Tackling Transgender Identity: Underbite Theatre Company’s WOULD YOU STILL LOVE ME, IF?

by Patricia Bradford

Production dates: November 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13 and 14 at 8pm
and November 8 at 2pm at The Walnut Street Theatre Studio 5

A bold new play that tackles the issue of transgender identity.

Underbite Theatre Company presents the Philadelphia premiere of WOULD YOU STILL LOVE ME, IF? written by John S. Anastasi, directed by Shelli Pentimall Bookler.

It seems that nothing can come between lesbian couple Danya and Addison. Their love for each seemingly knows no bounds, and they have a baby on the way. However one of them has a secret that she can’t contain anymore. She has been grappling all her life with her identity, and is now considering gender reassignment surgery. Can their relationship survive this life altering news?

This will be the second production of WOULD YOU STILL LOVE ME, IF?, which premiered off Broadway at New World Stages, October, 2015 directed by and featuring Academy Award nominee Kathleen Turner.

Would You Still Love Me, IF? runs at The Walnut Street Theatre Studio 5. Tickets are $25 and available at the door (cash only) or on line at www.underbitetheatre.com. Discounted tickets for students and groups.

Would You Still Love Me, IF? features Philadelphia actors Austin Stanton, Samantha Parry, Judy Knoop and Heather Plank.

About the Playwright: John S. Anastasi’s works written include In My Father’s Eyes, a play with music, produced at the Forum Theater (New Jersey) and the historic Mishler Theater (Altoona, PA). It was selected as an alternate at the New York Fringe Festival summer 2003. Stolen Lives, a two character drama, presented at the Acorn Theater at Theatre Row after being presented at the Mishler Theater. Pied a Terre enjoyed a successful off Broadway premiere at the Kirk Theater at Theatre Row in 2007. I Forgive You, Ronald Reagan was produced off Broadway at the Beckett Theatre in Manhattan in Summer 2013. The playwright is an active member of the Dramatist Guild of America Inc.

About the Director: Shelli Pentimall Bookler is a Philadelphia actor, director, choreographer and playwright. She has a Master of Arts degree in Theatre from Eastern Michigan University, a Master of Fine Arts degree in Playwriting from Temple University and studied acting and directing at The Actor’s Studio in New York. She’s worked with several local theatre companies, including Montgomery Theatre, Plays and Players, Simpatico Theatre, and Facetime Theatre. She co-founded Underbite Theatre Company with her husband, Matt, and currently serves as Artistic Director. This is Underbite Theatre Company’s third production. The first, Bird in the Window, premiered at the Shubin Theatre in 2013. In 2014 it premiered Snyder v. Phelps, the musical as part of the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, funded in part by the Bucks County Arts Council.

For addition information contact Shelli Pentimall Bookler at shelli@underbitetheatre.com or visit the website at www.underbitetheatre.com.

Theater/Organization Underbite Theatre Company
Theater/Organization Website: http://www.underbitetheatre.com

Theater/Organization Address: 825 Walnut Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107 (Map It)
Theater/Organization Phone: (267) 263-4623

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