On Fri June 9, Fri June 16 and Sat June 17, Tongue & Groove Spontaneous Theater celebrates 10 years of performing cutting edge unscripted theater by performing three special shows, and hosting an anniversary party. All shows are held at The PlayGround at The Adrienne Theater, 2030 Sansom St.. Tickets are $8 to $22 each at tongue-groove.com

THREE SHOWS:

FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 2017, 8:00PM - "Ten"

T&G asks the audience: What were you doing/who were you being 10 years ago?

FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2017, 8:00PM - “IN BED: the Founding Members Reunion Show!”

T&G founding members reunite to perform a version of the first format they created. T&G asks the audience: What was your most memorable moment in a bed? (Followed by a special post-show anniversary party.)

SATURDAY, JUNE 17, 5:00P - “SECRETS”

T&G asks the audience: What is a secret that you’re keeping, for yourself or someone else?

Inspired by intimate information anonymously submitted by the audience before each show, the acclaimed T&G ensemble instantly creates a montage of hilarious and heartbreaking scenes and monologues, accompanied by live improvised music. Trained in Actors’ Improv ™, and relying on artistic collaboration with the audience, the diverse group of actors create spontaneous theater that combines the dramatic integrity of playwriting with the playful tension of improv.

Artistic Director Bobbi Block states, “I’m thrilled that the founding members of T&G will reunite to perform a version of our very first show, “IN BED.” That show began with the audience picking a fortune cookie and reading us the fortune, to which we all replied ‘in bed!’ and then began the show in a bed with that fortune as inspiration for the scene. Since then, T&G has developed a form of theater that relies heavily on the audience’s generous sharing of personal details from their lives. They anonymously write the answers to our provocative prompts – we then pick cards randomly from a basket and use as many as possible in inform our performances. This is much more collaborative and communal than our one-cookie method!”

ANNIVERSARY PARTY LINE-UP:

Fri June 16: Party! Following the founding member performance that night, T&G is hosting a reception for the audience and current and past T&G members. Founding T&G member and Food Network and FX Network personality Adam Gertler will serve up his unique variety of DogHaus sausages, with veggie options and a special ‘Tongue & Groove Dog!’ Samba band Unidos da Filadelfia will perform, plus other guest musicians, turning the theater into a dance floor!

FOUNDING MEMBER RETURNS WITH ADAM GERTLER:

Philly theater audiences may remember T&G Founding Member Adam Gertler from his fabulous performance in Brat Production’s 24-Hour Bald Soprano (2007). Philly foodies may remember Adam for his restaurant The Smoked Joint, and his appearance on The Next Food Network Star. After working with Tongue & Groove for two years, Adam moved to LA to host the Food Network Show, Will Work for Food, and has gone on to host numerous other shows, including the current FX Movie Download. In addition to his performing career, Adam has teamed up with the restauranteurs of DogHaus to create gourmet sausages. Adam will perform in both the June 16 and 17 shows, and he’ll be cooking his delicious dogs for the party!

“The minute Bobbi put the word out to the founding members about a reunion show, I immediately said yes!, exclaims Adam, “I’m really looking forward to getting back on stage with everyone; doing improv with T&G gave me great skills for my career.”

MORE ABOUT CAST AND COMPANY:

Every founding member (but one) will return for the show: Fred Andersen, Bobbi Block, Beth Dougherty, Adam Gertler, Eoin O’Shea, Josh Rubinstein, Jordan Stalsworth, Carrie Spaulding.

Current T&G members are: Bobbi Block, Megan Bellwoar, Beth Dougherty, Tanesha Ford, Josh Holober-Ward, Matt Lydon, Ed Miller, Seth Reichgott, Fred Siegel, Carrie Spaulding, Joy Weir, and Carol Moog, musician.

HISTORY:

Since the founding of T&G in 2006, they have performed throughout Philadelphia introducing their unique style of theater to the community. T&G has appeared in nine Philly FringeArts Festivals, and is thrilled to have been invited to perform at the Kimmel Center for both the 2011 and 2013 PIFA Festivals. Since 2014, T&G has performed monthly on Second Fridays at The PlayGround at The Adrienne Theater. In addition, T&G is currently collaborating with InterAct Theater to perform throughout their season at The Drake Theater.

Over the past ten years, the company has developed fourteen shows in which the audience anonymously submits personal information catalyzed by a provocative question. This style began with the very popular show SECRETS, in which audience members share true secrets they keep.

The T&G ensemble is an intimate group of a dozen performers, ranging in demographics and age, from 23 – 70. T&G has collaborated with other artists, such as dancers and a chef, to further their mission of spontaneous creative explorations of the human condition.

IN THE NEWS:

“improv or not, this is great theater, acted with soul-baring sincerity, intelligence and humor. Go see this!” City Paper
“dazzling!” Phila Inquirer
“emotionally charged, hilarious… and fearless.” Phila Weekly
“will explode your expectations of what improv can be” Phawker
“the ensemble created beautiful scenes of sincerity and compassion… and also ridiculously hilarious!” DCMetro Theater Arts