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.@KimmelCenter Theater Residency Artist @MissMollyPope performs world premiere of witty and charming musical Polly Mope at the @KimmelCenter ‘s SEI Innovation Studio on 5/9-5/11. More info @ kimmelcenter.org
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Lauren Woodard
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LWoodard@kimmelcenter.org
Jessica Christopher
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ACCLAIMED ACTRESS MOLLY POPE
STARS IN WORLD PREMIERE OF POLLY MOPE,
AN INTIMATE PORTRAIT OF HER PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
WITH MANIC BIPOLAR II
MAY 9-11 ON THE KIMMEL CENTER CULTURAL CAMPUS
Polly Mope was developed as part of Pope’s time as a
2017 Kimmel Center Theater Resident
“One of downtown cabaret’s most adventurous performers…” – The New York Times
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Philadelphia, PA, April 4, 2019) – The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts is thrilled to present the world premiere of the witty, comedically-candid musical, Polly Mope in the Kimmel Center’s SEI Innovation Studio, Thursday, May 9 – 11, 2019. Born out of Molly Pope’s time as a Kimmel Center Theater Residency artist in 2017, Molly tackles the question “How Do You Get through the Night?” in this equally comedic and dramatic one-woman-show, which tells an intimate and poignant story about coping with humanity, mental health, and keeping yourself company. Pope will be backed by a live band.
“Our Kimmel Center Theater Residency serves as an incubator for innovative performance development, while challenging artists on both professional and personal levels,” said Anne Ewers, President and CEO of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. “Polly Mope illustrates this program’s vision, as Molly pushes both artistic and personal boundaries, pulling audience members into her world, wrapping them within this bewitching and yet private musical production.”
“The least I can do is to be as open and frank as possible about my experience being manic bipolar II,” said Molly Pope. “Too many people living with mental illness, of any kind, are not able to do that, for innumerable reasons. It’s about fighting the stigma with songs and jokes and a refusal to be ashamed.”
Pope is a critically-acclaimed cabarettist whose shows have played Joe’s Pub, Feinstein’s/54 Below, Feinstein’s at the Regency, Ars Nova, The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, OBERON (A.R.T.), Teatro ZinZanni (Joe's Pub Seattle), and the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in Australia. Hailed as “One of downtown cabaret's most adventurous performers" by The New York Times, she is the recipient of both the 2016 Bistro Award for Creative Cabaret Artistry and the 2016 MAC Award for Musical Comedy. She has been named a Time Out New York “Top Ten Cabaret Act of 2008” and 2012 and a Village Voice Best of NYC 2011 for “Best Singer To Turn Life Into A Cabaret.”
Polly Mope was conceived during the artist's time as a Kimmel Center Theater Residency artist in June 2017 with her collaborator Matt Aument.
The Kimmel Center has proudly produced various full-length works born out of its Theater Residency, a 2-week annual intensive inviting artists to gather and create new works on the Kimmel Center Cultural Campus, in partnership with Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater. Entering its sixth season in June 2019, these works include: Mary Tuonomen’s Hello! Sadness!; Jamie Leonhart’s Estuary; Ethan Lipton’s The Outer Space, which then played at The Public Theater in New York City; Deb Margolin’s 8 Stops; Dito Van Reigersberg’s Martha Graham Cracker production of Lashed But Not Leashed; Courtnee Roze’s The Culture; Martha Stuckey’s Due to the Sensitive Nature; Daniel Alexander Jones’ BLACK LIGHT; and David Sweeny’s Johnny Showcase alter-ego in The Johnny Shortcake Show. The Theater Residency program is generously supported by Linda and David Glickstein.
Other featured upcoming performances at the Kimmel Center Cultural Campus include: PHILADANCO: Dance Philly Style (April 12-14, 2019, Perelman Theater), DIVA Jazz Orchestra (April 27, 2019, Perelman Theater), The Illusionists – Live From Broadway (May 10-11, 2019, Merriam Theater), and Rennie Harris: Funkedified (June 7-8, 2019, Merriam Theater).
Polly Mope
SEI Innovation Studio
May 9, 2019, 8:00 p.m.
May 10, 2019, 8:00 p.m.
May 11, 2019, 8:00 p.m.
Tickets
Tickets are on sale now starting at $25. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online at www.kimmelculturalcampus.org, or at the Kimmel Center Box Office. Group sales are available for groups of 10 or more and can be purchased by calling 215-790-5883. See www.kimmelculturalcampus.org for more information.
This is a designated BYO performances. Acceptable forms of BYO are 6-pack of beer and/or 750ml bottles of wine only; no liquor or open containers are permitted. Limit of one (1) 750ml bottle of wine OR one (1) six-pack of beer per two guests. Corkscrews and rolling coolers are not permitted. Ice, cups and corking service available at venue at no cost. All BYO Night guests are subject to lawful ID checks and bag checks at the manager’s discretion.
The Kimmel Center Cultural Campus
Located in the heart of Center City, Philadelphia, our mission is to engage the region’s diverse communities with art through performance and education. Our Cultural Campus serves more than 1 million guests per year and includes the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, the Academy of Music, and the Merriam Theater- representing more than 160 years of rich history for the performing arts along Philadelphia’s Avenue of the Arts. We are home to eight esteemed Resident Companies: The Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Ballet, The Philly POPS, PHILADANCO, The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, and Curtis Institute of Music. With nearly 9,000 seats per night, we are the region’s most impactful performing arts center, and the second largest in the country. Our Cultural Campus serves as a preeminent and inclusive place to enjoy exceptional experiences that reflect the spirit of our region by cultivating a creative and socially-responsible environment where our community shares experiences that are delivered with pride, integrity, and respect. As a 501 c 3 nonprofit organization, we collaborate on, present, and produce a broad range of relevant and meaningful events, we serve as an active gathering space for social and community events, we educate the region’s young people through access to quality arts experiences, and we provide support to artists in the creation of new work. TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is our proud sponsor of the Kimmel Center’s 2018-2019 Season. American Airlines is the official airline of Broadway Philadelphia. For additional information, visit www.kimmelculturalcampus.org.
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