Hello everyone,
Somehow, Labor Day happened. We do hope that you had a safe and sunny summer. We’ve missed you so much, and now I get to tell YOU - before anyone else! - what’s new at PTC.
First, we’re making things!
While you were at the beach, we were developing a new musical! On July 30th, we rehearsed and performed a reading (on Zoom, natch) of the new musical Dear Shirley, by Kristin Bair and Kevin Hammonds. The musical tells the story of world-renowned photographer Hinda Schuman, whose work appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer for 20 years. I was lucky enough to direct our fantastic actors Mary Tuomanen, Garrett Vaughn, Rachel Camp, Ben Dibble, Anne Tolpegin, and Sarah Gliko, who helped shape the script through three drafts! The creative team learned a lot and it was truly great to be in the “room” again.
So, what is happening this season, you ask? Find out on Wednesday, September 30th at 6:45 pm, when we invite you to join us for a “live” 2020-21 Season Kickoff announcement. Then at 7 pm, stick around for our first offering of the season when Philadelphia Theatre Company takes part in a rolling premiere* of the new virtual play, The Days of Re-Creation, seven 10-minute plays riffing on the Book of Genesis.
The Days of Re-Creation is written by Masi Asare, AriDy Nox, (Philadelphia’s own!) Erlina Ortiz, SEVAN, Nandita Shenoy, BD Wong, and Lauren Yee and features actors Ang Bey, Guadalís del Carmen, Kimberly Fairbanks, J. Hernandez, Suli Holum, Christine Toy Johnson, and Iraisa Ann Reilly.
You can read more about the project and our cast HERE and we hope you’ll join us, and learn about what else is in store for our virtual-tastic 20-21 season. You’ll also meet our new Resident Artist Jeffrey Page, and he’ll talk a little about his hopes and dreams for his time with PTC.
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We also have two new Board Directors! Please welcome Vibhat Nair, Ph.D., and Matthew Massaua. We are grateful for their enthusiasm and know they’ll be proud ambassadors for PTC starting immediately.
Finally, even with so much to be grateful for, I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the pain and loss that has also been a part of this season. After being poised to grow, we have once again had to make difficult choices and cuts to stay nimble–to survive. Our turnaround would have been impossible without the dedication of many humans that are not with the company anymore. We promise to honor their contributions. We promise to offer a season you’ll be excited about, whether it’s in person or in the virtual realm, and then a season after that.
Obviously, Flexibility (one of our 5 core values along with Care, Integrity, Ambition, and Joy) will be key this year, as we remain responsive to the world around us - whether it’s the current social and political climate or an opportunity to reopen our venue that comes sooner than expected.
How can you help? Your ongoing support of PTC is absolutely vital as we continue to make theatre and to bring the art that will heal and uplift us all. Please consider a donation. You can do so here with just a few clicks. Thank you!
We hope to “see” you soon,
Paige
* Live & In Color is a theatre company based in NYC and Connecticut that develops new plays and musicals that celebrate diversity. Seven prolific playwrights of color were commissioned by their Artistic Director Devanand Janki to create The Days of Re-Creation.
