People's Light & Theatre Company in Malvern launches its 33rd season with single tickets now on sale.

Artistic Director Abigail Adams says, "We are very excited to be bringing five new works to our stages in one season, a new record for People's Light. Developing new plays is central to our mission. We've produced 45 in our 33 year history."

The 6-Play series includes shows that, when totaled, equal three world premieres, three adaptations from literature, two classic plays, and one new play that will receive its Philadelphia premiere at People's Light.

The season opens with Theophilus North, running September 12 - October 7, 2007, on the Main Stage. It is written by Matthew Burnett and based on the novel by Thornton Wilder (Our Town, The Skin of Our Teeth). It premiered as a co-production of Arena Stage and Geva Theater, and was produced Off-Broadway last season. Theophilus North is Wilder's self-proclaimed autobiographical novel and is his last major work. The play takes place in the summer of 1926 when the title character arrives in Newport, Rhode Island, after quitting his teaching job in New Jersey to "see the world." Abigail Adams directs.

The world premiere of a new translation and adaptation of Pulitzer Prize-winning Playwright Luigi Pirendello's Six Characters in Search of an Author runs October 10 - November 4, 2007, on the Steinbright Stage. Playwright-in-Residence and company member Louis Lippa adapts this classic and most popular of Pirandello's works. Directed by Ken Marini, this marks Lippa's 18th adaptation for People's Light & Theatre.

Treasure Island: A Panto of Swashbuckling Love runs November 14 - December 30, 2007. In what has become a People's Light signature production, Treasure Island, a musical, is the fourth holiday show done in "panto" style. This year, the music and lyrics are written by Philadelphia favorite Michael Ogborn. The libretto is Kathryn Petersen's fourth (the first, Sleeping Beauty, was co-authored with Gary Smith.) David Bradley directs on the Main Stage.

Next up is the masterpiece The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, running February 13 - March 22, 2008, on the Main Stage. Ken Marini directs and Marcia Saunders takes on the roll of Amanda Wingfield in the drama that introduced Tennessee Williams as one of the preeminent playwright's of the 20th century.

I Have Before Me a Remarkable Document Given to Me by a Young Lady from Rwanda runs May 28 - June 22, 2008, on the Steinbright Stage. Award-winning British Playwright Sonja Linden wrote this play in response to her encounters with a number of young Rwandan refugees at the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture, where she was a writer in residence from 1997-2004. This two character play is about a young refugee of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. She connects with a disillusioned, middle-aged novelist, and the two form a touching and transforming working relationship. David Bradley directs.

The season closes with the witty and wonderful Sherlock Holmes & The Case of the Jersey Lily, running June 18 - July 13, 2008, on the Main Stage. It is written by Katie Forgette, whose The O'Connor Girls ran at People's Light in 2005, and directed by Steve Umberger. Loosely based on Gillette and Doyle's classic novel with a nod to The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, Sherlock Holmes features Peter DeLaurier in the title role.

TARGET FAMILY DISCOVERY SERIES
People's Light & Theatre Company is celebrating its 20th year of Project Discovery, the Educational Outreach Program that includes the Target Family Discovery Series as one of its initiatives.

As part of its Anniversary Celebration, this year marks the first year that the Adaptation Project - an NEA funded program that commissions playwrights to adapt award-winning novels for young adults - comes to fruition with two new works that will receive their premiere.

Artistic Director Abigail Adams says, "Commissioning and producing new works for young audiences has always been something to which we have been committed. The Adaptation Project just formalizes that commitment and allows us to commission more prominent authors and playwrights. With the launch of this program, we hope to be as recognized for our works for family audiences as the Children's Theatre of Minneapolis or Seattle Children's Theatre."

The three Target Family Discovery Series presentations are all world premieres and adaptations from children's literature.

Treasure Island: A Panto of Swashbuckling Love, also part of the 6-Play series, will run November 14 - December 30, 2007 on the Main Stage. See the description above. Best appreciated by ages 6 and up.

Crispin: The Cross of Lead will run on the Steinbright Stage from January 17 - February 24, 2008. It is based on author Avi's 50th book, a Newbery Medal winner in 2003. Russell Davis (who also premiered The Thoughts and Travels of Nicki, and Sally's Gone, She Left Her Name for People's Light) adapts. Best appreciated by ages 8 and up.

Adapted from the 2000 Newbery Medal Honor book by Audrey Couloumbis, Getting Near To Baby runs March 27 - April 20, 2008, on the Steinbright Stage. Acclaimed children's playwright Y York (The Forgiving Harvest, Afternoon of the Elves, Frog and Toad) pens this script about two young girls who are sent to live with their annoying Aunt Patty after a tragedy occurs in their family. Best appreciated by ages 8 and up.

Subscription & Ticket Information
Subscriptions to the 2007/2008 Season are still available at a significant savings! Subscriptions can be purchased for as little as $126 for all six plays - a savings of up to 31% off single ticket prices. A four show mini subscription is also available for as little as $88. Shows include: Theophilus North (September 12 - October 7, 2007); Six Characters In Search of an Author (October 10 - November 4, 2007); Treasure Island (November 14 - December 30, 2007); The Glass Menagerie (February 13 - March 22, 2008); I Have Before Me a Remarkable Document Given to Me by a Young Lady From Rwanda (May 28 - June 22, 2008); and Sherlock Holmes & The Case of the Jersey Lily (June 18 - July 13, 2008).

Subscriptions to the Target Family Discovery Series are still available. Subscriptions for children ages 17 and under are $50 or $53 - a savings of up to 40% off single ticket prices! The three show subscription includes: Treasure Island (November 14 - December 30, 2007); Crispin: The Cross of Lead (January 17 - February 24, 2008); and Getting Near To Baby (March 27 - April 20, 2008).

The box office reopens today, August 20, 2007, for single ticket and subscription sales. Tickets for the 6-Play Series range in price from $29 - $48. Target Family Discovery Series tickets are $20 for Children and $28 for Adults. For information, or to purchase season subscriptions or single tickets, call (610) 644-3500, Monday - Friday, 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. or visit www.peopleslight.org.

Group discounts are available for parties of 10 or more. Discounts, supplemental materials and a Talk Back with the artists are available for select 10am weekday student performances. For more information on student performances or group tickets, call (610) 647-1900, ext. 134 or group@peopleslight.org.

Cast and crew members from the plays host a Talk Back on most Thursday evenings following performances. Talk Backs will occur after each performance of Crispin: The Cross of Lead and Getting Near to Baby.