The internationally acclaimed, award-winning Philadelphia-based physical theater company, Pig Iron Theatre Company, presents the world premiere of Franklin’s Key at Plays & Players Theatre in Philadelphia.
This thrilling, magical, sci-fi theatrical adventure, written by Dan Rothenberg and Robert Quillen Camp, explores Benjamin Franklin’s hidden discoveries in a parallel universe.
Running from June 3 to June 29 at Plays & Players Theatre, located at 1714 Delancey Street, Philadelphia, this electrifying new production transforms some of the city’s most iconic landmarks into portals to adventure as two high school prodigies find themselves caught in a struggle between secret societies dedicated to safeguarding Franklin’s discoveries. Fans of The Goonies, Stranger Things, Harry Potter, The Da Vinci Code, and National Treasure will enjoy the artistry in this electrifying live stage production.
Performances take place Wednesday through Sunday evenings at 7 p.m., with matinees on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. and two Tuesday evening performances on June 3 and June 10 at 7 p.m. Press Night is on Wednesday, June 11 at 7 p.m.
Tickets are available online at Franklinskey.com, by phone at (267) 494-1919, or via email at boxoffice@pigiron.org.
Daytime performances are available for group bookings, with flexible showtimes, potential post-show talkbacks featuring the artistic staff, and on-site concessions.
Pig Iron Theatre Company, founded in 1995 in Philadelphia, has long been recognized for its daring and highly physical approach to theater-making. Its genre-defying works have earned critical acclaim. Their upcoming production of Franklin’s Key marks a significant shift from past experimental and genre-defying works, embracing a more fantastical, family-friendly approach to storytelling.
During the War of Independence, the British feared Benjamin Franklin could control the weather. Franklin’s Key asks: what if that were true? A mystery unfolds for audiences in an alternate reality where Franklin’s undiscovered technology has been hidden beneath some of Philadelphia’s most treasured landmarks for centuries. Set in present-day Philadelphia, Franklin’s Key follows two teenage prodigies: Temple, a self-taught scientist, and her brother Arturo, a gifted musician. The two uncover an ancient mystery, setting off a chain reaction that draws them into a secret battle between rival factions seeking to harness the incredible but volatile powers of Franklin’s long-lost technology. Temple and Arturo, aided by a cast of quirky friends, traverse hidden tunnels under the city, leading them from abandoned subway platforms to the iconic statue of William Penn atop City Hall and the building-sized organ inside the old Wanamaker Department Store. With time running out, the team must navigate the labyrinth of Philadelphia’s forgotten tunnels, evade powerful enemies, and unlock the secrets Franklin left behind before his discoveries fall into the wrong hands.
A love letter to Philadelphia’s history, grit, and relentless ingenuity, this delightful and sharply choreographed performance incorporates object transformations and lighting illusions that bring the fantastical world to life.
“Franklin’s Key is like a Marvel movie translated for the stage,” says Pig Iron’s Co-Artistic Director Dan Rothenberg. “We are working with an amazing team of scenic and effects designers to evoke building-sized automatons, Da Vinci Code puzzles, and teenagers with telekinetic powers. While the story is cinematic in scope, audiences can expect Pig Iron’s signature, elegant stagecraft – sometimes disarmingly simple, but always surprising.”
Three actors from New York are leading the production as the teen heroes: actor and singer Taylor Rose Mickens, making her Philadelphia theater debut, plays Temple. Arturo, Temple’s brother, is played by Sam Gonzalez, a New York-based actor and dancer. Jacob Orr makes his Pig Iron debut as Temple’s hapless ex-boyfriend, Richard. Click here to learn more about the cast.
Franklin’s Key takes place at one of the oldest theaters in the country, Play & Players Theatre, a charming 220-seat venue with a proscenium stage layout. Evocative set designs create a panorama of important landmarks, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, City Hall, and Christ Church Burial Ground, which become portals to adventure in this unique theatrical experience. With a run time of 110 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission, Franklin’s Key fully utilizes the historic performance space and evocative scenic designs to transport audiences across time and space.
Credit: Plays & Players Theatre
To follow the journey and learn more, click here at Franklin’s Key or on Instagram and Facebook.
Major support for Franklin’s Key has been provided by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.
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