For Immediate Release: May 18, 2005
Media Contact: Deborah Fleischman, Philadelphia Theatre Company, 215.735.7356

Philadelphia Theatre Company celebrates its 30th Anniversary season with productions that highlight the company's mission to produce the work of America's most significant contemporary playwrights. The season includes world premieres by Christopher Durang and Terrence McNally, a Philadelphia premiere by Lynn Nottage, a special presentation in honor of Ben Franklin's 300th birthday, and a fourth premiere production to be announced shortly.

"This special season re-confirms our commitment to new work and to the sense of adventure that has been a hallmark of Philadelphia Theatre Company since our inception," said PTC's Producing Artistic Director Sara Garonzik. "We are especially thrilled to be working with writers of the caliber of Christopher Durang and Lynn Nottage and to be developing another new play with Terrence McNally, our first since Master Class."

The season kicks off on October 19 with the world premiere of Adrift in Macao, a new musical comedy with book and lyrics by Christopher Durang, music by Peter Melnick, and directed by Sheryl Kaller. Running through November 20, Adrift in Macao is a funny and irreverent musical parody of film noir. Mixing together farce, camp, and tongue-in-cheek wit, the musical spins the tale of five quirky characters stranded in a Casablanca-like locale in the Orient. PTC produced an early Durang spoof, The Vietnamization of New Jersey, in 1982.

Philadelphia Theatre Company's second production of the season will be an exciting Philadelphia premiere play to be announced soon. The production will run February 3-March 5.

PTC's season continues with Intimate Apparel by Lynn Nottage, running March 17-April 16. The winner of five national awards for Best Play including the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, Intimate Apparel, which ran successfully at New York's Roundabout Theatre, will be directed by Tim Vasen. Vasen, who developed Intimate Apparel at Baltimore's Center Stage, directed PTC's critically acclaimed production of Edward Albee's The Goat or, Who is Sylvia? Set in 1905 Manhattan, Intimate Apparel is a moving portrait of Esther, a much sought-after African-American seamstress who sews exquisite lingerie for socialites and courtesans alike while searching for the love and respect that will transform her independent but lonely life.

The season concludes with the world premiere of Some Men, a play with music, by five-time Tony Award winner Terrence McNally. PTC's relationship with McNally extends back seventeen years, covering not only the world premiere production of the Tony Award-winning Master Class, but also the Philadelphia premieres of Love! Valour! Compassion!, Lips Together, Teeth Apart, and Frankie and Johnnie in the Clair de Lune. Some Men will be directed by Philip Himberg, Producing Artistic Director of the Sundance Institute Theatre Project. McNally's play is a theatrical collage that explores what it has meant to be a gay American man over the last century, from World War II until some moment in the very near future. This poignant and funny play chronicles the lives of eight men and two women, all guests of a contemporary same-sex wedding, set against the backdrop of landmark events in gay history and the changing spectrum of popular American music.

As part of the 30th Anniversary Season, PTC will also offer a special presentation of Josh Kornbluth's Ben Franklin Unplugged from January 10-21, kicking off the East Coast tour as part of Philadelphia's celebration of Benjamin Franklin's 300th Birthday. Directed by David Dower, Ben Franklin Unplugged is a hilarious tour-de-force by West Coast monologist Josh Kornbluth that takes him on a wild journey to uncover the mystery of the relationship between Franklin and his son. Based on actual historical findings with plenty of laughs along the way, Kornbluth's quest not only solves the mystery of Franklin and his son, but also offers Kornbluth poignant closure and reconciliation with his own father. Kornbluth is the author of the play and film, Red Diaper Baby, as well as Love and Taxes and Haiku Tunnel.

PTC's annual collaboration with Philadelphia Young Playwrights of professional productions of student-written plays will be on stage December 2-10. These productions combine the talents and imaginations of the region's award-winning young playwrights with Philadelphia's best professional actors, directors, and designers.

Special interest series are also available during the run of each show including: Meet-the-Artists, an in-depth, behind-the-scenes discussion following each play; two Wine Tasting nights, with opportunities to sample top wines selected by noted sommelier, Luca Mazzotti; and the Young Friends of PTC, a new group for young professionals with a passion for theater.

Subscriptions for the 30th Anniversary Season are available for $108-$162 for a four-play season by calling Philadelphia Theatre Company at 215-985-0420 or 866-985-0420, or visiting www.phillytheatreco.com. Special 30 & Younger Flex subscriptions are also available for only $60.

Philadelphia Theatre Company is Philadelphia's only non-profit professional theater dedicated exclusively to producing regional and world premieres of works by contemporary American playwrights. Under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director, Sara Garonzik, PTC has had ever-increasing national impact having produced over 30 world premieres of new American plays. Recent world premiere productions include: Bruce Graham's According to Goldman; Jeffrey Hatcher's A Picasso; Daniel Stern's comedy Barbra's Wedding; John Henry Redwood's No Niggers, No Jews, No Dogs; J.T. Roger's White People; David Ives' Lives of the Saints; three-time Tony Award-winning Master Class by Terrence McNally; Bunny Bunny by Alan Zweibel; and the American premiere of Birdy by Naomi Wallace. A Picasso received its New York premiere at the Manhattan Theatre Club in April, 2005. Philadelphia Theatre Company was chosen Best Theatre Company 2003 by Philadelphia Magazine. Since 1995, PTC has received 83 nominations and 24 awards from Philadelphia's Barrymore Awards, most recently for The Last Five Years (Overall Outstanding Production of a Musical, 2002-2003) and A Picasso (Outstanding New Play, 2002-2003).

Philadelphia Theatre Company recently embarked on a groundbreaking Capital Campaign in support of building its new home, the Suzanne Roberts Theater, scheduled to open in Fall, 2007. The company has been in residence at the historic Plays & Players Theater since 1982.

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