Philadelphia, PA - Azuka Theatre opens is 10th Anniversary Season with the Philadelphia premiere of The Long Christmas Ride Home, Paula Vogel’s exploration of the fragile and fraying bonds of family as three children and their parents take an ill-fated ride to grandmother’s house. As the company in residence through Drexel University’s Mandell Professionals in Residence Project, the production brings together artists from the Philadelphia theater community and Drexel University students.

In The Long Christmas Ride Home past and present collide in the back of the family sedan. Combining superb storytelling, music and bunraku puppetry, the play offers brief, illuminating glimpses of the children's future lives, but always comes back to that one fateful night, the claustrophobic car, and the moment a family shattered.

Paula Vogel received the 1998 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Lortel, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and New York Drama Critics Awards for Best Play, as well as winning her second OBIE for her play How I Learned to Drive. Other plays include The Long Christmas Ride Home, The Mineola Twins, The Baltimore Waltz, Hot'N'Throbbing, Desdemona, And Baby Makes Seven and The Oldest Profession. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and was the Adele Kellenberg Seaver Professor of Creative Writing at Brown University, where she taught playwriting and directed the MFA Playwriting program from 1984-2008. She is currently an adjunct professor and Chair of the playwriting department at Yale School of Drama.

Guest director Aaron Cromie will direct The Long Christmas Ride Home. A Philadelphia based, multidisciplinary theatre artist, Cromie has collaborated as performer, designer, director, writer and musician with several companies including Arden Theatre Company, The Folger Shakespeare Theatre, Walnut Street Theatre, Mum Puppettheatre, The Studio Theatre, Wilma Theater, Lantern Theater and Shakespeare Theatre among others. He toured nationally with Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story and is a graduate of The Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre. Aaron designed the puppets for The Studio Theatre of Washington D.C.’s production of The Long Christmas Ride Home.

“After I read the opening page, I couldn't put it down until I had read it twice - a beautiful and heartbreaking play,” says Cromie. “As a performer and puppet designer, the play made instant theatrical sense to me, and ever since I've wanted a chance to direct it myself. When I shared it with friend and Azuka Artistic Director, Kevin Glaccum, he was as passionate about this project as I was.”

The Mandell Professionals in Residence Project (MPiRP) is an ongoing collaboration with the professional theatre and dance communities of Philadelphia and the Antionette College of Media Arts and Design at Drexel University. Members of the Drexel University community are enriched by the high quality of dance and theatrical productions being offered through MPiRP in the Mandell Theater. In addition to receiving discounted tickets for MPiRP performance events, students benefit from workshops and opportunities to gain hands on experience with established professionals. Past residencies have included EgoPo Productions, New Paradise Laboratories and Commonwealth Classic Theatre Company. The Mandell Professionals in Residence Project is supported in part by a grant from the Samuel P. Mandell Foundation.

“We were thrilled to be asked to participate in the MPiRP”, said Azuka Theatre’s Artistic Director Kevin Glaccum. “When we were asked to work at Drexel, The Long Christmas Ride Home was the first play that came to mind, since I knew it would be such a great piece for students to work on, as it provides them the opportunity to work with such diverse theatrical forms”.
The final dress rehearsal of The Long Christmas Ride Home on Thursday, October 29 at 8pm is open to the public as a Pay-What-You-Can performance. All seats are general admission, first come, first served for this performance.
The Long Christmas Ride Home previews begin on Friday, October 30. Preview performances run October 30, 31, November 1and 3. Opening night is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 4.

Single ticket prices are $15-$25, with discounts available for seniors, students and groups of 10+.

Call the Azuka Theatre Box Office at (215) 733-0255, order online at http://www.azukatheatre.org/, or purchase tickets at the door.

WHAT:
The Long Christmas Ride Home
By Paula Vogel
Directed by Aaron Cromie

SUMMARY:
The Long Christmas Ride Home explores the affected lives of three children after a Christmas Eve car ride and the moment a family shattered.

This play contains adult themes and situations; it is not recommended for children.

WHERE:
Mandell Theater, 33rd & Chestnut Streets
Philadelphia, 19104

WHEN:
October 30 – November 15, 2009
Preview performances: October 30 – November 3
Opening night: 7:00pm Wednesday, November 4
Reviewing members of the press are invited to attend opening night and may reserve tickets by contacting Mark H. Andrews at mark@azukatheatre.org.

TICKETS:
$15-$25 depending on the performance chosen
Group discounts available for 10+
Student & Senior discounts available
Call the Box Office at (215) 733-0255 or visit http://www.azukatheatre.org/

CAST:
Keith Conallen - Stephen
Seth Reichgott - Man
Amanda Grove - Woman
Janice Rowland - Rebecca
Allison Heishman - Claire
Charlie DelMarcelle – Minister/Dancer

ENSEMBLE:
Chris Deter
Jason Mulligan
Laurel Hostak
Will Poost
Katie Lynch
Rachel Semigran
Natasha Metzger
John Turnbach

ARTISTIC STAFF:
Aaron Cromie – Director/Puppet Designer
Craig Vetter - Set Designer
Alisa Sickora Kleckner - Costume Designer
Terry Smith - Lighting Designer
Christopher Colucci - Sound Designer/Composer
Katie Ringwood - Stage Manager