“I Am My Own Wife” at Theatre Horizon

Theatre Horizon in Norristown submitted the following news release: 

Theatre Horizon begins their 9th Season with a production of Doug Wright’s Pulitzer Prize winning play, I Am My Own Wife. This thought-provoking work begins previews on Thursday, October 31, opens Thursday, November 7 at 7:30 p.m., and closes Sunday, November 24.  This will be the second season in Theatre Horizon’s new home at 401 Dekalb Street. Tickets cost $22-$35. Tickets for students are $25. Tickets for seniors ages 62 and up are $29. Tickets and more information are available online at www.theatrehorizon.org or by calling (610) 283-2230.

I Am My Own Wife brings audiences into the fascinating world of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf. Based on a true story, Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, was born a man named Lothar Berfelde, and lived under the noses of the Nazis and Communists while wearing an apron and a string of pearls and existing as a woman. During World War II, Charlotte began collecting household items, saving historical every-day artifacts from bombed-out houses, and preserving items from households of people who fled to West Germany. Her collection evolved into the Gründerzeit Museum.

While the play focuses on Charlotte’s life story, it also highlights playwright Doug Wright’s journey to meet her and his development of the play. The play features 35 characters, but is written for one actor. The Broadway and off-Broadway run of the original production won just about every major theatre award there is, including the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, TONY Award, the Drama Desk Award, Drama League Award, the Lucille Lortel Award, and the Lambda Literary Award for Drama.

Noted Philadelphia actor Charlie DelMarcelle is starring in the play. He appeared this summer as the titular character in the Commonwealth Classic Theatre Company’s production of Macbeth. Kathryn MacMillan, director of Theatre Horizon's How I Learned to Drive and The Laramie Project, directs this production. Maura Roche returns to Theatre Horizon to design the set. She created the set for last year’s Spring Awakening. Dave Todaro is designing the lights. Larry Fowler is the Sound Designer. Katherine Fritz is designing the costumes.

Doug Wright is a celebrated playwright, librettist, and screenwriter. His plays include: Dinosaurs, The Stonewater Rapture, Watbanaland, Interrogating the Nude, Unwrap Your Candy, and Quills. He wrote the libretto to the musicals The Little Mermaid, Grey Gardens, Buzzsaw Berkeley, and Hands on a Hardbody. He wrote the screenplay to the movie version of his play Quills.

About Theatre Horizon

Theatre Horizon was founded in 2005 by theatre artists Matthew Decker and Erin Reilly and has become a lauded contributor to the arts community in Montgomery County, annually staging a three-show season, reaching more than 500 children per year through drama classes, and pioneering a drama program using actors to teach socialization skills to children with autism. Theatre Horizon’s mission is to nurture a community of audience members and artists through theatre. Theatre Horizon is an active participant in the Norristown Arts Council, as well as a founding member of Arts Hill, along DeKalb Street in Norristown, PA. The goal of the Arts Task Force is to revitalize the old industrial riverside town by bringing arts and nightlife to the suburban downtown area. For more information about Theatre Horizon, please call 610-283-2230 or visit www.theatrehorizon.org.