Vol 29, December 2021

Happy Holidays!

As we look forward to spending time with our families during the upcoming new year, I wanted to share some news and changes that are happening at PTC.

After five years, my tenure with Philadelphia Theatre Company will end at the close of the 2021-2022 season. Like so many of us, my family and I have evaluated our lives during this great disruption and decided that a lifestyle straddling our careers in two cities is not sustainable.

I take with me an appreciation for an active and energized creative community in Philadelphia, and fond memories that include introducing Bebe Neuwirth to PTC audiences in her first return to the stage in nearly a decade, reestablishing the Terrence McNally Award, creating the new annual fundraiser Play Brawl, and commissioning the new musical The Tattooed Lady (set to premiere at PTC in the fall of 2022 and I will be HERE FOR IT!).

I was excited by the challenge of reimagining how Philadelphia Theatre Company could make great theatre as well as serve our community. Now, PTC is ready for a new artistic leader to enact a bold artistic vision, with an expert staff ready to execute that vision. PTC will hire an executive search firm to conduct a nationwide search and our search committee is already having very exciting conversations about what the next chapter holds.

Despite two interruptions in our work – one intentional, one completely unforeseen – we used the time to make substantial and positive changes.  PTC prioritized deepening support for the organization, adding 14 new board members and diversifying the board and staff in several areas. We also expanded and codified the company’s policies around harassment, diversity, equity, inclusion and access. During perhaps the most difficult year in my professional life as an artistic director (including the financial meltdown of 2008), we steered the company through the unknown, and a successful pivot during COVID-19 resulted in our digital 2020-21 season, with a notable production of The Wolves, all while setting up this season’s return to live performances. Re-opening this season with two world premieres is a bellwether of our commitment to new work and stories that reflect our time and community.

I am excited to see how Jeffrey Page, our Resident Artist, brings Choir Boy to life in our next production. Casting was just completed and we are so thrilled to bring this major play to Philadelphia.

I plan to continue as an independent theatre producer, based in New York, where my husband, Broadway sound designer Nevin Steinberg, and I spent the pandemic. I look forward to following the projects PTC has been developing.

As I prepare for this transition, I encourage the community and the City of Philadelphia to step up and prioritize the funding and support of arts and culture. I believe that we can lead a much-needed recovery here in Philadelphia. The next two years will be a crucial period for the success or failure of many of our beloved arts institutions.

In closing, I would like to thank our outgoing board Chair, David L. Cohen, who is now the U.S. Ambassador to Canada, having been unanimously confirmed by the Senate (no mean feat, that). At a special board meeting on November 23, Gary Deutsch, formerly PTC’s Vice Chair, received a unanimous vote to succeed him.  Gary is excited to lead the company toward its upcoming 50th anniversary, and will work closely with my longtime partner, Managing Director Emily Zeck, and the board to guide PTC. (You can read the full press release here).

Philadelphia Theatre Company has supported art and artists for forty-seven years! Please consider supporting this legacy by making a gift to PTC today.

Paige

Become a Supporting Supporter now for only $10 a month to support the theatre you love year-round!

Click here to become a Sustaining Supporter

For more information, or to purchase tickets for Choir Boy and Where We Belong, call Audience Services at 215-985-0420. You can also email staff at audienceservices@philatheatreco.org to learn more.

Vol 28 (November 2021)

WE’RE BACK!

There is scenery on the stage, actors are acting, our box office staff are fielding calls from ticket buyers.  It almost feels normal.

We know it’s not yet ‘normal’ (what is that, anyway?) but we hope you’ll allow us to enjoy how this moment is filling our hearts with hope.

As we get ready to open our doors to audiences next week, we have done all we can to ensure the safety of everyone in the Suzanne Roberts Theatre.

NEED A LAUGH?

Dozens of people have joined together to breathe life into a new play – Lindsay Joelle’s The Garbologists – which shines a light on two sanitation workers who fitfully and comically forge a relationship on their early morning route. If you’ve been needing a laugh, join us to watch this odd couple of “refuse scientists” find their way to friendship. Previews start November 11!

CLICK TO RESERVE TICKETS!

UNSUNG HEROES

Have PTSD of trash woes during Covid? Learn about a Philly native who took things into his own hands, as YaFaveTrashman (AKA Terrill Haigler, AKA the Billy Penn 2021 Most Valuable Philadelphian), spearheading efforts to raise money for PPE for Philly’s sanitation workers.  You may not know that Terrill, a CAPA graduate and former dancer and choreographer, has set up his own non profit, Trash2Treasure,  to continue to clean up Philly and pay it forward. Terrill will join us at PTC to lead a post-show conversation on Sunday, November 14th, at 4:30.  Anyone with a ticket can attend, you needn’t have come to only that performance. We promise he’s as engaging as the play itself, so come join us for 45-minutes of insight into the life and times of a new Philly hero, and learn about his soon-to-be-released children’s book “I’m Cool, Too.”

On Monday, I attended a Celebration of Life for Terrence McNally at the Schoenfeld Theatre in New York.  Terrence’s husband Tom spoke eloquently, as always, and at this gathering of over 1,000 people, the testimonials and tributes offered from the likes of Nathan Lane and Audra McDonald were an affirmation that playwrights change lives, and also change the world. Rest in Peace.

As it happens, this week we announced that we’re accepting submissions for the Terrence McNally Award. Last year’s winner, Donja R. Love said, “There is nothing more humbling than for the city you call home to notice you. There is no greater feeling when you add being noticed for your work with an award named after a formidable artist like Terrence McNally. The love and support that the Philadelphia Theatre Company has given me matches the spirit of the man its award is named after. Thanks to PTC, Terrence McNally, and their transformative award, I’ve been ignited to be the most truthful artist I can be.”

Philadelphia Theatre Company has brought theatre to Center City for forty-seven years! Please consider supporting this legacy by making a gift to PTC today.

Paige

Become a Supporting Supporter now for only $10 a month to support the theatre you love year-round!

Click here to become a Sustaining Supporter

For more information, or to purchase tickets, call Audience Services at 215-985-0420. You can also email staff at audienceservices@philatheatreco.org to learn more.

Vol 27 (September 2021)

Welcome to a return to your senses!

We will be BACK IN THE SUZANNE ROBERTS THEATRE this November, and we invite you all to join us – safely – for art that will heal your theatre-starved souls.

The season ahead is one of firsts – TWO world premieres! – and offers you three rich sensory experiences. The Garbologists, by Lindsay Joelle, is a slyly off-beat buddy comedy, Choir Boy, by Academy Award-winner Tarell Alvin McCraney, literally sings with newly arranged gospel and R&B music, and Where We Belong, Madeline Sayet’s poetic and deep solo journey in our globalized but fractured world, takes us through a tactile, sound- and light-filled personal exploration of her people’s cultural history. Learn more about our season here.

I ask you now to join us in our most important season yet.

Subscriptions are available now to all Subscribers and Sustaining Supporters.

Become a Supporting Supporter now for only $10 a month and get access to buy a subscription now, a single ticket pre-sale in October, and much more!

Click Here to Become a Sustaining Supporter!

In addition to the season ahead, we are also developing future work. Last week, we produced a developmental reading of The Tattooed Lady, which we commissioned in 2020. This new musical, with music and lyrics by Max Vernon (KPOP, The View Upstairs) and a book co-written by Obie winner Erin Courtney (for A Map of Virtue) and Vernon, was developed with and directed by Ellie Heyman (Dave Malloy’s Beardo, and winner of the Drama League Award for Outstanding Production for The Great Work Begins).

Leading the reading was theatre icon Penny Fuller (Anastasia), joined by Julia Murney (The Wild Party, Lennon), David Patrick Kelly (Once), Rebecca Naomi Jones (Tony nominee for Oklahoma!), Katie Thompson (Giant), Sav Souza (upcoming 1776), Christina Sajous (American Idiot), Mason Alexander Park (Hedwig and the Angry Inch), newcomer Maya Lagerstam, recording artist Sophia Ramos and Jane Bruce (Jagged Little Pill).

We will premiere this exciting new musical at PTC in the Fall of 2022. To take a look at the journey so far, be sure to watch our documentary, Make Your Mark,

For support of our commissioning of this new work as well as support of Philadelphia Theatre Company’s post-Covid recovery, we are grateful to The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, which announced 42 grants to support the Philadelphia region’s artists and cultural organizations. Learn more about this incredible organization, our Re:imagining Recovery award, and the other organizations they have supported this season here.

Just a reminder that we are committed to bringing you back to the theatre safely.

1. We will be requiring proof of vaccination.
2. We are asking you to wear a mask while inside the theatre.
3. We will also be offering reduced capacity seating in the mezzanine to welcome those patrons who need an additional precaution in order to reenter the theatre.

We are ready to come back. Tell us how we can make sure you are ready, too. Respond to this email with your comments, or call Audience Services at 215-985-0420. You can also email staff at audienceservices@philatheatreco.org to learn more.

Warmly,

Paige

There’s no more important time than NOW to support Philadelphia Theatre Company. Please consider making a gift to PTC today.

Vol 26 (August 2021)

The time has come to announce a season!

Annnnnnnnd yet, in order to make sure that we release the most up-to-date and reliable information, we want to wait until the last possible moment to announce our 2021-22 offerings.

You can expect an announcement right after Labor Day, when tickets will go on sale!

What we CAN say is that we will produce a three play season featuring TWO world premieres and a blazing fresh play with uplifting music!  Expect lots of laughter, intense drama and thoughtful introspection to carry us through the year.

So today, this is simply a short message to drop a few hints about what’s in store.

HINT ONE:  PTC’s Resident Artist Jeffrey Page will direct and choreograph a Tony Award-winning play, by an Academy Award-winning writer.

HINT TWO: This play was first read in the 2018 PlayPenn Conference and then as part of PTC’s very first See & Be Scene. It’s funny. HINT TWO AND A HALF: This issue is a HOT (messy) topic in Philly!

HINT THREE: This play is launching at PTC and will then tour the country.  This one’s hard, it’s really new, but if you like Shakespeare…or origin stories…this one’s for you.

To our loyal and patient subscribers – We are thinking through ways to offer you flexibility to help you feel safe and comfortable this year. We will enforce safety protocols that follow legal guidelines and that are responsive to the current conditions.

Flexibility is going to be the name of the game this year, and we want to work together to find our way back into the theatre, where you can feel not only comfortable and safe, but also excited to be there.

We are committed to providing and maintaining a gathering place that is free of known hazards. In order to safeguard the health of our entire community, we are requiring proof of Covid-19 vaccinations for all employees and audiences moving forward. We may additionally require mask-wearing indoors at our theater. 

We hope you enjoy the rest of your summer and cannot wait to see you at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre again!

We are ready to come back.  Are you?

Please join us as we ramp up for our fall launch by making a gift to PTC today. There’s no more important time than NOW to support your favorite arts organizations.

Paige

Vol 25 (June, 2021)

Hello, hello!

Where were you when…you realized we were actually on the ‘other side’ of the pandemic? Was it when you hugged someone outside of your home for the first time? When you simply saw someone’s entire face?

People are reuniting with their families, revenge-vacationing and shopping again. Some are committing to healthier lifestyles, or perhaps more balance in their lives. Some are rebuilding their lives in new, thoughtful ways.

It’s been a while since my last newsletter to you, which touched upon the “adjacent possible.”

A supporter wrote back, with the following response: “Don’t turn back; post-COVID will carry lessons forward in building all audience events from a place of zero. Be fearless in making a new future, don’t get trapped by conventions of staging or making theater or performance that drag you back to the past.”

Indeed, we are focusing on the future and want to share with you a sizzle reel from our recently completed documentary MAKE YOUR MARK, which introduces you to the creators of our new musical commission, The Tattooed Lady, premiering at PTC in the fall of 2022. This big, blazing show about tattooed ladies, both historical and fictional, is at its core a celebration of unabashed individuality. Our tidy 21-minute documentary reveals how the musical first took shape in Philly at the Kimmel Center. It features a fully-produced music video, more song clips, and a glimpse at one of Philadelphia’s own tattoo artists, who has a flourishing practice in Fishtown. (Click to view the teaser)

What else, you say?  Coming this July is a short meet and greet of three of the Terrence McNally Award finalists. Join us (virtually) on Monday, July 19th at 7pm, to meet these exciting playwrights and hear short excerpts from their plays.  You can watch the announcement of the WINNER of the McNally Award, Donja R. Love, by clicking here and also read the Philly Business Journal’s article about Philly Theatre Week, which highlights our community’s resilience and creativity during these difficult months.

PTC is ready to return, and we’ll do what it takes to bring audiences back to a safe, welcoming space. This year, we are preparing to share some really good stories with you. We also, desperately, want to entertain you. It’s been a rough year.

At PTC, we are sprinting into the future, trying to accomplish all the things it takes to offer a season in record time. Yet we’re affording ourselves the grace to know that this year is still one of recovery and reflection, and that the old way of doing things may not serve us.

Please join us as we continue to develop exciting work by making a gift to PTC TODAY!

There will be more news, as well as details about next year’s season, very soon.

Paige

PS – Feeling lucky? Do you like a good game? Our 50-50 Raffle is still open through July 1st!  Click here to enter for a chance to win 50% of the proceeds (currently over $1,000) and support PTC!

Vol 24, Jan 2021

Hello everyone,

One thing I miss about seeing everyone in the theatre is the opportunity to connect.  There is so much happening in our world–especially in theatre. We’re thrilled about the passage of the Save Our Stages Act, which will provide $15 billion dollars in grants to support the live performing arts. I’m cautiously optimistic that vaccines are finally being distributed and will change our lives for the better (well, eventually…).

Spoiler alert!  You are invited to join us on Monday, February 1st, at 7pm.  More below…

But first, I’d like to share the following quote, which has been guiding my thinking of late:

The adjacent possible is a kind of shadow future, hovering on the edges of the present state of things, a map of all the ways in which the present can reinvent itself…[the adjacent possible] captures both the limits and the creative potential of change and innovation.
— Steven Johnson (Smith, 2010)

Our field is undergoing a major transformation, and some companies may not survive. But in all honesty, the non-profit theatre model in the U.S. has been hurtling toward a cliff for at least a decade.  This is likely not news to you: subscription audiences have decreased, as has corporate and government funding. We have increasingly relied upon you, our supporters, to fill the gap. Our margins are razor-thin, leaving so many of us without reserves to weather unforeseen calamities like the one we’re currently experiencing.

However, one upside of this pause is that artistic leaders across the globe are in regular conversation, sharing EVERYTHING – from best practices to mistakes, examining both our practices and our assumptions. This pandemic has laid bare our vulnerabilities, and so we have banded together to envision a healthier, stronger theatre industry. We have a real opportunity to make nation-wide changes to our field.

An opportunity to think about the “adjacent possible.”

What is our purpose? What will the new normal look like?
How can we reimagine the future and how can the audience participate in that decision?

At PTC, we think that now is the time for our audiences and supporters as well as the artists in our community to be included in these conversations. We’d like to share our thinking around re-opening, season planning, what kind of art we make and who makes it.  Based on some comments I’ve noted in our surveys and in response to published articles, it seems like a good time to open up the conversation beyond our institutions.

On Monday, February 1st, at 7pm, PTC will host a community Zoom (with an “encore” airing on Tuesday at 12pm). I hope you’ll join. If you care about theatre – any theatre – please come, and let us share with you some of the conversations happening in the arts. We’d like to respond to your questions and comments, and to hear your concerns as well as suggestions.  (RSVP here to reserve your spot!)

At Philadelphia Theatre Company, we are here to serve YOU, and it’s critical that we have an understanding about what we mean to you and what you need from us. We know we can’t be all things to all people.  But Philadelphia Theatre Company can aspire to be a sanctuary of theatrical wonder and artistic discovery, where all are welcome.

Paige

REALLY BIG P.S. – On behalf of the 5.1 million arts workers in America, we’re sharing this appeal to the incoming Biden Administration to establish a new Cabinet-level agency to support arts and culture. (See THIS letter).  The Department of Labor Bureau of Economic Analysis reports that Arts & Culture accounts for $877.8 billion dollars and 4.5% of US GDP; more than agriculture, transportation, or construction. The sector also represents over 5.1 million jobs.

Vol 23, December 2020

Hello everyone,

As our first winter storm barrels toward us, I hope you are safe and warm, and taking care of yourselves and those you love. It has been some time since I wrote, so there is much to share, and to celebrate, as the Covid-19 vaccine begins to roll out.

But first, a NEWS ALERT: This is the final week to stream The Wolves, which ends on Sunday, December 20th. Our long-awaited production was rewarded with some exciting attention. Jesse Green, the New York Times’ chief theater critic said The Wolves – an ‘inventive virtual production’ – is saving pandemic theatre (his words-read the review!). Broad Street had a big month, with The Wilma Theater’s searing Heroes of the Fourth Turning also feted in that review.

Applications opened for the 2021 Terrence McNally Award, open to all Philadelphia playwrights. We assembled a panel of creative artists to read the first round of scripts and are excited that some former winners of the award (like James Ijames and A. Zell Williams) will join producer Tom Kirdahy (McNally’s husband) for the final round.  Read Resident Artist Jeffrey Page’s letter to playwrights and learn more about the application process on our website.

This fall, The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage awarded our new musical commission, The Tattooed Lady, with a project grant. The writing team of Erin Courtney and Max Vernon will be joined by director Ellie Heyman for a (covid-safe) writing retreat in February and will share pieces from the show in early spring. We’re making a mini documentary to bring you inside the “making of” a new musical, which will illustrate the special quirks of being collaborative during a global pandemic. Watch this space, as we continue to develop (covid-safe) programming for you.

New Faces!

Please welcome Donna-Marie Peters, who just joined the PTC Board of Directors.  Donna-Marie is no stranger to theatre, having been a founding member of the North Carolina Black Repertory Company in Winston Salem, a member of Actors Equity, and also of the Screen Actors Guild. Donna is currently the NTT Associate Professor – Sociology Department at Temple University. We know she will bring an unbridled love of theatre to the boardroom, and we can’t wait to bring her into the theatre.    

A Moment to Reflect

Two years ago, as we were about to stage the first production under our new leadership, we gathered the PTC team together to craft and define our core values. That gathering consisted of new staff members and people who had been with the company for many years. We wanted a fresh direction not only for the work we create on stage, but also to inspire how we, the staff, would execute that work every day.

These Core Values – Flexibility, Care, Ambition, Integrity and Joy – guide the work we do, and help us to create a framework for the decisions we make and how we treat those around us. We rely on those values now more than ever.

Last March, with the spread of Covid-19 and the racial justice movement that shook the country, we began to re-imagine how to better serve our community. We believe we can do better, and we can do more. We can do more for our artistic community and our audiences, we can uphold more equitable practices. We will move forward into this new chapter with integrity and humility, drawing from the empathy our plays inspire to ensure that we are taking care of those around us. We will be flexible and open as our world continues to shift. We will focus on bringing you joy.

So, we ask that you embrace flexibility along with us this season, as we explore the possibilities of virtual theatre and plan for what lies ahead beyond this season. We also ask you to be ambitious along with us – both with your support, and importantly, with your hope for what Philadelphia Theatre Company can mean to Philadelphia.

We are excited, ready, and here for you. Please consider a donation.

Thank you, and happy holidays!

Paige

Vol 22, September 2020

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.

***

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.

Vol 21
June 2020

Hello everyone,

It’s been a minute.

You may have noticed that we have been relatively quiet at Philadelphia Theatre Company.  During the last several weeks, we took our time to navigate through the first stages of the health and economic crisis and to thoughtfully strategize about our future.

At last, I was all set to bring good news to you about the projects we’re developing, and give you a heads up about events coming up as soon as next Monday, June 8th.

However, I must first address the pain and tumult that we are witnessing in our country and right here in Philadelphia.  We want to acknowledge the pain of the Black American community that seeks justice for the death of George Floyd and countless others. Black Lives Matter.

Philadelphia Theatre Company will emerge from this crisis with stability and strength. We are committed to our mission and to the people we serve.  But we must acknowledge the long history of systemic racism and trauma that is the root cause of injustice.

I am available for any conversation you wish to have–about what we’re doing, what we’ve done, how we’ve failed and also what actions we are taking.

If you are looking for paths to information and action, you will find some here.

Thank you for your patience and commitment as we seek a creative path through this time.

***

As a result of careful planning PTC will be in a very strong position to come back – when we can.  If we’ve learned anything recently, it is that making plans is tricky.  So we are playing the long game, and that means that we are not going to be announcing a season, or dates, until we can do so with certainty.  We know you understand that if there’s one thing in short supply right now, it is certainty. (watch our video message HERE)

We do have a “season” in mind that we are eager to produce, and are considering all the ways that we might offer it to you, whether it’s live or digital, or a mixture of both.  We see an opportunity for innovation as well as an expansion in the ways we define theatre and art in this moment; in how art can reach households that may have heretofore been excluded.  We will be revealing those initiatives in the coming months.

Here’s what we’re looking forward to right now:

Next Monday, June 8th, PTC has the honor of launching the first regional episode of “Stars in the House,”  hosted by me, starring special guest Kathleen Turner, and lots of Philly artists.  We’ll visit our guests in their homes, and talk about their experiences at PTC and what they’re up to right now. The show goes live at 2 pm on PTC’s YouTube channel.  This hour-long show will benefit PTC’s artistic programming, with a portion of our proceeds going toward other local charities to be announced.

Barrymore winning musical director Amanda Morton will accompany some of our musical guests, like Rodney Hicks, Tamara Della Anderson and Georgiana Summers (PTC’s The Bridges of Madison County).

You’ll meet PTC crew member Danielle Joh, who has put her talents to use making masks for the community AND, if you donate $50 or more, you’ll receive your very own handmade mask!

Also, save the date for Wednesday, July 1st, when we present our Virtual Play Brawl fundraiser, which was originally scheduled for March 13th.  Now anyone can come! More details will be forthcoming.

Thank you for your understanding,

Paige

PS – Your ongoing support of PTC is deeply appreciated and absolutely vital as we continue our mission to serve the audiences and artists of Philadelphia. If you wish to donate, please click here.  Thank you!

VOL 20

Hello friends,

I’ll try to keep this short – we know you’re inundated with so much communication now.

However, we wanted to reach out to everyone in the PTC family with the sad news that our dear colleague, the esteemed playwright Terrence McNally, has passed away.

Philadelphia Theatre Company and former artistic leader Sara Garonzik enjoyed a close relationship with the playwright, producing several of his plays, including world premieres such as Master Class. If you read the Inquirer article about his passing, you would have also seen (spoiler alert) mention of our intention to program Master Class next season, 25 years after PTC’s world premiere.  We aren’t ready to announce our full 20-21 season yet, but we are grateful that we recently received Terrence’s enthusiastic blessing to revisit his Tony Award-winning masterpiece.

Let’s stay connected with a video project!

We’d love to share some #PTCStayAtHome stories on our social media channels during this “intermission” and need your help! What better way to continue our 45th anniversary season celebration than by hearing from you about what PTC has meant to you, or really – anything that is keeping you sane right now.

Here are some questions for inspiration:

1. How many years have you been coming to PTC?

2. What is your favorite show you’ve seen at PTC and why?

3. What do you love most about live theatre?

4. In looking back over PTC’s history, what 3 words could best describe your memories?

If we could have your submissions soon, we’d love to begin posting the series on April 1st. Go ahead and send your video to me (paigeprice@philatheatreco.org) and we’ll get it into the queue to share.

What’s happening now?

As most of you know, we made the difficult decision to postpone our spring production of The Wolves. We will be reaching out to all ticket holders in a few days, as we devise our new plan.

Your ongoing support of PTC is deeply appreciated and absolutely vital as we continue our mission to serve the audiences of Philadelphia by producing theatre of the highest quality, and by nurturing our artists. How can you help? We hope you’ll consider donating the cost of your tickets to The Wolves back to PTC.  Another idea, suggested by a loyal donor, is to list us as your favorite charitable organization when you order from AmazonSmile.  It’s the easiest way to get what you need and send a little help our way as we navigate this uncertain time.

The world is moving so quickly, and we’re mindful that your priorities must lie with the safety and health of your loved ones.  Our staff is working from home (we’ve mastered Google Hangouts and the virtual happy hour!) but we are available to you; reach out at any time.

We are thinking about you and look forward to welcoming you back as soon as we can safely resume operations.

Stay safe (and sorry, this wasn’t that short after all),

Paige

PS – If you have the desire and capacity to assist the Philadelphia artist community (many of whom are gig-economy or hourly workers and already vulnerable), you’ll find some resources on the Theatre Philadelphia website.  If advocacy is your jam, click here to communicate the importance of the arts to our elected officials. We’d love you to remember those smiling faces who exchange your tickets or work behind the bar who are without any work right now.

Happy Impending Holidays!

Somehow, the holidays are just about upon us.

We are thankful to our creative team for the terrific run of Adam Bock’s A Small Fire, starring Bebe Neuwirth, John Dossett, Oge Agulué and Sarah Gliko (giving another stellar performance after winning her Barrymore Award for PTC’s The Bridges of Madison County last season). We’re thrilled to announce that our subscriptions surpassed our goal by – a lot.

Now, we are in full court press mode, preparing for See & Be Scene, our annual sneak peek into the plays and musicals that are under consideration for future seasons. Join us on Monday, December 2nd, at 7 pm, when eight works will be showcased.  Then, we’ll ask you to stay, grab a drink and join a conversation with me and some of the artists about the scenes and the season planning process.  You can ask questions, share observations, or simply fill out the survey you’ll receive when you arrive.

This evening is truly important to us.  Not only does it give us a chance to meet and work with an array of talent from the area, but we also get to showcase ideas and get instant feedback about what shows pique your interest or even, well, turn you off (it’s happened!).  Season planning is an inexact science, and the zeitgeist into which we release these shows is ever changing (Presidential election 2020, anyone?), but we love this annual opportunity to try out ideas and hear from you.

Some of the plays and musicals we will present include the 2019 Kilroy’s List play John Proctor is the Villain by Kimberly Belflower, which uses the classic play The Crucible to examine a scandal in a modern day community.  Sharyn Rothstein’s Tell Me I’m Not Crazy is a comedy about a deadly serious subject – guns. The First Deep Breath, by local playwright Lee Edward Colston II, is the Philadelphia version of August: Osage County, epic in scope and passions. Then, you’ll hear pieces from a new musical called Triangle (music by Curtis Moore, lyrics by Thomas Mizer, book by Mizer, Moore and Joshua Scher), which juxtaposes stories that span the century from the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire to today, and Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, with a book by Hugh Wheeler and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Too Heavy for Your Pocket, by Jiréh Breon Holder, tells the story of a young man who weighs a choice to join the fight against racism in the Deep South by becoming a Freedom Rider against his obligation to his young family.  There’s more in store, but this is just a preview of the preview!

Tickets are on sale for $15 for the general public but are free for donors and subscribers. Tickets are available at philatheatreco.org, at the box office, or by calling 215-985-0420.

Also, we’re happy that the Suzanne Roberts Theatre will be jam packed with holiday events, thanks to the work of our resident companies: Koresh Dance Company’s Come Together Festival opens tonight and the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus has a holiday offering from December 5th through the 7th called A Starry Night: A Joyful Holiday Celebration.  Check our website under Events at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre to see all the many live performances you can enjoy.

Have a wonderful holiday season!

Paige

Hello everyone,

We have had so much fun getting ready to open the season. A Small Fire playwright Adam Bock stopped by rehearsals last week to watch a run-through of his play and talk with the cast afterward, answering their questions and providing personal insights you can only get directly from the playwright.

The play is in previews and the creative team is making changes big and small. Preview audiences really do help shape a production, helping the actors with timing, and the director with pacing. We are treating this play like it’s brand new, and working every day until opening to realize our vision.

We have some fun surprises to unveil for you. Get ready for your upgraded experience, as we excitedly tackle our wish list of things we can do to make your Philadelphia Theatre Company memorable. As you walk up to the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, you’ll notice changes inside and out. We hope you’ll find the refreshed lobby warm and welcoming.

Also new this season!  Our specially curated wine list includes a Malbec from Spain, Rose of Syrah from France, a Pinot Grigio from Italy, a California Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.  We make theatre, not wine, so we brought in some fancy Philly food and beverage people to design the wine list you deserve. Come early and check out our new wines, including bottle service for only $40 per bottle at a reserved table in the lobby.

We really hope you’ve made plans to join Philadelphia Theatre Company for our 45th Anniversary Season. Whether you’ve subscribed for the season, chosen one show that excites you, or have decided you’re going to come to our sneak preview event See & Be Scene on Monday, December 2nd, we hope you’ll come and experience all that’s happening at the theatre.

Finally, help us congratulate actress Sarah Gliko, who won a Barrymore Award (Outstanding Leading Performance in a Musical) for her performance as Francesca in The Bridges of Madison County last season. Click here for the full list of winners, recognizing a fantastic array of diverse Philadelphia offerings and artists last season.

We’ll see you soon,

Paige

PS – Remember, Artists Circle members have access to all sorts of special experiences, including exclusive invitations to a private reception with Bebe Neuwirth.  JOIN TODAY!

VOL 14
(September 23, 2019)

Welcome back from your summer, everyone!

While many of you may be nursing Fringe hangovers, we hope you’re ready to dive into the upcoming theatre season. Philadelphia Theatre Company officially launches our 45th Anniversary Season next week, when we start rehearsals with Bebe Neuwirth in A Small Fire at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre.  (Enjoy a new video trailer HERE.) It will be such fun to have Bebe and company working in the theatre by day, and the Philadelphia Opera O19 world premiere production of Denis & Katya wowing audiences at night. It’s not too late to catch a Fringe show: here’s the GUIDE.

It’s reward enough to be nominated!
Another milestone is being celebrated next month in our theatre community. For 25 years, the Barrymore Awards have honored local artists and theatre companies while increasing public awareness of the richness and diversity of our city’s thriving theatre community. PTC garnered nine nominations for the 2018-19 season, and we are thrilled for and proud of our nominated artists. The 25th Anniversary show will be held on Monday, October 14th at 7 pm at Bok. Get your information and tickets HERE, and check out our nominations below:

• Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical | The Bridges of Madison County 

• Outstanding Leading Performance in a Play | Lindsay Smiling | How To Catch Creation

• Outstanding Leading Performance in a Musical | Sarah Gliko | The Bridges of Madison County

• Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Play | Walter DeShields | Sweat

• Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Musical | Rachel Camp | The Bridges of Madison County

• Outstanding Costume Design | Mark Mariani | The Bridges of Madison County

• Outstanding Media Design | Christopher Ash | Sweat

• Outstanding Music Direction | Amanda Morton | The Bridges of Madison County

• Independence Foundation Award for Outstanding New Play/Musical | Christina Anderson | How To Catch Creation

New faces
We are delighted to announce that PTC has a new Director of Development, Christopher Kramaric. Christopher returned to his Philly roots just a few years ago and recently held a position at The Franklin Institute.  We’re thrilled to have him on board and hope you’ll get a chance to meet him soon.

Back in Black
People still ask: “How is the theatre doing now?” This may be an unusual question to cover in a newsletter, but I am excited to report that Philadelphia Theatre Company is on solid ground and focused firmly on the future. We ended the 2019 fiscal year with a healthy surplus for a second consecutive year. We just expanded our staff to include the aforementioned (and very crucial) Director of Development, allowing us to begin a new visioning process with additional expertise and smart planning. We have invested in customer service improvements: new assisted listening devices for patrons, a refreshed website that is thisclose to launching and many, many more small improvements that you will feel, if you don’t actually see.

Finally, thank you to everyone who contributed to our annual fund campaign and made this huge step forward possible. There is simply no way we could continue to bring first-class theatre to you without your commitment and support. And remember, Artists Circle members have access to all sorts of special experiences, including exclusive invitations to a private reception with Bebe Neuwirth.  JOIN TODAY!

We’re very excited to be back and look forward to seeing you this season,

Paige

PS – If you haven’t purchased your subscription yet, you can get yours HERE. You still have time, but prime seating is getting scarce, so don’t delay!

Hello everyone!

It’s a myth that things slow down in the summer. Ok, maybe the office vibe is a little more chill, but the Philadelphia Theatre Company team has been in high gear on so many fronts. Here are just a few:

Tickets are on sale!
Single tickets on sale NOW…but if you’re good with math, you’ll see that you could get a full subscription for a super reasonable price. Check out pricing details HERE.

Casting is final!
For our opening show, Adam Bock’s A Small Fire, we’ve already announced the casting of the inimitable Tony and Emmy Award-winning Bebe Neuwirth (Chicago, Addams Family, Blue Bloods, Madam Secretary). Now we’re thrilled to announce the addition of John Dossett (Madam Secretary, The Americans, The Good Wife, War Paint, Pippin, Newsies), Oge Agulué (The Code, Book of Mormon) and Philadelphia’s own Sarah Gliko (PTC’s The Bridges of Madison County, Wilma Theater’s Constellations, Walnut Street’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time).  

Portal to PTC
Thanks to the generosity of our board, we are working to improve your online experience and the redesign of the PTC website will be finished soon. Websites are still where many of you not only buy tickets but also learn more about how to interact with PTC. (Donate! Volunteer! Read our newsletter!)

Baby Steps
We’ll soon have a big announcement about some new people joining the PTC team. The PTC board has just added two members, as well.

Kristin Bair is a composer whose work has been performed in New York, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. She was awarded the BMI Foundation’s Jerry Harrington Award for Outstanding Creative Achievement in 2015 with writing partner Kevin Hammonds. Their musical comedy Up and Away premiered in 2018 at Pittsburgh CLO and will be staged by Broadway Rose Theatre Company in January 2020. Kristin is a member of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Advanced Workshop. Fun fact: Prior to becoming a full-time composer, Kristin worked as an accountant for U.S. Steel in Pittsburgh, PA.

Regina Hairston is a Senior Associate at Bellevue Strategies. She is a registered lobbyist at the state, local, and federal government levels where she advances client objectives through the development and execution of government affairs, community relations, media, and communications strategies. Fun fact: Regina is a graduate of the DiverseForce On Boards program funded by William Penn Foundation to support their grantees with board development.

Finally, our end-of-year annual fund campaign is up and running – but don’t run!  We hope you’ll consider supporting PTC to end the year strong, with a gift of $45 to kick off our 45th Season.  Click here to donate $45!

Warmly,

Paige

PS – If you haven’t purchased your subscription yet, you can get yours HERE. Prime seats are moving fast! Learn about the season HERE.

Hi and bye!

Summer has finally arrived, and we know that we’re not likely to be on your minds for a little bit, so we wanted to catch your attention one more time to let you know what’s happening at PTC.

Some of our PTC family members were honored at the Tony Awards this month.  Terrence McNally received a Lifetime Achievement Tony Award.  You can watch his graceful speech here, and read a gorgeous reflection on that speech by the Chicago Tribune’s Chris Jones.

Rachel Chavkin (the only woman who directed a musical on Broadway this season) won the Tony Award for Best Director, my husband (!) Nevin Steinberg won for Best Sound Design along with co-designer Jessica Paz (first woman ever nominated, so thus first winner!), all for Hadestown.

And finally, congrats to Ali Stroker (Olive in our production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), who won the Best Featured Actress in a Musical award for her performance as Ado Annie in Oklahoma!

Ali is the first woman in a wheelchair to win the award.  In her triumphant remarks she said, “This award is for every kid who is watching tonight who has a disability, who has a limitation or a challenge, who has been waiting to see themselves represented in this arena — you are.” We are super proud that Ali graced the stage of the Suzanne Roberts Theatre early in her career.  Our theatre is fully ADA-accessible not only to patrons, but also backstage, so that differently-abled actors can work here.

Summer’s coming, so it must be new play festival time.  The PlayPenn New Play Development Conference has some amazing writers coming in July, and PTC reps will be scouting all things new at the Williamstown Theatre Festival (WTF), New York Stage & Film’s Powerhouse Theater and Barrington Stage, to name a few.  If you’re really curious, write me back and I’ll share a few highlights we’re looking forward to, including The Elementary Spacetime Show at the Powerhouse from July 12-14, and Adam Bock’s play Before the Meeting, at WTF, August 7-18th.

We are thisclose to announcing final casting for our own 2018-20 season, with just a few more roles to fill.  Our design teams are also coming together and feature lots of new faces along with some rising stars in the field. Stay tuned for an announcement later in the summer.

Finally, our fiscal year closes at the end of August, so our annual fund campaign is up and running – but don’t run!  We hope you’ll continue to support PTC, to end the year strong as we kick off our 45th Season. Artists Circle members will have access to a private reception with Bebe Neuwirth, so this is a fun year to join our Artists Circle for special experiences and access!

Warmly,

Paige

PS – If you haven’t purchased your subscription yet, you can get yours HERE. Prime seats are moving fast! Learn about the season HERE.  You’ll soon receive your season brochure…you will notice that PTC and the Wilma Theater are cross-promoting each other’s work.  So if three shows in one season aren’t enough for you, we hope you’ll take a look at the Wilma season and consider an add on.

Hello everyone,

It’s graduation season and Broad Street has been filled with caps and gowns as well as a palpable sense of pride and celebration. In one single moment, the hard work and years of concentration and all the stress evaporate, transforming into hope, aspiration and yes, maybe just a little fear of the unknown.

It occurred to me yesterday that all of us at PTC relate to these graduates.  We’ve been undergoing a years’ long master class in transformation, too, combining our collective experience to learn what works (and doesn’t). Some of our experiments worked (Play Brawl!), and others we’ll just put in the “well, that didn’t work” column.

So, with our newly constituted staff and leadership, we just graduated from our first season. We majored in turning PTC around. We brought together many artists that were new to PTC and focused on creating empathy with stories by and about communities that are unfamiliar to many of us.  We learned a lot – about ourselves, about our audiences, and even about the city of Philadelphia.

Last month, we told you about Bebe Neuwirth headlining our first play of the season. This week, we’re in the middle of more casting, sending offers, and putting together the creative teams for the season, and that is my favorite part of being an artistic director.  You can see the season take shape in small ways, and start to imagine the experience that an audience will share.

We’re also thrilled to be on your minds, as well. Subscription sales are hot, and we’re excited you’re building upon last season’s momentum, with our 45th anniversary season featuring the plays A Small Fire, Everything is Wonderful and our Kilroys List play The Wolves.  Learn more about our new season HERE.

It’s also awards season on Broadway, and we’d love to give a shout out to some PTC alums, who are nominated for awards:  Ali Stroker, from our production of 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, for Best Featured Actress (Oklahoma), Rachel Chavkin, director of 2017’s Small Mouth Sounds for Best Director (Hadestown), David Korins, scenic designer of FOUND, for Beetlejuice, and my husband (!) Nevin Steinberg, PTC’s Nerds, for Best Sound Design (Hadestown).  And of course, we celebrate Terrence McNally, who is getting a Lifetime Achievement Tony Award!  I’ll be there on June 9th, and hope you’ll tune in to CBS and watch.

Warmly,

Paige

PS – Just a reminder that PTC subscribers will get the best deal on the best seats – call the box office at 215-985-0420 to subscribe for our 45th Anniversary Season and receive 40% off single prices. Exchanges are free and you pay NO fees. Go to our website to buy your subscription now!

Spring is here and we have news!

Firstly, thank you to everyone who came to a show at PTC – and even to those of you who thought real hard about it but didn’t quite make it. We know you’re busy.  We know you’ll come next year. And we hope we’ve made it impossible to resist.

Because…we have some major news about our upcoming 45th Anniversary Season. We are thrilled to announce that multiple Tony and Emmy Award-winner Bebe Neuwirth will star in Obie-winner Adam Bock’s play A Small Fire. Whether you remember her from “Cheers” or “Frasier,” caught her recently in “Madame Secretary” or “Blue Bloods,” or you had the good fortune to see her on Broadway in one of her many starring roles (Chicago, Damn Yankees, Fosse) you know Philadelphia is in for a treat as Bebe returns to the stage in her first dramatic role since 2012.

The next two plays are by exciting young writers who have crashed upon the scene with fresh, award-winning plays. Chelsea Marcantel’s Everything is Wonderful was a Kilroys List honorable mention two years in a row.  The play reveals a fascinating world of protection, forgiveness, and submission inside the Amish belief system.

Sarah DeLappe’s 2017 Pulitzer Finalist The Wolves took New York by storm and gives us a fantastic opportunity to showcase some fine young talent. The Wolves, from the 2017 Kilroys List, is about a girls’ soccer team intensely preparing for competition, and how their personalities intersect with friendship, ambition, and rivalry, as they deal with season-ending injuries, petty jealousies, and life-changing transformation.

Once again, PTC subscribers will get the best deal ever – call the box office at 215-985-0420 to subscribe for our 45th Anniversary Season and receive 40% off full price.  Exchanges are free and you pay NO fees. Go to our website to buy your subscription now!

Paige

PS – A Small Fire was featured in PTC’s first See & Be Scene in 2017. (You liked it, and we remembered.)  Look for this year’s See & Be Scene announcement in our season brochure.

We did it!

Last night, we announced the plays that Philadelphia Theatre Company will produce in our 2019-2020 45th Anniversary Season.  PTC will open with Obie Winner Adam Bock’s play A Small Fire, followed by Chelsea Marcantel’s Everything is Wonderful and finally go out with a bang, with the rowdy Pulitzer Finalist The Wolves. Sarah DeLappe’s award-winning first play took New York by storm in 2017, and we are thrilled to bring it to you.

As I considered plays for next year, the word “triumph” kept banging around in my head. Where were the characters who found a light at the end of something dark, that found redemption, forgiveness, peace, acceptance?  I looked for gestures of grace, and in each play there are tiny, tiny acts of kindness. A Small Fire features a woman used to running things – her construction business, her employees, her family. Her relationship to being in control is acutely tested when she suddenly and mysteriously starts losing her senses. Suddenly, she is vulnerable and we watch as she learns to relate to her family in a new way.

Everything is Wonderful burns slow.  It forces the audience to breathe, to listen, and to get comfortable with silence, with the cryptic and repressed dialogue of an Amish family grieving the untimely loss of two children. But both plays end with coups de theatre that offer true emotional catharsis. You may have noticed that lots of plays today have very ambiguous – even ambivalent – endings. These do not.

A runaway hit Off-Broadway, and a 2017 Pulitzer Finalist, The Wolves is about a girls’ soccer team preparing for competition, and how their personalities intersect with friendship, ambition, and rivalry.  The Wolves, says Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune, “is not just about girls, but about girls and their mothers, about how the adult world intersects with that of teenagers…given the news, we do a lousy job of protecting them, but here, at least, you feel that they are being understood.”

The upcoming season once again features an array of interesting women, and even if magical, surprising things happen to them, the characters in each play are relatable. There are no heroes or heroines; everyone is flawed in some way, but ultimately, triumphant.

This season isn’t over yet, however. Don’t miss our final show of this season, How to Catch Creation, by Christina Anderson, and directed by Nataki Garrett, which begins previews this Friday, March 22nd. Christina is working on the play as we rehearse, shaping it for publication right here at PTC. How to Catch Creation is our first “Kilroys List” play, representing our commitment to providing opportunities for underproduced writers who identify as women, trans, and/or non-binary, who are nominated by industry leaders. Why? Much like we gave a home to the work of Terrence McNally and David Mamet, we now want PTC to be home to the next generation of important writers, telling today’s stories.

I’m excited that PTC will bring work to Philadelphia that might not otherwise be seen on this level.  It is our hope that by naming this commitment, audiences will connect with and value new work. We also hope that the Kilroys will, at first, be a source for more theatres and then ultimately, be rendered obsolete because the field is producing the full scope of stories that reflect our world.

We’re still learning from you, so I hope you’ll let me know what you think about our new season (read a little more about it HERE).  Feel free to ask questions, too…when subscriptions become available next month, we want you to be ready and excited to rejoin us at PTC.

Paige

PS – BIG NEWS!  Nataki Garrett, the director of PTC’s How to Catch Creation, was named this morning as the new Artistic Director of Oregon Shakespeare Festival.  This is one of the most prestigious theaters in American today, and we congratulate Nataki on her appointment to this plum position.

See Nataki’s work!  Call the box office at 215-985-0420 to get your tickets for How to Catch Creation, or visit our website.

Hello all,

We are just coming down from this past Saturday’s one-night only performance by Jason Robert Brown. The multiple Tony Award-winning composer of our upcoming musical The Bridges of Madison County shared funny and personal stories about his career and life. (Read this RAVE) Jason also sang from his brand new CD How We React and How We Recover. The album marks his departure from traditional theatre songs and is a thoughtful, impassioned, response to the issues of our time. “The Sandy Hook school shooting just broke me,” said Brown, whose 9-year-old daughter was in the audience, and his “A Song About Your Gun” drew sustained emotional applause. Also in the audiences were scores of young fans, who met the composer after the show, as he signed CDs and sheet music for over an hour.

My personal highlight was when the stars from PTC’s production, Sarah Gliko and Gregg Goodbrod, joined Jason on stage. The pair performed two major songs from The Bridges of Madison County, offering a preview of what is to come when the show starts performances February 8th.  If you haven’t gotten your tickets yet, I highly suggest you run, don’t walk! Staff is waiting to help you experience the rush of this emotionally-charged musical, so call call the box office at 215-985-0420 or grab tickets here.

We want to do more of these events, to bring you one-of-a-kind experiences with the most influential and interesting theatre artists of our time.  Because I’d like to think that theatre is not, in fact, a luxury. We keep prices affordable (starting at $2 for qualifying patrons – yes you read that right) so that anyone who wants to experience a play can come and be part of the story…can listen to and watch the creative minds that are shaping the arts in our time.

Consider it self-care.

If you want to support more special events like An Evening with Jason Robert Brown, and missed the opportunity to make a gift to PTC during the holidays, we hope you will consider making a tax-deductible contribution NOW. We believe in second chances and, well, we can’t do it without you. ;-)

See you soon,

Paige

Call the box office at 215-985-0420 to get your tickets for The Bridges of Madison County, or visit our website.  There are still two-show subscription packages available for the remainder of our season.  We are BACK for more in 2019!

Hello,

You would think we’d all be getting ready for the holidays, distracted by Wednesday’s snow flurries, sightings of “Elsa” at Christmas Village and Hanukkah celebrations (my personal tradition involves latkes and martinis).  You would be wrong!  

Instead, we are obsessed with plans for our 45th anniversary season in 2019-20.

You see, we just spent a week reflecting on your responses to our 2nd Annual See & Be Scene, held on Monday, November 26th, when short segments from 8 plays were presented.  This year, we even had four of the playwright/composers in attendance, and they were able to share with the audience (and me!) personal insight into their creative impulses.

One astute audience member asked the great question, “What are your hopes for your play, if it were to be produced by PTC?” Since seven of the 8 plays under consideration would actually be world premieres, each writer was in the (vulnerable) position of watching an audience respond to brand new material.  Your thoughtful comments on the surveys we collected that evening were hugely helpful not only to us at PTC, but also to the writers.  Thank you!

Of course, we are also looking forward to the rest of this season, starting with our Princess Holiday Concert Sunday, December 16th (tix here). Like last year, the Princesses will invite everyone to sing along with favorites like “Let it Go,” and then join our young audiences for cookies, cider and photos!  Introduce the joy of music to a young person by taking them to the theatre. They will never forget you.

You may also inspire them to grow up to be like Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown, who appears in a solo concert January 26th.  Brown, the composer of our upcoming musical The Bridges of Madison County, will talk about creating the show for Broadway, singing songs from his score and accompanying our very own stars, Sarah Gliko and Gregg Goodbrod.  It’s your opportunity to share an intimate evening with one of the most celebrated American composers writing for the theatre today.

Seriously, though, don’t forget to take in all the wonder of the season, when we are reminded to share our good fortune with those around us – friends, family and strangers alike.

Yours,

Paige

PS – The future is bright!  Our “Be A Light” campaign is underway, so we hope you will consider making a tax-deductible contribution as we look toward our future.

Greetings,

Hopefully, right now you’re feeling good about yourself for voting. Or you have a plan to hit the polls later this evening.

We all have a lot on our minds right now, but take some time to think about what is good in your life. Because that’s what we’re doing on this rainy day.

When we started this season, we already felt some momentum from reaching a few important milestones. We had retired our chubby debt line; chiseled away at our operating model and arrived at a balanced budget; ended our last fiscal year in the black; and assembled a motivated and talented team to not only create the art, but also to support it. Our board, led by the indomitable David L. Cohen, grew by eight. Heck, we even gave the lobby a fresh coat of paint.

All that we needed was an affirmation that you still cared. And I’m overjoyed to report that our first play, Sweat, was an unqualified ‘win’ for PTC.  We hit our sales goal in Week 2, the theatre was filled with a more diverse audience, of all ages, and your thoughtful responses to our survey gave us encouragement (and some constructive criticism) to keep it up.  Thank you, for delivering the goods. Because it’s like voting: if we make theatre and no one comes, we are left with a void.  We’ve lost the opportunity to engage with other humans, and to be exposed to new thoughts and ideas. We think of what might have been, had we only stepped outside of our comfortable homes and put ourselves on the line.

I’d like to thank, once more, those who helped us make Sweat – Victor Keen & Jeanne Ruddy Keen, Linda & David Glickstein, as well as the Charlotte Cushman Foundation for their additional support. Their faith and patronage made it possible to bring this timely, unflinching story to life and our audiences were touched.

If you were as inspired as we were by Sweat, we hope you will consider making a tax-deductible contribution. We are in this together.

Thank you for all you do.

Paige

It’s not too late to join us for the rest of the season! You can purchase a Flex Pass, which gives you 4 tickets that you can use in any combination to attend one of our remaining mainstage shows. Or, if you purchased a single ticket to Sweat, you can add on the remaining two shows for 50% off!. Call our box office at 215.985.0420 if you’d like to take advantage of either of these great offers.

Hello everyone,

What midterms?! Seriously, we hope you’ll step away from cable news to consider this: a collaborative group of over fifty people has been working together to create our opening play only for you. Imagine just over two hours of uninterrupted entertainment in the company of dedicated theatregoers like yourselves and treat yourself to a night out, taking in the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama of Lynn Nottage’s SWEAT.

We invite you to lose yourselves in the stories of people who could be your family, your friends, your neighbors. SWEAT depicts a tightly-knit group of friends who make each other laugh, who celebrate and console each other and ultimately, who react to the changes around them in dramatic and even tragic ways. The final moment of the play simply takes my breath away and the cast we have assembled is electrifying.

Director Justin Emeka had this to say about the all-star lineup in Sweat – “A well-written play like Sweat demands actors…share pieces of themselves that they normally keep to themselves,” said Emeka. “Because of the demands of the script, I looked for actors that were the most fearless, lovable, and willing to be vulnerable with each other.  All of the actors in the cast stood out to me in this regard.”

So let Philadelphia Theatre Company offer you respite from the numbing assault of news and campaigns. Sit among friends in the comfort of the Suzanne Roberts Theatre and let yourself feel again. If there’s a common thread between the world of the play and today, it is that the stakes are unbelievably high. But, as Stan the bartender says, “…human decency is at the core of everything.” Plays show us the truth, but they also remind us of who we are and what is possible.

Time is running out to buy subscriptions for the 2018-19 season, starting at the crazy price of $38.  Sweat previews are almost sold out – don’t miss your chance for the best possible seats from October 12-November 4. Get your tickets HERE today!

A final line from Sweat that sums up the PTC spirit; “Yo, I got aspirations. There it is.”

See you soon,

Paige

PS – PTC has partnered with the Santander Arena and Performing Arts Center to offer an exclusive opportunity. Enjoy a year-long complimentary Membership to the SPAC valued at $50! Access exclusive discounts to concerts, sporting events, and the 2018-2019 Broadway Series!
To set-up your complimentary $50 Membership, contact Tammy Dahms, Sales and Client Services Manager at 610.898.7204. SPAC Membership not available through the PTC Box Office. Must be a Sweat ticket holder to qualify. Tickets for Sweat start at $25.