InterAct Theatre Company
Encyclopedia
InterAct Theatre is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. A founding member of the National New Play Network, it is committed to producing socially and politically relevant new work. Since its founding in 1988, InterAct has become known for its thought-provoking fare and presentation of new voices.
The company pursues these goals in the Philadelphia community through its shows as well as a series of outreach programs, seeking to positively influence students and audiences alike. They support new voices in the theatre with positions designed to support new playwrights.
. Artistic Director Seth Rozin, along with Brad Rosenstein, Erica Schwartz and David Goldstein, founded the theatre after working together on an Irish theatre company's visit to the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
. They wanted to promote cultural exchange between Ireland and America with a series of touring productions. After the tour around Ireland, they returned to Philadelphia and established InterAct. The theatre's mission was honed over the next few years, switching the focus to contemporary plays with social resonance.
In 1997, InterAct gained its own premises at 2030 Sansom Street, Center City Philadelphia, where it is still located today. "The Adrienne," the former home of The Wilma Theater
, has been the home of many renowned productions. The 2007/2008 season marked InterAct's 20th Anniversary. The company has produced 60 main stage productions, including 23 world premieres, 2 U.S. premieres and over 30 Philadelphia premieres, in all providing employment for more than 500 local artists. They have commissioned new plays from world-famous playwrights such as Wole Soyinka
and Lee Blessing
.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. A founding member of the National New Play Network, it is committed to producing socially and politically relevant new work. Since its founding in 1988, InterAct has become known for its thought-provoking fare and presentation of new voices.
Mission
"InterAct is a theatre for today’s world, producing new and contemporary plays that explore the social, political, and cultural issues of our time."The company pursues these goals in the Philadelphia community through its shows as well as a series of outreach programs, seeking to positively influence students and audiences alike. They support new voices in the theatre with positions designed to support new playwrights.
History
InterAct Theatre was begun in 1988 by four graduates of the University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
. Artistic Director Seth Rozin, along with Brad Rosenstein, Erica Schwartz and David Goldstein, founded the theatre after working together on an Irish theatre company's visit to the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts is a theatre, dance and world music venue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It helped to popularize the works of composers like Steve Reich and Philip Glass; the Center has also hosted shows by performers ranging from the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra to...
. They wanted to promote cultural exchange between Ireland and America with a series of touring productions. After the tour around Ireland, they returned to Philadelphia and established InterAct. The theatre's mission was honed over the next few years, switching the focus to contemporary plays with social resonance.
In 1997, InterAct gained its own premises at 2030 Sansom Street, Center City Philadelphia, where it is still located today. "The Adrienne," the former home of The Wilma Theater
The Wilma Theater
The Wilma Theater is a 501 non-profit theater company located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-History:It was founded in 1973 as the Wilma Project to encourage theatrical productions of original material and the development of community artists. In 1979, Blanka Zizka and Jiri Zizka of former...
, has been the home of many renowned productions. The 2007/2008 season marked InterAct's 20th Anniversary. The company has produced 60 main stage productions, including 23 world premieres, 2 U.S. premieres and over 30 Philadelphia premieres, in all providing employment for more than 500 local artists. They have commissioned new plays from world-famous playwrights such as Wole Soyinka
Wole Soyinka
Akinwande Oluwole "Wole" Soyinka is a Nigerian writer, poet and playwright. He was awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature, where he was recognised as a man "who in a wide cultural perspective and with poetic overtones fashions the drama of existence", and became the first African in Africa and...
and Lee Blessing
Lee Blessing
-Biography:Blessing's best-known play is A Walk in the Woods, which depicts the developing relationship between two arms limitation negotiators, one Russian and one American, over years of negotiation...
.
Awards
- 2007 Barrymore AwardsBarrymore Awards for Excellence in TheaterThe Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theater are awards presented by the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia for Philadelphia-area theater productions. One journalist referred to the award as "Philadelphia’s equivalent of a Tony."...
, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play: Charlotte Northeast, Skin in Flames - 2006 Barrymore Awards, Excellence in Theatre Education and Community Service Award: InterAction Program
- 2004 Barrymore Awards, Best New Play: Permanent Collection by Thomas Gibbons, Directed by Seth Rozin
- 2003 Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia WeeklyPhiladelphia WeeklyPhiladelphia Weekly , is an award-winning alternative newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, published every Wednesday.The paper was founded in 1971 as a sister publication to the South Philadelphia Press. In 1995, the paper became Philadelphia Weekly...
, Best Lead Actress: Claudia Robinson, Going to St. Ives - 2003 Philadelphia Weekly, Outstanding New Play: Cry Havoc by Tom Coash, Directed by Seth Rozin
- 2002 Philadelphia Weekly, Best Lead Actor: Tom McCarthy, God's Man in Texas
- 2001 Barrymore Awards, Best Lead Actor: Scott Greer, It's All True
- 2001 Barrymore Awards, Best Supporting Actor: Dave Bardeen, It's All True
- 2000 Philadelphia Inquirer, Top 10 Production: Drink Me by Mary Fengar Gail, Directed by Whit MacLaughlin
- 2000 Barrymore Awards, Excellence in Education and Community Service: InterAction Program
- 1999 Barrymore Awards, Best Production: Lebensraum by Israel Horovitz, Directed by Seth Rozin
- 1999 Barrymore Awards, Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Weekly, and Chestnut Hill Local, Best Director: Seth Rozin, Lebensraum
- 1999 Barrymore Awards, Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Weekly, and Chestnut Hill Local, Best Ensemble: Scott Greer, Harry Philibosian, Catharine K. Slusar, Lebensraum
- 1999 Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Weekly, and Chestnut Hill Local, Top 10 Production: Lebensraum by Israel HorovitzIsrael HorovitzIsrael Horovitz is an American playwright and screenwriter.-Theatre career:An American dramatist, Horovitz has written more than 70 produced plays, many of which have been translated and performed in more than 30 languages worldwide . The 70/70 Horovitz Project was created by NYC Barefoot Theatre...
, Directed by Seth Rozin - 1999 Chestnut Hill Local, Theatre Company of the Year
- 1999 Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, Human Rights Award for Arts and Culture
- 1998 Arts and Business Council of Philadelphia, Business / Arts Partnership Award
- 1997 Philadelphia Inquirer, Top 10 Production: Three in the Back, Two in the Head by Jason Sherman, Directed by Tim Moyer
- 1997 Barrymore Awards, First Union Award for Outstanding Community Service: InterAction Program
- 1997 Barrymore Awards, Best New Play: Black Russian by Tom Gibbons, Directed by Seth Rozin
- 1996 Philadelphia Inquirer, Top 10 Production: Lonely Planet by Steven Dietz, Directed by Seth Rozin
- 1996 Philadelphia City PaperPhiladelphia City PaperPhiladelphia City Paper is a free alternative news weekly in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was established in November 1981 as a spin-off of the now defunct WXPN Express newsletter. New issues are released every Thursday....
, Best Ensemble: Frank X, David Warner, Lonely Planet - 1996 Barrymore Awards, Best Lead Actor: Frank X, Lonely Planet
- 1996 Philadelphia Weekly, Best Politically Motivated Theatre
- 1993 Philadelphia Inquirer, Top 10 Production: 6221 by Tom Gibbons, Directed by Seth Rozin
- 1993 Philadelphia Inquirer, Best Director: Seth Rozin, 6221