at the State's Play Festival.

The Wilma Theater will produce Wajdi Mouawad's Scorched which arrives to the U.S. having been translated into a dozen languages in over 100 productions worldwide. This Philadelphia Premiere runs February 25 through March 29.
Information and links to all of these productions, as well as other new works opening throughout the season, can be found online at www.theatrealliance.org/newplays.

 

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