Lightning Rod Special News

1812 Productions is pleased to present its annual political comedy, and a Philadelphia favorite, This Is The Week That Is. A staple of the Philadelphia theatre season for the past 14 years, This Is The Week That Is delivers sharp satire and content that changes with the headlines. This Is The Week That Is will play from November 29th through January 5th. Opening Night will be Wednesday, December 4th at 7pm at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Place, in Center City.

The 25th Annual Barrymore Awards were held in South Philly and awarded $92,000 in grants to artists and organizations.

Theatre Philadelphia, the non-profit organization that promotes and celebrates theatre across the Philadelphia region, has announced this year's nominees for the Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre. 

1812 Productions is pleased to announce the residents of the 2019 Jilline Ringle Solo Performance Program. The summer residencies provide essential time and space for artists to continue development of original solo works.  This year, 1812 Productions and the Advisory Board of the Jilline Ringle Solo Performance Program are pleased to award residencies to Brett Robinson, Jessica Johnson, TS Hawkins, and Gwendolyn Rice. The summer residencies will take place from Saturday, July 6th through Sunday, July 14th at 1812 Productions' rehearsal studio in South Philadelphia.

Goodspeed Musicals today announces the cast of Hi, My Name is Ben, the inspirational true story of one man who impacted the lives of all those around him without speaking a word.

Theatre production company Parity Productions has released its monthly list of Qualifying Productions for May -their popular directory of New York City shows in which the individual creative teams have 50% of the positions filled with women and/or trans and gender nonconforming (TGNC) artists (directors, designers, and playwrights). 

Due to popular demand, Lightning Rod Special (LRS) creator of the Obie-Award winning Underground Railroad Game, will add one additional performance to the sold-out run of their newest critically-acclaimed work, The Appointment. The additional performance will take place on Sunday, May 4, 2019 at 3pm; the final performance will take place on May 4, 2019 at 7:30pm.

Ars Nova, one of the most adventurous Off-Broadway companies (New York Times), under the leadership of Founding Artistic Director Jason Eagan and Managing Director Renee Blinkwolt, is proud to announce that tickets are on sale to the return engagement of the universally-acclaimed Underground Railroad Game.

Goodspeed Musicals today announces the cast of Hi, My Name is Ben, the inspirational true story of one man who impacted the lives of all those around him without speaking a word.

Long time FringeArts followers will recognize Pig Iron Theatre Company from many of their notable devised works that have been presented by Fringe. However, their newest work, A HARD TIME, part of High Pressure Fire Service, is the first production by Pig Iron with female lead artists and with lead artists who are not one of the Artistic Directors of Pig Iron. This lacerating romp through the worlds of comedy and gender runs May 1 through May 12 at FringeArts; press are invited to the Wednesday, May 8 performance at 8PM.

Ars Nova announces a return engagement of the universally-acclaimed Underground Railroad Game.

Lightning Rod Special (LRS) creator of the Obie-Award winning Underground Railroad Game, announces the New York premiere of their newest theater work, The Appointment.

The Ground Floor: Berkeley Rep's Center for the Creation and Development of New Work announced the 20 projects selected for its 2019 Summer Residency Lab. Chosen from over 620 submissions, these projects represent an expansive array of voices and theatrical forms and bring an innovative spirit to the eighth summer of the Lab.

Ars Nova, "one of the most adventurous Off-Broadway companies" (New York Times), under the leadership of Founding Artistic Director Jason Eagan and Managing Director Renee Blinkwolt, is proud to announce that tickets are on sale for Mrs. Murray's Menagerie, created by The Mad Ones and Phillip James Brannon, Brad Heberlee, Carmen M. Herlihy and January LaVoy. Directed by Lila Neugebauer, Mrs. Murray's Menagerie kicks-off Ars Nova at Greenwich House and marks The Mad Ones' first production since their critically acclaimed play Miles For Mary.

FringeArts kicks off their new High Pressure Fire Service Festival that celebrates Philadelphia artists and creators starting March 1. High Pressure Fire Service features some of Philadelphia's preeminent performers as they addresses issues of representation, gender, accessibility, reproductive justice, and more through devised theater, comedy, and participatory play.

Ars Nova has announced the Ars Nova at Greenwich HouseWarming Party, a benefit performance of Freestyle Love Supreme with Lin-Manuel Miranda that will take place on Sunday, March 3, 6pm at Ars Nova at Greenwich House (27 Barrow Street, Manhattan). The HouseWarming Party will celebrate Ars Nova's expansion into the historic Greenwich House Theater and support the development of new artistic programs at two New York theaters: Ars Nova at Greenwich House and the Ars Nova Hub on 54th Street.

Original performance company Lightning Rod Special (LRS) is reaching the culmination of a three year effort as it premieres its newest theater work, THE APPOINTMENT, at FringeArts (140 N. Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia), running for a limited engagement March 20 through 31, 2019. The piece, which examines the contemporary abortion debate in America, will serve as the centerpiece of the FringeArts High Pressure Fire Service Festival, dedicated to promoting the next generation of vital theatre coming from Philadelphia. Opening night for press is Thursday, March 21 at 8PM.

Today FringeArts President and Producing Director Nick Stuccio and Artistic Producers Katy Dammers and Zach Blackwood announced the programming for two new FringeArts festivals. Blue Heaven presents twelve distinct comedy acts over two days this February 1 and 2. High Pressure Fire Service runs from March through June and features six new productions-five world premieres and one expanded remount-from some of Philadelphia's preeminent performers. These exciting new platforms expand FringeArts' already rich roster of programming-the flagship fall Fringe Festival, contemporary circus festival Hand to Hand, and year-round music, comedy, and cabaret performances-and further its mission to present world-class, contemporary performing arts that challenge convention and inspire new ways of thinking.

Ars Nova, "one of the most adventurous Off-Broadway companies" (New York Times), under the leadership of Founding Artistic Director Jason Eagan and Managing Director Renee Blinkwolt, will host Over/Under Unplugged, a free concert series following select Friday evening performances of Andrew R. Butler's Rags Parkland Sings the Songs of The Future. Concerts will feature performers from The Future and special guests performing unplugged and up close. They'll #playforchange with any donations dropped in their bucket going to select charities including the National Network of Abortion Funds, The Trevor Project, and The National Eating Disorders Association.

Theatre Philadelphia, the region's marketing and leadership organization for theatre, proudly announces the 2018 nominees for the Barrymore Award for Excellence in Theatre. Celebrating the rich, diverse professional theatre scene in the Greater Philadelphia region, the Barrymore Ceremony will be held on Monday, November 5th at 7pm at the Bok Building at 1901 S. 9th Street in South Philadelphia. Guests will continue the festivities with an after-party Celebration at the same location. Tickets for artists, supporters, and the general public are now on sale at www.theatrephiladelphia.org.