Arden Theatre Company presents the 2007/08 Arden Professional Apprentices' spring showcase: Trial by Fire... in Old City. Every season the Arden hires a group of committed individuals to train in every aspect of managing a theatre company. At the end of the season, the apprentices are challenged to develop a night of theatre, producing every facet from the ground up. Trial by Fire... in Old City will be performed on the Arcadia Stage on June 15th at 7pm and June 16th at 8pm. The Arden Theatre is located at 40 N. 2nd Street in the heart of Old City, Philadelphia.

This year's apprentice class is an incredibly varied group of individuals from an array of backgrounds and perspectives. "The Arden is proud of the hard work that the apprentices put into this showcase," says Amy Dugas Brown, Associate Artistic Director and co-mentor of the Arden Professional Apprentice (APA) program. "Their diverse perspectives and energies have led them to exciting artistic discoveries. The five enjoy a strong bond, which created a dynamic artistic collaboration. Plus, they are a hilarious group of people, so I have every confidence that the evening will be funny!" The end result will be a night of selected scenes, each rich with characters that are passionate for the arts; sprinkled throughout are vivacious sections of improvisation, carefully constructed by Apprentices Scott Sheppard and Alexis Simpson, who are seasoned improv veterans, who also work with the Philadelphia Improv Theatre and Philadelphia's own ComedySportz!

The five apprentices are enthused to present a unique theatre event to showcase all they have learned and experienced throughout this season from Arden's Assassins to Our Town all will be remembered. The APA program is in its 15th year and the Arden celebrates the conclusion of the 20th Anniversary Season. Created as a "theatre boot-camp" by managing director Amy L. Murphy, the program exists today as one of the most recognized programs in the country, providing a remarkable training ground for the future theatre leaders of America. This year, the roster happy to call the Arden home includes Thomas Choinacky, an Indiana native; Carla Y. Emanuele, a neighbor from near-by Jersey City, NJ; Rachel Robbins, home-grown in Philadelphia; Scott Sheppard, now based in Philadelphia, but originally from Hanover, PA; and Alexis Simpson, another adoptive parent of the city of brotherly love, hailing from Washington, D.C. Please join the Arden Professional Apprentices as they say goodbye to the Arden, reflect on the year gone by, and anticipate the years to come.

To reserve your seat, please call the Arden Theatre Company Box office at 215-922-1122. More information can also be found on the Arden Theatre Company website: www.ardentheatre.org. The Arden is accessible to people with disabilities, providing wheelchair accessibility and assisted listening devices.

WHERE:
Arden Theatre Company
40 N. 2nd Street, Philadelphia

WHEN:
June 15 at 7:00pm
June 16 at 8:00pm

TICKETS:
Free - Call the Box Office at 215-922-1122 for reservations

DIRECTOR:
Matthew Decker

CAST:
Thomas Choinacky - Ensemble
Carla Y. Emanuele - Ensemble
Rachel Robbins - Ensemble
Scott Sheppard - Ensemble
Alexis Simpson - Ensemble