Independent Voices Festival Enters Week 4 with Shows and a Special Events

The Centre Theater's Independent Voices Festival enters it penultimate week with three shows and one special event. Again the festival spotlights African American theatre with plays by two emerging Philadelphia playwrights. Robert Millers "Portrait in Black and White" will premiere at the Festival and Tiffany Joyner's "Apologies are for the Living" will encore after a critically successful run at the Philadelphia Urban Theatre festival in September. Additionally, the Festival brings back one of its most successful events from last year: Krissy in Concert. This year, the solo concert will focus on American song. Finally, The Centre and Iron Age Theatre will celebrate the legacy of Howard Zinn on the anniversary of his death.

The performances are at the Centre Theater's 4th floor black box at 2008 DeKalb street and seats are only $15. Tickets can be purchased by calling 610-279-1013.

One family's ability to cope with the with struggles of forgiveness and the turmoil of regret is the core of "Apologies are for the Living". When Helen comes to pay her respects for her recently deceased sister, she faces a past that she had dreaded ever facing again. Tiffany Joyner wrote this piece which features BrIan Wilson. The show will run Thursday and Friday . Jan 27 and 28 at 8pm.

Additionally, to honor noted Radical Historian Howard Zinn on the One Year Anniversary of his Death, Iron Age Theatre will present a 20 minutes celebration of Zinn's ideas and life including readings from his work, songs in his honor, a video presentation and actual audio from a Talk Back with Zinn at a performance of our production of his play MARX IN SOHO. Iron Age joins a collective of organizations and arts groups across the country noting Zinn's passing. This event is included in the entrance to the Independent Voices event "Apologies are for the Living" by Tiffany Joyner.

On January 29, at 8pm "A Portrait in Black is White" by an emerging writer, Robert Miller, will premiere, directed by Donovan Hagins.. The story explores the racial attitudes of two corporate attorneys. Charles risks his corporate career and takes on a civil case with racial overtones against the advice of a rising star, Jack Falcone. The case reignites Charles' civil rights proclivities while exposing Jack to class discrimination. This challenging play features Jeffrey Adam Baxt and David Garone.

KrisSy Johnson, regionally known vocalist will return to the Centre Theater stage on January 30 at 2pm to sing an hour of classic music. "Krissy in Concert" Enjoy the music of American composers, ranging from opera and art song to standards and musical theatre. A fun and beautiful tribute to American song! Returning to The Centre Theater after last years marvelous concert, Krissy's funny warm and beautiful music is an afternoon not to be missed. Nancy Beale accompanies her.

To purchase tickets please call 610-279-1013 or online at http://thecentretheater.ticketleap.com/

The Centre Theater brings a series of events by more than eleven regional performance groups to its fourth floor theater with the Independent Voices Festival.

The Independent Voices Festival spotlights performers who deserve an encore performance or who want to bring new work to the stage. The Centre Theater also offers opportunities for new performers to explore professional productions. The month long festival highlights more than three premieres and performances from many genres' including theatre, movement, music, and puppetry.

The Independent Voices Festival has been running since January 7 and will continue through February 6 with the World premier of Red Emma by Chris Braak, about Emma Goldman featuring Mary Tuonamen as part of Iron Age Theatre's social justice arm. 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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