The First Day of School

1812 Productions

Karen Peakes, Pete Pryor, Michael Tomasetti, Chris Faith, and Eileen Cella. Photo by Mark Garvin.

Recipient

Grant Year 2009

Grant Amount $65,000

Status Completed

Updated May 30, 2023

1812 Productions, Philadelphia's all-comedy theater company, workshopped and produced the shared world premiere of The First Day of School, a "soccer-mom sex farce" by Billy Aronson, a writer for MTV's Beavis and Butthead. Though modeled on a classic bedroom farce, the play represents a hybrid of comedic styles also including character-driven and realistic comedy. New for the organization was the chance to work actively on a production with a playwright from outside the region. This exchange helped to enhance 1812's nascent reputation as a place where new comedies are nurtured and developed. The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote of the production, "Aronson isn't afraid to tackle thorny issues; he just does it with a wink." Aronson was present throughout the extended rehearsal period. Pete Pryor, Jennifer Childs, Chris Faith, Susan Riley Stevens, and Karen Peakes starred in the piece. The First Day of School premiered concurrently at the San Francisco Playhouse.

Recipient

1812 Productions

1812 Productions is the country's only regional theater devoted entirely to comedy, with a history of over 50 shows. Seventeen of the company's world premieres have been created by Artistic Director Jennifer Childs. For It's My Party: The Women and Comedy Project, Childs conducted nearly 100 interviews to discover what women of various ages find funny. Center funding has also supported Our Show of Shows, an original script created in the style of—and with the blessing of—Sid Caesar, and This Is the Week That Is, a show that changes nightly in response to current events, described as a combination of The Daily Show and The Carol Burnett Show. In 2010, 1812 Productions was recognized by the American Theatre Wing with a National Theatre Company Grant, awarded to select companies demonstrating the quality, diversity, and dynamism of American theater.

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