For Immediate Release: December 5, 2005
Media Contact: Sara Pauley, Lantern Theater Company, 215.829.9002

During the run of Anthony Lawton’s World Premiere puppet comedy, The Foocy, Lantern Theater Company will host a charitable Toy Drive to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Philadelphia. Toys will be collected in the Lantern’s lobby from December 2, 2005 through January 1, 2006 during regular business and performance hours.

Serving over 12,000 children annually, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia’s programs and services promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence. The Club is a safe place to learn and grow - all while having fun.

"When we were considering the beneficiary of our toy drive, we did not have to look any further than the Boys and Girls Clubs of Philadelphia," says Lantern Managing Director Karyn B. Lyman. "This remarkable organization truly leads the way for the healthy and well-rounded development of local youth. It is our hope that patrons attending our production of The Foocy will join the Lantern's staff and Board in supporting the Boys and Girls Clubs with a toy donation."

Single ticket buyers donating one new, unwrapped toy will receive $5 off their ticket purchase for The Foocy. A wickedly hilarious folktale, The Foocy tells the story of a malodorous witch who roams the Russian countryside with her hideous golem, wreaking havoc wherever she goes. Surprises are in store when she reaches the small village of Vrinsk, fifty years after her last visit. Perfect for the holidays, children and adults alike will delight in The Foocy and its imaginative staging of puppets, masks and music. The Foocy is recommended for children ages seven and up.

The Foocy is supported in part by The Jim Henson Foundation and a grant from the Philadelphia Theatre Initiative, a program funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts and administered by The University of the Arts. The Philadelphia-based ensemble Ugly Stepsister Productions includes theatre artists Aaron Cromie (performer/puppet, mask, costume and visual design), Dave Jadico (performer/scenic design), Rainey Lacey (performer/musical supervisor), Anthony Lawton (playwright/performer), and Seth Reichgott (performer).

Performances of The Foocy begin on Friday, December 2, 2005 and run through Sunday, January 1, 2006 at St. Stephen’s Theater, located at 10th and Ludlow Streets in Philadelphia. Tickets range in price from $14-$28 and are available now by visiting or calling the box office at (215) 829-9002, or online at www.lanterntheater.org.

Following THE FOOCY, the Lantern’s twelfth season continues with the poignant and powerful U.S. Premiere of NOVECENTO by Alessandro Baricco (January 27 – February 26, 2006). Closing the season will be the politically charged Shakespearean history, RICHARD III (March 24 – April 30, 2006). Three play subscriptions for the Lantern’s 2005-2006 season are now available, beginning as low as $33 for students and seniors. For more information, please call (215) 829-9002 or visit our website: www.lanterntheater.org.

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