Madhouse Theater Company is proud to present Eric Bogosian's Funhouse at Fergies Pub, 1214 Sansom St. March 19th to April 4th.

"Its brilliance still has me laughing in incredulous admiration." N.Y. Post. "Eric Bogosian has to be reckoned the best endowed taboo breaker the theatre has got." N.Y. Daily News.

"No one can better articulate the anger and absurdity of urban America." AP. "Rough and riotous. . . . [Bogosian] is, quite possibly, our most vibrant bringer of bad tidings." N.Y. Times.

Madhouse Theatre Company, the group that you brought you last year's surprise success Bogosian's Pounding Nails in the Floor with My Forehead and their popular sketch comedy, both late night and primetime, is turning again to Bogosian and his unrepentant and unforgettable monologues. Co-Artistic director Karen DiLossi said, "Going to the proverbial Bogosian well again will only bring more dividends."

"Bogosian's writing is nothing if not fresh and vibrant. He presents ongoing challenges to the actor and director. The sparse setting leaves it up to our imaginations to complete the vision. He's basically letting us share in the making of the play rather than just peforming a work."

Co-Artistic Director, John Stanton, shared DiLossi's sentiment: "Less is definitely more in the case of Bogosian's writing. Deceptively simple, Funhouse makes one dig deep. There are no easy ways out in Bogosian's writing."

Karen DiLossi and John Stanton have assembled a group of six actors to take on Bogosian's monologues. "We've brought back some of last year's crew but wanted to test the water with new folks as well," said Stanton "We have a pool of people we like to work with," said DiLossi. "What's unfortunate about modern playmaking is the fact that companies aren't able to keep a stable of talent and work with them again and again, watch them grow, watch their creative relationships deepen. We try our best to repeat with actors as it only leads to higher heights."

Di Lossi went on, "No two characters are similar. But that's how modern America is. And important issues arise from every corner. Bogosian take his pen and paper into many. And as funny as it is, Funhouse is also darkly serious, moving, startling."

From the people that brought you those hilarious late-night comedy shows: Saturday Night Special, Late Night Snack and standout sketches at all of the Spark Showcase Festivals. The Philadelphia Weekly named Saturday Night Special top of its "Hip-O-Meter. "The Madhouse Theater Company's late night variety show is the perfect antidote to lame bars and tired club scenes. Wholesome theatrical wackiness guaranteed." J. Cooper Robb wrote the Special is "much more fun than cruising the bars" and is "consistently irreverent".

Madhouse Theater got its start as a producing organization by John Stanton in 2000. Stanton said, "Bogosian's work is part of a far reaching plan to continue to grow incrementally, deliberately, to present work within our means but to ensure that it brings you the the edge of your seat whether it be comedy or drama, sketch or monologues."

Funhouse by Eric Bogosian
Fergies Pub, 1214 Sansom St., March 19 to April 4, 2009.
March 19, 26 and April 2 @ 6:30pm. March 21, 25, 28, April 1 and 4 @ 7pm. March 22 and 29 @ 4pm.
Tickets $15-$20
www.madhousetheater.com

BIOS
Eric Bogosian, Playwright, is best known for writing and starring in the play and the film adaptation of that play, Talk Radio (NYSF - 1987). For this work he was a Pulitzer Prize finalist and received the Berlin Film Festival Silver Bear Award. He is also well known for his six solo performances Off-Broadway (Men Inside, Funhouse, Drinking in America, Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll, Pounding Nails in the Floor with My Forehead, Wake Up and Smell The Coffee) between 1980 and 2000, for which he received three Obie awards. In addition to Talk Radio, Bogosian has written a number of full-length plays including subUrbia (LCT), Griller (Goodman), Red Angel (Williamstown Theater Festival), Humpty Dumpty (McCarter). He is the author of two novels, Mall and Wasted Beauty and a novella, Notes from Underground. As an actor, Bogosian has appeared in numerous films and television programs, starring in Robert Altman's The Caine Mutiny Court Martial, Atom Egoyan's Ararat, Under Siege II and Wonderland. He currently stars in Law & Order: Criminal Intent. A new production of "Talk Radio" starring Liev Schreiber and directed by Robert Falls, ran at the Longacre Theatre in 2007 and marked Bogosian's Broadway debut.

Karen DiLossi, Director, is a proud graduate of Washington College where she was first exposed to the work of Eric Bogosian performing "In the Dark" from Funhouse. She also has her MA from Villanova University. Karen most recently directed Jump/Cut for Flashpoint Theatre Company. Previous directing credits include Cinderella Waltz, Tartuffe, 3Sum, RGDG?, Squid & Fishy, Envoy, and last year's Madhouse production of Bogosian's Pounding Nails in the Floor with my Forehead. Karen is the Director of Programs & Services for the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia as well as the Stage Management Consultant for Villanova Theatre.

Keith Conallen, Actor, is a frequent Madhouse collaborator and has worked with Flashpoint, Lantern Theater, Brat Productions, and Theater Catalyst.

Colleen Corcoran, Actor, was last seen in Madhouse's production of Eric Bogosian's Pounding Nails in the Floor with My Forehead. Besides being a Madhouse regular, she's worked with Azuka Theatre and the Cardboard Box Collaborative.

John D'Alonzo, Actor, is a Philly native and Madhouse regular. Recently completed an indie movie called No Boundaries and hopefully will be hitting the festival circuit soon.

Allison Heishman, Actor, is a longtime collaborator with Madhouse, working with them both as an actor and director, most recently performing in the Holiday Spectacular and last year's Pounding Nails in the Floor with My Forehead. Allison works for the National Constitution Center and Azuka Theatre.

Robert Neddoff, Actor, most recently appeared in the Madhouse Holiday Spectacular and has worked with Vagabond Acting Troupe, Flashpoint Theatre Company, and Mum Puppettheatre.

Gregg Pica, Actor, appeared as a core company member for Madhouse's serial sketch comedy show, Late Night Snack. Philadelphia-area shows include Have a Nice Life (Nice People), Between Us (Flashpoint).

FACT SHEET

Madhouse Theater Company Presents: Funhouse by Eric Bogosian

Directed by: Karen DiLossi

Featuring: Colleen Corcoran, Keith Conallen, John D'Alonzo, Allison Heishman, Robert Neddoff, Gregg Pica.

When: March 19 to April 4, 2009
March 19 @ 6:30 PM
March 21 @ 7:00 PM
March 22 @ 4:00 PM
March 25 @ 7:00 PM
March 26 @ 6:30 PM
March 28 @ 7:00 PM
March 29 @ 4:00 PM
April 1 @ 7:00 PM
April 2 @ 6:30 PM
April 4 @ 7:00 PM

Where: Fergies Pub, 1214 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA

Tickets: Call 215-260-4968 or madhousetheater@yahoo.com for reservations, or purchase tickets online at www.madhousetheater.com . General Admission. Tickets from $15-$20.