People's Light & Theatre presents the Theatre Exile production of The Philly Fan, by Bruce Graham. It closes November 20, 2011 on the Steinbright Stage. Joe Canuso directs. People's Light & Theatre is located at 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, PA 19355. For tickets call 610.644.3500 or visit PeoplesLight.org. The Philly Fan is sponsored by ING.
In this one-man tour de force, Tom McCarthy takes audiences on a journey through Philadelphia's sports history of the last fifty years and the frustrations and victories therein. It's a tell-it-like-it-is romp through the eyes of a hard core sports fan who is used to seeing "sure thing" victories turn into "oh-my-God-they-blew-it" defeats. Featuring an abundance of new material that includes recent updates on Philly's sports scene.
Actor Tom McCarthy conceived the idea of the play and asked playwright Bruce Graham to write it. "After over forty years in the acting business, I wanted to do something a little different," McCarthy says. "I've always been into Philadelphia sports and was interested in creating a play about a disgruntled fan. Joe Canuso from Theatre Exile produced it and we've done the production thirteen times in seven years."
Some of the places in which The Philly Fan has been produced include the Fringe Festival, Theatre Exile, the Arden, Media Theatre, Act II, Bristol Riverside Theatre, and the Kimmel Center.
Joe Canuso, the Founding and Producing Artistic Director of Theatre Exile and the director of The Philly Fan, says, "I never get tired of working on this play, especially because I'm a longstanding, die-hard sports fan. I've lived through all the events in the play. Plus, Tom is such an improvisational actor. When he performs, it's as though he's speaking the lines for the first time."
"Every time we do the play we make a few changes, depending on how Philly's sports teams are doing," McCarthy notes. "That keeps it fresh for me."
Canuso says, "What fascinates me is how The Philly Fan is not just for hard core sports fans. It's a real character story about a working class hero who represents most Philadelphians. He's loyal to his family, his team, and his city. Audiences enjoy not only the sports history experienced in the play, but also this character who is really likable in all his gruffness."
"The audience response has been amazing," McCarthy agrees. "After each performance, audience members tell me that the character reminds them of their father or brother or uncle, etc. Bruce Graham, the playwright, perfectly expressed the timbre of a Philadelphia fan. I enjoy playing an everyday character who feels so real."
TICKET INFORMATION
The Philly Fan opens on Tuesday, October 25th at 7:30pm and runs through Sunday, November 20th. Single tickets range in price from $25 - $45. For tickets, call the box office at 610.644.3500. Special discounts are available for groups of 15 or more. For more information or to purchase group tickets, call 610.647.1900 x134 or email charles@peopleslight.org. Actors, prices, performance dates and times are subject to change. Additional service charges will apply. Contact the box office for more details.
Subscription tickets are still available for the 2011-2012 Season. Productions in the 6-Play series include Treasure Island: A Musical Panto (November 16, 2011 - January 8, 2012), Fallow (January 11 - February 5, 2012), Of Mice and Men (February 15 - March 25, 2012), Shakespeare's Will (May 30 - June 24, 2012), and Mr. Hart and MR. Brown (July 18 - August 19, 2012).
SPECIAL EVENTS
There will be a FREE Opening Day celebration on Saturday, October 29th from 3:30pm to 7pm. It will feature guests from The Fanatic and BEN-FM, as well as a sports celebrity guest who will sign autographs. The day will include games, food, and other festivities in the back parking lot at People's Light. No reservations are necessary.
On Thursday, November 3rd and Thursday, November 10th after the 7:30pm performances of The Philly Fan, there will be a special Q & A in the theatre with playwright Bruce Graham and actor Tom McCarthy.
For more information about these events, call 610.644.3500 or visit PeoplesLight.org.
