Azuka will begin its tenth anniversary season as the company in residence at Drexel University, producing the first show of the season there as well as conducting a series of workshops with Drexel students. The season also features new play readings, happy hour events and the first gala benefit.

Azuka Theatre's season begins with Paula Vogel's The Long Christmas Ride Home — a family drama that combines storytelling, music and puppetry — under the direction of by Aaron Cromie, Oct. 30–Nov. 15 at The Mandell Theater, 33rd and Chestnut Streets.

The production features Keith Conallen, Charlie Del Marcelle, Amanda Grove, Allison Heishman, Janice Rowland and Seth Reichgott with students from Drexel University. Azuka Theatre will stage Nerve by Adam Szymkowicz, directed by Kevin Glaccum, April 8-May 2, 2010, at the Latvian Society. The Philly premiere is billed as "a dark comedy about the perils of on-line dating and falling in love too quickly. Elliot and Susan had been doing just fine chatting on line, but their first meeting is fraught with expectations and unexpected revelations. Interior monologues told via dance and puppetry…"

For information about the plays and programs of Azuka, call (215) 733-0255 ext. 1 or visit www.azukatheatre.org.

* Azuka Theatre was founded in 1999 by group of artists participating in the Arden Theatre Company's nationally recognized Professional Apprentice Program. Azuka Theatre quickly built a reputation for accessible, thought-provoking and socially minded theatre. Over the past nine seasons, Azuka Theatre has produced 18 plays, including seven world premiers, received a Lambda Award from The Philadelphia Gay News and been nominated for multiple Barrymore Awards, winning last year for Best Actress in a Musical: Kim Carson in Hedwig and the Angry Inch