InterAct Theatre Company
InterAct Theatre Company 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.
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."[1]
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 Pennsylvania. 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 remained located until 2016. "The Adrienne," the former home of The Wilma Theater, has been the home of many renowned productions. The 2012/2013 season marked InterAct's 25th Anniversary. The company has produced 83 main stage productions, including 37 world premieres, 2 U.S. premieres and over 38 Philadelphia premieres, in all providing employment for more than 650 local artists.[2] They have commissioned new plays from playwrights such as Lee Blessing and Thomas Gibbons. At the beginning of the 2016 season, InterAct moved into a newly-renovated, two-theater facility at The Drake, 1512 Spruce Street, Philadelphia.[3]
Awards
- 2014 Barrymore Awards, Outstanding Production of a Play for "Down Past Passyunk"
- 2014 Barrymore Awards, Outstanding New Play for "Down Past Passyunk" by A. Zell Williams
- 2014 Barrymore Awards, Outstanding Actress in a Play, Alice Gatling FOR "Gidion's Knot"
- 2012 Rosetta LeNoire Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Universality of the Human Experience in the American Theater, from Actor's Equity Association
- 2010 Barrymore Awards, Virginia Brown Martin Award for "Black Pearl Sings!" by Frank Higgins, Directed by Seth Rozin
- 2010 Barrymore Awards, Excellence in Movement/Choreography for "The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity" by Kristoffer Diaz, Directed by Seth Rozin
- 2007 Barrymore Awards, 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 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 Horovitz, 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 Paper, 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