FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 13, 2010

Lantern Theater Company continues its 2009/10 season with the Philadelphia Premiere of The Breath of Life, a gripping story about intimacy and betrayal penned by influential British playwright David Hare. Previews begin February 4, opening night is February 10 at 7pm, and the closing performance is February 28, 2010.

Frances, a successful author, takes the late ferry to a remote cottage on the Isle of Wight to find Madeleine, a retired curator, near-recluse... and her ex-husband's mistress. Frances is chasing a story – the same story Madeleine might be running from. Eavesdrop on two witty, sexy women of a certain age as the night unfolds its secrets and they discover a shared past.

With The Breath of Life, the Lantern returns to the work of David Hare, author of the Lantern's 2008 Barrymore Award-winning production of Skylight. While Hare is often celebrated for his sprawling political plays, The Breath of Life reflects his recent interest in taut, personal plays that focus on character and storytelling. In the Lantern's small theater where actors and audience share the same intimate space, The Breath of Life becomes a voyeuristic pleasure as conflicts erupt and secrets are revealed.

"Among living authors, Hare is one of the best creators of roles for women," says Lantern Artistic Director Charles McMahon. "In fact, I think it's fair to say that throughout his career, his female characters have generally been a good deal more compelling than the men. This is a very rare thing in an age where the aspirational life of women and the conflicts therein have faded largely into the background as the landscape becomes increasingly dominated by a focus on relationships with men." In the case of The Breath of Life, Hare's female characters and their concerns are central without it being a marginal "women's interest" play.

Director Kathryn MacMillan, who also serves as the Lantern's Associate Artistic Director, says, "This project offers the extraordinary opportunity to work on a challenging, character-driven script with two of my favorite Philadelphia actresses. I can't wait to get into rehearsal." MacMillan's directing credits at the Lantern include Harold Pinter's The Hothouse (four 2009 Barrymore nominations, including Outstanding Production of a Play and Outstanding Direction of a Play), Moliere's The School for Wives, Peter Parnell's QED, and Henrik Ibsen's The Lady from the Sea. She is also founder of the Lantern's Barrymore Award-winning Illumination program, a freelance director and dramaturg, and an adjunct theater professor at West Chester University.

The cast features two strong local actresses in Ceal Phelan as Madeleine Palmer (three-time Barrymore nominee for Six Characters in Search of an Author, Have It Your Way, and My Mother Never Said I Should at People's Light, where she has served as a Company Member since 1980) and Cheryl Williams as Frances Beale (theater faculty member at Temple University making her Lantern debut; regional credits include Act II Playhouse, Mauckingbird Theatre Company, and Temple Theaters).

The creative team includes a team of accomplished local designers: set designer Dirk Durossette (2008 Barrymore nomination for Skylight at the Lantern; other Lantern credits include Hamlet and QED), costume designer Mark Mariani (Lantern credits include The Hothouse and the upcoming Henry IV, Part I; recently named "designer of the season" by The Berkshire Eagle; 2006 and 2003 Barrymore nominations for Dreamgirls and Pal Joey, respectively, at the Prince Music Theater), lighting designer Thom Weaver (Lantern debut; 2009 Barrymore nominations for Scorched at The Wilma Theater and American Buffalo at Theatre Exile), and sound designer Christopher Colucci (2009 Barrymore nomination for The Hothouse at the Lantern; other Lantern credits include Sizwe Bansi Is Dead, The School for Wives, and The Hothouse; 2008 Barrymore Award for Suburban Love Songs at 1812 Productions).

Lantern Theater Company: In Conversation offers an insider's look at The Breath of Life through discussions with the Lantern's theater artists, as well as special events designed to enhance the theatergoing experience. A full list of In Conversation Series events is included below.

Tickets are $20-$35 and are available online at www.lanterntheater.org or by phone at 215.829.0395. $10 student rush tickets are available ten minutes before curtain with valid ID; cash only. Date Night Flex Packages are also available through February 14 for Valentine's Day gift-giving, and include four flex passes, dining discounts at over 40 local restaurants, ticket exchange privileges, and more.

WHAT:
The Breath of Life
By David Hare
Directed by Kathryn MacMillan

WHERE:
Lantern Theater Company
At St. Stephen's Theater
10th & Ludlow Streets
Philadelphia, PA

WHEN:
Previews are February 4 -9, 2010
Opening Night is Wednesday, February 10 at 7pm
Closing performance is February 28, 2010
Full performance schedule available at www.lanterntheater.org/calendar/

PRESS:
Reviewing Press is invited to Opening Night on Wednesday, February 10 at 7pm. Other Press may arrange for tickets for the first week of production, February 11-14, 2010. To reserve, please contact Anne Shuff, Managing Director, at ashuff@lanterntheater.org or 215.829.9002 x101.

TICKETS:

• Visit www.lanterntheater.org or call 215.829.0395
• $20-$35 with discounts for students, seniors, and groups of 10 or more
• $10 student rush ten minutes before curtain with valid ID; cash only
• Date Night Flex Packages available through February 14 for Valentine's Day gift-giving: includes four flex passes, dining discounts at over 40 local restaurants, ticket exchange privileges, and more for $120-$128

CAST:
Ceal Phelan as Madeleine Palmer
Cheryl Williams as Frances Beale

CREATIVE TEAM:
Director – Kathryn MacMillan
Set Designer – Dirk Durossette
Costume Designer – Mark Mariani
Lighting Designer – Thom Weaver
Sound Designer – Christopher Collucci
Assistant Directors – M. Craig Getting and Rowen Haigh
Stage Manager – Rebecca Smith

LANTERN THEATER COMPANY: IN CONVERSATION
Press are cordially invited to the Lantern's In Conversation Series, which offers audiences an insider's look at each show with the artistic team and guest scholars. The Breath of Life events are as follows:

• Directors: In Conversation with The Breath of Life director Kathryn MacMillan; Friday, February 12 at 7pm (Lantern Lab; free to all ticket holders and press)
• Artists: In Conversation with The Breath of Life theater artists; Sunday, February 14, after the 2pm performance (Lantern Mainstage; free to all ticket holders and press)
• Pre-Curtain Cocktails with Lantern artists, staff, and fellow theatergoers; Friday, February 19 at 6pm (Marathon Grill, 10th & Walnut Streets; free to attend, happy hour specials)
• Artistic Director: In Conversation with Lantern Artistic Director Charles McMahon and Associate Artistic Director Kathryn MacMillan; Friday, February 26 at 7pm (Lantern Lab; free to all ticket holders and press)

Lantern Theater Company thanks its 2009/10 season media partners: The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News, and Philly.com. Thanks also to our 2009/10 season corporate partners: Marathon Grill, La Fourno Ristorante Trattoria, Starbucks, and Bonte's Café.

Interviews are available upon request to Anne Shuff, Managing Director, at ashuff@lanterntheater.org or 215.829.9002 x101. Advance photography will be available on or about January 27.