InterAct Theatre Company at The Proscenium Theatre
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
InterAct Theatre Company offers high-quality, thought-provoking theatrical productions featuring emerging playwrights and actors, often with clever sets and strong acting. However, for parents specifically, there are significant concerns: plays advertised as 'family-friendly' may not be suitable for children due to complex themes, long durations without intermissions, and reports of inappropriate actor behavior. The company also faces serious accusations regarding casting choices and political stances, which some families may find problematic.
Key Highlights
- ✓Offers excellent production quality with strong acting and clever set designs.
- ✓Features interesting plays by up-and-coming playwrights and actors.
- ✓Provides an intimate theatrical experience (at venues like The Drake, which was described as small and intimate).
- ✓Plays can be intellectually stimulating and offer educational value, particularly for older audiences (e.g., learning about Frederick Douglass and John Brown).
Standout Features
- ⭐High artistic quality in acting and overall production elements.
- ⭐Opportunity to experience new and emerging theatrical talent and works.
- ⭐Plays can be intellectually stimulating and educational, particularly for older audiences interested in historical or complex themes.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Do not rely solely on 'family-friendly' labels; thoroughly research the specific play's content, themes, and runtime (especially regarding intermissions) before bringing children.
- →Consider attending a performance without young children first to gauge its suitability for your family, or seek out reviews specific to the current production.
- →Parents concerned about the company's ethical or political stances should conduct further research into the accusations regarding casting decisions or public statements.
- →Be aware that some productions may be long monologues without breaks, which can be challenging for children.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Plays advertised as 'suitable for the whole family' may not be digestible or understandable for children, featuring overly complex or mature themes.
- ⚠Productions can be lengthy (e.g., 2-hour monologue) with no intermission, which is unsuitable for younger audiences' attention spans.
- ⚠Reports of actors exhibiting rude or angry behavior towards audience members, including children, causing emotional distress.
- ⚠Serious accusations regarding casting choices and perceived controversial political/social stances (specifically antisemitism) may be a significant concern for families seeking an inclusive or ethically aligned entertainment option.
Price & Value
No specific pricing information is mentioned in the reviews. The value appears to be high for adult audiences seeking quality, challenging theatre, but potentially poor for families with young children given reported suitability issues and negative experiences.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accessibility accommodations are mentioned in the reviews. One reviewer mentioned a performance at 'The Drake' venue being 'small and intimate', but no details on physical accessibility were provided.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •No information regarding food and drink policy is available in the reviews.
🚗Parking Info
- •No information regarding parking availability or costs is mentioned in the reviews.
👥Crowd Levels
- •One reviewer described 'The Drake' venue as 'small and intimate', which might suggest a generally less crowded environment compared to larger theaters. No general crowd level information for other venues or typical performance times is available.
🛡️Safety Features
- •No specific safety features are mentioned in the reviews. However, concerns were raised about actor conduct towards audience members, which is relevant to a family's comfort and safety perception.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Families with young children, especially for productions that lack explicit, positive reviews from other parents regarding child-appropriateness.
- • If you are seeking traditional, lighthearted children's entertainment with simple plots and clear intermissions.
- • If you or your family are sensitive to long, uninterrupted performances.
- • If you are concerned about controversies related to casting decisions or potential inappropriate actor conduct towards the audience.
Pricing/Package/Events
Pricing & Packages
General Season Subscription
$100Subscription for the season
Includes:
- •3 Flex tickets
- •1 Buddy Pass
- •20% off additional tickets
- •Priority access to dates
- •No fees
Student / Industry Subscription
$55Subscription for students and industry professionals for the season
Includes:
- •3 Flex tickets
- •1 Buddy Pass
- •20% off additional tickets
- •Priority access to dates
- •No fees
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
WALDEN by Amy Berryman
October 31 - November 23
$40 General, $20 Student/Industry
Philly Premiere! Run Time: 1 Hr 30 Min. A NASA botanist returns from a Moon mission to her estranged twin sister, a former NASA architect, who has found a new life with her Earth Advocate fiancé. They grapple with whether saving Earth is possible or if colonizing another planet is the answer.
WALDEN: Free Ice Cream Previews
October 31 - November 5
Included with Preview ticket
Grab Ice Cream at concessions before the show.
WALDEN: Young Friends Night
October 31
WALDEN: Speaker Saturdays
November 8, 15, 22 (after 3pm non-preview matinees)
Included with ticket
Join Literary Manager Chaz T. Martin with an expert speaker in a moderated conversation digging into the themes of WALDEN.
WALDEN: Speaker Sundays
November 9, 16, 23 (after 2pm non-preview matinees)
Included with ticket
Join Producing Artistic Director Seth Rozin with an expert speaker in a moderated conversation digging into the themes of WALDEN.
WALDEN: Audience Discussions
November 12, November 13, November 19, November 20 (after every Wednesday and Thursday non-preview 7pm performance)
Included with ticket
Facilitated by Seth Rozin.
PLANTATION BLACK by Phaedra Michelle Scott
February 6 - March 1
$40 General, $20 Student/Industry
World Premiere! Two contemporary families, one white and one Black, descended from the same Civil War era plantation, confront murky heirship. Innovative structure: a cast member spins a wheel before each performance to randomly select the starting point of the story.
SENG’S HAIR SALON by Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay
April 17 - May 10
$40 General, $20 Student/Industry
World Premiere, commissioned as part of the Philly Cycle! Three generations of a Lao family in South Philly clash over family well-being amidst a mysterious epidemic and shifting cultural political scenes. Developed in partnership with Laos in the House, VietLead and the Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia.
🍎Food Policy
- • Scoop Deville Ice Cream available at concessions.
- • Free Ice Cream provided during Preview performances.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • InterAct's COVID Policies: Currently mask optional.
- • COVID safety performance on a select date (click for more details).
- • COVID safety nights: Reduced capacity at 60%. Patrons instructed to sit with their party only and leave at least one seat between each party. Both patrons and Staff will be required to wear masks in the lobby and the house.
📅Booking Policy
- • For Season 2025/26, all performances are the same ticket price.
- • Free exchanges are available for all patrons up to 24 hours before the performance.
- • Paperless ticketing: Ticket confirmation is sent via email upon ordering. Check-in by name at the box office.
Recent Reviews
BR H
2 months agoExcellent production and clever set!
r.j. Pinkerton
6 years agoReally interesting plays by up & coming playwrites & actors. If you like the theater this is the place for you!
Ashley Davis
8 months agoThey have no issue casting antisemites to play Jewish characters, including those who tear down posters commemorating Americans killed by designated foreign terrorist groups and those who peddle the nearly century-old trope that Jews control Hollywood. I’d rather watch a movie on cable tv with a commercial every 5 minutes than patronize such a business.
Luis Manuel
5 years agoYesterday 12/28 I went to see the work "A Christmas Carol" and what a tremendous disappointment it was, since it was sold as suitable for the whole family. However, the subject is not digestible or understandable for children. What struck me most was that at the end of the play the actor came down from the stage with a lot of anger and drew attention in a bad way to a girl who was less than 15 years old, regardless of the emotional damage that can cause her. I do not recommend that families come and watch this play. It was a 2 hour monologue with no intermission with a rude actor who had no respect for the audience. 👎👎👎
Barbara Braxton
5 years agoI attended a reading of the play "Splendid Error" @ The Drake during Philadelphia Theater Week. I had a throughly enjoyable evening. The venue is small and intimate. The play had great dialogue, was well acted and I learned more about the relationship between Frederick Douglass and John Brown.
Contact Information
Theatre at The Drake, 302 S Hicks St, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
View on Google Maps