FOOL FOR LOVE Runs in March at the Center Theater

In a dingy hotel room in the American west, two lovers grapple with their past, their future and the shocking secret that binds them together. Sam Shepard, called America's greatest living playwright, delves into the horror and humor of a family running from its past in Fool for Love.

Fool for Love opens March 2 and runs through March 25 at the Centre Theater, Norristown's professional theater at 208 DeKalb St. in downtown Norristown. Show-times are 8 p.m. with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets are 20 and can be purchased online at www.ticketleap.com. Call 610-279-1013 for information or visit the web at www.ironagetheatre.org.

Eddie, a broken down rodeo cowboy, has driven two thousand miles, finding May alone in a cheap motel at The Edge of the desert. He is desperate to get her back, but she wants to move on with her life after many failed attempts to live with Eddie. Their passion engulfs them and they burn with love, hatred and sadness. Punctuated by visits from Eddie's manipulative father and May's new beau, The play is filled with humor, sadness and sudden outburst of violence as two damaged souls try to reconcile the past.

Sam Shepard has been writing plays for five decades and won a Pulitzer Prize for Buried Child. His work has won numerous awards and is regularly performed across the country. In fact, he is the most produced American playwright after Tennessee Williams.

Iron Age Theatre and The Centre Theater have been regular presenters of Shepard's' work. Iron Age has staged critically acclaimed productions of The Tooth of Crime, Shepard's rock opera, Curse of the Starving Class and Simpatico at The Centre Theater.

"It is always a pleasure to work on Shepard's plays. Fool for love is as rich thematically as it is filled with  emotion." statEd Randall Wise, co-director of the production.

To support the production, Iron Age is posting a regular production blog. Actors, the directors, local experts on the issues of the play and the playwright will share their thoughts on the rehearsal process, the themes of the play and background for the production. This resource will enhance the audience's experience, "It is like a living talk back," said Director Doyle.

The cast feature's Adam Altman as Eddie and Michelle Pauls as May the star-crossed lovers. Altman has done more than 16 shows at The Centre Theater and is also a regionally recognized actor working with Delaware Shakespeare, The Arden Theatre Company, Tiny Dynamite productions and the Philadelphia Artists Collective. Michelle Pauls has acted at The Centre several times before. Her work, now focused in Kensington, creates vibrant theatrical experiences. She has worked with Curio Theatre, Littlefish Theatre Cooperative, White Box Productions, The Walnut Street Theatre, The Wilma Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Vagabond Theatre. Dave Fiebert plays the The Old Man. Fiebert is a puppeteer and has been a part of several recent Iron Age productions including Waiting for Godot, Maroons, The Life of John Henry and The Rear Column.  Rounding out the cast is Sean Close, a newcomer to The Centre Theater, Close has performed with the Arden Theatre, Quintessence Theatre, Bootless Artworks and Theatre Horizon. 

Working together the Centre Theater and Iron Age Theatre have been one of the most critically acclaimed companies in the area for over fifteen years. The Philadelphia City Paper called the companies "The area's most under-appreciated professional theater." The companies have receivEd Barrymore nominations for a number of their productions including a Best New play nod for last fall's world premiere of the boxing comedy "Molumby's Millions."

The companies have premiered  nine plays in the past two years including Citizen Paine, Waiting For The Ship from Delos Philadelphia playwright Chris Braak's "The Life of John Henry," and  Red Emma, and Jeffrey Hatcher's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and last fall's Maroons by local playwright, Ray Saraceni. Iron Age Theatre has been invited to be a part of Philly's Play, Pie and A Pint festival in March with the American Premiere of Plant's Buridan's Ass.

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