Flashpoint Theatre Company continues bringing exhilarating new works of theatre to Philadelphia in their fourth season. Three Philadelphia premieres will showcase three of America’s hottest playwrights and a team of innovative, up-and-coming performers and designers. From a dark comedy about public school teachers to a touching story of a college-bound girl and her mother to a hilarious mockumentary about reality TV, this season is sure to shock, amuse and inspire.

The Faculty Room - PHILADELPHIA PREMIERE
by Bridget Carpenter
directed by Meghann Williams
November 7 - December 1, 2007

Bridget Carpenter’s caustically funny play is a hall pass to what happens when you mix gun-toting sophomores, lonely teachers and an unnatural obsession with the Rapture. The Faculty Room premiered at the Humana Festival in 2003 and has been called “a rollercoaster ride” (Washington City Paper) and “disturbingly relevant” (The Daily Page). Ms. Carpenter is a 2002-03 Guggenheim Fellow, recipient of the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and the 2003 Kesselring Award.

Director Meghann Williams (The House of Yes, The Santaland Diaries) will collaborate with set designer Christian Pedone (Far Away, Feed the Hype) and lighting designer Shon Causer (The Santaland Diaries, The Mystery of Irma Vep – Walnut St.). The cast will feature Flashpoint favorite Keith Conallen, who recently appeared in The Bald Soprano and Eye-95: Retarred with Brat Productions. Also taking the stage is Janice Rowland, whose many local credits include Arden Theatre Company’s A Prayer for Owen Meany and Brat Production’s Grease and Desist.

Memory House - PHILADELPHIA PREMIERE
by Kathleen Tolan
directed by Erin Lucas
February 13 - March 1, 2008

The New York Times called Kathleen Tolan’s play "[a] captivating emotional ballet.” This moving and funny play, which premiered at the Actors Theatre of Louisville in 2005, depicts the special but strained relationship between a mother and her adoptive teenage daughter faced with the uncertainty of what the future may bring. Tolan’s other works have been produced at Playwrights Horizons, The Public Theatre and the Women's Project.

Director Erin Lucas (Between Us, The Credeaux Canvas) teams up with actress Katy O’Leary after their recent collaboration on Flashpoint’s U.S. Drag. Also joining the team is Peggy Smith (Wenceslas Square, Walnut St.; Our Town, Delaware Theatre CO.). Flashpoint welcomes back Andrea Cibelli and Melissa Cristaldi, the set/props team from 2005’s Between Us,

The Dead Guy - PHILADELPHIA PREMIERE
by Eric Coble
directed by Michael Osinski
May 14 - 31, 2008

L.A. Splash says of The Dead Guy, “Coble’s skillfully woven comedy is a humorous and thoughtful critique on society’s obsession with other people’s realities.” This slapstick comedy follows Eldon, a hard-luck twenty-something with no job, no girlfriend, and no real future ahead of him, as desperate producer Gina attempts to make him a reality TV star. Playwright Eric Coble has received many awards for his work, including an NEA Playwright in Residence Grant and the Aristophanes Award for Best Off-Broadway Comedy.

Michael Osinski recently directed Caryl Churchill’s Far Away, Neil LaBute’s autobahn and Wendy MacLeod’s Schoolgirl Figure. Set design will be provided by Adam Riggar (Flashpoint’s U.S. Drag and The House of Yes, Arden Theatre Company’s Ferdinand the Bull). Also returning is lighting designer Josh Schulman, who provided lights for Far Away and U.S. Drag.

Flashpoint announces the return of their popular holiday show, this year at a special new venue!

The Santaland Diaries
By David Sedaris, adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello
Directed by Meghann Williams
December 5 – 16, 2007
Fergie’s Pub, 1214 Sansom Street, 2nd Floor

This year patrons can enjoy a drink at Fergie’s Pub while they crack up to David Sedaris’ hysterical holiday classic. Returning to the stage as the mischievous Macy’s elf is Flashpoint favorite Derick Loafmann (The House of Yes, Orson’s Shadow – Phila. Theatre Company).

All performances other than The Santaland Diaries will be held at 2nd Stage at the Adrienne, 2030 Sansom Street, in Philadelphia. Information about performance dates and times, as well as ticket prices and artists featured in each production, can be found at www.flashpointtheatre.org. Tickets can be purchased online at Flashpoint's website, or reserved for purchase at the door by calling the box office at 215-563-4330. Discounted season subscriptions are also available online.

Flashpoint Theatre Company is dedicated to expanding cultural arts awareness in the Greater Philadelphia area through the production of socially provocative and emotionally resonant works of theatre, through the development of educational programming within the community, and through collaboration with new and emerging voices from all artistic disciplines. Founded in 2003, Flashpoint’s first three seasons have included seven Philadelphia premieres and one world premiere, and several readings of new plays as part of the High Voltage workshop series. Flashpoint is also an active participant in the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia’s SPARK program. Flashpoint’s 2007-2008 season is sponsored by Flexcar, Whole Foods Market and Fergie’s Pub.

Photos available upon request – erin@flashpointtheatre.org, 215-514-8965