About Us

IdRatherBeHere was started in the dead of winter 2006 in a condo in a complex near a lake down by a Wawa in SoJo (South Jersey). Through a connection of childhood friends and some actors from craigslist, IdRatherBeHere has grown to nine cast members and some invaluable production people. IdRatherBeHere has performed at the 2007 and 2008 Philly Fringe where they sold out every performance of their Wawapalooza series. Reviews of these shows called them "Inspired" and "Ballsy" and "Demented." This year they are performing on the mainstage at Society Hill Playhouse. In addition, they have performed at UPENN and the Adrienne Theatre, and have participated in the 48 hour film festival. Their work was recently featured in the Vagabond One-Act Play Festival as well.

Cast

Bonnie Quick

BONNIE QUICK
Bonnie is excited to be working on her third Fringe show with I’dRatherBeHere. It is rare that an actor gets to work with such a fun, committed and talented cast, just don’t tell them that!

Augustus Milligan

AUGUSTUS MILLIGAN
Gus performs everywhere he goes. He has once performed impromptu in front of 40 American University students when he re-enacted a Ben Stiller Show sketch and then dove off the stage (outdoors) . Never one to shy away from physical comedy (even without an audience), he has miraculously never been seriously injured. Yet.

Alexandra Mahon

ALEXANDRA MAHON
Alexandra is grinning from “ear to ear” to be working with the crazies at I’dRatherBeHere Productions, I mean, just look at her cast picture. Alexandra has spent her time away working on her thespian craft and....texting, a lot of texting. Alexandra’s most recent credits are “Fiddler of the Roof” Northern Burlington Middle School, “Without Strings” NBMC and “Sound of Music” Springfield School. Alexandra thinks her Dad is really cool. (My Dad made me write that).

Mala Wright

MALA WRIGHT
Mala is a seasoned actress, storyteller,and performer having appeared in over 30 films and television projects. Recent projects include WE Television’s “Cinematherapy”, “Gospel of Wonderland”, “Brunch” and “The City Is Mine”. She is a cast member of the upcoming cable series “Sistergirl!”.

Eric Balchunas

ERIC BALCHUNAS
Eric is the director/control freak for I’d Rather Be Here. In addition to that role, he has acted in a series of short films in and around the Phildelphia area. He is particularly good at playing a clueless reporter-type character.

Amanda Siebold

AMANDA SIEBOLD
Mandy is a very funny actress who is up for anything. She has acted in a variety of plays in and around Philly for eight years. She is a University of the Arts graduate and one of Bonnie Quick’s best friends

Jeff Soles

JEFF SOLES
Jeff Soles has been doing stand up since Jan 2004 all over Philly, NJ and NY. During his live act, he exudes a brand of spiteful sarcasm that is indeed endearing. His observations are ripe with general contempt for humanity, and his white trash diatribes are peppered with bitterly sarcastic amusement and wonder.

Tony Mahon

TONY MAHON
Tony is extremely happy to be working with I’d Rather Be Here Productions again! Tony is the resident “phoenix rising from the ashes”. Up until last year’s Wawapalooza, Tony hadn’t “trod the boards” of a Philadelphia stage in over 15 years. Tony remembers wistfully, “I was younger then”. Most recent credits include “Unexpected Guest” Plays and Players, “Loot” Plays and Players, “Brighton Beach Memoirs”, (you guessed right) Plays and Players. Happiness is working with his daughter, Alexandra.

Dan Plunkett

DAN PLUNKETT
I am the voice of reason around here. Also, performing with these lunatics has helped me in my presentations at work, which in turn has helped me perform, which in turn... you get the idea!

Production help for IdRatherBeHere: Trang Pham, Taka Ogawa, Janice Peal, Gisela Aydin, Rob Baker, Matt Chamberlin, Deepti Paul, Jen Berger, Abbrin Hoagland and Maria Nonemaker.

News and Events


- FEBRUARY, 2010 -

IdRatherBeHere will be shooting the short film "The Mustache"

- NOVEMBER, 2009 -

On Nov 21, Jeff Soles will be performing his stand-up routine in front of Leon Redbone at the Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville, PA. For more info click here.

On Nov 24, Eric Balchunas’ short play "The Break-Up Pitch" will be performed at the Shubin Theatre as part of the Primary Stages show. For more info click here.

- OCTOBER 28, 2009 -

IdRatherBeHere is currently casting for the short film "The Mustache". Auditions are Saturday, Nov 14th in South Philly. If interested send a resume and headshot .

IdRatherBeHere will also be performing at Helium Comedy Club on Wednesday November 18th at 8pm AND at University of Penn on December 5th and 6th.

- OCTOBER 1, 2009 -

IdRatherBeHere has started their own blog! http://idratherbehere.blogspot.com/

- SEPTEMBER 2009 -

IdRatherBeHere just finished another successful Fringe run. With average audience sizes of over 100 people, Wawapalooza 3 rocked out the mainstage of Society Hill Playhouse for 5 nights. The Last show saw a crowd of 150 and was probably the best performance of our short history. Reviews of the show called it "A fun and cheap date", "really funny" and noting that "the audience was in near constant hysterics"

- JULY 2009 -


"Wawapalooza 3: The Dark Roast" is a mix of short films and plays and will be performed this at the 2009 Fringe at Society Playhouse on the Mainstage (220 seats). 9/4,9/5,9/6, 9/18,9/19 all shows start at 8pm. Cost is $10 and includes a drink.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS!

- APRIL 2009 -

"My Inner Child Needs a Babysitter" was one of five plays selected to be performed at the One-Act Play Contest and Festival held by Vagabond Acting Troupe at L2 Restaurant on April 8,9 and 10.

IdRatherBeHere is currently writing material for Wawapalooza 3 and a full-length play about the office called "Air Golf"...stay tuned for more details!

- SEPTEMBER 2008 -

IdRatherBeHere has just finished with a 100% sold-out run of Wawapalooza 2 for five nights at the Adrienne Theatre.

Wawapalooza 2 Press:

"Biting, incisive and inspired" - Courier-Post
"Very creative" - uwishunu.com
"Demented... terrifically abnormal" - City Paper
"An artistic success" - Philadelphia Weekly

irbh background