Back To The Future

 

Ensemble Arts Philly and the Shubert Organization will present the Philadelphia Premiere of Back to the Future: The Musical at the Academy of Music November 18 – 30, 2025. This production is based on the wildly successful Back to the Future film trilogy created by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale. Tickets for the musical are on sale now at www.ensembleartsphilly.org.

Back to the Future: The Musical follows Marty McFly, rock ‘n’ roll teenager, who is accidently transported back in time to 1955 in a time-traveling DeLorean. Before he can return to 1985, Marty must make sure his high school-aged parents fall in love to ensure his own existence.

The production is directed by Tony Award winner John Rando and features a multi-Tony and Oliver Award-winning design team. The musical has a book by Bob Gale and new music and lyrics by Emmy and Grammy-winning Alan Silvestri and six-time Grammy Award-winning Glen Ballard.

Back to the Future: The Musical has been an international success. It has been playing for four years in London’s West End. It recently premiered in Tokyo and Sidney and is slated to open in Hamburg, Germany in March 2026. How fortunate it is to have it slated for Philadelphia in November 2025 !

Tickets can be purchased online at www.ensembleartsphilly.org, by calling 215-893-1999, or by visiting in person at the Academy of Music Box Office (240 S. Broad Street) daily from 10:a.m. – 6:p.m. For more information, visit www.ensembleartsphilly.org. Groups of 10 or more can save money by calling 215-790-5883 or  emailing  groupsales@ensembleartsphilly.org. 

Hadestown

 Ensemble Arts Philly and the Shubert Theatre Organization are presenting the return of Hadestown, back by popular demand, from December 2- 7, 2025 at the Forrest Theatre. The winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards, including Best New Musical and the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album; Hadestown invites audiences on a journey to the underworld and back. Visit www.ensembleartsphilly.org  to purchase tickets.

Hadestown was the most honored show of the 2018-2019 Broadway season. In addition to the show’s eight Tony Awards, the show has also been honored with four Drama Desk Awards, six Outer Critics Circle awards, including Outstanding New Broadway Musical, and the Drama League Award for Outstanding Production of a Musical. The Grammy winning Hadestown Original Cast Recording is now available at Hadestown.com/music.

Visit www.ensembleartsphilly.org to purchase tickets or Telecharge at 800-543-4835.

In person tickets can be purchased at the Forret Theatre Box Office, located at 114 Walnut Street, Monday thru Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Group orders may be placed by calling Broadway Inbound at 866-302-0995.

Million Dollar Quartet

                           Carl Perkin, Jerry Lee Lewis, Dyanne, Johnny  Cash & Elvis Presley

The Walnut Street Theatre is presenting Million Dollar Quartet on their main stage through November 2. The Million Dollar Quartet is inspired by actual events that took place on December 4, 1956, at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee. Sun Records founder, Sam Phillips (Fran Prisco), brought the group of legendary musicians together – Johnny Cash (Ken Sandberg), Jerry Lee Lewis (Brian Michael Henry), Carl Parkins (Paul Harrold), and Elvis Presley (Matteo Scammell). Elvis  brought his girfriend Dyanne (Kathryn Brunner)because she could sing.  What happens next is a “feel good” production. There is a smattering of dialogue amongst Sam and the musicians, but it is mostly  the actors taking turns singing one “50’s” hit after another – “ Blue Suede Shoes,” “Down By the Riverside,” “Hound Dog,” and See You Later Alligator“ among them. Those are only a few of the reasons to come to see this show. Jon Rossi and Steve Harding are outstanding backup to the group with drums and bass. When Ken Sandberg sings, you can close your eyes and imagine Jonny Cash on the stage. Brian Michael Henry is an outstanding Jerry Lee Lewis. Not only is he a comedic actor; he is a phenomenal piano player. AND…. The show is not over when you think it is over! For tickets, visit WalnutStreetTheatre.org or Ticketmaster.com or call 215-574-3550.

                   

Kimberly Akimbo

 

Ensemble Art Philly is presenting the Philadelphia Premiere of the 2023 Tony Award Winning Best Musical, Kimberly Akimbo. This new musical, also the winner of four other Tony Awards and numerous other acclamations, including the Drama Desk Award and the New York Critic Circle Awards, will appear at the Academy of Music from October 21 – November 2, 2025. Kimberly is about to turn 16 and has recently moved with her family to a new town in suburban New Jersey. In this extraordinarily funny and yet hold-your-breath sad moment show, Kim must find her way through family dysfunction, a rare genetic condition, her first crush, and possible felony charges. Ever an optimist, she is determined to find happiness against all odds and embark on a great adventure.

Kimberly opened on Broadway to rave reviews on November 10, 2022. Tickets can be purchased online at www.ensembleartsphilly.org , by calling 215-803-1999- or in person visit to the Academy of Music Box Office ( 240 S. Broad Street ) daily from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.ensembleartsphilly.org.

 

 

  

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.

l