PCS | 2008-2009 | Second Stage

2008-2009 Second Stage Season

Different and exciting evenings presented upstairs in the Raymond W. Smith Theater, an adaptable black box theater seating 85. The Second Stage program consists of fully stage productions, staged readings, and cabarets. An informal discussion with the actors and director will sometimes follow performances. Refreshments will be served at all events and patrons are encouraged to bring their favorite beverage and snacks to cabarets.

All performances begin at 8:00 PM unless otherwise noted. Seating is general admission. Early arrival is recommended.

For all performances except cabarets, main stage tickets or vouchers that have not been redeemed are good for admission, even expired one-per-show vouchers.

The Last Daughter Directed by Rosemary Fox by Patricia D. Cacek (staged reading) October 3 & 4, 2008 at 8:00 p.m.	A woman’s will reveals unsuspected depths in her life and an unsettling bequest to her daughter. A work in progress by a Players Club regular. Under the byline P.D. Cacek, Patricia has won both a Bram Stoker and World Fantasy Award for her short fiction. She has written over 200 short stories, five novels and one play…to date. Most recently completing a modern ghost story, Visitation Rites, and starting both a new novel, Dogs of War, and another play, Writing A Wrong.
Admission Free
CAST
Melesse - Vanessa Ballard Swanson - Robert Beizer Maggy - Janean Clare Bloom Allen - Edward S. Emmi	Rosemary - Janey Giel Underbridge - Joseph Kriegel Gene - Jack Murphy Sam - James B. Reese

The Last Daughter
Directed by Rosemary Fox
by Patricia D. Cacek (staged reading)
October 3 & 4, 2008 at 8:00 p.m.

A woman’s will reveals unsuspected depths in her life and an unsettling bequest to her daughter. A work in progress by a Players Club regular.

Under the byline P.D. Cacek, Patricia has won both a Bram Stoker and World Fantasy Award for her short fiction. She has written over 200 short stories, five novels and one play…to date. Most recently completing a modern ghost story, Visitation Rites, and starting both a new novel, Dogs of War, and another play, Writing A Wrong.

Admission Free

CAST

Melesse - Vanessa Ballard
Swanson - Robert Beizer
Maggy - Janean Clare Bloom
Allen - Edward S. Emmi

Rosemary - Janey Giel
Underbridge - Joseph Kriegel
Gene - Jack Murphy
Sam - James B. Reese

A CABARET EVENING
Hosted by Claudia Carlsson with Gina Giachero on piano
October 11, 2008 at 8:00 p.m.

Admission $10 (main stage tickets/vouchers not accepted)

An evening of contemporary theater songs in an informal café atmosphere.
Claudia will be joined by Liz Seymour, Sean Murray, Joe Southard and other artists for this cutting edge adult evening.

The Retreat from Moscow
by William Nicholson
Directed by George Mulford
November 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 2008 at 8:00 p.m.

Admission $10

Jamie is a thoughtful, understated 30-year-old Londoner with a peace-loving father and a brilliant, dazzling mother, someone used to being noticed for her outspoken opinions and witty perceptions. As a middle-aged woman, she finds people noticing her less and less, and her wit is taking on an angry edge. When her quiet husband says he is leaving her for another woman, she does not take it well. In fact, she unleashes a hurricane of words, emotions, and alarming behavior. Jamie, while loving her and wanting to help, finds it hard to bear her company. The play’s dark subject—critics have called it “devastating”—is offset by the honesty of the writing and the brilliance of the mother’s character. At her most desperate, she never ceases to be amusing, provocative, and thoroughly worth listening to. Tanya Lazar, Ted Ford, and Toby Mulford are the cast of this riveting family drama by William Nicholson, the author of Shadowlands.

Moscow publicity photo

Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, parts 1 and 2 by Tony Kushner (staged reading) Directed by Dave Ebersole January 2 & 3, 2009 at 8:00 p.m., January 4, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. with a pot-luck supper	CAST Jay Ronca Mike Raimondo Jennifer Summerfield Lizzy Dalton Negron J. Edward Murray Rhonda Goldstein Chris Cherkis Steve Pollack with original music by Mick Loro
Admission by donation; half the proceeds benefit The Angels of Mercy HIV ministry of Greater St. Matthew Baptist Church For information about Sunday’s pot-luck, e-mail secondstage@pcstheater.org or call 610-328-4271.
This celebrated poetic drama has been hailed as “The broadest, deepest, most searching American play of our time,” “a towering example of what theater stretched to its full potential can achieve.” Harold Bloom included it in his list of The Western Canon. We bring you part one, Millennium Approaches, on Friday night; part two, Perestroika, on Saturday night; and both parts separated by a pot-luck supper on Sunday afternoon and evening. For adult audiences; strong language and situations.

The Trojan Women by Euripides Directed by Joseph Southard January 23, 24, 30, 31, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. Admission $10 The captive women’s lament over the sack of Troy and their imminent degradation as slaves; queen Hecuba’s proud defiance of her captors; Cassandra’s unheeded dark prophesies; Andromache’s witnessing of her infant son’s death; Helen’s brazen attempt to ingratiate herself with her wronged husband Menelaus and so escape death; all have an eerie modernity and an unaltered power to move us. For all audiences.	Poseidon/Guard: Jim Fryer Athena/Chorus: Lindsay Nicolo Hecuba: Kathie Coll Senkow Talthybius : Gene D'Alessandro Cassandra : Jillian Haas Andromache: Anjoli Santiago Menelaus: John Foelster Helen: Jacqueline Holloway Chorus: Karen Cook Terrianne Pearson Heather Ferrel Karen Johnston

A CABARET EVENING
Hosted by Miriam Barnett Boland and Andi Rose
February 27 & 28, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.

Admission $10 (main stage tickets/vouchers not accepted)

Philadelphia Cabaret performers, Andi Rose & Friends will be entertaining us with Broadway & Standard melodies. A healthy dose of laughter will be added for good measure. This is a cabaret evening you don’t want to miss!

Heartbreak House
by George Bernard Shaw (staged reading)
Directed by Ruth Fischer
March 6 & 7, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.

Admission $5

As the first rumblings of The Great War are heard in the distance, an ingénue bites her lip and debates marrying for money or following her heart; while her heartthrob, a married man, debates having a fling with his wife’s sister. Second Stage welcomes back Ruth Fischer, who will make this most complex of Shaw’s works new and delightful for you. For all audiences.

The Old Neighborhood
by David Mamet
Directed by Susan Giddings
April 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 2009

Admission $10

Bobby returns to his old neighborhood and hooks up with his childhood buddy, his sister, and the woman who might have been…. Three one-act comedies with a heart from the master stylist of the American theater. Adult audiences; strong language.