Theater Unspeakable to Bring THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION to Arden Theatre

Theater Unspeakable brings their brand of family friendly, physical theater to Philadelphia with The American Revolution, a whirlwind re-telling of the American fight for independence. It runs in Arden Theatre Company's Studio Theatre, June 2-June 11, 2017.

Combining tongue-in-cheek humor with a dash of derring-do, The American Revolution brings to life George and Martha Washington, King George III, Sam Adams, Paul Revere, John and AbiGail Adams, Thomas Paine, and Thomas Jefferson, amongst others, to bring you the origin story of the greatest democratic experiment in world history.

In this 50-minute play, seven actors, all performing two feet off the ground, share 21 square feet of space to recreate the entire American fight for independence from Lexington to Yorktown. Using only the actors' bodies, voices, and (pantomimed) cannons the show evokes an epic time-period in American history.

The American Revolution is directed by Marc Frost, founder of Theater Unspeakable. The cast includes: Kelly Conrad, Alicia Crosby, Jeffrey Hyman, Glenn Kraft, James Mercer, Mackenzie Possage, Aja Singletary, Dwayne Thomas, and Caroline Watson.

According to director Marc Frost, "Theater Unspeakable loves to create big stories in small spaces. The story of the American Revolution appealed to us because of its epic scale. We were excited by the challenge of bringing it to life in less than an hour all upon a tiny stage. And there's nothing more appealing to an artist than the notion of impossibility! This show has made our nation's founding feel alive and important again to audiences across the country."

The show was originally devised by the following members of Theater Unspeakable: Brittany Anderson, Parker Arnold, Zachary Baker-Salmon, Marc Frost, Patrice Foster, Jeffery Freelon, Kyle Geissler, Jason Hammond, Trey Hobbs, Kathleen Hoil, Quenna Lené, Katie Mancuso, Aaron Rustebakke, Lyn Scott, Vanessa Valliere, Ryan Westwood and Thomas Wynne.

The production team includes: Sara Beaman (Stage Manager), Jennifer Gonsalves (Additional Costume Design), Rachel K. Levy (Lighting Designer), Jacob Watson (Additional Set Designer).

Performances run June 2-June 11, 2017; Mondays-Fridays at 10am and 12pm, Saturdays & Sundays at 11am and 2pm. Running Time: 50 minutes with no intermission. There will be a Q&A with the artists immediately following each performance.

Performances are held at the Arden Theatre Company's Studio Theatre, 40 N. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106 (Old City). Ample parking is available near the Arden at a variety of lots (please see ArdenTheatre.org for more information). Metered street parking is also available during posted hours.

All tickets to The American Revolution are $25. Groups of 10 or more are eligible for a 10% discount. Tickets may be purchased by calling (215) 922-1122 or online at amrevtheshow.com. All schedules, casting and prices are subject to change. For more information about American Revolution, visit amrevtheshow.com.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

Terrill Braswell (George Washington/John Adams) is super excited to be making his debut with Theater Unspeakable. Local credits include: Swan, Young Professionals and Bug, Rowan University. Film/TV: Alarming Truth, FEMA/Patrick Frenchu; M.M. Law, Rowan TV Network/Matthew Ploch. Terrill studied at Rowan University obtaining BAs in theater and communication. He would like to thank Theater Unspeakable for this amazing and challenging experience.

Kelly Conrad (Sam Adams/King George) is thrilled to be making her debut with Theater Unspeakable. Her previous credits include Dancing Wilde with Boston Actors Theater and The Great War Theatre Project with TC Squared Theater Company. She is based in Philly and spends most of her time performing with house sketch team, The Decoy, at PHIT Comedy Theatre. She has also appeared in sketch team Barbara Bush's, "The Body Show," and digital sketch team The Worst Generation's, "Celebrity Insurance." Kelly graduated from Suffolk University with a BA in Media Communication and Theatre Arts. She would like to thank Marc and the Theater Unspeakable crew, her parents for their love, and biting their tongues every time she goes on another audition, her brothers Adrian and Vincent who will always be more talented, her friends scattered all over the globe, and lastly Andy for everything he does.

Alicia Crosby (Martha Washington/Governor Dinwiddie) is excited to be making her Theater Unspeakable debut. She is a Philadelphia based theater maker and designer. As a co-founder of Butter and Serve Theatre Co., Alicia has devised and performed work at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival; and can be seen this fall in Dear Diary LOL with AntiGravity Theatre Project. As a props designer, Alicia has worked with New Paradise Laboratories, Pig Iron Theatre, and Nichole Canuso Dance Company. Alicia is a graduate of The Pig Iron Theatre School and has a BFA in ceramics from Tyler School of Art at Temple University. Alicia would like to thank Theater Unspeakable for this amazing opportunity as well as her family, friends and collaborators for their never-ending support and guidance. BCPI www.aliciacrosby.com

Rasell Holt (George Washington/Governor Dinwiddie) is returning to The American Revolution after having performed the show in Chicago and several national tours. Mr. Holt is a Milwaukee native and graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He currently resides in Chicago where his acting credits include: Wit, Hypocrites Theater; Octagon and Prowess, Jackalope Theater; The Hairy Ape (Jeff Nomination, Best Ensemble), Oracle Productions. Mr. Holt is proudly represented by Paonessa Talent.

Glenn Kraft (John Adams/King George) is making his debut with Theater Unspeakable. Philadelphia credits include: Table Manners, Living Together and When She Danced, Allens Lane Art Center. Film/TV: Angelia, Silver Hand Productions/Paul Mento. Glenn wants to thank his wife, Amber, his family and friends and all who support him. glennmkraft.com

James Mercer (King George/George Washington) is grateful to be making his debut with Theater Unspeakable with this group of amazing artists. Philadelphia credits include The Legend of Georgia McBride (u.s. Eddie), Arden Theatre Co.; The River Niger and Skeeter, First World Theatre Ensemble; RENT and Collins, PPN; The Piano Lesson and Lymon, Steel River Playhouse and Illinois Five, Philly Fringe Festival. His work can also be found in the upcoming web-series, Friends with Benefits, as well as his self-produced short film, The Cry of Job, which can be found on YouTube. James was privileged enough to be a student of PTAI's final ensemble, headed by Lee Edward Colston II, and has trained with Amina Robinson and Bi Jean Ngo. James thanks God, his family, and friends for motivating him to keep chasing his dreams, and he dedicates this performance to MJ Harris.

Mackenzie Possage (AbiGail Adams/Sam Adams) is excited to be returning to The American Revolution in Philadelphia. She previously has toured to areas including Vermont and Wisconsin with the company. Past regional credits include: Into the Woods, Fiddler on the Roof and Floyd Collins, Weathervane Theatre; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat at the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera. Film/TV: Delight in the Mountain, Frozen Stage Films/Nella Citino; Advantedge commercial. Industrial: Kohl's, Red Cross Foundation, and Buffalo Wild Wings. Mackenzie graduated with her acting degree from Marquette University and now lives in Chicago. Lots of love to the fam bam and lots of gratitude to Marc for introducing her to the world of physical theater. www.mackenziepossage.com

Aja Singletary (Martha Washington/Sam Adams) is making her debut with Theater Unspeakable. New York credits include Icons/Idols, Ice Factory; Ruined, Force Continuum, Oh My Darling, Most Massive Woman Wins, Aykroyd and Scrapmetal/Scars, Fordham University. Philadelphia credits: Cellophane, Philly Fringe Festival, Current Company Member of Roger Lee Dance Company. Aja earned her degree at Fordham College at Lincoln Center. She wants to thank Mom, Dad, Pop, Ashley, and my emerging Philly friends. I thank history for reappearing in our lives. I also thank Theater Unspeakable for offering a workspace for artists to grow. ajacsingletary.weebly.com

Caroline Watson (AbiGail Adams/Governor Dinwiddie) is excited to work with Theater Unspeakable in Philadelphia. Previous company roles include: AbiGail Adams in The American Revolution, Walton Arts Center (Fayetteville, AR); Buzz Aldrin in Moon Shot, Stage 773 (Chicago, IL). Other credits include: Tree Pop, Hip Pocket Theatre; Mr. Marmelade, Columbia College Chicago; Tigers Be Still, Columbia College Chicago. She serves as a staff writer for Chicago Slam Works and is a student at Columbia College Chicago. Caroline would like to thank her utterly strange and adorable parents for inspiring and supporting her every step of the way. carolinemwatson.com.

Sara Beaman (Stage Manager) is the Production Stage Manager for Theater Unspeakable. In addition to The American Revolution, she has also been Stage Manager, Tour Manager, and Touring Stage Manager for Theater Unspeakable's Moon Shot: A Race to Space and Superman 2050. Regionally, she worked as a stage management intern at South Coast Repertory (Costa Mesa, CA): Tartuffe, Ivy + Bean: The Musical, Death of a Salesman; and the Guthrie Theater (Minneapolis, MN): Clybourne Park, Nice Fish, Long Days Journey into Night. Based in Chicago, her recent credits include Wit, The Hypocrites and Midsummer Mayhem, SMC Plays. Sara has also stage managed across the Midwest with Capitol Shakespeare (Bismarck, ND); Apollon Co-Creation Arts (Omaha, NE); and the Nebraska Repertory Theatre (Lincoln, NE). She graduated with a B.A. in Theatre from The Johnny Carson School of Theatre & Film at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Thank you so much to Marc, Zac, Simon, all the actors I've worked with through Unspeakable, and my family for getting me to the place I am.

Marc Frost (Director) created Theater Unspeakable in 2010 as a platform for creating original works of devised, physical theater. Based in Chicago, the company has toured nationally including Lincoln Center Education (NY) and Kennedy Center (DC). Marc has directed all the company's shows as well as performed in them on multiple tours. A Chicago native, he has also performed and produced work in Brazil, Ireland, Spain, and the UK prior to starting the company. He co-founded Physical Festival Chicago, an annual international physical theater festival, in 2014 and is currently programming its fourth season. He has taught in Brazil, the USA and the UK and currently teaches at Columbia College Chicago and DePaul University. He wants to thank friends and family, especially his wife Alice and his two (Founding Father-named) sons Benjamin and Alexander, for their undying love and support. He also wants to thank all the artistic collaborators who make this work possible, especially Zac. And to Simon, let's make history! www.theaterunspeakable.com

Jennifer Gonsalves (Additional Costume Design) is a Costume Designer, Seamstress, Milliner, and Theatrical Crafter specializing in Dance and Theater who resides in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has produced more than 40 Productions since 2009, and works regularly with the Joe Goode Performance Group in San Francisco, and the Palo Alto Children's Theater. jennifergonsalves.com.

Rachel K. Levy (Lighting Designer) is excited to be working with Theater Unspeakable again! Her credits include: The American Revolution, Theater Unspeakable. Broadway credits: War Horse, Moving Light Tracker, Vivian Beaumont, NYC; The King and I, Asst. LD, Vivian Beaumont, NYC. Broadway Tour: South Pacific National Tour (Asst. LD). Film/TV: Wallenda Tightrope Live; Chicago; and So You Think You Can Dance, Seasons 7-10. Kill Floor, ATC; Duchess of Malfi, Trap Door Theatre; Accidentally, Like a Martyr, The Red Orchid Theatre; No Beast So Fierce, Oracle Theatre; STORM, Walkabout Theatre; House of Blues New Orleans (Resident Lighting Designer), Piedra de Sol, Getty Villa, LA. Rachel has also received two Primetime Emmy Award Certificates for Best Lighting for a Variety, Music, or Comedy Show (SYTYCD 2011, 2012), was a 2015 Designer in Residence for the Lincoln Center Director's Lab, and holds a MFA in Production and Design from California Institute of the Arts.

Jacob Watson (Additional Set Designer) has worked with Theater Unspeakable's productions of The American Revolution and Moon Shot. Chicago area designs include: Tell Me What You Remember, Erasing the Distance), Dead Man Walking, Ivanov, The Language Archive, and the Midwest premiere of Melancholy Play: a Chamber Musical, Piven Theatre Workshop. In addition to his design work, Jacob is a director and educator. Most recently, he facilitated the creation of a new musical theatre work, FREEDOM out of order, in collaboration with the Lyric Opera's Chicago Voices program and Tellin' Tales Theatre. Jacob is a founding member of the FYI Performance Company at the Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health, for which he recently co-conceived and directed Gray Area, a new play about consent. He holds a B.A. in Theatre from Northwestern University. www.jacobcwatson.com

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