A boy growing up near Philadelphia in the late 1930s feels more love and companionship from his pet birds than the people around him. Nicknamed Birdy for his intense obsession, he tries to become a bird even “flying” from water towers. His friend Al sticks with his buddy even though everyone thinks Birdy is crazy.

A bittersweet coming of age story, the play becomes a brutally powerful anti-war play as the two friends go to war and then try to come back to Philadelphia as shattered men. The story flashes back and forth between the wounded soldiers struggling for sanity in the hospital, and them as young men having adventures and discovering themselves. The profound friendship between them tests each of them as they struggle to grow up in a world where the only support they have is each other.

The play opens Friday March 27 and runs through April 26, Fridays through Sundays at the Centre Theatre in the Montgomery County Cultural Center, 208 DeKalb Street Norristown. Showtimes are at 8 p.m. with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets are $22. Call 610-279-1013 for information, or visit the web at www.ironagetheatre.org Tickets can be purchased at www.ticketleap.com

“With all the wounded soldiers returning home from the Middle East this is an extremely timely play,” said Director John Doyle. “We think it will help people understand what combat does to people, physically and mentally.”

Naomi Wallace is a playwright, screenwriter and poet from Kentucky. Her numerous plays have been produced in Europe, the United States and the Middle East. She received the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, the Kesselring Prize, the Fellowship of Southern Writers Drama Award and an Obie. She is also a recipient of the MacAruthur “Genius” Fellowship. She is a dedicated advocate for justice and human rights in the U.S. and abroad, and Palestinian rights in the Middle East. “Birdy” was first performed locally by the Philadelphia Theatre Company in a well-received production.

“Birdy” stars a stellar cast of Philadelphia theatre veterans and fresh new faces. Adam Altman plays Al Columbato, one of the wounded vets returning from the war. Chris Braak plays the older Birdy. Aaron Stahl is the young Birdy and Chris Handschuch plays the younger Al. Veteran actors Jerry Puma and Dorien Belle round out the cast.

According to Director Doyle, the play perfectly suits Iron Age's style. "It is an ensemble driven play demanding intensity and emotional commitment from the actors." Doyle said the theatrical physical style of the play is similar to Iron Age's previously well-received productions of "The Elephant Man," “Waiting for Godot” and "Terra Nova."

When William Wharton's first novel, Birdy, was published in 1979, he was already 53 years old, an American expatriate painter living in Paris. But his identity remained a mystery, because Wharton, who died at 82, chose that name as a pseudonym for his writing, while painting under his real name, Albert du Aime. The Wharton persona was soon the better known, as Birdy became an instant bestseller, won the American Book award for best first novel in 1980, and was a finalist for the Pulitzer prize. It was adapted in 1984 by Alan Parker into a powerful film, starring Matthew Modine and Nicolas Cage.

Working together, the Centre Theatre and Iron Age Theatre have been one of the most critically acclaimed companies working in the Philadelphia Area. They received a Barrymore Nomination for Best Lead Actor for "The Elephant Man" in 2005. Their 2003 show "Terra Nova" was nominated for a Barrymore Award for outstanding ensemble. The company also produced the critically acclaimed revivals of Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men," and presented the comic hits "A Skull In Connemara," and "The Cripple of Inishmaan," both by McDonagh. This year Iron Age returned to the Philadelphia Fringe festival with their premier of Steve Hatzai’s “Waiting for the Ship from Delos” which played to full houses at the American Philosophical Society. The most recent Iron Age production “Citizen Paine,” had its world premier at the Centre Theatre and then continued in Philadelphia.

The Centre Theater is in the Montgomery County Cultural Center at 208 DeKalb Street in Norristown. It is easily reached from Routes 202, I-76, I-476 and Ridge Pike. There is plenty of free parking and the theatre is one block from Septa's Norristown Transit Center, R6 line. The new multi-story Septa parking garage for the Norristown Transit Center is now open and available for theatre parking.