For Immediate Release: August 21, 2006
Media Contact: Erin Lucas, Flashpoint Theatre Company, 215.514.8965

Flashpoint Theatre Company is thrilled to present its third season of provocative plays at 2nd Stage at the Adrienne. Featuring compelling stories, powerful writing, and some of Philadelphia’s most celebrated up-and-coming theatre artists, audiences will understand why Philadelphia City Paper called Flashpoint “a dynamic young company to watch.”

The House of Yes – PHILADELPHIA PREMIERE!
by Wendy MacLeod
directed by Meghann Williams
October 25 – November 11, 2006
2nd Stage at the Adrienne – 2030 Sansom St.

The stage version of this cult classic film finally comes to Philadelphia! After the success of Schoolgirl Figure in 2004, Flashpoint presents another of Wendy MacLeod’s (the WB’s Popular) provocative plays. MacLeod offers a glimpse at Thanksgiving with the Pascales, including the beautiful but disturbed Jackie-O, and reveals just how warped the All-American family can be. The talented cast features Robert Daponte (Shakespeare in Clark Park’s Twelfth Night), Laura Catlaw (Arden Theatre Company’s A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum), Derick Loafmann (Schoolgirl Figure and The Santaland Diaries) and April Woodall (Bristol Riverside Theatre’s I Married Wyatt Earp, Lenape Regional Performing Arts Center’s The Music Man). Directing is Meghann Williams, who has directed The Santaland Diaries and Season’s Greetings to Our Friends and Family for Flashpoint for the last two years.

The House of Yes will include a set design by Adam Riggar (Autobahn), costumes by Natalia de la Torre (Feed the Hype), props by Beth Godfischer and sound by Andrew Monheim (Feed the Hype, Autobahn, Schoolgirl Figure).

Far Away – PHILADELPHIA PREMIERE!
by Caryl Chuchill
directed by Michael Osinski
February 7-24, 2007
2nd Stage at the Adrienne – 2030 Sansom St.

Internationally acclaimed playwright Caryl Churchill (Top Girls) offers a frightening prophecy of a world where conflict and suffering find their way from the Third World to our own backyards, and nobody and nothing can be trusted. English playwright Caryl Churchill is known for her feminist themes and non-realistic techniques. Her plays Cloud Nine and A Number were produced as The Wilma Theatre in spring 2006.

Far Away will be directed by Michael Osinski, Flashpoint’s Managing Director who recently directed Neil LaBute’s Autobahn and Wendy MacLeod’s Schoolgirl Figure for the company. Mike will direct part of the Brick Playhouse’s Flip the Script during the 2006 Philly Fringe.

The outstanding cast includes Mary Lee Bednarek (Theatre Exile’s Killer Joe), Davy Raphaely (The Credeaux Canvas, upcoming: Arden Theatre Company’s A Prayer for Owen Meany) and April Woodall. Designers will include lighting by Joshua Schulman (Between Us), set by Christian Pedone (Feed the Hype, Schoolgirl Figure, The Credeaux Canvas) and sound by Andrew Monheim.

U.S. Drag – PHILADELPHIA PREMIERE!
by Gina Gionfriddo
directed by Erin Lucas
May 2 – 19, 2007
2nd Stage at the Adrienne – 2030 Sansom St.

The final show in Flashpoint’s season offers a look at how violence and the media affect life in urban America. With a deranged attacker at large on the streets of New York, greedy socialites Allison and Angela decide to capture him and take home the cash reward. U. S. Drag includes a line-up of characters that embody the best and worst of Generation X. Gina Gionfriddo, who’s After Ashley was recently produced at Philadelphia Theatre Company, is one of America’s hottest up-and-coming playwrights. She has won the Susan Smith Blackburn Playwriting Award, the Helen Merrill Award for Emerging Playwrights, a Lucille Lortel Fellowship and a Rhode Island State Council on the Arts Fellowship for U.S. Drag.

Directing is Flashpoint’s Producing Artistic Director, Erin Lucas. She has directed Flashpoint’s contribution to both SPARK 10-for-10 Festivals, 2005’s Between Us, and The Credeaux Canvas in 2004. The cast of U.S. Drag includes some familiar faces on the Flashpoint stage: Kate Bailey (Between Us), Nathaniel Robertson (Feed the Hype), David Stanger (Autobahn, 2006 SPARK Festival), and Nick Wilder (Autobahn). Other cast members include Leah Walton (Gas & Electric Arts Voices Underwater), Katy O’Leary, Andrew Gorell and Melissa Connell (Theatre Catalyst’s Taking Leave and The Women).

Adam Riggar will design the set and Joshua Schulman will light the play. Costumes will be designed by New York actress/designer Kristen Bonstein, and Flashpoint’s Michael Osinski, who has worked with Lucas on her last two productions, will provide the sound.

Flashpoint is pleased to announce the return of their popular holiday show!

The Santaland Diaries and Season’s Greetings to Our Friends and Family
by David Sedaris
adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello
directed by Meghann Williams
December 6-22, 2006
2nd Stage at the Adrienne – 2030 Sansom St.

It just wouldn't be Christmas without this David Sedaris’ (Me Talk Pretty One Day, Barrel Fever, Holidays on Ice) classic, featuring the Dunbar family's tumultuous holiday season and Crumpet the elf’s twisted tour through Santa's maze of misery. The hysterical Tanesha Ford and Flashpoint's own Derick Loafmann, who both recently appeared in Shakespeare in Clark Park’s Twelfth Night, return for this delightfully dreadful holiday treat.

Information about performance dates and times, as well as ticket prices and artists featured in each production, can be found at www.flashpointtheatre.org. Tickets can be purchased online at Flashpoint's website, and they can also be reserved for purchase at the door by calling the box office at 215-563-4330. Discounted season subscriptions are also available online.

Flashpoint Theatre Company is dedicated to expanding cultural arts awareness in the greater Philadelphia area through the production of socially provocative and emotionally resonant works of theatre, through the development of educational programming within the community, and through collaboration with new and emerging voices from all artistic disciplines. Founded in 2003, Flashpoint’s first two seasons have included four Philadelphia premieres and one world premiere, and several readings of new plays as part of the High Voltage workshop series. Flashpoint is also an active participant in the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia’s SPARK program and has presented work in both the 2005 and 2006 10-for-10 Festivals. Flashpoint’s 2006-2007 season is sponsored by Philadelphia City Paper.

Photos available upon request – erin@flashpointtheatre.org, 215-514-8965

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