Inis Nua Theatre Company Presents American Premiere of Long Live the Little Knife by David Leddy at Off Broad Street Theater, Philadelphia

Hot on the heels of winning five Barrymore awards, Inis Nua Theatre Company in Philadelphia returns with the American premiere of Long Live the Little Knife by David Leddy at the Off-Broad Street Theater (First Baptist Church, 1636 Sansom Street). This fast-paced and hilarious romp features con artists turned art forgers as they tangle with Russian oligarchs, brothels, castrated labradoodles and spirit mediums. Tickets are on sale for $25 and $30 by calling (215) 454-9776 or visiting http://inisnuatheatre.org.

Opening night is Friday, February 6 at 8:00pm, with previews on Wednesday, February 4 and Thursday, February 5 at 7:00pm. Knife runs for a total of 16 performances, through February 22, 2015. Leddy will also be in Philadelphia for a talk-back after the show on February 4, attend a post-show reception on February 5, and attend opening night reception on February 6. For shows on February 7, 12 and 13, patrons that try to sneak in with their best attempt at a forged ticket will get $3.00 off admission at the door and a chance to win a pair of tickets to the last show of the season, Penelope. 

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“Long Live the Little Knife adeptly picks up where Ciphers left off in October, but adds a sharp wit and higher stakes,” said Founder and Artistic Director Tom Reing. “Audiences will continue to question who and what they can trust – in life and on stage - as Inis Nua shares another simple, yet well told, story from across the ocean.”

Meet Liz and Jim, con artists turned art forgers. But are they from London or Glasgow? The players or the played? Or are they just actors? Set in an abandoned construction site turned artist studio, Knife is a fast-paced tale of swindling, dirty tricks and false identities. Husband and wife scammers set out to become the greatest art forgers in the world. What they gain—and what they lose—makes for a shocking, funny and oddly uplifting trip. The Guardian says, “You need to keep your wits about you, but you will still be taken in by this hugely enjoyable romp.”

The American premiere of Knife is directed by Reing and stars Corinna Burns (Curious Case of the Watson Intelligence by Azuka Theatre, 99 Breakups by Pig Iron Theatre Company) and Tim Dugan (Associate Artistic Director of Saratoga Shakespeare Co. appearing most recently as the title role in Macbeth, Frost/Nixon at New City Stage).  Noah Levine (stage managing includes Nellie/Nellie at Antigravity Theatre Project and Twilight Los Angeles, 1992 at the University of Pennsylvania) will serve as the stage manager.  The show has honorary producers of Jake and Joe Marini.

Lauren Tracy (production manager), Meghan Jones (set), Katherine Fritz (costumes), Andrew Cowles (lighting) and Aaron Oster (sound) will help transform the Off Broad Street Theater – stage AND seating area – into an industrial site where the line blurs between art and reality. Dust sheets, halogen lamps, real fake masterpieces and unexpected seating arrangements will help Inis Nua create a farce where life truly imitates art. Audience members will even heist their own limited edition, numbered masterpiece posing as the program.

Knife was born as a mini-commission for the Royal Shakespeare Company in the British Museum. It got such an overwhelming response that Leddy brought the characters back for a full-length escapade for the 2013 Edinburgh Festival Fringe where it sold out and received fifteen four star reviews.

Long Live the Little Knife opens on Friday, February 6 at 8:00pm, with previews on Wednesday, February 4 and Thursday, February 5 at 7:00pm. Knife runs for a total of 16 performances, through February 22, 2015. Tickets are on sale for $25 and $30 by calling (215) 454-9776 or visiting http://inisnuatheatre.org. The 2014/2015 season continues after Knife with Penelope by Enda Walsh April 8 to 26, 2015. For more information, and to join the conversation, please like Inis Nua Theatre Company on Facebook and follow @InisNuaTheatre on Twitter.

ABOUT DAVID LEDDY

Playwright David Leddy has been described as a ‘theatrical maverick’ with ‘propensity for fearless experiment’ by the Financial Times a ‘site-specific genius’ by The Scotsman and an Edinburgh Fringe Festival ‘institution’ by The Independent. He was also the first person in Scotland to complete a practice-based PhD in theatre and is much sought-after as a mentor and leader of masterclasses at prestigious institutions from the Nucleo de Dramaturgia in Brazil to Yale University in the USA.

ABOUT TOM REING, FOUNDER AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Reing has been directing theatre in Philadelphia since shortly after receiving his MA in Theatre from Villanova University. With Inis Nua, he has presented eight American premieres (Tadhg Stray Wandered In, Trad, Skin Deep, The Early Bird and Dublin by Lamplight, My Romantic History, Blink and Ciphers), as well as eleven Philadelphia premieres. Apart from Inis Nua, Tom has directed Eugene O’Brien’s Eden (Brat) and Brian Friel’s Molly Sweeney (Amaryllis). An accomplished educator, Reing has worked for the Abbey Theatre in Education and for Rainbow Arts in Belfast. He is the recipient of an Independence Fellowship in the Arts, a MidAtlantic Arts Fellowship and Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Playwriting Fellowship. He teaches theatre as an adjunct professor at various local universities. Tom received two Barrymore Awards for Outstanding Arts in Education for his past programs at InterAct Theatre.

ABOUT INIS NUA THEATRE COMPANY

Inis Nua’s mission is to produce contemporary, provocative plays from Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales which reflect those cultures’ new identities in today’s world.  Inis Nua also seeks to cultivate and produce contemporary, provocative work from American playwrights who deal with the Irish-American, Welsh-American, Scottish-American and Anglo-American experiences.

To date, Inis Nua has produced one world premiere, eight American premieres and eleven Philadelphia premieres. Inis Nua Theatre Company has been the recipient of grants from the Wyncote Foundation, the Independence Foundation, the Fels Fund, the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, and the Charlotte Cushman Foundation. Inis Nua Theatre has also had six playwrights, soon to be seven visit for their shows.