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Lightning Rod Special
Theater
Connect
Lions
From Lightning Rod Special
Written and Performed by Alice Yorke and Scott R. Sheppard
Directed and Developed by Sarah Blush
From the creators of Fringe hits like Nosejob, The Appointment (New Yorker Best of 2023), SPEECH, and Underground Railroad Game (Obie Award), comes an unsentimental two-hander about the business of letting our dads die. With a dose of Kafka and A Christmas Carol, Lions disassembles the myths our fathers told themselves about what it means to be a great man. Enter a world of breathing machines, Christmas ghosts, to-do lists, shirts that smell like grass, and the most romantic disappointments of our fathers' lives. Part clown show and part deconstructed eulogy, Lions tries to honor our fathers by not denying them the humanity they could not always offer themselves. A show about death that is not about grief, but instead asks, ‘What does it mean to live a good life?’
With over 100 offerings from rebellious circus, delicious dance, fearless theatre and activist art to workshops, parties, and more Cannonball pushes the boundaries of live performance at four different venues this Fringe. Come as you are and stay past bedtime at cannonballfestival.org.
September 10, 2025 8.00pm
Preview
302 S. Hicks St
General Admission: $30
PWYC Options
September 11, 2025 8.00pm
Preview
302 S. Hicks St
General Admission: $30
PWYC Options
September 12, 2025 8.00pm
Preview
302 S. Hicks St
General Admission: $30
PWYC Options
September 13, 2025 8.30pm
Opening Night
302 S. Hicks St
General Admission: $30
PWYC Options
September 14, 2025 12.00pm
302 S. Hicks St
General Admission: $30
PWYC Options
September 14, 2025 9.30pm
302 S. Hicks St
General Admission: $30
PWYC Options
September 18, 2025 6.00pm
302 S. Hicks St
General Admission: $30
PWYC Options
September 19, 2025 8.30pm
302 S. Hicks St
General Admission: $30
PWYC Options
September 20, 2025 12.00pm
302 S. Hicks St
General Admission: $30
PWYC Options
September 20, 2025 9.30pm
302 S. Hicks St
General Admission: $30
PWYC Options
September 21, 2025 12.00pm
302 S. Hicks St
General Admission: $30
PWYC Options
September 21, 2025 7.00pm
302 S. Hicks St
General Admission: $30
PWYC Options
About the Artist
Lightning Rod Special is an award-winning Philadelphia-based company that makes genre-defying original theater from the ground up. Their work explodes complex and controversial questions with precision and play. Since 2012, they have made eight full-length works, an audio series, and toured their productions to 16 cities in 5 countries. LRS has a history of creating performances around contested American topics. Recent works include "Nosejob, " "SPEECH, " "The Appointment, " (Best Theater in 2023 in The New Yorker, Best Theater in 2019 in The New York Times), and "Underground Railroad Game" (2017 Obie Award for Best New American Theater Work, top 25 shows in the past 25 years by The New York Times).
- Scott R. Sheppardwriter/performer
- Alice Yorkewriter/performer
- Sarah Blushdirector/developer
- Colleen Murray Scenic and Prop Design
- Masha Tsimring Lighting Design
- Rebecca Kanach Costume Design
- John Gasper Sound Design
Accessibility & Content Considerations
Contact the Fringe Festival Box Office for up to date accessibility information.
This event is appropriate for ages 13+
Adult Language
Audience Interaction
Fog/Smoke Effects
Covid-19 Safety policy
Masks are required during this event
Copyright © 2025 Philadelphia Fringe Festival
140 N. Columbus Blvd.
(at Race St.)
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Directions
Tickets: 215.413.1318
Admin Office: 215.413.9006
