January 16, 2013

In February, the Mandell Professionals in Residence Project (MPiRP) will premiere its largest production ever at the Mandell Theater. Working with 1812 Productions, the only professional theater company in the country dedicated solely to comedy, The Drexel Players and 1812 will co-produce a newly adapted show just for Philadelphia audiences, To Fool The Eye. 1812 is one of only 10 companies in the country to receive a National Theatre Company grant from the American Theatre Wing, founder of the Tony Awards, and has won three Barrymore Awards, two for Best Ensemble Performance and one for Excellence in Theater Education and Community Service.

To Fool The Eye, called a "delightful farce that intelligently wonders about the nature of love," by the Minneapolis Star Tribune, is being directed by Jennifer Childs, 1812's Artistic Director. Jenn and other members of the company have been on campus since fall working with our students. The cast, made up of nine Drexel students, features professional actors Maureen Torsney-Weir and David Howey. The crew is made up of more than 75 students who are working on an elaborate set, and on lighting and sound design, box office operations, marketing, and front-of-house management.  Here’s a comedy you won’t want to miss as 1812 and the Drexel Players prove the trick to true love is really no trick at all.