captivating StorieS. powerful voiceS. unexpected perSpectiveS.

SeaSon & SuBScriptionS

AZUKA THEATRE

2011–2012

there’s something very exciting about the opening night of a play; it’s when all the hard work and various elements of a production come together for the first time. the audience is excited, as are the cast and crew to finally see what everyone has lovingly labored over. well this season azuka theatre is going to have many of those exciting moments as the 2011-2012 season will be filled with lotS of openings—opening nights, opening curtains and opening doors.

first we’ll be opening philadelphia’s newest theatrical space. the first Baptist church at 17th & Sansom has opened its doors to azuka theatre and our compatriots in off-Broad Street to create a new black box theater along with office and rehearsal space. for the companies participating in this new venture, having a consistent performance space will be so beneficial in helping us plan our productions and strengthen our connection to the community.

azuka’s first show of the season is Jordan Harrison’s Act a Lady.

this opening may be of the ‘can of worms’ variety! in this hilarious play about a small town that puts on a ‘fancy dress show’, men play women, women act like men and the gender borders are blurred beyond recognition—you’ll never look at what you’re wearing the same way again!

in the spring we present the world premiere of philadelphia playwright genne Murphy’s Hope Street and Other Lonely Places. this beautiful work will open our eyes as well as our hearts to the power of love to transcend surroundings, shortcomings and the inner demons we all have. Set on the streets of philadelphia, this powerful play allows us all to look at our city and its citizens in ways which challenge our preconceived notions.

our final show has a particular place in my heart. azuka theatre has always strived to create opportunities for new and emerging artists in philadelphia, frequently being the company that gives actors and designers their first professional production. this third show will

be exclusively dedicated to doing just that. all the performers and designers will be selected from the ranks of the most recent college graduating classes. the show will be led by a seasoned director and all of the designers will be mentored by experienced professionals in their respective fields. not only do we think this will create a first rate production, but we’ll be opening the doors for these young professionals to begin their careers.

i hope you’ll join us for this exciting season of new beginnings. See you at the theater!

Kevin glaccum, producing artistic director

a season of OPENINGS

Ladyact a PhiladelPhia Premiere!

the men of a small prohibition-era town decide to stage a play dressed in “fancy-type, women-type clothes.” as the production

begins to take shape, gender lines blur, eyebrows raise, identities explode, and life and art are forever entangled. act a lady is a

thoughtful and exuberant Midwestern fable about the woman in every man, the man in every woman and the power of theater to

uncover both. accompanied by accordion. azuka is proud to return to Harrison’s work after our hit production of Kid Simple (2008).

Featuring: Mike dees, Jamison foreman, amanda Schoonover, Megan Slater, Matt tallman & leah walton

By: Jordan Harrison

Directed by: Kevin Glaccum

November 3 - 20, 2011

first Baptist church | 17th & Sansom Streets

WORLD PRemieRe!By: Genne MurphyDirected by: Kevin GlaccumMarch 15 - April 1, 2012first Baptist church | 17th & Sansom Streets

Hope Street explores the stories of five philadelphians bound together by loss and love while searching

for answers in the city which breathes, dreams and lives around them. at the center of this story are

two women who were friends as teenagers, pulled apart by circumstance, and brought back together

in their search for hope. originally presented through our Spotlight Series: new play readings in 2009,

we are thrilled to premiere the work of this philadelphia playwright. Featuring: Kimberly S. fairbanks & Mary lee Bednarek

& other lonely places

New ProfessioNals ProductioN!

we’re opening doors this year by kicking off a new professional’s production which will be performed and designed by recent college

graduates giving them a professional credit and the chance to be seen by the greater community. we are pleased to continue our

long tradition of launching new theatrical careers with this program exclusively dedicated to that purpose.

By: TBD

Directed by: Allison Heishman

June 14 - July 1, 2012

first Baptist church | 17th & Sansom StreetsPRODUCTION TO BE ANNOUNCED

Be a Good Little Widowby Bekah Brunstetter Melody thought being a young wife was hard, until she became a widow. luckily her mother-in-law, Hope, is a professional - mourner, that is. navigating the prickly terrain of pressed black dresses, well-intended advice and inappropriate outbursts, Melody stumbles toward understanding what it means to find someone through losing them in this new sad comedy about handling loss like a grownup.

October 17, 2011

What to do When You Hate All Your Friendsby larry Kurnofsky Matt is a guy who hates all his friends. celia is a woman at the center of the friends, a secret group that has perfected friendship through special rules and a rigid ranking system. can a guy who hates all his friends and a woman who needs friendship to go by-the-book figure out a way to spend time together without going mental? Set in a world of secret hottub parties, craigslist hookups, and the myriad of ways people try to control intimacy by keeping it away, this edgy and witty new comedy looks at how romance and friendship works – or doesn’t work - in the way we live now.

January 23, 2012

The Sisters of Ellery HollowBy Stephen Spotswood

twin sisters elsie and abby lead a hard life but survive by transforming their painful childhood into tall tales: their impossible birth; their strange caretaker; and the discovery of a secret that threatens to destroy their tiny family. this exciting new play explores the nature of how we tell our life stories, the music inherent in ap-palachian storytelling and the imagination of memory.

April 16, 2012

SPOTLIGHTSERIESFREE @ 7:00PMfirst Baptist church | 17th & delancey StreetsFREE @ 7:00PMfirst Baptist church | 17th & delancey Streets

the Spotlight Series: new play readingsis a presentation of scripts being considered for future development and production with azuka

It’s a Holiday Drag aren’t the holidays a drag? don’t let the holiday season ‘drag’ you down this year. come enjoy a holiday happy hour with your favorite theatre family at azuka! coming off the comedic romp that is Act A Lady we will be celebrating the drag Kings and, of course, Queens in all of us on this special night. $10 gets you in for drink specials, and a holiday cookie bar, as well a some fun filled entertainment from some of your favorite drag performers in the area. this ain’t your mama’s christmas party... come celebrate the season with azuka!

December 19, 2011

I Love You/I Hate You 5th Anniversary the people you love to Hate are back again and better than ever. azuka puts together the “best of the best and the best of the worst” from the city paper’s iconic i love you/i Hate You column for a one nigHt onlY melo-dramatic reading with some of the funniest actors in philadelphia. You won’t want to miss this night of love, hate and above all hilarity!

February 13, 2012

$10 COVER 5-8PMlocation tBa

azuka lounge is presented as a social fundraiser to help support future azuka productions and events.

BOX OFFICEas part of our commitment to make our work accessible, we have held strong as one of the most affordable theater companies in the city. last season we launched our first subscription package – an easy way to save even more by purchasing tickets to all of our productions at the same time. Starting at only $40, subscriptions include one ticket to each production as well as the following benefits:

Easy Ticket ExchangesSubscribers can exchange their tickets up to 24 hours before show time for any other performance in the subscription level by calling the Box office at (215) 733-0255. ticket exchanges are subject to availability.

No Waiting in LineYour subscription tickets will be mailed to you in advance and you will receive priority seating for your performance!

$5 Off Additional TicketsBring your friends and family, or come back to see the show again!

Reminder Emailswe don’t want you to forget to see us, so we’ll send you a reminder email prior to your performance.

SUBSCRIPTIONSSingle Subscriptionsincludes all three productions.

previews $40wed., thurs., & Sun. $50fri., Sat., & opening $60

Buy More, Save More Subscriptionspurchase 4 Subscriptions for the price of 3!

previews $120wed., thurs., & Sun. $150fri., Sat., & opening $180

SINGLE TICKETSPurchase tickets for individual productions and performances.Bring a friend! we only charge one service fee per order, not per ticket.

previews $18wed., thurs., & Sun. $22fri., Sat., & opening $27

STUDENT & SENIOR DISCOUNTSStudents and seniors with a valid id can enjoy $5.00 off each individual ticket, including opening night! discount not available for subscriptions, previews, industry nights or 2 for 1 nights. cannot be combined with any other offer.

STUDENT RUSH$10.00 Student rush tickets are available for purchase, in person, 10 minutes prior to the performance. tickets are subject to availability and students MuSt present a valid id. limit one ticket per id. rush tickets are not available opening night.

FRI 8p SAT 8p SUN 2p TUES 8p WED 7p THUR 8p FRI 8p SAT 8p SUN 2p WED 8p THUR 8p FRI 8p SAT 8p SUN 2p

nov 4 nov 5 nov 6 nov 8 nov 9 nov 10 nov 11 nov 12 nov 13 nov 16 nov 17 nov 18 nov 19 nov 20

Mar 16 Mar 17 Mar 18 Mar 20 Mar 21 Mar 22 Mar 23 Mar 24 Mar 25 Mar 28 Mar 29 Mar 30 Mar 31 apr 1

June 15 June 16 June 17 June 19 June 20 June 21 June 22 June 23 June 24 June 27 June 28 June 29 June 30 July 1

$40 $40 $40 $40 $60 $50 $60 $60 $50 $50 $50 $60 $60 $50

$120 $120 $120 $120 $180 $150 $180 $180 $150 $150 $150 $180 $180 $150

PREVIEWS

OPENINGREGULAR

Act a LadyHope StreetNew ProfessionalsIndividual SubBuy/Save More

subscription calendar & order form2011–2012

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*the official registration and financial information of azuka theatre may be obtained from the pennsylvania department of State by calling toll-free, within pennsylvania, 1.800.732.0999. registration does not imply endorsement.

Azuka Theatre525 S. 4th Street, Suite 362philadelphia, pa 19147

Purchase by Phone 215.733.0255 (credit cards only)

Purchase Onlineazukatheatre.org(credit cards only)

Select Your Performance Dates

Act a Lady Hope Street New Professionals all seating is general admission.

Previews#_____ @ $40.00

Wed., Thurs. & Sun.#_____@ $50.00

Fri., Sat. & Opening#_____@ $60.00

525 S. 4th Street, Suite 362philadelphia, pa 19147

Photo Credits: Front Cover: Zura Johnson, amanda Schoonover & Kristyn chouiniere in the terrible girls (2011). Page 7: corinna Burns & nick troy in neighborhood 3: requisition of doom (2010). photos by Johanna austin/austinart.org - design by derek carnegie.

Early Bird Single Ticket Offer!Kick-start your theater season planning and save! purchase single tickets for any production in our 2011-2012 Season before october 15 and save $5.00 off eacH ticket!*Use Promotional Code: WORMTIX*not valid with any other offer. not valid with Subscription purchase. offer ends october 15, 2011.

Subscribe Today!aZuKatHeatre.org | 215.733.0255

Proud Member of Off-Broad Street: Celebrating Philadelphia Independent Theater! www.offbroadstreet.org