$content rendering as code

having an issue using a custom theme layout. when I use a pre-installed theme, the $content variable renders out fine. However, when I default to my "custom" theme, the $content variable renders out the following code (instead of HTML content):

stdClass Object ( [nid] => 6 [type] => page [language] => en [uid] => 1 [status] => 1 [created] => 1236117280 [changed] => 1236196311 [comment] => 0 [promote] => 0 [moderate] => 0 [sticky] => 0 [tnid] => 0 [translate] => 0 [vid] => 6 [revision_uid] => 1 [title] => News [body] =>

this is our first news item

this is our summary of the news item

[log] => [revision_timestamp] => 1236196311 [format] => 2 [name] => root [picture] => [data] => a:1:{s:18:"admin_compact_mode";b:0;} [path] => news [taxonomy] => Array ( ) [build_mode] => 0 [readmore] => [content] => Array ( [body] => Array ( [#weight] => 0 [#value] =>

this is our first news item

this is our summary of the news item

[#title] => [#description] => [#printed] => 1 ) [#title] => [#description] => [#children] =>

this is our first news item

this is our summary of the news item

[#printed] => 1 ) [links] => Array ( ) )

All other variables $mission, $head_title, etc. render out perfectly on the page. Issue is only with $content variable.