Six days after Martin Luther's 517 birthday, Iron Age Theatre will host Rev. Philip D. W. Krey, who will give a talk on Martin Luther. On November 16 at 7:30pm Krey, Professor, Early and Medieval Church History, President of The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, will share his unique understanding of Martin Luther and the Medieval world. This is an opportunity for the audience to come to a deeper understanding of the man before they experience John Osborne's dazzling play Luther.

The play is running November 2-through 19 at the Emanuel Lutheran Church, 1001 South 4th Street in Philadelphia. Showtime is 8 p.m. for all performances. Tickets are $12 and $15.

Krey is a rare combination of medieval scholar, especially in tune with the social, cultural and theological background that shaped Luther's life and work, and practical, hands-on urban ministry specialist. He has a long-standing interest in medieval theology and is the co-editor with Peter Casarella of a series recently initiated by Catholic University Press, "Sources of Medieval Christian Thought." His interests in theology flow into the Reformation period, and he translated a volume called Luther's Spirituality for Paulist Press's Classics in Western Spirituality Series. He is a member and cofounder of the Society for the Study of the Bible in the Middle Ages.

This ecumenical vision is especially appropriate for the production. Osborne makes a conscious effort to deal with Catholic and reformation issues with care and balance. The play provokes thought without being reactionary.

Krey is skilled at bringing the complexity of medieval theology and history to the common audience. His twenty-minute lecture will act as an introduction to the play, setting an intellectual stage for the powerful performances.

He has a BA from the University of Massachusetts,; a Masters of Divinity from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, an Mafrom Catholic University of America, and a PhD from The University of Chicago. He was a Fulbright Fellow at the University of Munichand and a parish pastor for nine years in Baltimore, MD.

He has a deep connection to Emanuel Lutheran Church as well and was the mentoring pastor here at Emanuel for four years, until January 2000.

“Luther” is co-sponsored by the Emanuel Luthern Church. With financial support from Robert Dettore and Dettore Associates, Pizzeria Uno and Fran Doyle. Rehearsal Space provided by The Centre Theatre.

For tickets and information about “Luther” call 610-962-9755