Read about “Killa” in the 25th Anniversary issue of American Theatre.
Awards
National New Play Network’s Smith Prize
The William Inge Playwriting Fellowship
Barrymore Award
Heidi Award
Central Ohio Critic Circle Award- Best Touring Show
Central Ohio Critic Circle Award- Best New Work
Summary
In the Summer of 2008, it was often said that Philadelphia had “more bodies than days.” The city was in the midst of a murder epidemic that put it on par with some third world countries.
Determined to take an unflinching look at the causes of the crime rate and its effect on the community, playwright/performer Sean Christopher Lewis introduces us to the inmates of Graterford Prison – men employed to beautify the city even as they serve out life sentences.
The voices of the prisoners, their victims, Mayor Nutter, local rappers, conservative talk show hosts, trauma surgeons, and the citizens of the City of Brotherly Love crowd the stage to say their piece.
Played by Lewis, a performer described by the New York Press as “explicitly authentic”, these voices combine with a shocking document of life in America’s toughest town.
The stunning result is Killadelphia: mixtape of a city.
Directed by Matt Slaybaugh.
Killadelphia (Columbus, OH excerpts) from Available Light on Vimeo.
AUDIO OF THE FULL SHOW
KILLADELPHIA on Idaho Public Radio with Performance:
WGN Radio in Chicago: The Bill and Wendy Show:
REVIEWS
10.5.2010Backstage
KILLADELPHIA aka CITY OF NUMBERS Wins Barrymore Award
8.2.2010 Playbill
KILLADELPHIA aka CITY OF NUMBERS Nominated for Barrymore Award
7.14.2010 The Other Paper
“KILLADELPHIA cited by Central Ohio Critics Circle for Best Touring Production”
4.14.2010 Los Angeles Times
“KILLADELPHIA wins 2010 Smith Prize for Drama”
4.29.2009 NY Theatre dot com
“a must-see evening of theatre … an epic … a satisfying one-man symphony”
9.22.2009 Metromix
“5 Stars… in a year of amazing theater KILLADELPHIA leaves the rest behind”
12.29.2009 The Other Paper
“Best Touring Production of 2009”
1.30.2010 Augustinian Spiritual Health Center
“Everyone should see this show”
2.18.2010 Philadelphia City Paper
“a call to action as well as a plea to open our minds”
3.6.2010 Iowa City Gazette
“an excellent performer … thought-provoking”
3.8.2010 Iowa Theatre Blog
“it wouldn’t leave me … ”
OTHER PRESS
1.28.2010 Philly2philly dot com
VIDEOS
Demo Reel
AUDIO
Available Light Podcast
Stark Raven Media Podcast
Steven Grace Show AM800, Iowa City
NPR Boise State Interview
Killadelphia: Mixtape for a City
DATES
10.19-11.19.16
16th Street Theatre
Chicago, IL
10.15.15
SUNY ONONDAGA
Onondaga, NY
2.23-2.26.2014
American Theater Company
Chicago, IL
12.18.13-12.21.13
Institute del Teatre de Barcelona
Barcelona, Spain
1.5.12-1.14.12
Drilling Company Theatre
NYC, NY
11.19-11.21.11
Touchstone Theatre
Bethlehem, PA
11.17.11
Moravian College
Bethlehem, PA
11.17.11
Broughal Middle School
Bethlehem, PA
11.3-11.5.11
Hartbeat Ensemble
Hartford, CT
5.24.11
Stagewest
Des Moines, IA
4.19.11
Northwest Missouri State University
Maryville, MO
1.27-1.30.11
Revolutions International Theatre Festival
Albuquerque, NM
12.17-12.19.10
Studio Roanoke
Roanoke, VA
12.15.10
Art Reach
Philadelphia, PA
11.15.10
Woolly Mammoth
Washington DC
10. 27.10
Grand Valley State University
Grand Rapids, Michigan
10.17.10
Southern Idaho Juvenile Detention Center
Boise, ID
10.12-10.22.10
Welsh-Garcia Productions
Boise, ID
10.5.10
La Salle University
Philadelphia, PA
10.4.10
Cape May Stage
Cape May, NJ
10.1.10
Adirondack Theatre Festival
and Adirondack Community College
Glens Falls, NY
6.11.10
Southern Rep
National New Play Network Annual Conference
New Orleans, LA
6.2.10
Children of Promise
Iowa City, IA
4.27.10
Southwest Minnesota State University
Marshall, MN
3.21.10
Available Light Theatre
Columbus, OH
3.5 – 3.14.10
Riverside Theatre
Iowa City, IA
1.22 – 2.21.10
InterAct Theatre
Philadelphia, PA
9.24 – 9.27.09
Available Light Theatre
Columbus, OH
5.10-5.12.09
CSPS/Legion Arts
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
4.29 – 5.01.09
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
New York City
2.26 – 3.4.09
Penn State University
Cultural Conversations Festival
2.19-21.09
InterAct Theatre Company
Philadelphia, PA
2.18.09
St. Gabe’s Boys Home
Philadelphia, PA
2.17.09
Graterford Prison
Montgomery County, PA
1.21.09
University of Kansas
Kennedy Center ACT Festival
1.12.09
Baltimore Centerstage
First Look Festival 2009
1.11.09
Available LIght Theatre
Columbus, OH