RAT WAITER WAITER Press Release

[brad rothbart <scrdchao@nni.com>]

*  Press release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Theatre Double's  new reading series,
Underground Voices
Curated by Brad Rothbart
presents

Waiter, Waiter
by David Simpatico

  Upon viewing this work, D.G.H. Bruckner of the New York Times remarked,
"At closing time the staff slouches into an orgy of sexual and ethnic
bigotry and a whole psychological catalogue of jealousies and hatreds...no
thrust without wounds...draws blood. This dark, politically savvy   comedy
has never been seen in Philadelphia. For further information, members of
the press can call 215.836.5382. The phone number for publication is
215.557.9421

The  cast features an eclectic mix of  aactors from both  Philadelphia and
New York City, including: Robert Strickstein as DEAN, Tina Brock as MARGO,
Bill Flatley as FANG, Garrett Hendricks as WHIP,  Frank Ferrara as FRED,
Stacey Breidenstein as ROCKY,  Mary Catherine Donnelly as MIMI,  Lizz
Fields as CRYSTAL, Ruthanne Ankey as  BETTY and Jane Young as DIVA. The
playwright is coming from NYC to direct the reading and will be available
to answer questions after the performance. The reading of WAITER, WAITER
will  take place at Theatre Double, 1619 Walnut Street   in Philadelphia on
6 December 1999 at 8 pm. Doors will open at 7:30.  A reception will follow
the performance. The reading is  for one night only.  Admission is
pay-what-you-can, and the space is wheelchair accessible.

DAVID SIMPATICO, playwright, has been presented at theatres around the
country, including Williamstown Theatre Festival, Ensemble Studio Theatre,
the New York Shakespeare Festival, the New York Theatre Workshop and
Franklin Furnace.  Using the safety net of comedy to explore life-and-death
issues, his work examines man's struggle to claim his place in a chaotic
universe. David just completed the libretto for Aaron J. Kernis' MILLENNIUM
SYMPHONY, commissioned by Disney, set to receive its world premiere with
the NY Philharmonic in the Fall of 1999.  His first opera, THE SCREAMS OF
KITTY GENOVESE, developed at Opera Lab UK, was recently commissioned by the
Royal Academy of Music in London.  In addition, David was hired by
Scholastic Entertainment to create a new children's television series
called HORRIBLE HISTORIES.  In January, '99, David was commissioned by the
Alfred P. Sloane Foundation/Ensemble Studio Theatre to write his new play,
THOMAS THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS.  His play NANNA was selected by the Lark
Theatre Company for their annual Playwrights Week '99. His full-length
play, MACS:  A Macaroni Requiem, was developed at Ensemble Studio Theatre's
First Look Series, received its world premiere at the Williamstown Theatre
Festival, and received its New York City premiere (March, '99), produced by
Urban Stages.   WISH FULFILLMENT was chosen for the Act One/Showtime
National One Act Play Festival, and was published in the collection,
SHOWTIME'S ACT ONE FESTIVAL '94 (Smith & Kraus).  This play was also
translated into Catalan and toured Spain as part of the American Theatre
Festival.  His most recent play, MARY, a comedy about the President, his
Intern and a locked hotel room, received its initial workshop presentation
at the Marriott Hotel in Times Square. David has performed his one-man
show, CAVALCADE OF SCARS, at the New York Theatre Workshop's O SOLO MIO
Festival and as the recipient of the Emerging Artist Award at the Franklin
Furnace in Exile Emerging Artists Series at the New School.  Other works
have been featured in the Baca Downtown Festival, the Key West Theatre
Festival, the West Coast Playwrights' Conference, and the New York Theatre
Workshop.
					Future readings include:
					20 December Steven Tomlinson,
Millennium Bug
					03 January Paula Cizmar, Street Stories
					17 January  Aishah Rahman, Only in
America
					31 January Alice Tuan,  Coastline