Act II Playhouse’s latest production, An Act of God, by David Javerbaum and starring three-time Barrymore Award-winner Tony Braithwaite as God, will debut on Aug. 9.

Previews begin Aug. 6, 2024, and due to high demand for tickets, the production will run from Friday, Aug. 9-Sunday, Sept. 8 (previously Sunday, Sept. 1).

An Act of God concerns the Almighty Himself who has returned to Earth to update and improve his Ten Commandments and to “set the record straight on a couple of things.” Braithwaite, “who may be Philadelphia’s funniest man ever” (Philadelphia City Paper) stars in a tour-de-force performance.

“An Act of God is hilarious and has a strong history of success on Broadway with the likes of Jim Parsons and Sean Hayes in the starring role,” said Act II Artistic Director Braithwaite, who also directs the upcoming production. “It is a perfect fit for Act II Playhouse and the ideal way to kick off our 2024-2025 Season.”

Though known locally for decades as a powerhouse comic actor, Braithwaite is actually no stranger to religion, having graduated a Theology Major from Georgetown University in 1993, and having been a Religious Studies Teacher at his alma mater, St. Joseph’s Preparatory School from 1994-2005. For a time, he even strongly considered becoming a Jesuit priest. Braithwaite wrote a one-man show about his experiences teaching Religion and Sex Ed in his Didn’t Your Father Have This Talk With You? which had four different runs at Act II from 2013-2017.

Supporting Braithwaite on stage in An Act of God are Renee McFillin (returning to the Playhouse after appearances in Cole For Your Stocking, Mistakes Were Made, and Hello, Dolly!) and Paddy May who makes his Act II debut. Both play Angels who assist (and frequently spar with) God. Both are also former students of Braithwaite’s in the theatre department at St. Joe’s Prep, where he has served as Director of Dramatics for 30 years.

Behind the scenes, Patricia G. Sabato is the Production Stage Manager, Meghan Jones is the Scenic Designer, James Leitner is the Lighting Designer, Seana Benz is the Costume Designer, Adam Danoff is the Sound Designer, Carolyn Dixon is the Props Master, Britt Plunket is the Technical Director, and Eliot Curtis is the Scenic Artist.

Ticket prices start at $32 and are available online, by calling the Act II Box Office at 215-654-0200, or in-person at the Box Office (56 E. Butler Ave., Ambler). The Box Office is open Monday-Saturday, 2-6:00 PM. Student tickets are $15, and group discounts are available.

Act II Playhouse is committed to theatrical programming that is both accessible and entertaining and is committed to creating and producing original, classic, and contemporary plays, musicals, and cabarets (both comedic and musical) that reflect the highest artistic standards, and presenting them in our intimate venue that draws audiences and performers into a unique, vibrant, and dynamic interaction. The Playhouse has received 43 Barrymore nominations and 6 Barrymore Awards. Act II Playhouse was founded in 1998; in 2012, Braithwaite became the third Artistic Director in the Theatre’s history.

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