For Immediate Release: January 11, 2007
Media Contact: Erin Lucas, Flashpoint Theatre Company, 215.514.8965

Far Away
By Caryl Churchill
directed by Michael Osinski
February 7 - February 24, 2007
2nd Stage at the Adrienne - 2030 Sansom St.

Flashpoint Theatre Company is proud to present the Philadelphia premiere of the internationally acclaimed playwright's Far Away. Called "the most astonishing new play of the year" in 2001 by The Daily Mail, this theatrical tour-de-force packs quite a punch in its compact 50-60 minutes, tantalizing its audience with plenty of mysteries and raising some important questions about the fate of our world.

At the beginning, we meet young Joan, an adventurous young girl, questioning her aunt Harper about something disturbing she has seen and heard in the backyard. Aunt Harper skillfully quells Joan's fears about the violent acts that she has just witnessed, convincing her that she is "part of a big movement now to make things better."

Next, the play moves forward a few years to find Joan starting work in a millinery and falling in love with her co-worker Todd. The two flirt, fight, and discuss their working conditions, all while creating outlandish hats to be displayed and judged at a weekly parade. The scene ends with a fantastic parade where the audience witnesses the truly sinister nature of Joan and Todd's work.

By the end of the play, the world is embroiled in a global war where alliances are made between countries, species and elements. Joan has gone AWOL and fled to her aunt's house, for one last chance to see her husband Todd before returning to the front. But can he be trusted? And is it too late to do any good?

"One of the greatest things about Churchill's writing is that she doesn't insult the intelligence of her audience," says director Michael Osinski. "She doesn't explain everything. She doesn't fill in the gaps. She lets her audience do some of the work and come to their own conclusions."

Osinski continues, "With Far Away, Churchill offers us a warning: if we continue to remain preoccupied with our content fairytale lives and claim ignorance of some of the horrible atrocities occurring in other parts of the world, we may wake up one day to find those atrocities aren't so far away anymore." In light of this, Flashpoint Theatre Company will be collecting donations for the Save Darfur Coalition during the run of Far Away.

Caryl Churchill, born in London, started her career at BBC Radio and went on to serve as Resident Dramatist at the Royal Court. Her first big international success, Top Girls, debuted in 1982 and established Churchill as a leader in the feminist theatre movement. Churchill later went on to win the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize for Fen in 1984 and for Serious Money in 1987. Far Away premiered at the Royal Court in 2000 and was directed by Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot, The Hours), before being produced by the New York Theatre Workshop in 2002 with Frances McDormand playing the role of Harper. Her critically acclaimed play about cloning - A Number - received its American premiere in 2004, starring Sam Shepard, and her latest play - Drunk Enough to Say I Love You? - received its premiere at the Royal Court in London this past fall. Several of Churchill's plays were performed at The Wilma Theater last spring.

Michael Osinski, co-founder and Managing Director of Flashpoint Theatre Company, directs his third Flashpoint mainstage production with Far Away. Previous credits for the company include the Philadelphia premieres of Wendy MacLeod's Schoolgirl Figure in 2005 and Neil LaBute's Autobahn in 2006. A graduate of Drew University, Michael has also directed for the Brick Playhouse in Philadelphia and for Bailiwick Repertory and CollaborAction Theatre Company in Chicago.

The talented cast of Far Away includes some local favorites, all of whom have appeared on the Flashpoint stage before. Mary Lee Bednarek will play the dual role of Joan as a child and as an adult. Bednarek received a 2006 Barrymore Award for Best Ensemble in Theatre Exile's production of Killer Joe. A graduate of Temple University, Bednarek has also appeared in Luna Theater Company's Fool for Love, Intrepid Theatre Company's Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, and Flashpoint's benefit production of Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues in 2005.

Veteran local actress April Woodall will play the role of Harper. Woodall was last seen as Mrs. Pascal in Flashpoint's production of The House of Yes this past fall. Other credits include I Married Wyatt Earp at Bristol Riverside Theatre and The Music Man at Lenape Regional Performing Arts Center.

Finally David Raphaely will play the role of Todd. Raphaely recently performed in the Arden Theatre's production of A Prayer for Owen Meany this fall. A graduate of the University of the Arts, Raphaely was featured in Flashpoint Theatre Company's inaugural production of The Credeaux Canvas, and he has since appeared extensively at the Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival.

The production staff for Far Away includes some of the most talented up-and-coming designers in Philadelphia. The set will be designed by Christian J. Pedone, whose Flashpoint credits includeThe Credeaux Canvas, Schoolgirl Figure, and Feed the Hype. Lighting will be designed by Joshua Schulman, who designed the lights for Theatre Exile's acclaimed productions of Killer Joe and Red Light Winter. Sound and original music will be provided by Andrew Monheim, whose work has been seen at Mum Puppettheatre, Theater Catalyst, Azuka, Temple University, BCKSEET Productions, and Luna Theatre Company. Costumes will be designed by Kimberley Osinski, a recent graduate from the Apparel Design program at University of Delaware and an assistant costume designer on Flashpoint Theatre Company's production of Schoolgirl Figure. Properties and hats will be designed by Meghann Williams, one of the company's co-founders and director of this season's The House of Yes and The Santaland Diaries.

Far Away runs February 7 - February 24, 2007 on 2nd Stage at the Adrienne, 2030 Sansom Street. More information can be found at www.flashpointtheatre.org. Tickets are $15 and $12 (students/seniors) and can be purchased online at Flashpoint's website, or by calling the box office at 215-563-4330. Performances held on February 16th and 23rd will also give audiences the chance to discuss the show with the cast and director after the performance. The performance on Wednesday February 7th will be a pay-what-you-can performance, with all proceeds going to the Save Darfur Coalition.

Flashpoint Theatre Company is dedicated to expanding cultural arts awareness in the greater Philadelphia area through the production of socially provocative and emotionally resonant works of theatre, through the development of educational programming within the community, and through collaboration with new and emerging voices from all artistic disciplines. Founded in 2003, Flashpoint's first two seasons have included four Philadelphia premieres and one world premiere, and several readings of new plays as part of the High Voltage workshop series. Flashpoint's 2006-2007 season is sponsored by Philadelphia City Paper and Philly Car Share.

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