Thursday, September 26, 2019

Ragtime

Ensemble Cast

The phenomenal production of Ragtime, triple Tony Award Winner for Best Score, Best Book and Best Orchestration in 1998 is appearing on the F. Otto Haas stage of the Arden Theatre for an extended run through October 27, 2019. Simultaneously  following the lives of an upper class white family, American immigrants and  black families at the turn of the 20th Century, themes of privilege, discrimination, prejudice,  deportation anxiety, and a desire to make a good life in America which is frequently thwarted are refrains that resonate today  over 100 years later. Ragtime is awash in fantastic choral numbers and musical arrangements.  Dual pianos play in the beginning of the production. Various actors have a turn at one of them. The other is wheeled under the stage where the music director Vince De Mura brilliantly plays the score for the entire musical while directing the other musicians and some of the soloists. The exception is a jazz number, ‘Gett’ Ready Rag,’ when another pianist surreptitiously slips onto the director’s piano bench and begins tickling the ivories. Both Kim Carson, as Mother, and Terran Scott  as Sarah have  remarkable voices that reverberate throughout the Arden’s stage. Set in the round, characters walk on and off from all points and from all angles, including up and down staircases. Scott Greer is outstanding as bigoted tough guy Willie Conklin and Nkrumah Gatling is superb in his role of the educated black musician, Coalhouse Walker who is thwarted at nearly every turn. Lovely Rachael Camp provides some comic relief as Evelyn Nesbit, the girl on the swing. This is an incredible show that shouldn’t be missed, even if you have seen previous iterations of it. I have seen it twice before and I marveled at every moment. For more information or tickets, visit www.ardentheatre.org.

Sunday, September 22, 2019

An Act of God

Kim Wayans (God)

Kim Wayans is starring in the very irreverent An Act of God at the Bristol Riverside Theater, 120 Radcliffe Street, through October 13, 2019. Kim, well known for appearances in the sketch comedy show Living Color, is accompanied by two arch angels: Peter DeLaurier (Gabriel) is well known to Philadelphia theater audiences not only for his acting but also for his directing and playwriting and Benjamin Brown (Michael) who has also appeared in several local theatres but has a history of television appearances as well. As Kim Wayans descends the staircase from heaven she announces her rare appearance in human form and in Bristol, Pennsylvania. And so starts a love affair between the audience and God. Wayans gives a cheeky 90 minute performance refuting many Bible stories. Ridiculing the possibility that two animals of every kind could fit onto Noah’s ark (“It’s a boat, for me’s sake,” she exclaims! "I really said thou shall put 2 puppies onto the ark. They will be good support animals.”) She then proceeds to rewrite and explain most of the 10 Commandments. For example, Wayans tells the audience “Thou shalt Not Take My Name in Vain” “Don’t try to seek a personal relationship with me.” she warns. “I am not a Saints fan or a Lions, fan. I am not even an Eagles fan. I do not care who wins the game and I do not influence the games’ outcome. The same thing is true for celebrities. They try to thank me for their success. I have nothing to do with it. I don’t help one person over another.” Another interesting commandment to be noted is: “Thou shall not tell me what to do.” Wayans opines. “I am tired of hearing: ‘God Bless You,’ ‘God Bless America’, ‘God Forbid’ or ‘God Dammit’.” Angel Michael periodically runs into the audience with questions for God. Kim Wayans ends her extraordinary performance with a final commandment: "Thou Shalt Believe in Thyself." For  more information or tickets to this funny experience, call 215-785-0100 or  visit www.brtstage.org.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

RENT returns to Philadelphia

Ensemble Cast
RENT RETURNS TO PHILADELPHIA

FOR AN ENCORE ENGAGEMENT

OF 20TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR

OCTOBER 18-20

        PRODUCTION WILL LAUNCH 2019-2020 BROADWAY SEASON

                     Local Philly cast member & former
                     Kimmel Center  Showstoppers
                     musical theater student starring
                                   in lead role!



RENT's cast features Philadelphia native Shafiq Hicks as Tom Collins and University of the Arts graduate Lexi Greene, who is a member of the ensemble and understudy for the role of Maureen Johnson. Shafiq performed as a member of the Kimmel Center’s musical theater ShowStoppers program and also attended the Kimmel Center’s Jazz Camp. He graduated from the Philadelphia High School for the Performing Arts and is a student at Temple University when he is not on tour. RENT follows a year in the lives of seven struggling artists. The production won the 1996 Tony Award Best Musical as well as the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It is recommended for an audience of ages 13 and older. Performances will be held in the Merriam Theater on Friday October 18, 2019 at 8:00 p.m., Saturday, October 19, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, October 20, 2019 at 1:00 P.M. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, visiting www.kimmelcenter.org. or the Kimmel Box Office. A limited number of seats in the first two rows of the orchestra will be available for $25 (cash only) for each performance of RENT. The tickets are available at the Merriam box office, located at 250 S. Broad Street, on the day of each performance, two hours prior to the show. The $25 tickets are limited to two tickets per person while supplies last. 




Young Frankenstein

Ben Dibble & Alanna J. Smith

Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein The Musical is appearing on the mainstage of the Walnut Street Theatre, 825 Walnut Street, through October 20, 2019. Not only does this revised version of the London hit have two additional musical numbers and revisions written by Mel Brooks himself, this iteration makes it first appearance on an American stage at Walnut Street Theatre. No one writes a funnier script than Mel Brooks and if his original script and score weren’t funny enough, Dr. Frankenstein's fiancĂ©’ (Casey Elizabeth Gill)  belting out “Please Don’t Touch Me” had the audience howling in its tribute to the ME TOO movement.  Walnut Street Theatre’s deep stage allows several scenes to be set simultaneously but the manner in which they are switched is magnificent. Whether going from a train track to the woods in Transylvania or from the woods in Transylvania to Castle Frankenstein, the change is seamless and can scarcely be noticed. Young Frankenstein The Musical has a little bit of everything. There is a bit of slap-stick, as when the book case turns around 3 or 4 revolutions before Dr. Frankenstein and Inga determine its secret formula. A tap dance routine is very nicely choreographed.  There is the monster, of course, wonderfully portrayed by Dan Olmstead. The biggest surprise of the performance is how he can be so agile in his enormous platform shoes!  Fran Prisco is a marvelous blind hermit with his heart-wrenching “Someone”.  Mary Martello (Frau Blucher) always lights up every stage she enters and continues to do so as she serves as housekeeper for Dr. Frankenstein. Luke Bradt (Igor) comically portrays the hunched back (?) sidekick who is always on hand with advice. Alanna J. Smith does an exceptional job of portraying Inga, the frisky lab assistant who wants to assist Dr. Frankenstein with more than his lab work. Ben Dibble is superb in his role of Dr. Frederick Frankenstein. This is perhaps his best portrayal to date. The musical score must be right in his voice range as he has never sounded better. The sets are remarkable, thanks to scenic designer Robert Kovach. The work of lighting designer Charlie Morrison’s adds excitement to the production. For more information or tickets, call 215-574-3550, 800-982-2787, or visit online at www.WalnutStreetTheatre.org or Ticketmaster.