Philadelphia Premiere of Alabama Story by Kenneth Jones at The Old Academy Players

Philadelphia, PA — As part of its 2024-2025 Season, The Old Academy Players is proud to present the Philadelphia Premiere of Alabama Story by American playwright (and Delaware County native) Kenneth Jones. The Old Academy Players’ 542nd production will run September 13-29, 2024; with Friday and Saturday performances at 8:00 pm and two Sunday matinees, September 22nd and 29th at 2:00 pm. It is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc.

Alabama Story was given its first major reading in May 2013 as part of the Southern Writers’ Project at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. After additional readings in Salt Lake City and New York City, Alabama Story welcomed its world premiere at Pioneer Theatre Company, Salt Lake City, UT, January 9–24, 2015, and received enthusiastic reviews.

“…a crowd-pleasing and imaginatively theatrical comedy-drama…at a time when intolerance is on the upswing and empathy is under siege, Alabama Story is just the play we need.” —St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

“Alabama Story explores thorny racial issues with smarts and sensitivity.” —DC Metro Weekly.

“A disarmingly engaging drama…thoughtfully written…nuanced…well-layered…” —Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Synopsis: As the Civil Rights movement is brewing, a controversial children’s book about a black rabbit marrying a white rabbit stirs the passions of a segregationist State Senator and a no-nonsense State Librarian in 1959 Montgomery, Alabama. A contrasting story of childhood friends—an African American man and a woman of white privilege, reunited in adulthood—provides private counterpoint to the public events swirling in the state capital. Political foes, star-crossed lovers, and one feisty children’s author inhabit the same page in a Deep South of the imagination that brims with humor, heartbreak, and hope. Inspired by true events!

The stellar cast includes: Lorraine Barrett as Emily Wheelock Reed, Clint Cleaver as Bobby Crone, Nicole Gerenyi as Lily Whitfield, Marc Johnson as Joshua Moore, Mort Paterson as Senator E. W. Higgins, Connor Patrick as Thomas Franklin, Douglas Tague as Garth Williams, Robert Toczek as Henry Branch/Passersby, and Mike Zaleski as Hershel Webb.

Carla Childs directs this Philadelphia Premiere of Alabama Story. The production team includes Vanessa Ballard, Helga Krauss, Alyssia Sims, Sarah Swearer, Karen Taylor-Young, Dale Mezzacappa, Judy Van Buskirk, Mary Jane Fullam, Renee Theis, Mohammad Islam, Phoenix Levine, and Jesse Friedman.

Ticket prices are: $25 per adult; $15 for Students under 25 with valid ID; group rate (15 or more) $21 each. Tickets can be purchased online at www.OldAcademyPlayers.org. Reservations and more information can be obtained by calling the Box Office at 215-843-1109. Old Academy Players is located at 3544 Indian Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129. Parking for all performances is free.

The Old Academy Players has provided continuous community theater entertainment since 1923 and is a non-profit community theater in the East Falls neighborhood of Philadelphia. Constructed in 1819, the Old Academy building has been the OAP home since 1932. Old Academy Players is a member of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance. Most notable alumni include Tony Award-nominated actor Robert Prosky and Hollywood icon, Grace Kelly. Support is provided by the Philadelphia Cultural Fund.