Old Academy Players to present One-Act Bonanza
EAST FALLS >> Old Academy Players will presents its 2016 Summer One-Act Bonanza July 8, 9, 10, 15, 16 and 17.
This eighth annual festival features lots of comedy, new works, new directors and plenty of laughs.
To the air-conditioned comfort of mainstage are welcomed five new directors: Nicole Miller, Jillian Bosmann, Courtney Bambrick, Sarah Labov and Laura Salinas. Three world premieres, all written by members of Old Academy Players are “Mimi and Ray’s 26th of December Absolutely Not Christmas Party,” “Writing Day” and “The Love Boat’s Life Boat.”
• “The Wedding Story” was written by Julianne Homokay and directed by Nicole Miller. A storyteller tries to tell a “perfect” wedding story to a group of children as the bride and groom sully the tale with the truth.
• “I Can’t Think of It Right Now” was written by Nick Zagone and directed by Jillian Bosmann. A couple really loses it as they try to remember the name of a movie without the help of the Internet.
• “He Said and She Said” was written by Alice Gerstenberg and directed by Dale Mezzacappa. A nosy parker stirs up trouble between a happy couple and their best friend but gets a taste of her own gossip in the end.
• “Mimi and Ray’s 26th of December Absolutely Not Christmas Party” was written and directed by Courtney Bambrick. Two party guests spend the evening in a closet, avoiding the host’s attempts to “fix them up” with various single friends.
• “Writing Day” was written by Lisa Lutwyche and directed by Sarah LaBov. A writer finally sits down to write — a day off from work, her daughter at school, her son down for his nap. Peace and quiet — what could possible go wrong? Answer: only everything.
• “The Love Boat’s Life Boat” was written by Laura Lee Lenhoff and directed by Laura Salinas. Fourwomen adrift in a lifeboat lament over love. Can they ever find it, now? Or will they kill each other before the water runs out?
The casts include Chelsea Thompson, Dave Perleman, Clint Cleaver, Nicole Miller Marks, Courtney Fusselman, Warren Johns, Nick Lutwyche, Katie Delach, Eric Rupp, Norma Kider, Terri Bateman, Jane Jennings, Susanna Stevens, Meredith Mitchell, Doree Watkins, Harrison Stengle, Brian Douglass, Angela Robb, Meredith Mitchell, Matt Thompson and Olivia Quinci.
Show times are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15. Old Academy welcomes groups! If you have 15 or more in your party, you can take advantage of group discount pricing. Parking for all performances is free.
For information and reservations, call 215-843-1109 or visit old academy players. org.
Founded in 2009 by Old Academy member, the late Chris Schenk, the One-Act Bonanza is an opportunity to feature new playwrights and directors on the Old Academy stage. Schenks, who spent four years with Old Academy as an actor, writer, producer, publicity chairperson and newsletter editor, produced the first two seasons of the One-Acts until moving to Chicago. Schenk developed cancer. He lost his fight with cancer in March 2012, but his legacy lives on through this delightful annual event. Old Academy Players, a member of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, is a nonprofit community theater located at 3544 Indian Queen Lane in East Falls. Constructed in 1819, the Old Academy building has been the OAP home since 1932. Old Academy Players has provided continuous community theater since 1923 and featured the acting debuts of both Grace Kelly and Robert Prosky.