For Immediate Release: December 1, 2005
Media Contact: Fleischman Gerber & Associates, 215.735.7356

Philadelphia Theatre Company presents Ben Franklin: Unplugged, written and performed by celebrated West Coast monologue artist Josh Kornbluth, January 10-21, 2006 at 1714 Delancey Street as part of PTC's 30th Anniversary Season. This special presentation kicks off the East Coast tour in connection with Philadelphia's Ben Franklin Tercentenary, a celebration of Benjamin Franklin's 300th birthday.

With a preview on Tuesday, January 10 and opening night on Wednesday, January 11, performances are Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 PM, Sunday matinee at 3:00, weekday matinee performances at 1:00 January 17 and January 18, and a Saturday matinee at 2:00 on January 21. Tickets are $30 to $40, with discounts for students, seniors and groups and a special $5.00 discount for PTC subscribers. Tickets are available by calling the PTC Box Office at 215-985-0420 or visiting www.phillytheatreco.com.

The production of Ben Franklin: Unplugged will feature several special events including a Meet-the-Artist post-show chat on January 12, an open captioned performance for the hearing impaired and an audio description performance for the visually impaired, both on January 15, a Night OUT! performance featuring a pre-show reception for LGBT theater lovers on the evening of January 19, and a special birthday celebration after the January 17 evening performance on Benjamin Franklin's actual birthday.

Ben Franklin: Unplugged, written by Kornbluth in collaboration with director David Dower, is a hilarious tour-de-force that takes him on a wild journey to uncover the mystery of the relationship between Franklin and his son, William. Based on actual historical findings with plenty of laughs along the way, Kornbluth's quest to learn about the "real" Franklin: not only solves the mystery of Franklin and his son, but also offers Kornbluth poignant closure and reconciliation with his own father. Kornbluth was drawn to Franklin's story not only because he noticed that he looked like Franklin, but also because his relationship with his own eccentric father, a member of the Communist Party, mirrored the sharp divisions and disappointments Franklin had for his son who was on the opposing side of the American Revolution.

Although raised in New York City, Kornbluth is a San Francisco-based monologue artist. His Off-Broadway debut of the autobiographical Red Diaper Baby at Second Stage Theater was nominated for a Drama Desk Award in the Solo Performance category. It was also selected for inclusion in Best American Plays of 1992. A feature film version of Haiku Tunnel, an earlier monologue, was released nationally by Sony Pictures Classics. As a writer, Kornbluth collaborated with San Francisco Mime Troupe in Mr. Smith Goes to Obscuristan. His most recent one-man show, Love and Taxes, recently concluded a successful run in Sacramento. Other solo works include The Moisture Seekers and The Mathematics of Change.

The production sponsor for Ben Franklin: Unplugged is Commerce Bank. The printing sponsor is CRW Graphics. The Media Partner is CBS3. PTC's 30th Anniversary season sponsors are the Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News, Philly.com and Philadelphia Gay News.

Philadelphia Theatre Company celebrates its 30th Anniversary Season with productions that highlight the company's mission to produce the work of America's most significant contemporary playwrights. The season began with the hit world premiere of Adrift in Macao, a new musical comedy with book and lyrics by Christopher Durang, music by Peter Melnick, and directed by Sheryl Kaller (October 19 - November 20). After Ben Franklin: Unplugged will be the Philadelphia premiere of After Ashley by Gina Gionfriddo and directed by Pam McKinnon, commissioned by PTC (February 3-March 5) the Philadelphia premiere of Intimate Apparel by Lynn Nottage and directed by Tim Vasen (March 17 - April 16); and the world premiere of Some Men, by Terrence McNally and directed by Philip Himberg (May 12 - June 11).

Philadelphia Theatre Company is Philadelphia's only non-profit professional theater dedicated exclusively to producing regional and world premieres of works by contemporary American playwrights. Under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director, Sara Garonzik, PTC has had ever-increasing national impact having produced over 30 world premieres of new American plays. Recent world premiere productions include: Bruce Graham's According to Goldman; Jeffrey Hatcher's A Picasso; Daniel Stern's comedy Barbra's Wedding; John Henry Redwood's No Niggers, No Jews, No Dogs; J.T. Roger's White People; David Ives' Lives of the Saints; three-time Tony Award-winning Master Class by Terrence McNally; Bunny Bunny by Alan Zweibel; and the American premiere of Birdy by Naomi Wallace. A Picasso received its New York premiere at the Manhattan Theatre Club in April, 2005. Philadelphia Theatre Company was chosen Best Theatre Company 2003 by Philadelphia magazine. In 2005, Philadelphia Weekly voted Philadelphia Theatre Company as the "Theater Company of the Year." Since 1995, PTC has received 99 nominations and 24 awards from Philadelphia's Barrymore Awards, most recently for The Last Five Years (Overall Outstanding Production of a Musical, 2002-2003) and A Picasso (Outstanding New Play, 2002-2003).

Philadelphia Theatre Company recently embarked on a groundbreaking Capital Campaign in support of building its new home, the Suzanne Roberts Theater, scheduled to open in Fall, 2007. The company has been in residence at the historic Plays & Players Theater since 1982.

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