"PASSING BY" OPENS APRIL 17
"SHOW/TELL" OPENS LATE NIGHTS APRIL 18
"BENEFIT SUNDAYS" AID COMMUNITY GROUPS

Quince Productions announces the Philadelphia premiere of Martin Sherman's comedy "Passing By," opening Friday, April 17 at 8 pm for a three-week run at Philadelphia's Shubin Theatre, 407 Bainbridge Street. In addition, the Philadelphia premiere of Victor Bumbalo's "Show/Tell" opens Saturday, April 18, at 10:15 pm, playing Friday and Saturday late nights during the run of "Passing By." Rich Rubin directs both. Quince Productions has previously presented David Parker and the Bang Group in "Backward and in Heels" and Victor Bumbalo's comedy "Niagara Falls.

"Passing By," written by Martin Sherman, best-known for the Holocaust drama "Bent," is set in the 1970s and tells the story of Toby (played by Matt Taylor) and Simon (John Jarboe), two men who meet in a movie theatre and end up spending not just the night but an unexpected amount of time together due to unanticipated occurrences. As their emotions pull them together while their careers pull them apart, have they fallen in love forever, or are they just.passing by?

"Show/Tell" consists of two short plays and presents a darker, edgier view. In "Show," Michael (Michael Tomasetti), a priest with AIDS, confined to an institution, tries to find a way out and struggles with questions of faith between visits from Joey (Peter Roccaforte), the young employee of the institution he pays for sexual activity. In "Tell," a hospital visitor (Matthew J. McDonough) describes/re-enacts their first sexual encounter for his sick friend (Peter Danzig), while the nurse (Nicole Mesiano) moves from an officious figure to a quite human one with a few surprises of her own.

Director Rich Rubin has experience with two of the plays in the evening. When he directed the Northwest premiere of "Passing By," the Seattle Post-Intelligencer commented: "There are zingers and one-liners worthy of a Norman Lear TV comedy.(but) Rubin guides the repartee into channels of plot and character and away from pure sensation. Good interpretation of good material. That's what we get with `Passing By.'" Rubin directed the world premiere of "Show" in New York; Outweek Magazine said: "Anger is leavened with humanity, humor, and Bumbalo's vast capacity for understanding...It is an experience that leaves one cleansed--an important work."

Following a tradition established by Quince with "Niagara Falls," all three Sunday evening performances of "Passing By" will be benefits for community groups. April 19 will benefit the Philadelphia chapter of NLGJA (National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association); April 26 will benefit Represented Theatre Company; and May 3 will benefit AIDS Fund Philadelphia.

FAST FACTS:

"Passing By" (mainstage show)
Opening night: Friday, April 17, 2009
Where: Shubin Theatre, 407 Bainbridge Street, Philadelphia
Dates: Friday through Sunday opening weekend, then Wednesdays through Sundays through May 3
Time: 8 pm Wednesdays through Saturdays, 7 pm Sundays Ticket Prices: $16
Wednesdays/Thursdays, $18 Fridays, $25 Saturdays/Sundays
Information: (215) 627-1088
Tickets: www.quinceproductions.com

"Show/Tell" (late show)
Opening night: Saturday, April 18, 2009
Where: Shubin Theatre, 407 Bainbridge Street, Philadelphia
Dates: Saturday opening weekend, then Fridays/Saturdays through May 2
Time: 10:15 pm
Ticket Prices: $15
Information: (215) 627-1088 or hello@quinceproductions.com
Tickets: www.quinceproductions.com