By Paula Vogel - Directed by Aaron Cromie
October 30 through November 15, 2009 – Mandell Theater

Azuka Theatre begins its 10th Anniversary Season with the Philadelphia premiere of Pulitzer Prize-winner Paula Vogel’s The Long Christmas Ride Home. As three children and their parents take what will turn out to be an ill-fated ride to grandmother’s house, past and present collide in the back of the family sedan. The play offers brief, illuminating glimpses of the children's future lives, but always comes back to that one fateful night, the claustrophobic car, and the moment a family shattered. Combining superb storytelling, music and bunraku puppetry, The Long Christmas Ride Home promises a uniquely compelling theatrical experience.

Azuka Theatre produces the show as the company in residence at Drexel University through the Mandell Professionals in Residence Project. This program brings together artists from the Philadelphia theater community and Drexel students.

Paula Vogel was awarded the 1998 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Lortel, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and New York Drama Critics awards for Best Play for How I Learned to Drive, which also gained the playwright her second OBIE.

Vogel’s plays include, The Baltimore Waltz, Hot'N'Throbbing, Desdemona, And Baby Makes Seven and The Oldest Profession. A fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences she taught playwrighting and directed the MFA Playwrighting program at Brown University from 1984-2008. She is currently a professor and Chair of the playwriting department at Yale School of Drama.

Guest director Aaron Cromie will direct The Long Christmas Ride Home. A multidisciplinary theatre artist based in Philadelphia, he has collaborated as performer, designer, director, writer and musician with several companies including Arden Theatre Company, The Folger Shakespeare Theatre, Walnut Street Theatre, Mum Puppettheatre, The Studio Theatre, Wilma Theater, Lantern Theater and Shakespeare Theatre among others. He toured nationally with Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story and is a graduate of The Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre. Aaron designed the puppets for The Studio Theatre of Washington D.C.’s production of The Long Christmas Ride Home.

Cromie said he was hooked on The Long Christmas Ride Home from the opening page. “I couldn't put it down until I had read it twice - a beautiful and heartbreaking play, that made instant theatrical sense to me, and ever since I've wanted a chance to direct it. When I shared it with friend and Azuka Artistic Director, Kevin Glaccum, he was as passionate about this project as I was.”

The Mandell Professionals in Residence Project (MPiRP) is an ongoing collaboration with the professional theatre and dance communities of Philadelphia and the Antoinette College of Media Arts and Design at Drexel University. Members of the Drexel University community are enriched by the high quality of dance and theatrical productions being offered through MPiRP in the Mandell Theater. In addition to receiving discounted tickets for MPiRP performance events, students benefit from workshops and opportunities to gain hands on experience with established professionals. Past residencies have included EgoPo Productions, New Paradise Laboratories and Commonwealth Classic Theatre Company. The Mandell Professionals in Residence Project is supported in part by a grant from the Samuel P. Mandell Foundation.

“We were thrilled to be asked to participate in the MPiRP”, said Azuka Theatre’s Artistic Director Kevin Glaccum. “When we were asked to work at Drexel, The Long Christmas Ride Home was the first play that came to mind. I knew it would be a great piece for students to work on, providing them the opportunity to work with diverse theatrical forms”.

The final dress rehearsal of The Long Christmas Ride Home on Thursday, October 29 at 8pm is open to the public as a Pay-What-You-Can performance. All seats are general admission, first come, first served for this performance.

The Long Christmas Ride Homepreviews begin on Friday, October 30. Preview performances run October 30, 31, November 1and 3. Opening night is Wednesday, November 4 at 7:00 PM.

Single ticket prices are $15-$25, with discounts available for seniors, students and groups of 10+.

Call the Azuka Theatre Box Office at (215) 733-0255, order online at www.azukatheatre.org, or purchase tickets at the door.

WHAT: The Long Christmas Ride Home
By Paula Vogel
Directed by Aaron Cromie

SUMMARY: The Long Christmas Ride Home explores the affected lives of three children after a Christmas Eve car ride and the moment a family shattered.
This play contains adult themes and situations; it is not recommended for children.

WHERE: Mandell Theater, 33rd & Chestnut Streets
Philadelphia, 19104

WHEN: October 30 – November 15, 2009
Preview performances: October 30 – November 3
Opening night: 7:00pm Wednesday, November 4
Reviewing members of the press are invited to attend opening night and may reserve tickets by contacting Mark H. Andrews at mark@azukatheatre.org.

TICKETS: $15-$25 depending on the performance chosen
Group discounts available for 10+
Student & Senior discounts available
Call the Box Office at (215) 733-0255 or visit www.azukatheatre.org

CAST: Keith Conallen – Stephen
Seth Reichgott – Man
Amanda Grove – Woman
Janice Rowland – Rebecca
Allison Heishman – Claire
Charlie DelMarcelle – Minister/Dancer

Ensemble
Chris Deter
Jason Mulligan
Laurel Hostak
Will Poost
Katie Lynch
Rachel Semigran
Natasha Metzger
John Turnbach

ARTISTIC STAFF: Aaron Cromie – Director/Puppet Designer
Craig Vetter - Set Designer
Alisa Sickora Kleckner - Costume Designer
Terry Smith - Lighting Designer
Christopher Colucci - Sound Designer/Composer
Katie Ringwood - Stage Manager