Media, PA – Commonwealth Classic Theatre Company (CCTC), is delighted to present the world premiere of a new play, RAGE OF ACHILLES by CCTC founding member, Paul Parente. The show is part of CCTC’s indoor series — or Cool Classics — and continues the theme of this summer season, the exploration of dueling human needs – the need for (and a right universally invoked by individuals and societies to counteract real and perceived wrongs) – revenge, and the need for meaning and forgiveness in a world that relentlessly challenges our humanity – redemption.

RAGE OF ACHILLES, a play which combines comic, tragic, modern and classical elements, original verse and prose, provides a worm’s eye view of one of the most exciting and visceral epics ever composed: Homer’s ILIAD. In the tenth year of the war, Dimitri and Thano, two Greek Spies, who are also cousins, begin to lose control of the comfortable and profitable détente they have maintained with their Trojan counterpart, Dius. When the plague, a slave girl, a chorus of walking dead, an insecure herald, and a rage-obsessed Achilles begin to crowd their comfortable No Man’s Land, the spies find themselves having to decide whether they can justify murder and violence for profit or whether compassion and truth can ever find a place in a milieu dominated by destruction and death. Directed by Damon Bonetti (director of CCTC’s 2008 THE TAMING OF THE SHREW and co-Artistic Director of PAC) with a cast of eight, including Barrymore-Award winning actress, Charlotte Northeast, RAGE OF ACHILLES is CCTC’s first time producing a World Premiere.

Parente, an actor/playwright and high school teacher, was born in Philadelphia and raised in Delaware County, where he attended Sun Valley High School and West Chester University. After spending time living and working in New York he returned to the Philadelphia area in 2001. In 2005 he helped found CCTC and most recently directed CCTC’s 2014 “Cowboy” TWELFTH NIGHT and performed as the Stage Manager in 2012’s lauded production of OUR TOWN. RAGE OF ACHILLES was included in the company’s 2014 Readers’ Theatre Project (directed by Damon Bonetti) after receiving a 2013 workshop reading with Austin Shakespeare Festival, directed by ASF Artistic Director, Ann Ciccolella. CCTC produced another of Parente’s plays, DROIT DU SEIGNOUR for the 2010 Fringe Festival. While in New York, many of his plays received readings and productions with The Acting Company, Arts Club Theatre, Salamander Rep and others. His One Act play, TWO and TWENTY was winner of the Samuel French Off-Off Broadway One-Act Play Competition and has been produced throughout the U.S. and Canada. His play MIDSUMMER received a production Off-Broadway by The Stillwater Theater Company directed by Rick Lombardo.

There will be a special matinee performance at 3PM on Sunday, August 9th to benefit Warrior Writers with a post-show presentation from members of the Warrior Writers group.

Warrior Writers is a veteran-focused arts organization that fosters artistic exploration and expression through casual, welcoming workshops and retreats. By reflecting and creating in a comfortable and open space, they encourage and support healing and community building.

Creative works are shared with the public in the form of books, performances and exhibitions, empowering veterans to share experiences openly and artistically, and providing opportunities for the broader public to better understand veterans’ experiences.

Through Warrior Writers, veterans have created a network of support and reprieve where artistic growth is developed and lasting friendship is built. Using art as language, they help bridge the gap between veterans and civilians.

Though Warrior Writers is a Philadelphia-based organization, they have members and activities across the U.S. including Chicago, the Bay area, New York, Texas, Boston, Oklahoma, Colorado and more. For more information, please visit www.warriorwriters.org.

Commonwealth Classic Theatre Company (CCTC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was founded and incorporated in 2005 in the state of Pennsylvania. CCTC is dedicated to the principle that theatre is a vital component of a civil society. It is our mission to present theatrical works from both the classic and contemporary canons that bear witness to the rich variety and commonality of human experience and which enhance our audience’s appreciation of theatre as a humanizing art form. Theatre, of all the arts, is uniquely able to offer a magical and ephemeral communal experience – an experience that has been enhancing the quality of communal life for thousands of years. CCTC produces primarily in the summer months, giving the Philadelphia area year round access to live theatre.

FACT SHEET

Commonwealth Classic Theatre Company presents
A Cool Classics production of

RAGE OF ACHILLES
By Paul Parente
A WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCTION

PRODUCTION STAFF
Producing Artistic Director: Mary Ann Baldwin
Director: Damon Bonetti
Playwright: Paul Parente
Production Manager: Lauren Tracy
Stage Manager: Samantha Wend
Assistant Stage Manager: Abby Toll
Assistant Director: Carl Roa
Lighting Designer: Dominic Chacon
Costume Designer: Rosemarie McKelvey
Set Designer: Meghan Jones
Sound Designer: Stefan Orn Arnarson
Fight Director: Ian Rose

CAST
Adam Altman, Nathan Foley, J. Hernandez, John Lopes, Charlotte Northeast*, Eric Scotolati, Anna Zaida Scannell Szapiro, Brian Anthony Wilson*

*member of actors’ equity association

WHEN
Thursday, August 6 – Preview
Friday, August 7 – Opening Night
Saturday, August 8
Sunday, August 9 at 3:00 PM – Special performance to benefit Warrior Writers
Wednesday, August 12
Thursday, August 13
Friday, August 14
Saturday, August 15
Monday, August 17 – Industry Night
Thursday, August 20
Friday, August 21
Saturday, August 22 – Closing Night

All performances at 7:30 PM – except Sunday, August 9th

WHERE
The URBN Center Annex Black Box Theater
3401 Filbert Street
Philadelphia, PA

TICKETS
$25 General Admission; $15 Students/Seniors – available at www.commonwealthclassictheatre.org