1812 Productions, Philadelphia's all comedy theatre company, presents Suburban Love Songs, a comic-actor's ballet, created, directed, and choreographed by Karen Getz. Suburban Love Songs will run for a special limited engagement of 16 performances from April 4th to April 27th, 2008. Suburban Love Songs will be performed at Plays and Players Theatre, located at 17th and Delancey Streets. Tickets range between $15 and $25 and can be purchased by contacting 1812 Productions directly at (215) 592-9560 or online at www.1812productions.org.

Suburban Love Songs, the smash hit of the 2006 Philadelphia Live Arts Festival is back for a special limited engagement. Equal parts Ingmar Bergman and Austin Powers, Suburban Love Songs is a dance-comedy about a group of suburbanites who gather for a party in 1968. Through an evening of passion, Tupperware, and gold lamé pants suits, we watch their hidden desires and wildest dreams unfold before our eyes.

In 1968 America, social, political, and sexual seams are pulled to their limits. The Tet Offensive begins as the Vietnam War slogs on, Dr. King and Bobby Kennedy are assassinated, and The Women's Liberation Front puts flame to brassiere across the country. "Suburban Love Songs is as much about coming of age as it is about the end of an age," says the show's creator, choreographer, and director Karen Getz. "This whole story takes place during a period of time when Americans, en masse, saw their country's innocence slipping away." But while revolution rages with burning bras, protest signs, and sit-ins-in the American suburbs, a different kind of upheaval has started; one that marches to the beat of a rhumba, and whose signs take the shape of twister boards, Tupperware containers, and martini glasses.

Suburban Love Songs' story is told entirely through dance but instead of a company of professional dancers, the ensemble is made up of some of the greatest comedic performers in Philadelphia. "What I really wanted to create was a piece that centered around character, not technique, "says Getz. "I didn't want to use a cast of classically trained dancers doing things that your average theatre-goer could never imagine him or herself doing. I want an audience to see real people dancing and telling a story through that dance. I want audience members to identify with the performers-with their wonderfully human foibles-and to be able to share the laughter with them."

The genesis of Suburban Love Songs came after Getz spent years in the Philadelphia theatre community choreographing shows for actors with no dance experience. "I became enamored with the way that they move-with the fact that I could teach them a step, which they would then interpret into this wonderful movement that was so much better than what I could have given them. We are so blessed in Philadelphia to have so many amazing and masterful comedic performers, I began to wonder if I could create a dance piece that relied only upon the actor's willingness to move and their natural comedic ability. I couldn't be happier with the result."

Joining Getz in Suburban Love Songs are some familiar 1812 faces; Jennifer Childs, Dave Jadico, Mary Carpenter, and Dawn Falato, as well as performers making their debut with the 1812 Productions; Mario Fraboni, Fred Siegel of Fred's Magic World, and Amy Smith of Headlong Dance Theatre. These performers bring a myriad of comedic styles and performance specialties to the stage and, with the unmistakable sounds of Sergio Mendes, Herb Alpert, Tijuana Brass, Brasil '66, and many others, create a world of suburban excess, experimentation, and celebration. Getz continues, "There is so much to the story of American private life in 1968. It comes through in dance that is honest, unique, slightly awkward, and unquestionably funny."

About Karen Getz
Karen Getz is a choreographer/improviser/actor and teacher who received her BA in theatre and dance from SUNY Binghamton. She is a 2005/2006 recipient of a Philadelphia Theatre Inititiative Grant and a 2006 Independence Fellowship in support of Suburban Love Songs, a comic/actors-ballet that premiered at the 2006 Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and will be presented by 1812 in April 2008. Some other work at 1812 includes; Double Down, Always a Lady, Bat Boy, Box Office of the Damned (Barrymore Nomination, Best Choreography) and the upcoming Cherry Bomb. Recent choreography and acting credits include: Full Figured/Loves To Dance (as Donna, Theater Exile, World Premiere), Hair (Prince Music Theater, Barrymore Award, Best Choreography), and Baby at Villanova Theatre. Upcoming work includes, Hedwig and the Angry Inch with Azuka Theater Collective and the premiere of Disco Descending, her spandex clad, Orpheus-inspired, sequel to Suburban Love Songs, at the 2008 Philadelphia Live Arts Festival. Karen has also received Barrymore nominations for her work on Romeo and Juliet at The Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival and The Big Bang with Act II Playhouse. She is a proud member of the thriving Philadelphia Improv scene and works with, Comedysportz (14 years), Lunchlady Doris (11 years), Choosical (the all-improvised musical) and the two-person, improvised shows Killer Pussy and Cecily and Gwendolyn's' Fantastical Balloon Ride. She teaches improv, dance and acting around town and sometimes directs the insanely funny men of Bad Hair. Some of the films and television shows she's choreographed or was the assistant choreographer on, include; General Hospital, The Wonder Years, Born Yesterday, My Boyfriend's Back, Naked Gun 33 1/3, Lambada and Equal Justice. Karen was a featured dancer and dance captain in the movie Dirty Dancingand has also appeared in the films Shout, Born Yesterday, One Good Cop, The Doors, Leftovers, and A Difficult Loss. Television credits include work on The City, Loving, Totally Hidden Video, The Smother's Brothers Show, Equal Justice, The Tracy Ullman Show, My Boyfriend's Backand Hocus Pocus (as Kathy Najimiys' flying stunt double.). You can catch her voice on itunes as Dottie and Yetta on the underground radio hit, The Many Men of Martha Manning. You can also check on Karen's' various endeavors (and lend support to her new work), at Karengetz.com which will launch early April 2008.