For Immediate Release: August 26, 2005
Media Contact: Tyler Melchior, 1812 Productions, 215.592.9560

In the greatest collaboration since William Powell met Myrna Loy to solve crimes from beyond the grave, 1812 Productions is jazzed beyond belief to partner with the Tin Angel in Old City, Philadelphia to kick off a series of monthly comedy cabarets. 1812 at the Angel will happen one Monday evening a month at the Tin Angel, 20 South 2nd Street, with the inaugural production happening Monday September 19, 2005 at 8:30pm. All tickets are $10 and are available by contacting the Tin Angel at (215) 928-0978 or www.tinangel.com/tickets.

The seed for this collaboration between 1812 Productions and The Tin Angel was planted with the success of 1812’s Eventa du Schmancy fundraiser in May of this year, in which the featured event was 1812’s newest creation, The Bad Song Cabaret. Rich Machlin, owner and operator of Serrano and Tin Angel got word of the sold out event and contacted Jennifer Childs, 1812’s Artistic Director, about making the cabaret a year-round fixture in Philadelphia. “To my continual surprise, there is not a lot of cross-over between live music audiences and theater audiences in Philadelphia,” says Rich Machlin. “One of our biggest aspirations is that this partnership will stimulate audience interest and excitement in different artistic forms—singing, theatre, cabaret—and create a broader experience for Philadelphia’s arts patrons.” “It’s definitely a perfect match,” adds 1812’s Artistic Director, Jennifer Childs. “We get a fantastic, well-known arena to showcase up and coming cabaret singers and comedic music acts and Tin Angel gets new theatre-going audiences that want to come see them.”

The premiere performance of 1812 at the Angel will be a reprise of 1812’s Bad Song Cabaret. The Bad Song Cabaret will feature 1812 favorites Jeff Coon, Joshua Lamon, Dawn Falato, Tony Lawton and many more of Philadelphia’s best artists performing the worst songs in recorded history. 1812’s own Dave Jadico will serve as the Master of Ceremonies and guide the audience through the glorious history of songs like Wildfire (Michael Murphy’s dirge about a girl, her horse, and a snowstorm), Fernando (Abba’s disco tribute to the Mexican Revolution), and I’ve Been to Paradise but I’ve Never Been to Me (the mega-hit by Charlene about bitterness and looking good.) Never has so much comedy been so abundantly had.

1812 at the Angel will be an on-going collaboration throughout the 2005-2006 theatre season. The upcoming performances will be held on September 19th, October 31st, November 14th, and December 19th, with a different line-up of performers for each cabaret. Pete Pryor, 1812’s Producing Artistic Director says, “Over the past few years our cabaret series have garnered national attention. Now thanks to this new collaboration with the nationally renowned Tin Angel, more Philadelphia artists will have a chance to work and try out new material—and have their work received by a wide, diverse audience.”

1812 History
Artistic Director Jennifer Childs and Producing Artistic Director Pete Pryor founded 1812 Productions in the spring of 1998 with a goal to entertain and educate audiences through comedy, and to support and hire local artists. Philadelphia Magazine named 1812 Productions one of the top 5 theatres of the 2004-2005 season. Their education program, 1812 Outreach, has received four consecutive nominations and been awarded once the Barrymore Award for Excellence in Theatre Education and Community Service. Most recently, 1812 Productions was the recipient of 8 nominations for Barrymore Awards for Excellence in theatre for their 2004-2005 season. 1812 Productions, while continually on the search for a permanent home, continues to perform at various locations around Philadelphia.

Serrano/Tin Angel Acoustic Café
Serrano has been a fixture on the Philadelphia restaurant scene since 1985. Owners Rich Machlin and Jude Erwin based their venture on a very simple premise; serving international fare at neighborhood prices. Serrano's eclectic and exotic furnishings, assembled by the owners on their jaunts around the globe, completed the total dining experience. In 1992, Serrano introduced Tin Angel, the intimate acoustic cafe on the second floor. From opening night, Tin Angel has presented an astonishing array of stars from the world of blues, rock, folk and country. This music club has earned a reputation as, perhaps, the best club of its size in the country. In addition to excellent acoustic and other "unplugged" entertainment, Tin Angel offers candle lit table seating, great coffees, cappuccinos, teas and desserts, as well as a complete selection of liquors, wines, beers and mineral waters.

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