The Lantern Theater Opens Moliere's SCAPIN Tonight, 12/9

Lantern Theater Company celebrates the holidays with the Philadelphia Premiere of Bill Irwin and Mark O'Donnell's brilliant and innovative adaptation of Molière's Scapin, which takes the master's characteristic sharp-witted comedy and soaks it in vaudevillian clowning. This offbeat re-imagining of the classic puts Molière's famous servant Scapin at the center of an inventive interaction between actors and puppets in a production stuffed with pretty young lovers, revenge plots, chase scenes, slapstick and spoofery, live music, and lots of fun for the entire family. Scapin will be directed by Aaron Cromie, known as a performer, director and puppeteer from such projects as The Foocy, The Big Friendly Giant (BFG), The Fantasticks, and The Comedy of Errors. Scapin will run from December 3 - January 3, 2010, with the official press opening on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 7pm. The run will include Family Series of matinees around the holidays.

Scapin is perfect for family audiences with ages 8 and up. As with the Lantern's recent hit The Foocy, kids will love the unique puppets popping out of surprising doors and windows on the topsy-turvy two story set. Parents will love the quick wit and clever effects of beloved clown Bill Irwin's fast-paced adaptation. Parents will also love our Family Matinee Series (December 22 - January 2) featuring special family friendly pricing at select performances around the holidays with prices starting at just $10 a ticket.

"The joy in Molière's plays comes from his sheer comic brilliance and from the sense of urgency that he invests in his characters. Molière has always been a great favorite of ours at the Lantern, and we are very excited to be working on this wonderful adaptation of his work" said Charles McMahon, Artistic Director, Lantern Theater Company

Scapin will be Aaron Cromie's seventh collaboration with the Lantern. In a relationship that began in 1997, he has worked as an actor in All's Well that Ends Well, Though the Looking Glass, Travels with My Aunt (Barrymore nomination for Best Actor), The Comedy of Errors (Barrymore nomination for Best Ensemble) and The Foocy (Barrymore nomination for Best Ensemble), as well as a choreographer (Barrymore Award for Best Choreography for The Comedy of Errors), and creative consultant for his expertise in Commedia dell'Arte. Aaron's Commedia dell'Arte experience comes to the forefront again in his wild new re-imagining of Scapin, where the classic Italian form collides with puppetry to create a wonderful new synthesis of comedic style.

"I am ecstatic to collaborate with these gifted actors and designers to create a world of puppetry where anything can happen in Molière's classic play,." said
Aaron Cromie, Director, Scapin

The cast includes accomplished local Philadelphia actor Benjamin Lloyd (Barrymore nomination for Best Actor in 1812 Productions' Heckler) in the lead role as Scapin; actors David Johnson and Bradley K. Wrenn from the hit Philly Fringe Festival productions of The Giant Squid and Annihilation Point, Leah Walton, musician Mat Wright, with a host of puppets taking on the remaining roles. Scenic Designer, Nick Embree, has completely transformed the Lantern's intimate performance space with a bold and colorful rendition of a Venetian cityscape, imaginatively lit by Lighting Designer Shon Causer. Costume Designer Mary Folino takes on the challenging task of clothing an army of human and nearly-human characters in a turn of the 20th century fashion.

Through our In Conversation series, audience members will have an opportunity to gain insight into the production process, context and themes of Scapin, through discussions, lectures and symposia during the run. With this audience enrichment series, we continue the essential dialogue with audience members to extend the theatrical experience long after the play ends. (see full list of programs and events below)

Scapin begins previews on Thursday, December 3, and opens on Wednesday, December 9 at 7pm. The closing performance is scheduled for Sunday, January 3. Tickets are $20-$35, with discounts for students, seniors, and groups of 10 and more, including a new student rush program of $10 tickets at ten minutes before the show. 3-Play and Flex subscriptions are available for $54-$128. Lantern subscribers enjoy savings off single ticket prices, guaranteed seats, dining discounts to nearly 50 local restaurants and more. Tickets and subscriptions can be purchased online at www.lanterntheater.org, by phone 215.829.0395, and in person at St. Stephen's Theater at 10th and Ludlow Streets in Philadelphia.

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