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From Arden Theater Company:
Arden Theatre Company continues their 30th anniversary season with the world premiere musical Touchtones with story by Michael Hollinger and Robert Maggio, book and lyrics by Hollinger and music by Maggio. Emmanuelle Delpech directs on the Arden’s Arcadia Stage at 40 N. Second St. in Philadelphia. Honorary Producers are Fred and Emily Anton.
Touchtones is a brand new musical comedy about love, sex and the fantasy at the other end of the line. It’s 1999, the cusp of a new millennium, and technology promises intimacy as well as anonymity. Christine and her fiancé Justin take a vow of chastity until they are married, but when Christine finds out Justin has been calling Touchtones she decides to harbor a few secrets of her own.
Touchtones is written by the local team of playwright Michael Hollinger (story, book and lyrics), and musician and composer Robert Maggio (story and music.) The Arden has enjoyed an ongoing collaboration with Hollinger that has yielded nine world premieres including Under the Skin; Opus;Ghost-Writer; Tooth and Claw; Red Herring; Tiny Island; Incorruptible and An Empty Plate in the Café du Grand Boeuf. Touchtones is the first of Hollinger’s musicals the Arden will produce.
Arden Producing Artistic Director Terrence J. Nolen says, “How fitting it is for the Arden to produce a Hollinger work during our 30th Anniversary Season. Michael is a treasured Arden collaborator and – outside of Sondheim – is the most produced playwright in Arden history.”
He adds, “The Arden is also a long-time producer of new works and audacious musicals, and so we are especially thrilled to produce our first Hollinger musical and to work for the first time with local composer Robert Maggio.”
Touchtones was developed through The Independence Foundation’s New Musical Theatre Works Initiative, which funded two workshop productions of Touchtones. The same initiative helped to develop the Barrymore Award-nominated musical, The Light Princess, at the Arden last season.
Says Nolen, “As always we are grateful to the Independence Foundation for their support, without which we could not do the work we do.”
Single ticket prices are $37-$52, with discounts available for groups of 15 or more, seniors, students, military, and educators. Call the Arden Box Office at 215.922.1122, visitwww.ardentheatre.org or visit the box office at 40 N. 2nd Street in Old City, Philadelphia.
Special events and performances
Opening Night is Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017 at 7pm. The opening night sponsor is Harmelin Media.
Post-show discussions will be held following performances on Thursday, Nov. 2 at 7pm; Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 6:30pm; Sunday, Nov. 12 at 2pm; Wednesday, Nov. 15 at 6:30pm, and Sunday, Nov. 26 at 2pm.
The Arden is wheelchair accessible and provides assisted listening devices and large-print programs at every performance. Open Captioned and Audio Described performances will take place on Friday, Nov. 17 at 8pm and Saturday, Nov. 18 at 2pm. Reservations are required for accessible seating and may be made by calling the Arden’s Box Office a t215.922.1122.
