Gypsy

Mary Martello as Mama Rose

Philadelphia theater-goers have a relationship with their favorite actors. When one of their own, the iconic, multiple Barrymore Award® winner Mary Martello was announced as the lead in Arden’s  spring production of Gypsy, tickets sales began to  soar and performances began to “sell out”. The Arden Theatre company, located at 40 N. 2^{nd Street}Olde City, Philadelphia, soon had to announce an extension of the run through June 25, 2017, before the show even opened! Mary Martello does not disappoint. She brings the house down with her very first rendition of “Some People”.   Every musical number thereafter has a wow factor of 10+. Anthony Heald, as Herbie is her perfect foil as they romanticize, "Small World."  Ms. Martello is not alone in doling out outstanding performances. Caroline Dooner, as Louise, emits a beautifully soulful “Little Lamb” and Rachel Camp, as June, belts out a delightful duet with Louise as they harmonize to “If Momma Was Married”.  Alexa Hunt gives an extraordinary performance as Baby June. We let her entertain us as she sings, dances, and splits across the stage. There is no end to show-stopping moments in this production. Maliki Akil’s solo dance routine is breath-taking. Caroline Dooner's portrayal of "Gypsy Rose Lee" is magnificent. The video and sound designs of Jorge Cousineau and lighting of Thom Weaver are Barrymore-worthy. And did I mention Mary Martello? The perfect pitch of each song, the dancing across the stage,and the incredible acting all point to a sixth Barrymore for Ms. Martello. What a performance! What a show!  What a production! Get your tickets while they are still available. Call 215-922-1122 or visit www.ardentheatre.org. 

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM EXTENDED

Arden Theatre Company Announces

One-Week Extension for

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

Show now runs through April 15, 2017

The Arden Theatre Company will extend the run of William Shakespeare’s A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM through April 15, 2017.  The show was originally scheduled to close on Sunday, April 9^th. Three 10:00 a.m. student performances and four public performances have been added.  A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM is  Shakespeare’s most beloved comedy, with an enchanted forest and fairies, humans and amateur actors putting on a play. Additional performances  include Tuesday, April 11 – 10 a.m, Wednesday, April 12 – 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., Thursday April 13-10 a.m., Friday April 14 – 8 p.m., Saturday April 15 – 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. For tickets, call 215-922-1122, visit www.ardentheatre.org, or walk up at the box office at 40 N. 2^nd Street in Old City, Philadelphia.

The Legend of Georgia McBride

Dito van Reigerberg,  Matteo
 Schammell , Mikéah Ernest Jennings

The Arden Theatre Company, located at 40 N. 2^nd Street, is presenting Matthew Lopez’s The Legend of Georgia McBride on its Arcadia Stage through November 27, 2016. With the inimitable Dito van Reigersberg playing Miss Tracy Mills drag queen par excel lance, and Mikéah Ernest Jennings playing Rexy, a somewhat drunken drag queen, what could entice Casey (Matteo Scammer) to forego his beloved Elvis act and go on stage in drag?... certainly not his pregnant wife Jo (Jessica Johnson) but perhaps a paycheck from the club owner Eddie (Damien J. Wallace). This is a hilarious and engaging show. When Casey first puts on a wig and dress and has to lip sync an Edith Piaf song he doesn’t know, Tracy Mills helps out in wings with a bit of advice: “Just say watermelon mother f…. and no one will know the difference.  When you come to the chorus, sing, padum, padum, padum…” Success breeds success as Casey develops his own persona of Georgia McBride, refashioning his dazzling Elvis jumpsuit and adding glitzy heels and a countrified air. The jazzy costume changes are completed almost as quickly and as frequently as the detailed set changes. Tracy Mills makes a flamboyant entrance from behind the top tier of seats and shimmies her way onto the stage, lip syncing and flirting with the audience on her way. The entire ensemble cast is fabulous. The set and design by Jorge Cousineau, the costume design by Olivera Gajic, the lighting design by Maria Shaplin, and the choreography by Melanie Cotton fuse to make this production legendary. It is an outstanding night of pure fun. For more information or tickets, call 215-922-1122; visit online at www.ardentheatre.org, or walk-up at the box office, 40 N. 2^nd Street.

The Summer Club

Jeff Coons & The Summer Club

Arden Theatre Company presents

The Summer Club

Jeff Coon and Company Swing Into the Arden

on Monday, June 27, at 7 pm

The Arden Theatre Company, located at 40 N. 2^nd Street, is presenting THE SUMMER CLUB on Monday June 27 at 7 pm on the F. Otto Haas Stage. THE SUMMER CLUB is a nightclub style cabaret reminiscent of the days of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, featuring a 17 piece orchestra with a Big Band sound. Performing on June 27^th are THE SUMMER CLUB regulars Jeff Coon, JP Dunphy, Michael Philip O’Brien and Fran Prisco.  Special guests for the evening include Tony Braithwaite, Rachel Brennan, Elena Camp, Rachel Camp, and Kristine Fraelich.  Original orchestrations are by Music Director Larry Lees.  Now in its third season, THE SUMMER CLUB was born out of the love that Jeff Coon has for the songs and artists he listened to at his Grandma’s house when he was growing up. He always wanted to sing the songs that Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. made famous. Coon says that it is not a tribute show for the artists of The Rat Pack but more about “the gibes, their easy friendship and the way they came together to do a number.” THE SUMMER CLUB performs most of their concerts at the Jersey shore with performances each summer in both Avalon and Cape May, New Jersey. The Arden concert kicks off their summer season and is followed by a concert in Cape May on July 23 and two concerts in Avalon on July 30 and August 5. For more information or tickets, call 215-922-1122, visit online at www.ardentheatre.org or visit the box office at 40 N 2^nd Street in Old City Philadelphia. 

Passion

Jennie Eisenhower, Ben Michael
& Liz Filios

The Arden Theatre Company, located at 40 N. 2^nd Street in Philadelphia is presenting Stephen Sondheim’s Passion on its F. Otto Haas Stage through June 28. A 1994 Tony Award winner of Best Musical, Passion is worth every bit of the acclaim it received 21 years ago. In the opening number, Clara, portrayed by Jennie Eisenhower and Giorgio portrayed by Ben Michael sing of a love so all-encompassing that it brings nothing but happiness to their lives. When Giorgio gets reassigned to a remote military post, he promises to write every day and much of their story is told in letters sung to each other. Thom Weaver, as lighting designer, displays his genius, as each character is highlighted when coming forward to sing in the spotlight and then fading out when done. Scenic and video designer Jorge Cousineau also displays his brilliance with his video projections and set designs behind moving panels. The frequent scene changes are seamless. The ensemble of military men break into song at the drop of a hat and the melodies that spill from their mouths are incredible. The harmonies they produce are riveting. Fosca, passionately portrayed by Liz Filios, is a cousin to one of officers of the post. Her obsession with Giorgio nearly drives him mad. His rage is palpable, yet his feelings for her are undeniably deep.  In a fantastic Sondheim moment, Fosca sings, the same lyrics to Giorgio near the end of the tale that Clara sang to him in the beginning. For more information or tickets to this incredible musical tale of desire, yearning, hunger, ache and heartache, call 215-922-1122 or visit online at www.ardentheatre.org or walk up to the box office at 40 N. 2^nd Street.

Three Sisters

ensemble cast in dining room

The Arden Theatre Company, located at 40 N. 2^nd Street, will be presenting an adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters through April 20.  A star-studded ensemble cast plays the multitude of characters in Chekhov’s 4 Act play.  Acts  1 and 2 have the effect of a  play within a play with wide angle and close-up camera shots of the characters on stage being directed and filmed, then projected onto a large screen. This effect is not used after intermission.  Perhaps because of this, the second half of the play is easier to follow, or perhaps it is easier to follow because the characters have become more familiar. Chekhov writes three dimensional characters and the actors do a brilliant job of portraying them. Rebecca Gibel convincingly gives Natasha an acerbic tongue.  Luigi Sottile, as Andre, brother to the three Prozorov sisters, displays two personalities-one drunk and one sober. Sarah Sanford portrays the oldest sister Olga.  Usually stoic and straight-laced, she can display a venomous temper when crossed. Katherine Powell portrays the middle sister Masha who is unhappy but changes personality completely when she finds happiness. Younger sister Irina is portrayed by Mary Tuomanen.  Her character changes the least.  This is a play depicting great longing and unrealized dreams.  Discontent lives within almost every character;  each one wants something she does not have.   Returning to Moscow   and what was once a more aristocaratic life appears to be a panacea for the three sisters but somehow, it is always just a little bit out of reach . Marriages occur, marriagies fail, liasons are thwarted…is there no way out of this malaise?  Ask Scott Greer who plays the doctor.  He claims he’s forgotten everything he has ever known and he just doesn’t care anymore. Surely the play can’t end on such a dismal note.  It really doesn’t, but you’ll have to come see that for yourself. Much acclaimed scenic designer Eugene Lee has made excellent use of partitions on the stage, creating two rooms and steps leading on and off the stage as actor leave and enter with great frequency.  Three Sisters is an epic piece and one review can’t do it justice. You must come to the Arden and see for yourself what the creative team had done with this masterpiece. For more information or tickets, call 215-922-1122 or visit online at ardentheatre.org.  

The Happiest Song Plays Last

Staged reading

In conjunction with its production of Water By the Spoonful, The Arden Theatre Company, located at 40 N. 2^nd Street, conducted a staged reading of the first and third plays in the trilogy written by the very talented playwright Quiara Algria Hudes. The first one, A soldier’s Fugue, was set prior to the events occurring in Water By the Spoonful.  The Happiest Song Plays Last follows two of the major characters after the death of a family member.  As the staged reading occurred on a Monday night, the theatre was “dark.” but Water…..is still in production.  It is very appropriate that the reading occurs on this set as characters can be set apart with their chairs and script stands on two different levels, delineating Philadelphia and Jordan.  This was very helpful to the audience    Armando Batista who plays Elliot in Water…. and Maia De Santi who plays his cousin Yaz read those parts in the reading. Yaz speaks from her old neighborhood in North Philadelphia. Elliot is adding his soldier's expertise to a movie role in Jordon. An appreciative audience also enjoyed the reading of Rasha Zamamiri who portrayed Shar, an actress on the set in Jordon with Elliot.  Damien Wallace gave an incredible performance as a slow-witted person that Yaz had adopted.  Hudes’ third play in her trilogy is currently playing in NYC at the Second Stage Theatre where Water By the Spoonful played before it.  Hopefully the Arden will be able to bring it to Philadelphia sometime in the near future.  Be sure to watch out for it.

Water By The Spoonful

chat room for recovering narcotic addicts

The Arden Theatre, located at 40 N 2^nd Street, is presenting Water By The Spoonful, the middle play of Quiara Algria Hudes’ trilogy, through March 16 on its Arcadia Stage.  It is easy to get lost in the beginning of the show as the emphasis shifts from two cousins to unrelated people logging in and out of a chat room.  By the end of the first act a common thread appears leading to an “aha” moment. Such a moment is not necessary to appreciate the brilliance with which Hudes tells her tale. While the piece is set in Philadelphia, Puerto Rico, Japan and California, the primary setting is cyber-space.in a chat room for recovering narcotics abusers.  Very real emotional ties are forged and bonds formed amongst those who regularly support each other online. It is when the physical world and the cyber world come head-to-head that apple carts are upset. Water By the Spoonful is a very powerful work and each member of the ensemble cast gives a commanding performance.  The set is stark but allows actors’ movement throughout the entire stage area and encourages audiences to use their imagination when envisioning the different scenes.  This was a 2012 Pulitzer Prize winning play.  Don’t miss an opportunity to see it. A reading of the first work in the trilogy, Eliot, A Soldier's Fugue, will be held on Monday February 24 and a reading of the final part of the trilogy, The Happiest Song Plays Last will be read at the Arden on Monday, March 10.  For more information or tickets, call 215-922-1122 or visit online at www.ardentheatre.org. 

Stick Fly

porch and kitchen of Vineyard home

Arden Theatre Company, located at 40 N. 2^nd Street, is presenting Lydia Diamond’s Stick Fly through December 22.  Philadelphia is a wonderful place to enjoy great theatre this year and the Arden Theatre is the spot to go to see two smash hits.  Parade, playing on its F. Otto Haas stage was discussed earlier. Stick Fly just opened on its Arcadia Stage.  This powerful drama with its bouts of humor takes us on a whirlwind journey into the mindsets of members of an African American family and their girlfriends’ .during a weekend in the family home on Martha’s Vineyard.  Diamond has provided a fascinating study in group dynamics and the Arden Theatre Company has put together a cast and design team that highlights her acerbic wit and dynamic script.  Scenic Designer David Gordon has provided an authentic Vineyard set. The intricate plot is composed of a series of vignettes, aptly separated by music and lighting changes, thanks to the incredible work of designers Robert Kaplowitz and Thom Weaver.  You may need a scoreboard to keep up with the serpentine twists and ever-changing alliances in this dysfunctional family, but members of this outstanding ensemble cast deliver the intricate plot lines seamlessly. Join U.R (Flip LeVay), Julianna Zinkel (his girlfriend Kimber),  Biko Eisen-Martin (Kent LeVay),  Jessica Frances Dukes (his girlfriend Taylor),  Jerome Preston Bates (Joe LeVay) and Joniece Abbott-Pratt who portrays Cheryl in this excellent production.  For more information or tickets, call 215-922-1122 or visit online at www.ardentheatre.org

 

Parade

Ben Dibble as Leo Frank in courtroom

The Arden Theatre Company, located at 40 N. 2^nd Street, Old City, Philadelphia, is producing Parade through November 3.  Playwright Alfred Uhry was inspired to tell the true story of a Jewish factory manager in Georgia who is accused of murdering a young girl.   Uhry’s great uncle actually owned the factory where the murder took place.  Audience members can get a glimpse of the Southern culture in Atlanta throughout the early 1900’s, which was unsympathetic to Jews as well as Yankees .  Leo Frank, unfortunately, was a member of both groups. Artistic Director Terrence J. Nolan and scenic and video designer Jorge Cousineau worked brilliantly together to turn a minimalistic stage into multiple scenic backgrounds through the use of a large projection screen.  In addition, the screen is used to scream out headlines from a variety of newspapers of the day and to announce dates, denoting the passage of time.   Although this is not a musical with lyrics that will have you singing on your way out of the theatre, the music serves to move the story along and the harmonies are very strong  The fifteen member cast reads like a who’s who of Philadelphia musical theatre.  Ben Dibble, Rachel Camp, Scott Greer, Anthony Lawton, and Jennie Eisenhower are only a few of the actors whose voices fill the stage.  Much of the singing is acappella and all fifteen voices are forceful. This is not a show for the faint of heart but a heartfelt drama that will leave you reeling at the end of the final curtain. It is like no parade that you have ever seen.  You may not want to join those who are in it, but you won’t want to let it pass you by.  For more information or tickets, call 215-922-1122 or visit online at www.ardentheatre.org. 

A Little Night Music

The Arden Theatre Company, located at 40 N 2^nd Street in Olde City, Philadelphia, is presenting Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music on its F. Otto Haas stage through June 30. With Grace Gonglewski, as Desiree Arfmfeldt, Ben Dibble, as Count Carl-Magnus, and Christopher Patrick Mullen as Fredrik Egerman leading the cast of 15, The Arden’s 25^th Season is ending with a colossal bang!  The 5 member chorus brings not only class but clarity to the production.  Their voices ring with the quality of an operetta as they set the stage for the action throughout. Thanks to costume designer Rosemarie E. McKelvey, their formal attire sets a grand tone.  Scenic Designer James Kronzer in conjunction with lighting Designer Thom Weaver, have done a masterful work with the set. The frequent scenes changes are made seamlessly.  Actors move back and forth across the stage, belting out one Sondheim tune after another, while scene after scene is highlighted.  Aside from Sondheim’s well known, “Send in the Clowns”, the lyrics may be unfamiliar, demanding strict attention from the audience to follow the story line. Every minute of attention paid is well worth the effort, for this is a marvelous production, one of the highlights of this theatre season.  For more information or tickets, call 215-922-1122 or visit online at www.ardentheatre.org.

Pinocchio

Gepetto making Pinocchio

The Arden Theatre, located at 40 N. 2^nd Street is presenting Greg Banks’ version of Pinocchio, based on the story by Carlo Collodi. It will be performed on its Arcadia Stage through June 23. If giggles are any meter of a run’s success, this show is destined to be a phenom.  My young granddaughter was absolutely delighted with the performance and it’s hard for me to say what thrilled me more- her reaction or the absolute ingenuity of this production.  Built upon a theatre’s construction site, the audience reacts to a foreman’s requests to go home with demands to see Pinocchio.  A very humorous 10 minute give and take with the audience ensues with construction workers demanding that they be allowed to do their job and the audience waving their programs as proof that they are, indeed, in the right place to see a show. Laughter abounds.  Children plea.  The foreman relents and cajoles his men to “tell the audience the story” and so the familiar tale begins.  All props are items that can be found at a construction site.  Thanks to the excellent efforts of scenic designer Tom Gleeson, costume designer Lauren Perigard, lighting designer Jim Leitner and sound designer Daniel Perelstein everything works.  The special effects astound the kids.There is a question and answer period at the end of each performance when children  have an opportunity to ask cast members questions about the production. They can meet and greet cast members after the show.  If you can find a child to take to this production, grab him and watch his joy.  If not, treat yourself to the last presentation of the 15^th season of The Arden’s Children’s Theatre.  If you have never been to a production of  Arden's  Children's Theatre, you will discover  why it is a real treat.  For more information or tickets, call 215-922-1122 or visit online at www.ardentheatre.org.

Endgame

The Arden theatre, located at 40 N. 2nd Street in Olde City is presenting Samuel Beckett’s Endgame on its Arcadia stage through March 12. Anyone who is familiar with Samuel Beckett knows that his work is minimalistic and open to interpretation. There are talk-backs scheduled for the end of each performance (it is a one act play and thus is not lengthy) to encourage audience members to share their interpretations about what they have seen on the stage and to have a dialogue with the assistant director and each other about the set, characters, and over-all message of Beckett’s play. The set is painted in nebulous shades of gray. Although Beckett wrote this piece over 50 years ago, the set was built to suggest a collapsed garage of the World Trade Center after 9/11 in order to give the piece a more contemporary feel and more relevancy.  The underlining structure of this story delves into people's lives; how they relate to each other after tragedy and how they unwittingly need each other. Everyone has his own story yet isn’t really listening to or perhaps isn’t able to listen to the others. Scott Greer portrays Hamm, the character who is in command although he can neither see nor move on his own  and James Ijames portrays Clov, the younger man that Hamm saved as boy . Nancy Boykin and Dan Kern, real- life husband and wife, portray Hamm’s parents who live in  trash cans.  Because Beckett’s work is frought with symbolism and so open to interpretation, it is debatable whether or not Hamm’s parents are figments of his imagination or truly exist. There are comedic moments interspersed within this bleak tale, most of them ably provided by James Ijames. For more information or tickets, call 215-922-1122 or visit online at www.ardentheatre.org.

Cyrano

Roxanne, Cyrano,Christian

The Arden Theatre Company, located at 4 N. 2nd Street in Old City, is presenting Cyrano on the F. Otto Haas Stage through April 14, 2012. This French classic, written by Edmond Rostand, was collaboratively adapted by Director Aaron Posner and Michael Hollinger who translated it into English.  Hollinger, a prolific playwright and multiple Barrymore Award winner in his own right, produced a spectacular translation.  Cyrano’s words do indeed wax poetic and the dialogue is so striking, one can readily forget that the play is not being performed in its original language.  Of the cast of nine, only Keith Randolph Smith, who portrays a narrator of sorts and Eric Hissom who portrays Cyrano perform only one role. Some actors, such as Scott Greer, have an opportunity to excel in as many as six roles, both male and female ones.  Doug Hara finds himself changing characters five times, one of which is  a female as well. Even Luigi Sottile, Roxanne’s love interest, has four other roles to play in addition to Christian, the young man smitten with Roxanne.   Fight Director Dale Anthony Girard is responsible for the electrifying sword fights which occur on stage.  The parrying is realistic; the footwork is nimble and the men display the grace usually reserved for  a ballet.  This production is a sensory feast.  The ears soak up the exquisite language and the sounds of fighting; the eyes clutch onto the colorful costumes and the enticing wrought iron set which serves multiple purposes for the characters on the stage; the nose can almost grasp the stench of war; the entire body can feel a chill in the air as leaves fall from the top of the theater onto the stage to indicate the change of seasons and passage of time.  Don’t miss an opportunity to see what is sure to be a smashing success. For more information or tickets, call 215-922-1122 or visit online at ardentheatre.org