For Immediate Release: March 4, 2007
Media Contact: Bridget Dougherty, HATG Theater Company, 215.525.1551

HATG Theater Company presents a comedy by Pulitzer Prize winning author John Patrick Shanley running at the Shubin Theater during the month of April. The production will run 4/13, 4/14, 4/20, 4/21, 4/24, 4/25, 4/27, and 4/28 at the Shubin Theater which is located at 407 Bainbridge Street in Philadelphia. Tickets are $12 and reservations are available by calling 215-525-1551.

HATG Theater Company is proud to present the Philadelphia premiere of John Patrick Shanley's Four Dogs and a Bone at the Shubin Theater. Shanley's comedy is a satire on the movie business that delves into the plight of a desperate writer, a sleazy movie producer, a conniving newcomer, and a brash character actress. The play follows these four dogs as they chomp to get the biggest bite of the bone.the film. Their animal instincts all kick in a hilarious view of the background story of what happens in the film industry.

If you're going to write a satire about the movie business at this very late date, it had better be very, very funny. In the case of "Four Dogs and a Bone," by John Patrick Shanley that criteria most abundantly met. -New York Times

The only thing I can tell you is that whenever I sit down to write about Hollywood, two themes come up repeatedly: the animal kingdom and ancient Rome. It had to do with this ancient Roman idea of the constant power struggles, of the stabbings and the poisonings, of Brutus versus Julius Caesar. At the end of the story, the ground is littered with bodies. That always reminded me of Hollywood. -John Patrick Shanley

Cast and Creative Team

John Patrick Shanley (playwright) John Patrick Shanley was born in the Bronx and graduated from New York University. He wrote numerous plays including Savage in Limbo, Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, Italian American Reconciliation, and Doubt. Doubt won the Tony Award, Pulitzer Prize, and the Drama Desk Award for best play in 2005. He wrote the screenplay for the movies, Moonstruck, Congo, Joe verses the Volcano and The Five Corners. He won the Academy Award for Moonstruck.

Dave Ebersole (director) Dave Ebersole, received his BA in theater from Temple University and currently is the assistant artistic director for HATG Theater Company. Recently he directed HATG's staged reading of David Rabe's Streamers which raised money and awareness for Operation Helmut, an organization that provides much needed helmet upgrades to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. In October Dave will be directing Rebecca Gilman's Boy Gets Girl for Celebration Theater in Lansdowne PA. Other directing credits include: Beyond Therapy, All In The Timing, A Raisin in the Sun, Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, Cat On a Hot Tin Roof, and Fences.

Cherie Roberts (Brenda) After graduating from Temple University's Theater Department in 2002, Cherie went on to study at the American Repertory Theater's Stanislavski Summer School, and at the Moscow Art Theatre School in Moscow, Russia. Since returning from Russia, Cherie has spent her time living in both New York City and Philadelphia, and s just returned to Philadelphia once again. Recent projects include: The Child Dreams (off-broadway), Suburbia (Allen's Lane), and Keely and Du (Playcrafter's of Skippack).

Steve Pollack (Bradley) Steve, originally from Boston was last seen in HATG Theater Company's Streamers. Recent theater credit includes the role of Mack Sennett in Mack and Mabel. Steve has also appeared as Figaro in The Barber of Seville and Germont in La Traviata.

Bridget Dougherty (Colette) Bridget Dougherty is a Philadelphia native and has received her BA in theater from Temple University. Performed and directed in the Philadelphia area for the past ten years. Recent directing credits include Durang, Durang, Anton in Show Business, Desdemona: a play about a handkerchief and David's Redhaired Death. She has acted in productions of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Laundry and Bourbon, The Crucible, and Beyond Therapy.

Chris Cherkis (Victor) Chris Cherkis is from Philadelphia and has a B.S. in Biochemistry from Temple University. Studied acting at the Walnut Street Theatre and the Actors Center. Favorite roles played include Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire, George in Of Mice and Men, and Brick in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Recently served as an understudy for role of Slim in Of Mice and Men at the Walnut Street Theatre.

Special Event Theater Industry Night Wine and Cheese Reception

On March 25th we will have a special Theater Industry Night for local actors, directors, scene designers, and other individuals in the theater industry. Wine and cheese reception prior the performance at 7pm. Bring your resume, headshot, or flyer for your new show and get in for a discount. For more information on this, please email hatgtheatercompany@yahoo.com or call 215-525-1551. This event will further HATG Theater Company's mission to work with emerging artists and to discover new talent.

HATG Theater Company continues to work with emerging artists in their work with contemporary classics. Their recent successes with Desdemona: a play about a handkerchief and Streamers, also the continuing success with the monthly event Starving Artists' Monologue Slam has made HATG Theater Company one of the most talked about new theater companies in Philadelphia. This production of Four Dogs and Bone will strive in making HATG Theater Company stronger than ever and will continue to test boundaries and drive emerging artists on to the forefront of Philadelphia's growing theater community.

Four Dogs and a Bone by John Patrick Shanley Shubin Theater/April 2007 Tickets/Reservations 215-525-1551 www.hatgtheater.com

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