Beauty and the Beast

 

Ensemble Arts Philly and the Shubert Organization is announcing Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, the first North American touring production of the musical presented by Disney in over 25 years. It will begin performances in Philadelphia, Pa. at the Academy of Music on February 11, 2026, for a limited engagement of 2 weeks through February 22, 2026. Beauty and the Beast, adapted from the 1991 Oscar-winning film, debuted on Broadway in 1994 and remains the 10th longest running show in its history. Nominated for nine Tony Awards, winning best Costume Design, Beauty remains one of the highest grossing Broadway shows of all time. 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) from 10 AM- 6 PM. For more information, visit www.ensembmleartsphilly.org.

 

The Lady Hoofers - The Tapcrackers

                                                                Youth Ensemble

 The Lady Hoofers is a group of 40 women tap dancers comprised of first company dancers, apprentice dancers, and a youth ensemble. For one weekend only at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, they performed their unique interpretation of the Nutcracker Suite on tap shoes rather than ballet or point and it was known as The Tapcracker. After 15 years, the group now has its own portable wood floor which makes the taps resound more profoundly. Although most of the music was Tchaikovsky’s, there were some variations. The story-line of the Tapcracker deviated from the traditional Nutcracker, in that Clara didn’t fall asleep and dream of the March of the Toy Soldiers or the Sugar Plum Fairies but she is taken to Paris by her mother where she sees the march of real soldier guards and a jazz version of the Sugan Plum Fairy done by grey mice with pink ears and long tails. She has adventures in the Eiffel Tower and Versailles with friendly mice. The Waltz of The Flowers was beautifully orchestrated by a snowball fight with cotton “snowballs” thrown. The choreography was outstanding throughout.

Why am I writing about a group whose performance has come and gone? They are just too good to miss. I spoke to the mother of one of the mice. Her daughter is 10 years old and has been with the ensemble for 2 years. When I asked her how long she has been dancing, she said that her daughter has been dancing since she was 3 years old. Hopefully The Tapcracker will return next year, and you can see this marvelous holiday rendition for yourself, but in the meantime, open your 2026 calendar and save the date Saturday, May 9, 2026, for the Spring Concert Series. The Lady Hoofers will be appearing at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts at 2:00 & 7:00 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at ladyhoofers.org

Clue

Clue, the hilarious murder mystery comedy inspired by the Hasbro board game and adapted from the fan-favorite film, will make its Philadelphia premiere on January 20 through 25 at the Forrest Theatre. Philadelphia area cast member Madeline Raube, from West Chester, Pennsylvania, will star in the role of “Mrs. Peacock,” one of the suspects in the murder mystery.

Murder and blackmail are on the menu when six mysterious guests gather at Boddy Manor for a night they’ll never forget. Was it Mrs. Peacock in the study with a knife? Or was it Colonel Mustard in the library with a wrench? Based on the fan-favorite 1985 Paramount Pictures movie and inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, Clue is the ultimate whodonit that will leave you crying with laughter and guessing until the final twist. Clue is based on the screenplay by Jonathon Lynn. Written by Sandy Rustin with material by Hunter Foster and Eric Price. It features original music by Michael Holland.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.ensembleartsphilly.org or via Telecharge at 800-543-4835.

In-person tickets can be purchased at the Forrest Theatre Box Office, located at 1114 Walnut Street, Monday through Friday from 10: a.m. to 6: p.m. Group orders may be placed by calling Broadway Inbound at 866-302-0995.

For more show information, visit www.clueliveonstage.com

This Is The Week That Is 20th Anniversary Special

 

1812 Productions presents This is The Week That Is 20^th Anniversary Special through December 31, 2025. Every member of the ensemble, Newton Buchanan, Lee Minora, Connor McAndrews, Pax Ressler, Lexi Thammavong, and Robyn Unger adds their own spark of brilliance to this extraordinarily entertaining performance. While the company has been engaging in political humor and social satire for 20 years, this production is the most sophisticated and delightful one ever  presented. Movie Sequels sequences require quick change of costume and videography. Ineffectuals is the least effective of several. It stars Superheroes who are incapable of deciding anything and cannot live up to their name. It is amusing unless you are waiting for health care coverage to be passed. The Twilight Zone brings out several chuckles from the audience. A Congresswoman stops into a Cracker Barrel in dire need of a bathroom but needs reassurance that the bathrooms are assigned to the sex at birth. When it has been discovered that aliens have stolen toilets from the Women’s room, a difficult decision arises. Also popular with the audience is a Back to the Future sequence wherein a teenager and her Grandpa do dance routines and then ride a scooter back to older decades, only to discover that wherever she travels, her parents’ arguments are the same and no one celebrates her birthday. Lee Minora replaces long-time news desk anchor Dave Jadico and she is excellent. Lexi Thammavong is adorable as Lee interviews her as a young TikTok influencer. Patsy (Jen Childs) is on the stoop via video, but I have received feedback that people have missed seeing her read “’T’was the Night Before Christmas” live. Next year Jen. For tickets or more information for this exceptional show call 215-592-9560 or go onlinline at info@1812productions.org. 

A CHRISTMAS STORY The Musical

                                   

                             A triple-dog-dare on the playground results in a frozen tongue

Walnut Street Theatre is presenting its holiday show, A CHRISTMAS STORY The Musical, on its main stage through January 4. Ralphie, played by Tyler Jai Knowles on opening night, leads a talented ensemble of children in this comic musical countdown to Christmas. He is obsessed with getting a RED RYDER CARBINE ACTION BB GUN for Christmas and plots various scenarios to help him get his wish. Of course, he meets obstacles along the way, and a variety of sub-plots grab the audience’s attention. The musical numbers are catchy (“Ralphie to the Rescue’s” choreography is excellent as are the costumes. There are frequent little scene changes in “Ralphie to the Rescue” and they are done seamlessly. The choreography in “A Major Award” is brilliant with false legs interacting with the can-can dancers. “You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out” is a surprise tap routine that is astonishingly breathtaking. John Farrell has designed an excellent set with a two-story house so that Ralphie and his brother Randy (Kieran Gallagher) can go upstairs to their bedrooms. The house can slip back so that other scenes may play on a clear stage in front of it. This is a joyous holiday production on many levels. It is a perfect show for the whole family, particularly upper elementary students and older. For tickets and information, visit WalnutStreetTheatre.org or Ticketmaster or call 215-574-3550.

Walden

                                       Campbell  O'Hare, Alice Yorke  & Newton Buchanan

                                           

                                            

 Interact Theatre Company is presenting the Philadelphia Premier of Walden through November 23, 2025. Set sometime in the not-too distant future, the earth is ravaged by tsunamis followed by news reports of millions of deaths, and earthquakes with comparable results. Scientists are actively trying to discover ways to colonize other habitats and “start over,” being kinder to the climate. Earth Advocates are trying to save this planet, against all odds, by returning to nature, spurning the use of electricity, and growing their own food. Campbell  O'Hare portrays Cassie, a NASA astronaut who has just returned from a moon mission and appears to visit her sister twin sister in a remote cabin. Alice Yorke beautifully  beautifully portray Stella, Cassie's twin, and the confused ex-NASA architect who isn’t sure whether to stay with her simple life or return to work with NASA. Newton Buchanan remains steadfast in his beliefs as Bryan. He is committed to his fiance Stella, but even more committed to his life as an Earth Advocate. All three actors portray believable characters and each one’s point of view presents a valid conundrum. As usual with the plays presented at InterAct, this one ends with a cliff hanger. You must buy a ticket to see this breathtaking performance.

https://ci.ovationtix.com/35072/production/1232767?performanceld=11608142

 

Macbeth

                                                      Karen Peakes -  Lady Macbeth

Lantern Theater Company is presenting William Shakespere’s Macbeth through December7, 2025, at St. Stephen’s Theater at 10^th and Ludlow Streets, Philadelphia, Pa. One of the powerful elements of the Lantern Theater Company is its ability to alter its stage at the theater. The seating is flexible. For this production, seating is on two sides of the stage only. The floor of the stage emulates tiles and barriers are built along the sides of the stage to indicate the sides of castles. Anthony Lawton is one of the most accomplished actors in the Philadelphia region. Casting Karen Peakes against him as Lady Mabeth was brilliant. The two are excellent in their roles; their voices project; you can feel their oncoming madness. Every actor is outstanding in his role as well. Frank X plays the original king who is deposed and he also plays multiple other parts. Jered McLenigan  well-plays the dual roles of McDuff. The weird sisters Rachael Brodeur, Eli Lynn and Amanda Schoonover make several appearances and are fleet of foot as they quickly disappear as the lights go out. The scene changes are numerous and are very tight. As some actors exit from one side of the stage, other actors enter from the other side. There are frequent flashes of light and accompanying sounds thanks to the superb work of Lighting Designer Shon Causer and Sound Designer Christopher Colucci. For tickets to this excellent production, call (215) 829-0395 or visit online at www.lanterntheater.org.