Spark, a program of the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, is pleased to present its third small theatre festival, the Spark Festival Showcase, running from July 11 - 15 at the Painted Bride Art Center, located at 230 Vine Street in Philadelphia. Tickets range from $10 to $25 and can be purchased by contacting the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia at (215) 413-7150 or online at www.theatrealliance.org.

In one night, twelve different companies will each take to the stage to perform a signature ten minute play, giving audiences an opportunity to discover new companies and sample work from Philadelphia's diverse theatre scene. The original productions represent many styles and aesthetics and range from comedy to drama, from Absurdist to improvisation, and even a musical featuring young performers.

The twelve companies and plays featured in this year's Festival are:

AHJA Theatre Group
The Wave by Lawrence "Wildgoose" Traiger

Black Starr Collaborative
Romance by Bryan S. Clark

EgoPo Productions
Talk to Me Like the Rain and Let Me Listen by Tennessee Williams

Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium
Foursome by Eugéne Ionesco

Luna Theater Company
Backyard Conspiracy by Catherine Rush

MacGuffin Theatre and Film Company
A Place Called UP by John Rea

Madhouse Theater Company
The Secret Diaries of Leni Riefenstahl by John Stanton

Philadelphia Dramatists Center (PDC)
Intervention Blues by Sam Toll

Plays & Players Theater
Ugly Birds by Beaufield N. Berry

Represented Theatre Company
Bus Stop by Darnelle Edwin Radford

Tapestry Theatre
Gwendolyn and Cecily's Fantastical Balloon Ride: A journey through time and space in a hot air balloon, an improv by Karen Getz & Kelly Jennings

The Vagabond Acting Troupe
GAMP, conceived by Charlie DelMarcelle and Vagabond Acting Troupe

Developed out of the Theatre Alliance's fast growing membership (now with more than 100 member organizations and over 300 individuals), Spark's mission is to ignite opportunities and provide resources to Philadelphia's smaller and emergent theatre companies. Spark's goal is to help these companies become self-sustaining members of Philadelphia's large, and ever-growing, theatre community. Throughout the year, the Theatre Alliance initiates support in the form of informational meetings and dialogues where companies learn and share the tools of the non-profit trade (i.e. how to market a production, the ins and outs of fundraising, board development, tax regulations) and put these business and development experiences to practical use by planning and producing the Spark Festival Showcase.

About the Theatre Alliance
The Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia strengthens and leads the region's richly diverse theatre community, with more than 100 member organizations and over 300 individuals, by promoting awareness and serving as a resource for information, professional development and advocacy.

Spark Festival Showcase Schedule
Wednesday, July 11(Preview) 8PM $10
Thursday, July 12 (Opening) 8PM $15
Friday, July 13 8PM $20
Saturday, July 14 2PM $15
Saturday, July 14 8PM $25
Sunday, July 15 2PM $15

Participating companies:
AHJA Theatre Group, Black Starr Collaborative, EgoPo Productions, Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium, Luna Theater Company, MacGuffin Theatre and Film Company, Madhouse Theater Company, Philadelphia Dramatists Center, Plays & Players Theater, Represented Theatre Company, Tapestry Theatre, and The Vagabond Acting Troupe.

All Performances will be held at:
Painted Bride Art Center
230 Vine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106

Tickets: $10 - $25

For Tickets and Information contact:
Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia
1616 Walnut Street, Suite 1800, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 413-7150 phone, info@theatrealliance.org
www.theatrealliance.org

To request interviews, photos and more information, please contact: Megan Wendell, Canary Promotion + Design office: 215-242-6393, email: megan@canarypromo.com