Independent Voices Continues with Four More Productions Over Five Days

The diversity of performances at Montgomery County's largest performing arts festival is accentuated this week as four more companies take the Centre Theater stage. The festival celebrates Matin Luther King day with The Colored Museum and Citizen Paine, Buffalo Bill Cody will trod the boards to give some history to the festival and The Centre will host its first "rock band" with The Bosslady Band on Friday night.

On Jan 13 and 15 at 8pm The Centre Theater brings The Colored Museum by George Wolfe to its furth floor space. This satire has electrified, discomforted, & delighted audiences of all colors, as it re-defines our ideas of what it means to be black in America. It's eleven "Exhibits" (scenes)cut the stilted legs out from under black stereotypes old and new, and return to the facts of what being black means. Mr. Wolfe is the kind of satirist who takes no prisoners. The shackles of the past have been defied by Mr. Wolfe's fearless humor and it's a most liberating revolt. The production, originally produced in Germantown and at the Philadelphia Urban Theatre Festival was directed by Karen Waller-Martin.

On Friday,Jan 14, The independent Voices Festival "rocks out." Bosslady is a Philadelphia-area cover band specializing in rock/country/pop of the 1960s through today. Female-fronted, Bosslady includes KrisSy Johnson and Joanne Joella on vocals, Kevin Joella on lead guitar, Bob Allen on bass guitar, and Ray Glucksman on drums. Although the band has gone through some personnel changes in the last several months, bandleader Krissy "Krash" Johnson is excited and optimistic about this newest incarnation. Tonight you will hear music from the Rolling Stones, the Pretenders, the Go-Go's, Sheryl Crowe, the Beatles, and the Police, to name a few. This is a BYOB event.

Sunday and Monday take a turn for the historical as Buffalo Bill Cody and Thomas Paine share their unique voices at the festival. "King of the Plains: The Life and Times of Buffalo

Bill Cody is written and performed by Gene Roland Frank and runs Sunday Jan 16 at 2pm and 3:30pm. This one-act play plays chronicles the life of William Frederick Cody, better known as Buffalo Bill, from his early days in the American West through his career as an actor in the theatre. Anecdotes, stories, and homespun charm provide the audience with a glimpse of one of the most notable characters of the American West. This is a perfect adventure for students and Educators. Tickets: http://thecentretheater.ticketleap.com/

Citizen Paine by Bill Hollenbach returns to the Centre Theater stage for an encore performance after its triumphant run for noted Paine Scholar Harvey Kaye and at the Bretch Forum. On January 17th, Martin Luther King Day, Paine regales the audience with stories of his life and a clarification of his philosophy. "Adam Altman's rich three-dimensional portrait of Paine along with the intimate setting make this production a potent experience. Hollenbach's play deftly intersperses the story of Paine's life with his writings and philosophical journey."

The performances take place at The Centre Theater at 208 DeKalb Street, Norristown, PA

in the 4th floor theatre. Tickets can be purchased by calling 610-279-1013 or online at http://thecentretheater.ticketleap.com/
The Independent Voices Festival runs January 7 and running through February 6. 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.

Remaining festival Schedule

January 13 The Colored Museum 8pm
January 14 The Bosslady Band 8pm
January 15 The Colored Museum 8pm
January 16 King of the Plains: The Life and Times of Buffalo Bill Cody Gene R Frank 2pm and 3:30pm
January 17 Citizen Paine by Bill Hollenbach 8pm
January 20 Nick of Time by Joe Paprzycki South Camden Theatre and Michael Bee Puppet Theatre 8pm
January 21, Nick of Time by Joe Paprzycki South Camden Theatre 8pm
January 22, Dead Man's Mambo by OMBELICO Mask Ensemble 8pm
January 23 Two plays by The New Mystics Theatre Company 2pm
January 27, Apologies Are For The Living by Tiffany Joyner 8pm
January 28, Apologies Are For The Living by Tiffany Joyner 8pm
January 29, A Portrait of Black and White by Robert Miller featuring Donovan Hagins 8pm
January 30: Krissy in Concert, an Afternoon of American Song 2pm
Feb 3-6: Red Emma by Chris Braak Featuring Mary Kay Tuomanen -Iron Age Theatre 8pm (Thurs-Sat) 2PM (Sunday)

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