Philadelphia Theatre Workshop begins its seventh season with the World Premiere of Kathy Anderson's Front Row Seat. This wacky road trip comedy opens November 20 and runs through December 12, 2010. The play will be performed at Walnut Street Theatre's Studio 5. Tickets cost $18 in advance and $20 at the door (with a $15 rate for students and senior citizens). Walnut Street Theatre is located at 825 Walnut Street. Tickets are available online at www.philadelphiatheatreworkshop.org
This new comedy takes us back to 1963 and introduces us to the Flannery family. The Flannerys are on a trip, a rare outing from their little hometown. They are not experienced travelers and experience multiple mishaps and calamities along the way. Franny wrestles with a killer girdle. Inez crashes into a wayward cow. Billy fends off a knife-wielding Christian. The strangers they meet are getting stranger and stranger. But they are increasingly determined to realize their once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the President and First Lady in person. And they want to be right up front.
"We are so pleased to be presenting Kathy Anderson's unique characters and humor to our audiences." said PTW Artistic Director Bill Felty. "This play is especially important, in addition to being insanely funny. And it manages to nostalgically return us to a time of historical significance in our country. There is literally something for everyone in this play."
Peter Zielinski plays head of the household Billy Flannery. Janine White plays his wife, Franny, a role she originated during the workshop of Front Row Seat in PTW's 3rd Annual PlayShop Festival (Feb/March 2010). Kelly DelDuca plays their daughter Perdita.
Susan Moses, recently seen in Bristol Riverside Theatre's The Foreigner, plays the feisty grandmother Inez. Greg Bell, a Temple University grad, plays Driving Man. Matt Dell'Olio plays All Purpose Man and Amy Acchione, from PTW's smash hit last season The :nv:s:ble Play, is the All Purpose Woman.
Bill Felty directs this world premiere. Stephen Hungerford is creating the set. Shon Causer is designing the lights and Amanda Kroll is creating the costumes. Carl Cheeseman is crafting original music and designing the sound.
Kathy Anderson is a Philadelphia resident. Front Row Seat marks her 3rd world premiere with PTW following The Meatpackers Book Club in 2009 and Incoming in 2007. Incoming went on to win the national Queer Women's Play Contest with Bloody Unicorn Theatre Company (AZ), was featured at the International Centre for Women Playwrights 2007 Chicago HER-RAH: A Festival of the World's Best Women Playwrights and Their New Plays, and was also selected for the TOSOS II Robert Chesley/
Jane Chambers Playwright Project in New York City in 2008. She is currently Playwright-in-Residence and Associate Artistic Director at Philadelphia Theatre Workshop. A recent Pushcart Prize nominee, her short stories, essays and poetry have been published in journals, magazines and anthologies. Her website is www.kathyandersonwriter.com.
About Philadelphia Theatre Workshop
Philadelphia Theatre Workshop strives to nurture bright and emerging artists at various stages of their careers. We ignite Philadelphia by spotlighting characters and stories often underrepresented in the broader theatrical world. We are dedicated to reflecting diverse audiences through original, evocative programming. Our focus is world premiere plays by Philadelphia-area playwrights. Philadelphia Theatre Workshop: Making better artists and audiences. www.philadelphiatheatreworkshop.org
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