Memory House - PHILADELPHIA PREMIERE by Kathleen Tolan directed by Erin Lucas February 13 - March 1, 2008 2nd Stage at the Adrienne - 2030 Sansom Street

Flashpoint continues its exciting fourth season with an intimate look at the relationship between a mother and her teenage daughter. In Memory House, a seemingly uneventful New Year's Eve turns into a turbulent evening between Maggie and Katia, as Katia struggles to finish her college admission essay, and the two unearth issues from their past and fears about their future. Kathleen Tolan's beautifully written script is a heartfelt account of the powerful bond between mother and child, even when the child is a sarcastic, rebellious teenage girl.

Memory House received its world premiere at the Actors Theatre of Louisville's Humana Festival of New American Plays in 2005. It was then produced by Playwrights Horizons, Inc. in New York City in 2005, starring Dianne Wiest. Tolan's script was referred to as "a captivating emotional ballet," by The New York Times. The Journal News said, "This glowingly written play by Kathleen Tolan may remind you of why we go to the theater in the first place." Tolan was the recipient of the 2005 McNight National Residency and Commission. Other plays by Kathleen Tolan include A Weekend Near Madison, Kate's Diary, Approximating Mother, A Girl's Life and The Wax. Her work has been produced at The Public Theatre, the Women's Project and many other theaters in the US and Europe.

Director Erin Lucas is a founder and the Producing Artistic Director of Flashpoint Theatre Company. She recently directed Gina Gionfriddo's darkly comic U.S. Drag, of which Philadelphia City paper said, "Flashpoint succeeds brilliantly." Other directing credits for Flashpoint include Joe Hortua's Between Us, Keith Bunin's The Credeaux Canvas, Drive Angry and The Box for the SPARK Showcase Festival. She has also directed at HERE in New York City and the San Diego Actors' Alliance Festival.

The designers for Memory House have all contributed to a Flashpoint production in the past. The set will be designed by Andrea Cibelli, whose previous efforts include the set for Between Us. She also assisted on sets for The Credeaux Canvas, Feed the Hype and Far Away. Lighting will be designed by Dominic Chacon, who previously designed lights for The House of Yes. Dominic is finishing up his degree at Temple 's MFA in Design program and has also worked with Philadelphia Theatre Workshop, Walnut Street Theatre and Shakespeare in Clark Park . Melissa Cristaldi returns to Flashpoint after designing props for Between Us; she is the Properties Master at Philadelphia Theatre Company. Sound Designer Michael Osinski teams up with Lucas for their fifth production together. Also a director, Osinski directed the Philadelphia premieres of Caryl Churchill's Far Away, Neil LaBute's autobahn, and Wendy MacLeod's Schoolgirl Figure. Director Erin Lucas will design costumes and the production will be stage managed by Marianne Maloy.

Philadelphia stage veteran Peggy Smith will star as Maggie, a devoted mother trying to rediscover her former, passionate self. Peggy's acting credits include The Women in Wenceslas Square with Walnut Street Theatre, Mrs. Soames in Our Town with Delaware Theatre Company, and numerous roles with Arden Theatre Company, Theatre Ariel, Blue Ridge Theatre Festival and Philly Fringe. Playing her daughter, Katia, a bright but angst-filled teenager questioning both her past and her future, is the talented Katy O'Leary. Katy was recently seen in Flashpoint's U.S. Drag, The Cripple of Inishmaan with Iron Age Theatre, CBC's PhillyFringe production of The Milky Way Cabaret, and in the independent film, Odd City.

All performances will be held at 2nd Stage at the Adrienne, 2030 Sansom Street , in Philadelphia . Tickets are $12-18 and can be purchased at 215-563-4330 or www.flashpointtheatre.org. Discounts are available for students, seniors and groups of ten or more. A very special mother-daughter brunch will be held on Sunday, February 24th. Mothers are invited to bring their daughters for refreshments provided by Whole Foods Market before the 2:30pm performance. Audiences are also encouraged to join the cast, director and guest speaker Jennifer Pals Lilgendahl for the Flashpoint Friday Forum following the February 22nd performance. Audiences are also encouraged to join the cast, director and guest speaker Jennifer Pals Lilgendahl for a discussion following the Friday, February 22nd performance. Ms. Lilgendahl is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Haverford College who specializes in the effects of memories on relationships.

Flashpoint Theatre Company is dedicated to the production of socially provocative and emotionally resonant works of theatre in the greater Philadelphia area. Founded in 2003, Flashpoint's first four seasons have included eight Philadelphia premieres and one world premiere, four holiday productions, and several readings of new plays as part of the High Voltage workshop series. Flashpoint is also an active participant in the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia's SPARK program. Flashpoint's 2007-2008 season is sponsored by Flexcar, Image Graphics, Whole Foods Market and Fergie's Pub.