Lantern Theater Company is opening its theater season with a production of Tom Stoppard’s The Real Thing, directed by Peter DeLaurier. Tom Stoppard’s play is a bit autobiographical as he had an affair with an actor, as his main character Henry does. Henry’s wife, Charlotte, is in the play he is writing about, and may have had an affair with Max, her lead. Henry, meanwhile, has an affair with Annie, Max’s wife. When the affairs become known, he swears undying love to Annie. There are aspects of a “play within a play” that fade in and out of Stoppard’s work. You must pay close attention, or you will wonder why certain lines of the play are repeated. The acting of all the ensemble cast members is first rate. Henry (J Hernandez) is a playwright who is dedicated to the printed word. Annie (Campbell O’Hare) is resolute, first to Henry, then to activists and their causes. Charlotte (Brett Ashley Robinson) is dedicated to several men. Brodie (Adam Howard) is dedicated to a variety of causes, and it shows through his activism), prison sentence, and poor play writing. Billy (Trevor William Fayle) is dedicated to acting well in a badly written play, as well as making an impression on Annie. Debbie (Cheyenne Parks) is dedicated to making her own way in the world with her boyfriend. There are multiple reasons to grab a ticket to see Tom Stoppard’s latest play. The Real Thing explores real themes of tastes in music, honesty, suspicion, romance, and love. The play runs through October 5, 2025, at St. Stephen’s Theater, 10^th and Ludlow Streets, Philadelphia, Pa.

 

 

 

 

            

Dogberry and Verges Are Scared

 

Michael Doherty and Will Mobley have written a new play that is directed by Matthew Decker. It has just premiered at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. Entitled Dogberry and Verges Are Scared, this fantastically funny production has the audience laughing from the moment it begins until the grand finale. Loosely based on the theme of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, Dogberry and Verges Are Scared is a constant comedic interplay between Dogberry (Scott Greer) and Verges (Anthony Lawton). On numerous occasions, Dogberry implores Verges not to speak. Anthony Lawton’s facial expressions in response are priceless. The conversations between the two are riddled with malapropisms, words that sound similar but have different meanings. When a messenger (Robi Hager) arrives and supplies the correct word, Verges argues and gives another meaning for the word that the messenger has supplied (which of course is similar but incorrect). Robi Hager and three other cast members have multiple roles in this delightful romp. Dogberry and Verges Are Scared can be seen through September 14, 2025 at Christ Church Neighborhood House 20 N. American Street. There are over 400 plays participating in the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. You won’t enjoy anything more than Dogberry and Verges Are Scared.

The 39 Steps

                                                

                                                      Jered Mclenigan, Eli Lynn, Dave Johnson 

                                                                       & Lee Minora

Lantern Theater Company is producing Patrick Barlow’s rollicking version of an old hit, fashioned after an Afred Hitchcock movie. The 39 Steps, has the audience laughing from the very first moments when a shadowed figure behind a lit screen appears like Alred Hitchcock to the last moments that end with a twist. This fast-paced route has no let-up. Hannay (Jered McLenigan) is accused of murder early on and spends the rest of the farce trying to prove his innocence and save the world from the  mysterious 39 steps.  Lee Minora portrays both the victim of murder and Pamela , who for the most part is Hannay’s nemesis. I overheard an audience member stating that “both actresses were really good.” Let that be a testament to Ms. Minora that the audience member did not realize that she was portraying both parts. Eli Lynn and Dave Johnson play a multitude of roles to perfection. The timing is superb with costume changes sometimes nothing more than a quick switch of a hat or coat. The quicker the change, the faster the audience had a reaction with chuckles, guffaws and belly laughs heard throughout the theatre all night long. The result of each design team’s efforts was extraordinary. Nowhere more than this production does, ”It takes a village,”  ring true.  Levonne Linday was responsible for the seamless costume changes of the many minor character in the productions. While  Sound Designer Christopher Colucci produced a realistic sounding train, Projection Designer Michael Long and Scenic Designer Dirk Durosette convinced everyone in the audience that the characters might actually be traveling on one. Shon Causer’s light implied the image of a train coming down the tracks. His spotlights upon suspected criminals were hysterical. The 39 Steps has been extended through June 22 and can be seen at 923 Ludlow Street in  St. Stephen’s Church Theater. Get tickets now. You’ll laugh yourselves silly.

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Rift or White Lies

                                                         Matteo Scammell & Jered McLenigan 

InterAct Theatre Company is producing the World Premiere of   Rift or White Lies by Gabriel Jason Dean through April 27, 2025.  A  Wow factor of 10!   Based on the playwright’s true story, this creation gives audience members much to ponder as two brothers, one a progressive novelist and the other a convicted murderer and member of a white supremacist gang interact in a series of meetings in a prison cell.  Actors Jered McLenigan  and Matteo Scammell are both phenomenal while playing the roles of a hardened criminal ( “ I didn’t really do it “) and an English professor/novelist.  What is even more extraordinary is that the actors switch these diametrically opposed roles every other night. Audience members who retain their tickets can come to see the actors in the reverse roles the following evening at a discount rate.   Inside and Outside Brothers refers to Inside and Outside the prison cell.  The  “Outside Brother” ages  over the 26 -year  time span of the play by adding  a wig and changing  his dress.  The  “Inside  Brother” removes the bandages from his head and jaw.  The  “Outside Brother” has the best intentions of repairing a fractured relationship .  The  “Inside Brother”  is a very convincing con-artist.    This is a very unsettling drama as the shared trauma that unites the brothers is revealed over  time.      Q & A with the Artist will be held after the performance on the 19^th and 26th.  Q & A with Seth Rozin, the director, will be held after the 13^th and 20^th performances.

 

 

 

Dream Girls

                                      Gabriella Beckford, Khalifa White & Aveena Sawyer

Dream Girls,  which won 6 Tony awards when it premiered on Broadway in 1981,  is appearing on the Walnut Street Theatre’s main stage through May 4, 2025. It is a dynamic musical inspired by the Supremes.  With over 25  songs in the production’s two acts, it is next to impossible to keep still in your seats while listening to performances of pop, R & B, disco, and other musical genres. And the dancing… Gerry McIntyre is both director and  choreographer of Dream Girls.   The choreography is excellent  throughout the show . It becomes especially notable midway through Act 1 in  the number  “Steppin’ to the Bad Side”.  It is a great number for the men in the cast. The dance moves are eye-catching.  When Effie  White, the lead singer ( Aveena Sawyer), is delegated to a spot in the back line of the Dreamgirls, Deena Jones (Gabrielle Beckford) is happy to replace her. Khalifa White ( Lorrell Robinson ),  just happily sings along, no matter who the lead singer is. Effie is eventually replaced by Michelle (Chali Cooke), but she doesn’t go happily.   Aveena Shaw has an outstanding voice and the ability to project profound grief.  She is a masterful Dream Girl . Dustin Cross has done a phenomenal job with costume design. On three separate occasions actors changed their costumes onstage by a  flip of their shoulders. The audience reacted with applause instantaneously. Kudos also go to lighting designer  Jose Santiago  who uses many lights in a variety of ways. Dream Girls will be an enjoyable trip down memory lane for some and an exciting new adventure for others. Wherever your experience lies, be sure to get your tickets for a performance for this awesome  show. For tickets or more information, visit WalnutStreetTheatre.org or Ticketmaster.com or call 215-754-3550.

OVO

Created 15 years ago, the famous show OVO ( “egg” in Portuguese ) by Cirque du Soliel will be making a stop in Philadelphia with a new version. The OVO team will be presenting the new iteration of the show: a reimagined set design, new acrobatic acts, original characters with reimagined costumes and reinvented music. Comprised of100 people from 25 different countries, including 53 artists. OVO brings to the stage high-level acrobatic acts, redefining the limits of the human body. After captivating audiences in 40 countries , OVO is returning to North America and will be at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia from July 11-13,  2025. Tickets are available at  www.cirquedusoleil/OVO.

 

Beetlejuice

 

Ensemble Arts Philly and the Shubert Organization will be presenting the return engagement of Beetlejuice.  The smash hit musical comedy will be returning by popular demand to the Academy of Music from July 29 – August 3, 2025. Tickets are on sale now for members at www.ensembleartsphilly.org  ;  tickets will be available to the general public on Friday, March 7, 2025. Based on the beloved Tim Burton film, this hilarious musical tells the story of Lydia Deetz, an unusual teenager whose whole life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and a demon with stripes. Beetlejuice won the Drama Desk Award for best Scenic Design and was nominated for eight Tony Awards, including Best New Musical when it opened in 2019 at Broadway’s Wintergarden Theatre.  The design team is phenomenal. Members of the design team are all multiple nominees or award winners of the Tony Awards or Drama Desk Awards.   Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1993 or visiting online at www.ensembleartsphilly.org . In-person tickets can be purchased daily from 10 a.m.- 6p.m.at the Academy of Music Box Office, located at 240 S. Broad Street. For more information, see  www.ensembleartsphilly.org.  

Groups of 10 or more can save money! For more information, call 215-790-5883 or email at groupsales@ensembleartsphilly.org                      .