Theatre Exile explores the darker side of the subconscious mind in their 2007-2008 season. Having just been named Best Company of the Year (2006-2007 season) by the Philadelphia Weekly, Theatre Exile is embarking on our of most daring year to date.

Our season will open with the Philadelphia premiere of Mr. Marmalade by Noah Haidle directed by Theatre Exile's producing artistic director, Joe Canuso. Mr. Marmalade is a dark comedy which addresses issues of domestic abuse, lock-key children and unintended parental neglect filtered through the imaginary world of a precocious four year-old girl. Lucy is portrayed by Amanda Schoonover, winner of a Barrymore Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress for Killer Joe produced by Theatre Exile. Jeb Kreager portrays Mr. Marmalade, a self-important, hedonistic businessman who is Lucy's imaginary friend. Lucy is a hyperactive, hyper-creative girl who lives in a world of loneliness and detachment. After her mother leaves for the evening, Lucy's imagination engages and we follow her as her fantasy world bleeds into the real world. When Lucy is stranded with her own imagination her subconscious conjures a world where playing house leads to abuse, bloodshed and food fights. "Mr. Haidle . aims to unsettle and delight in equal measure" New York Times.

Leaving the world of abuse Theatre Exile's second show of the season leads us to a world of male hierarchy, oedipal desires and women "powerful like the earth". Roosters, by Milcha Sanchez-Scott tells the story of a father's return to the roost after seven years in jail for manslaughter. When a boy needs to become the man of the house, what happens when his father returns? Father and son engage in a blood dance not only over the ownership of the prized cock-fighting rooster, but also over who is now the cock-of-walk. Magic fills this world of power struggles and deep devotion as each of the characters strive towards their own version of salvation. Under the direction of co-artistic director Deborah Block, Anjoli Santiago portrays Angela the youngest daughter whose dirty mouth speaks to angels and saints. "Ms. Sanchez-Scott has a natural theatrical talent and an ability to ensnare an audience in a tale - both comic and poignant - of domestic emotional violence" New York Times.

Associate artistic director Matt Pfeiffer directs the Philadelphia premiere of Bug, the final show of the season written by the dangerous mind of Tracy Letts who wrote Theatre Exile's much lauded production of Killer Joe. Tracy Letts was a nominated finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2004 and was named as one of Time's "Best of 2003." As the New York Times describes, "Paranoia festers in the skin, as provokingly physical as a poison ivy rash, in this lurid story of a man, a woman and a whole lot of really tiny critters." Award winning performers Grace Gonglewski and Matt Saunders star in the production as Agnes and Peter, an unlikely couple who spend their time together holed up in a dive of a motel trying to fight the conspiring forces around them. Their fears soon escalate to paranoia, conspiracy theories and twisted psychological motives.

Theatre Exiles' season will take place in Christ Church Neighborhood House in the Old City section of Philadelphia and will be designed by resident designer Matt Saunders whose set design for Glengarry Glen Ross was given honorable mention by the Philadelphia Weekly.

In addition to being named Best Theater Company of the Year 2006-2007 season by the Philadelphia Weekly, and receiving six other mentions our 2006 production of Killer Joe directed by Joe Canuso pulled in seven Barrymore Nominations; the most for a non-musical production, including nominations for Outstanding Ensemble, Outstanding Direction and Outstanding Overall Production.

Theatre Exile is a nonprofit theater company dedicated to enhancing the cultural experiences of all Philadelphians through the staging of works that engage the imagination. We produce risky and challenging plays that contain a sense of true Philadelphia grit and passion. We are constantly striving to reach out to new theater audiences throughout the community by presenting both new works as well as established plays that are often reinterpreted in original ways and/or held in unique site-specific locations.

We believe in freedom of expression formulated through innovation, exploration and provocation. At the same time, we provide a safe and creative environment in which local artists can grow and experiment and ultimately, find their own voice.

TICKET INFO: Call 215-922-4462 or on the web at www.theatreexile.org. Ticket prices are $15-$40, call for specific prices and dates. Student tickets are available and substantial savings are offered for groups of 10 or more.