FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 17, 2010

Lantern Theater Company will present Between Heaven and Hell: The Anthony Lawton Festival from Friday, December 3 - Sunday, December 19, offering an alternative to traditional holiday theater with works about spiritual life intended for all audiences - secular or religious. The three-week festival marks the first time Philadelphia-based actor and playwright Anthony Lawton's C.S. Lewis and Shel Silverstein adaptations and his original play have been presented in repertory.

The festival will showcase Lawton in solo performances of three plays, opening with the critically acclaimed The Great Divorce (Dec. 3-19), C.S. Lewis' own favorite among his works. Philadelphia City Paper called Lawton's adaptation "unmissable, and a celebration of the very happy marriage between Tony Lawton and Lantern Theater [Company]."

The festival continues with The Devil and Billy Markham (Dec. 8, 11, and 15), written entirely in rhyming couplets by Shel Silverstein, and Lawton's autobiographical play, Heresy (Dec. 14, 15, and 18). "In the best tradition of one-man shows, Lawton … quickly makes us forget that he is only one man," says The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The Festival will be held at Lantern Theater Company, located at St. Stephen's Theater at 10th & Ludlow Streets in Philadelphia. Tickets are $25-$35; $10 student rush tickets are available 10 minutes before curtain with valid ID; cash only; additional discounts are available for subscribers, seniors, and groups of 10 or more. Tickets are available online at www.lanterntheater.org or by calling the Lantern Box Office at (215) 829-0395. [A full schedule of festival performances and play descriptions follows below.]

"I first worked with Tony in 1997 on a production of Shakespeare's All's Well the Ends Well, and since that time he has been one of the most important artistic partners for Lantern Theater Company and for me personally," says the Lantern's Artistic Director, Charles McMahon. "A big part of what makes theater worthwhile is that we get to discuss very interesting ideas with very interesting people, and then find creative and compelling ways to put those ideas on stage. Tony's whole approach to theater and storytelling is to enliven the mind and heart. The work is sometimes funny and sometimes challenging and it always makes you leave the theater feeling more expansive and alive than you felt when you came in. The Lantern is dedicated to an authentic and intimate exploration of mysteries of the human spirit, and Tony's work is right in line with that."

Lawton has acted professionally since 1992 and has appeared on many stages throughout the Philadelphia region, including at the Lantern in productions such as The Lonesome West, Othello, and The Screwtape Letters, among others.

In 1998, Lawton founded the Mirror Theatre Company, which performs solo and small-cast plays. The mission of the Mirror is "Spiritual Theatre for a Secular Audience." Lawton says he sees his plays as "part of an ongoing dialogue with the audience - a dialogue in which we discuss and consider that which is (or isn't!) Eternal in us."

In discussing his inspiration for this mission, Lawton says, "When I first started studying acting, I realized that the impulse was an entirely selfish one. I was interested in attention and accolades. I wanted to offer something to audiences - to address spiritual concerns, and to foster a dialogue between orthodox and unorthodox audience members."

Between Heaven and Hell: The Anthony Lawton Festival
Friday, December 3 - Sunday, December 19
This three-play festival celebrates the work of Philadelphia actor and playwright Anthony Lawton.

The Great Divorce
Based on the Novel by C.S. Lewis
Adapted and Performed by Anthony Lawton
Friday, December 3 - Sunday, December 19
(press night: Dec. 3, 8:00 p.m.)

C.S. Lewis' own favorite among his works, The Great Divorce tells the satirical and comic story of hapless professor Clive and the motley band of malcontents who join him on a very curious bus ride. Journeying between Heaven and Hell, Clive crosses a wildly inventive landscape filled with dazzling language and surprising insight.

The Devil and Billy Markham
By Shel Silverstein
Performed by Anthony Lawton
Wednesday, December 8; Saturday, December 11; Wednesday December 15
(press night: Dec. 8, 7:00 p.m.)

Written entirely in rhyming couplets and punctuated with blues and country music, this raucous and raunchy play follows songwriter, good ol' boy, and ne'er-do-well Billy and his betting misadventures with the Devil. This play includes themes of sacrifice and redemption and is unapologetically and joyously profane. Parental guidance advised for audience members under 17.

Heresy
Written and Performed by Anthony Lawton
Tuesday, December 14; Wednesday, December 15; Saturday, December 18
(press night: Dec. 14, 9:30 p.m.)

Heresy is a probing, comic, autobiographical solo play in which Lawton wrestles with the value of religion. Where is the line between faith and superstition? Why are so many Christians so un-Christian? What is the difference between faith that heals and faith that destroys? This play contains profanity, frank discussions of sex, and ideas that some may consider to be blasphemous. Children under 17 not admitted.

Where:
Lantern Theater Company
At St. Stephen's Theater
10th & Ludlow Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Admission:
Tickets are $25-$35 and are available online at www.lanterntheater.org or by calling the Lantern Box Office at (215) 829-0395. $10 student rush tickets are available 10 minutes before curtain with valid ID; cash only. Additional discounts are available for subscribers, seniors, and groups of 10 or more.

Information:
(215) 829-0395 or visit www.lanterntheater.org

Running Time:
All plays are approximately 90 minutes with no intermission.

Festival Performance Schedule
Friday, Dec. 3 at 8:00pm - The Great Divorce, Opening
Saturday, Dec. 4 at 8:00pm - The Great Divorce
Sunday, Dec. 5 at 2:00pm - The Great Divorce, Post-Show Discussion*
Wednesday, Dec. 8 at 7:00pm - The Devil and Billy Markham, Post-Show Discussion*
Thursday, Dec. 9 at 7:00pm - The Great Divorce
Friday, Dec. 10 at 8:00pm - The Great Divorce
Saturday, Dec. 11 at 8:00pm - The Great Divorce
Saturday, Dec. 11 at 10:30pm - The Devil and Billy Markham
Sunday, Dec. 12 at 2:00pm - The Great Divorce
Tuesday, Dec. 14 at 7:00 pm - Heresy, Post-Show Discussion*
Wednesday, Dec. 15 at 7:00pm - Heresy
Wednesday, Dec. 15 at 9:30pm - The Devil and Billy Markham
Thursday, Dec. 16 at 7:00pm - The Great Divorce
Friday, Dec. 17 at 8:00pm - The Great Divorce
Saturday, Dec. 18 at 8:00pm - The Great Divorce
Saturday, Dec. 18 at 10:30pm - Heresy
Sunday, Dec. 19 at 2:00pm - The Great Divorce, Closing

*Post-Show Discussion with Anthony Lawton, moderated by Lantern Associate Artistic Director Kathryn MacMillan

2010/11 Season
Lantern Theater Company will continue its 2010/11 season with A Skull in Connemara by Martin McDonagh (January 13 - February 6, 2011), A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare (March 10 - April 10, 2011), and Vigil by Morris Panych (May 19 - June 12, 2011).

Lantern Theater Company thanks its 2010/11 season corporate partners at Marathon Grill, La Fourno Ristorante Trattoria, and Dunkin' Donuts, and its community partners at St. Stephen's Church.