FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2008

Lantern Theater Company proudly continues its success in bringing intimate, imaginative and powerful Shakespeare productions to Philadelphia with Othello, from March 28 through May 4 at St. Stephen's Theater. Originally scheduled to close April 27, the run has already been extended to accommodate the high demand to witness the tragic relationship between Othello and Iago, played by local favorites Frank X and Peter Pryor, respectively.


The charismatic general Othello is admired throughout Venice for his strength, honesty, and courage, except by the treacherous villain Iago. When Othello marries the beautiful Desdemona, Iago seizes the opportunity to exploit the general's trust, inflame his jealousy, and ultimately destroy him. One of the most powerful tragedies of the English language, Othello is a taut epic of passion and betrayal that crashes to a devastating conclusion.

Lantern Theater Company's production of Othello is part of Shakespeare for a New Generation, a national initiative sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts in cooperation with Arts Midwest. As one of only 35 companies in the nation to receive this prestigious $25,000 grant, the Lantern has taken teaching artists into 10 Philadelphia schools and will welcome these students to Othello, at no cost to them or their school. This expansion of Illumination, the Lantern's Education Program, brings theater to over 1,000 students who would not otherwise have the arts in their curriculum.

Charles McMahon (Barrymore nominee for Outstanding Director for Richard III and The Comedy of Errors) directs the all-Philadelphia cast. Each has been a part of notable productions from the Lantern's history, including: Frank X (Barrymore Award nominee for Outstanding actor for "Master Harold"...and the boys and King Lear) and Peter Pryor (Barrymore Award Winner for Outstanding Actor as Richard III), Anthony Lawton (The Lonesome West, The Screwtape Letters), Brian McCann (The Lady from the Sea, Barrymore Award nominee for Outstanding Ensemble for Travels with my Aunt), Mary McCool (King Lear, The Birthday Party), Seth Reichgott (The Foocy), Sarah Sanford (La Ronde), and Luigi Sottile (The Lonesome West, The School for Wives).

The production team features acclaimed Philadelphia designers: Set Designer Meghan Jones (The Lonesome West, La Ronde), Costume Designer Millie Hiibel (multi-Barrymore nominee, including the Lantern's La Ronde, The Comedy of Errors, and the F. Otto Haas Award for Emerging Philadelphia Theatre Artist), Lighting Designer Janet Embree (over 30 Lantern productions), and Sound Designer Nick Rye (Barrymore nominee for The Tempest at the Lantern).

Othello begins previews on Friday, March 28, 2008 with an opening on Wednesday, April 2. The closing performance is scheduled for Sunday, May 4, 2008. Tickets are $15-$35, with discounts for students, seniors, and groups of 12 or more. Tickets can be purchased online at www.lanterntheater.org or by calling the box office at 215.829.0395. All performances are held at St. Stephen's Theater, 10th and Ludlow Streets, Philadelphia, PA.

Reviewing Press are invited to attend Opening Night of Othello on Wednesday, April 2, 2008 at 7pm. Call 215.829.9002 x106 to reserve seats.
Other Press may arrange for tickets for the first week of production, April 1-6, 2008, by calling 215.829.9002 x106.

Othello Special Events
Audience members will have an opportunity to gain insight into the Othello production process, context and themes through Lantern's variety of discussions, lectures and a symposium during the run.

Lecture Series – Shakespeare in Discussion: Othello
This four-part panel discussion series brings audiences together with the top humanities scholars in the Northeast region to discuss the themes, historical circumstances, and world of Shakespeare's plays. All events will be held Monday evenings at 7pm. Funded in part by the Pennsylvania Humanities Council.

• March 24, 2008 – Othello: Psychology of the Outsider
• March 31, 2008 – Iago: Psychology of the Sociopath
• April 7, 2008 – Venus & Mars: The Myth of the Perfect Match
• April 14, 2008 – The Narcissism of Empire: Othello's Venice, Elizabeth's England, Our America

Admission is $10 per lecture for single ticket buyers or $25 for the whole series. Subscribers and Students can attend each lecture for just $5.

Meet the Artists
Thursday, April 3, following the 7pm performance
Wednesday, April 9, following the 2pm performance
New for the 2007/08 season, this post-show event features members of the Othello cast and creative team onstage in dialogue with the audience.

Director's Discussion
Friday, April 9 at 7pm
A pre-show conversation with Othello Director Charles McMahon and the Lantern's Literary Manager Kathryn MacMillan. Free for all ticket holders for the production, this event includes complimentary refreshments from Whole Foods Market.

Symposium – Directing Shakespeare: Lovers, Tempests, and Kings
Saturday, April 19, following the 2pm performance
Join Artistic Director Charles McMahon for a journey through the process of bringing Shakespeare's greatest characters to life, from imagination to opening night! Hear the stories behind productions such as Othello, Richard III, and The Comedy of Errors, and get the inside scoop on our 2008/09 season finale!

Othello
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Charles McMahon

The Cast
Anthony Lawton: Roderigo, Ensemble
Brian McCann: Brabantio, Montano, Ensemble
Mary McCool: Desdemona
Peter Pryor: Iago
Seth Reichgott: Lodovico, Duke, Ensemble
Sarah Sanford: Emilia, Bianca
Luigi Sottile: Cassio, Ensemble
Frank X: Othello

Designers
Meghan Jones: Set Designer
Millie Hiibel: Costume Designer
Janet Embree: Lighting Designer
Nick Rye: Sound Designer
J. Alex Cordaro: Fight Director

About the 2007/08 Season
The 2007/08 Season at the Lantern has seen the highest attendance in company history. The main stage season featured Martin McDonagh's The Lonesome West, Moliere's The School for Wives, and David Hare's Skylight, all of which were extended due to critical and popular demand. The Lantern also presented The Screwtape Letters, based on the novel by C.S. Lewis, adapted by and starring Anthony Lawton, for a sold-out, limited engagement run.

For tickets and information, please contact the Lantern Theater Company box office at 215.829.0395 or visit us online at www.lanterntheater.org.

About the Lantern
Founded in 1994 by Charles McMahon and Michael Brophy, Lantern Theater Company has emerged as one of the most successful professional theaters in the Philadelphia region. Lantern Theater Company is committed to an authentic and intimate exploration of the human spirit in its choice of classic, modern and original works. The Lantern commits itself to being a vibrant, contributing member of its community. To that end, each season the Lantern produces four main stage productions, a variety of special events, and Illumination, the Barrymore nominated education program designed to engage local students and adults alike in the world of theater and nurture their own artistic expression. This program reaches the Greater Philadelphia area in four vital ways: outreach in area schools, matinee performances for students, training teaching artists for after school programs, and our audience enrichment series of lectures, discussions, and symposia for each production of our season.

Lantern Theater Company has been in residence at St. Stephen's Theater at 10th & Ludlow Streets in Center City Philadelphia since 1996, managing the performance space and developing it into an affordable multi-purpose performing arts venue. Since the inception of Philadelphia's Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre in 1995, the Lantern has received 10 awards and 46 nominations, including nominations in 2006 and 2007 for the Excellence in Theatre Education and Community Service Award.

The 2007/08 season at Lantern Theater Company marks the company's 14th year of creating high-quality professional theater in Philadelphia.