According to 1812 notes, "The Karma Cookie tells the hilarious tale of two brothers whose lives are inexplicably taken over by the fortunes they get in fortune cookies. Together they cover the globe on a seat-of-their-pants journey for enlightenment, never knowing what new challenges the cookies may bring. All bets are off when the lives of this filial pair are commandeered by the forces of nature, the winds of change, the will of the Gods — and the little white paper fortunes they get in fortune cookies. Each cookie opened and each fortune read takes the brothers to a whole new adventure full of questions, challenges, and cream pies to the face. But when they reach the big 'WHY' behind it all, no one is more surprised than they are."
The Karma Cookie features Philadelphia performers Anthony Lawton and Jered McLenigan, directed by 1812 co-founder Pete Pryor.
Opening is March 11. Performances continue to March 29 at The Adrienne Theatre, 2030 Sansom Street.
Director Pryor stated, "The Karma Cookie is a wonderful new play filled with ridiculous sibling rivalry and magical realism. P. Seth Bauer has such an amazing sense of what comedy is that it nearly beams off the page. The first time I read the script I was laughing aloud from beginning to end. Not to mention being moved in completely unexpected ways by these beautiful and complicated brothers."
Jennifer Childs, 1812 Productions' artistic director, says of the play, "The Karma Cookie is the third world premiere of our season and is a part of our Independence Foundation Series — a performance series that features new work by Philadelphia artists. Producing new work and specifically the work of Philadelphia artists is an important part of 1812's programming and is all the more important given the current state of American non-profits and arts producers. As we all persevere through this economy, I believe it is paramount to continue to support new and energetic work by emerging theatre artists." Lawton (Barry) has acted in Philadelphia for 16 years. Favorite roles include George in Of Mice and Men (Walnut); Austin in True West and Feste in Twelfth Night (Lantern); "man" in Brief Interviews with Hideous Men (1812); and The Devil and Billy Markham, The Great Divorce and The Screwtape Letters. His original play, The Foocy (2005), received five Barrymore nominations, including one for Best New Play.
McLenigan (Alistair) most recently appeared in It's a Wonderful Life—A Live Radio Play at The Prince, Bloom's Fork for Greg Giovanni’s Big Messy Retrofest and in Tom Stoppard's Rock 'n' Roll at the Wilma Theater. He was Barrymore nominated for his work in The Elephant Man (Iron Age Theatre, Outstanding Leading Actor), The Pillowman (Wilma Theater, Outstanding Ensemble, Outstanding Overall Production), Terra Nova (Iron Age Theatre, Outstanding Ensemble).
Bauer (playwright) collaborated with Pete Pryor on his Beautiful Boy. His plays include Early in the Morning, Over the Line, Iphigenia, The Umbrella Play, The Burglar of Suburbia and numerous one-acts. His work has been seen throughout the country and in Europe and his plays have been published by Dramatists Play Service, Samuel French, Smith & Krause among others. He teaches playwriting at Temple University. His next work is Dahlia, a commissioned play from the grandson of the accused murderer as depicted in "The Black Dahlia Avenger."
Tickets range from $17-$35 and are available by calling (215) 592-9560 visiting www.1812productions.org.
