THEATRE EXILE PRESENTS THE PHILADELPHIA PREMIERE OF CAMP SIEGFRIED BY BESS WOHL
Media Contact:
Tracy Buchholz
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THEATRE EXILE PRESENTS THE PHILADELPHIA PREMIERE OF CAMP SIEGFRIED BY BESS WOHL
Two teens navigate a summer camp romance set against a backdrop of hate.
Philadelphia, PA | October 2, 2023 – Beginning October 26, South Philadelphia-based theater company Theatre Exile (1340 S 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147) presents the Philadelphia premiere of Camp Siegfried by critically acclaimed Brooklyn playwright, screenwriter, and actress Bess Wohl. The inaugural show of Exile’s 2023/24 season runs through November 12, featuring local actors Jenna Kuerzi and Adam Howard and Theatre Exile’s Producing Artistic Director, Deborah Block directing.
Inspired by Camp Siegfried in Long Island, New York, the tragically timely story set in 1938 follows two teenagers named only to audiences as She (age 16) and He (age 17), as they fall in love while away at a summer camp. The actual Camp Siegfried was owned by the German American Bund, an American Nazi organization devoted to promoting a favorable view of Nazi Germany, and operated by the German American Settlement League (GASL). The overnight camp invited young and old to participate in swimming, archery, bonfires, and dances while indoctrinating them with Nazi ideology. The Independent’s theatre critic Paul Taylor hailed Wohl’s drama as “an insightful piece about the frightening appeal of fascism.”
The play debuted to audiences at The Old Vic in London in 2021, and Theatre Exile’s presentation marks its first run in Philadelphia. The show was part of a season curated to feature characters embracing love, even as harsh realities and impossible odds confront them.
“Theatre Exile rarely produces shows set in the past,” said Block. “However, sometimes we need distance to understand what is happening now. Told with humor and lightness, Camp Siegfried starts as a summer romance against a backdrop of hard work, a lot of beer, and an occasional oompah band. But this isn’t just a simple coming-of-age story. As the teens look towards a hopeful future, we see what happens when love is nurtured in a world filled with hate.”
Playwright and filmmaker Bess Wohl is no stranger to theatergoers. Her plays have been produced on and off Broadway, regionally, and internationally, and her feature film debut, Baby Ruby, starring Noémie Merlant and Kit Harington, premiered at the 2022 Toronto Film Festival and was released by Magnolia Pictures. She also wrote for the Apple TV+ series Extrapolations, created by Scott Z. Burns. Her plays include Grand Horizons (Tony Nominations for Best Play & Best Featured Actress, Outer Critics Circle Honor, Drama League Award nom); Make Believe (NYTimes Critic Pick, Best of 2019, Outer Critics Circle Honor); Continuity; and Small Mouth Sounds (John Gassner Outer Critics Circle Award, top ten lists in The New York Times, The New York Post, The Guardian).
Actor Jenna Kuerzi is best known as the co-creator of the interactive solo show Johnny Depp: A Retrospective on Late-Stage Capitalism, which debuted in Philadelphia, followed by appearances at Fringe Festivals in the US and Europe. The show offers a satirical power-point retrospective on the entire film career of the Golden Globe Award-winning three-time Oscar nominee actor. She also performed as Shelby in Steel Magnolias (Act II Playhouse), Dot/Marie in Sunday in the Park with George (City Theatre Company), and as Elisa, Lil, Robber Girl, and Flower in The Snow Queen (Arden Theatre).
Adam Howard is a graduate of the University of the Arts (Philadelphia) whose theatre credits include Borya in The Last Parade (Interact Theatre), Stanley in Brighton Beach Memoirs (Delaware Theatre Co.), Stinky Pete in Carroll County Fix (Azuka Theatre), Wilbur in Charlott’s Web (Arden Theatre Co.), and roles with People’s Light.
Camp Siegfried contains physical violence and discussion of sexual assault.
TICKETS: May be purchased HERE or call 215-218-4022. Prices range from $20-40.
INTERVIEWS: Please contact Tracy Buchholz to schedule interviews with cast and crew
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About Theatre Exile
Theatre Exile is a non-profit theater company dedicated to enhancing the cultural experiences of Philadelphians through the staging of works that engage the imagination since it was founded in 1996. Theatre Exile strives to reach new audiences throughout the community by presenting both new works as well as established plays that are often reinterpreted in original ways. These productions emphasize freedom of expression formulated through innovation, exploration, and provocation. At the same time, Theatre Exile provides a safe and creative environment where local artists can grow, experiment, and find their voice. Learn more about Theatre Exile’s 2023/24 season, purchase tickets, and more by visiting www.theatreexile.org.
