Lantern Theater Extends NEW JERUSALEM thru 9/30

Lantern Theater Company announces a one-week extension of its successful remount of New Jerusalem, The Interrogation of Baruch de Spinoza at Talmud Torah Congregation: Amsterdam, July 27, 1656 by award-winning playwright David Ives and directed by Lantern Artistic Director Charles McMahon. New Jerusalem will now run through September 30, 2012.

The following performances have been added:

Thursday, September 27 at 7:00 p.m.
Friday, September 28 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 29 at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 30 at 2:00 p.m.

In New Jerusalem, a small Jewish community flees Portugal to find a tenuous peace in seemingly liberal Amsterdam. But Spinoza, a favorite son of the community and the rabbi's heir apparent, is a revolutionary thinker. When the boldness of his ideas strains the bounds of Amsterdam's professed tolerance, it leads to a dangerous confrontation between powerful political forces and his own beloved community. Well-liked, and considered to be a brilliant religious student, Spinoza is accused of atheism for his radical new ideas and risks excommunication from the Jewish faith, including complete social isolation.

Extension week tickets are $30 – $38 and are available online at lanterntheater.org or by calling the Lantern Box Office at (215) 829-0395. $10 student rush tickets are available 10 minutes before curtain with valid ID; cash preferred. Additional discounts are available for seniors and groups of 10 or more. Lantern Theater Company is located at St. Stephen's Theater, 10th & Ludlow Streets in Center City Philadelphia.

The Lantern will present Artistic Directors: In Conversation on Friday, September 28 at 7:00 p.m., a free pre-show conversation in which the company’s artistic team will explore themes raised in New Jerusalem as well as the work of David Ives. The conversation will be moderated by Lantern Associate Artistic Director Kathryn MacMillan, who will direct Ives’ adaptation of Pierre Corneille’s The Liar, on stage at the Lantern November 1 – 25, 2012.

Cast (in alphabetical order)
David Bardeen as Rabbi Saul Levi Mortera
David Blatt as Gaspar Rodrigues Ben Israel
Jake Blouch as Simon de Vries
Sam Henderson as Baruch de Spinoza
Kittson O'Neill as Rebekah de Spinoza
Seth Reichgott as Abraham van Valkenburgh
Mary Tuomanen as Clara van den Enden

Production Team
Meghan Jones, Production Manager
Nick Embree, Scenic Designer
Maggie Baker, Costume Designer
Shon Causer, Lighting Designer
Nick Rye, Sound Designer
Rebecca Smith, Stage Manager
M. Craig Getting, Assistant Director

Photo credit: Mark Garvin

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