Flashpoint Theatre Company was born on July 4, 2003. The founders — Derick Loafmann, Erin Lucas, Gigi Naglak, Michael Osinski, and Meghann Williams — met while studying Theatre Arts at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. After graduating, each member pursued careers in theatre in various parts of the country before deciding it was time to relocate to Philadelphia to pool their collective talents, create an atmosphere where contemporary and cutting-edge work could be produced collaboratively.
Flashpoint, according to Merriam-Webster, is “a point at which someone or something bursts suddenly into action or being.” In October 2004, Flashpoint burst onto the Philadelphia theatre scene with its inaugural production of Keith Bunin’s The Credeaux Canvas.
Since then, Flashpoint has produced 12 Philadelphia premieres and 1 world premiere, staged David Sedaris’s The Santaland Diaries with great success every holiday season, worked with over 100 new and emerging theatre artists in Philadelphia, and brought in almost 5000 audience members.
The organization regularly provides tickets to underserved audiences through Art Reach, and it has also raised money for the Renfrew Center Foundation, the American Red Cross, Covenant House, Philabundance, Save Darfur, WAVE, and the V-Day Spotlight Campaign. Additionally, Flashpoint has participated in the SPARK Program and Showcase Festival through the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia.
In its fifth season, Flashpoint made Second Stage at the Adrienne its permanent home, and in its sixth season, Flashpoint is committing itself to the development and production of new work through Flashpoint DNA: Dynamic New Art.