FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 3, 2012

For one week only Lantern Theater Company will present reprise performances of The Great Divorce, Anthony Lawton's popular adaptation of the C.S. Lewis work. A Philadelphia-based theater artist, Lawton has received widespread critical and public acclaim for this one-man show, described as "passionate acting combined with riveting storytelling" by The Philadelphia Inquirer and "unmissable" by Philadelphia City Paper.

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

The Great Divorce opens Tuesday, Feb. 7 and runs through Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012 (press opening: Feb. 7, 8:00 p.m.). [A full performance schedule follows below.] Tickets are $35 for general admission or $40 for premium seating and are available online at 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 seniors and groups of 10 or more. Lantern Theater Company is located at St. Stephen's Theater, 10th & Ludlow Streets in Center City Philadelphia.

"I first worked with Tony in 1997 on a production of Shakespeare's All's Well That 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. His 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 the 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 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.

2011/12 Season
Lantern Theater Company continues its 2011/12 season with William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, directed by Charles McMahon (March 1 - April 1, 2012); and The Island, written by Athol Fugard, John Kani, and Winston Ntshona, and directed by Peter DeLaurier (May 17 - June 10, 2012).

Performances:
Tue, 2/7 at 8:00 p.m. (Opening Night)
Wed, 2/8 at 2:00 p.m.
Wed, 2/8 at 8:00 p.m.
Thu, 2/9 at 8:00 p.m.
Sat, 2/11 at 8:00 p.m.
Sun, 2/12 at 1:00 p.m.
Sun, 2/12 at 5:00 p.m.

The Great Divorce
By C.S. Lewis, Adapted and Performed by Anthony Lawton
February 7-12, 2012
No previews
Opening night is Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 8:00 p.m.

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

Prices:
Adults: General Seating: $35/ Premium Seating: $40
Seniors: General Seating: $32/ Premium Seating: $37
Students: General Seating: $25/ Premium Seating: $30

Premium Seating:
When the house opens 30 minutes before showtime, these ticket holders will be invited to enter the theater first to select their seat before general admission patrons.

Tickets:
Phone: (215) 829-0395
Online: www.lanterntheater.org