For Immediate Release: January 9, 2007
Media Contact: Kelly Connor, for Luna Theater Company, 609.221.5785

Luna Theater Company continues their fifth season with the Philadelphia revival of Lebensraum by Israel Horovitz. Lebensraum will be performed at the Walnut Street Theatre’s Studio 5 located at 825 Walnut Street in Philadelphia, with previews on January 24th, 25th and 26th, opening on Saturday January 27th and running through February 25, 2007. Tickets range from $10 to $30 and can be purchased by calling Luna Theater Company’s box office at (215) 704-0033 or by visiting www.LunaTheater.org. Media interviews, actor bios and digital photos available upon request.

Story Summary
At the beginning of the 21st century, the new German Chancellor, in a gesture of reconciliation, invites six million Jews from around the world to return to Germany. The Chancellor's generous and visionary invitation generates dramatically disparate reactions from around the world: an out-of-work Jewish dockworker from America chooses to bring his gentile wife and son to Germany in hope of prosperity, while a survivor of Auschwitz returns seeking revenge on the woman who betrayed his family; a German minister preaches tolerance and understanding, while another rails against the new wave of immigrants; a German businessman capitalizes on the celebrity of his new Jewish workers, while a band of Israeli militants prepares for a second Holocaust. At the center of the play are an American boy and a German girl who innocently and hopelessly fall in love. Against the backdrop of growing national tension, the two young lovers become helpless victims, as history appears to be repeating itself.

About the Playwright
ISRAEL HOROVITZ (Playwright) Among Israel's best-known plays are LINE (now in its 30th year, off-Broadway’s longest-running play), THE INDIAN WANTS THE BRONX (which introduced Al Pacino), IT’S CALLED THE SUGAR PLUM (which introduced Jill Clayburgh) and PARK YOUR CAR IN HARVARD YARD. Mr. Horovitz has won numerous writing awards, including two OBIES, an EMMY, the Prix de Plaisir du Théâtre, The Prix du Jury of the Cannes Film Festival, The Drama Desk Award, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from B’Nai Brith. Mr. Horovitz is married to Gillian Adams-Horovitz, former English national marathon champion and father of five children, including Beastie Boy, Adam Horovitz. Israel is founder and Artistic Director of Gloucester Stage Company and The New York Playwrights Lab. He frequently visits France where he often directs French-language productions of his plays. Horovitz is the most-produced American playwright in French theatre history.

About the Producing Artistic Director
GREGORY SCOTT CAMPBELL is Founder and Producing Artistic Director of the Luna Theater Company. Previously with the Luna, Gregory performed in The Zoo Story, Oleanna, No Exit and Waiting for Godot. He has also directed DMV Tyrant, Do Not Feed the Animal, The Flip of It, Fool for Love, The Turn of the Screw, Burn This, Agnes of God, Yes Mamet and Unwrap Your Candy. Gregory is the original founder of the Spark 10 Minute Play Festival and is a former board member of the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia and chair of the Spark Small Theatre Committee.

About the Featured Actor
STEVE HATZAI (Actor #2) has appeared onstage with theatres in Manhattan, Washington DC, Philadelphia and the Lehigh Valley. Steve’s most recent performance was as Johnnypateemike in The Cripple of Inishmaan with Iron Age Theatre. During this past year, he also appeared in The Wizard of Oz at Mum Pupptettheatre as the Wizard and Professor Marvel (Barrymore nomination, Best Ensemble), in the World premiere of American Sublime with InterAct Theatre, and in the Philadelphia premiere of Michael Friel’s The Children of Fatima for Theatre Catalyst. Other roles include Jacob Marley in A Christmas Carol (Peoples Light), Phil Hogan in A Moon for the Misbegotten and Weston in Curse of the Starving Class (Iron Age Theatre), Hucklebee in The Fantasticks (Hedgerow Theatre), Buffalo Bill in Annie Get Your Gun (Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre) and several roles in Shakesploitation for the 2005 Philly Fringe. Steve is a proud member of Actors’ Equity.

About Luna Theater Company
Founded in 2002, the Luna Theater Company is a professional theater company dedicated to presenting thought-provoking works by contemporary and classical playwrights to audiences in both Philadelphia and South Jersey. By producing intense drama that crosses cultural, ethnic and social lines, Luna seeks to attract open-minded theatergoers by delivering performances that are challenging, educational and entertaining. Luna Theater Company is the only professional theater company based in both South Jersey and Philadelphia and is a member of the Theater Alliance of Greater Philadelphia. Funding for Luna’s 2006-2007 Season has been provided in part by the Phoebe W. Haas Charitable Trust and the Samuel S. Fels Fund. For more information on Luna Theater and its upcoming performances, please visit www.LunaTheater.org.

Upcoming Shows in Luna’s 2006-2007 Season Announced
The Luna Theater concludes its 5th season with the revival of True West by Sam Shepard in May 2007. For more information on the upcoming schedule, please visit www.LunaTheater.org.

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