RAIN A Tribute to the Beatles

Beatles Fans…This is Your Lucky Weekend! Broadway Philadelphia presents Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles at the Merriam Theater through Sunday February 14.  Members of this national tour are from the original Broadway cast. The musicians are extraordinarily talented and all have started playing their prospective instruments at a very young age.  So perfectly nuanced are the dozens and dozens of every song they sing, you could close your eyes during the performance and believe you were actually hearing the original Beatles but you won’t want to. The projections are phenomenal. Never have I seen a more wide-spread use of projections on the stage - 3D backdrops, clips of actual events in which the Beatles appeared, animation, audiences watching the Beatles’ concert, the audience watching the Rain concert, projections of the band members playing with the actual Beatles playing behind them and so much more. It has to be seen and heard to be believed. To give the experience an  even more authentic time frame, film clips of old commercials were shown while band members left the stage to change into their St. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club costumes. “Ooooohs” filled the room when Barney Rubble and Fred Flintstone relaxed by having a Winston cigarette break. No one can stay still in his seat for the entire show. At a band member’s prompting, everyone gets up, claps their hands and dances. A camera pans the audience and the result is projected onto the large screen on the stage. It is just a night of great fun.  Time is limited to purchase your tickets. Get your Valentine a ticket to see the performance of this incredible tribute band.  It’s a gift that won’t be forgotten for a long time.  Call 215-893-1999, visit online at www.kimmelcenter.org or visit the Kimmel Center Box Office.

RAIN A Tribute to the Beatles

EXPERIENCE AN ALL NEW SHOW!

Featuring New Songs and High Definition Imagery

For the 2016 Tour!

Opening on February 11 for a limited engagement at

The Merriam Theater

Experience an all new show when the internationally-acclaimed Beatles concert, RAIN: A Tribute to the Beatles, returns to Philadelphia February 11-14.  They will appear at the Merriam Theater as part of Broadway Philadelphia, presented collaboratively by The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and the Shubert Organization. RAIN performs the full-range of Beatles music, from their early hits to their later ones. The performance will include updated sets with LED High-Definition Screens as well as some new songs that the Beatles recorded in a studio but never performed before an audience. Just as the Beatles were outstanding performers, so, too are the members of RAIN. For more information, visit www.raintribute.com.  Tickets are on sale to the public now and can be purchased by calling (215) 983-1999, visiting online at www.kimmelcenter.org, at the Kimmel Center box office, or at the Merriam Theater box office (open during performances only).Group sales are available for groups of 10 or more by calling (215) 790-5883.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

JC McCann as Joseph

The national tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is being presented by Broadway Philadelphia at Kimmel Center’s Merriam Theater through January 3, 2016. This long-running musical has been popular with audiences for decades and this production is one of the best I’ve seen. Special effects get the audience in the mood for the dream themes as projections are swirled in clouds of smoke above Joseph’s (JC McCann) head while he reclines on a bed as the audience members are filing into their seats. There is so much to enjoy about this show.  Laura Helm is a gifted narrator as she sings Joseph’s story from his early days with his brother in Canaan through his life in slavery, prison, and as Pharaoh’s right hand man in Egypt.  Lighting Designer Howell Binkley is the architect of phenomenal effects using strobe lights throughout the show. Costume Designer Jennifer Caprio has hit a home run with her multiple costume changes for the ensemble and award winning choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler is responsible for the exciting choreography. Video and projections have come to be almost commonplace in the theatre today but Daniel Brodie, video and projection designer, has made the art fresh and awe-inspiring. The young men portraying Joseph’s brothers are all extremely talented and act with lock-step precision in numbers that have them sitting at a dining table. Their rendition of “Those Canaan Days” is particularly funny. The artistic members of the ensemble not only sing but dance a variety of routines and do acrobatic turns as well. JC McCann is in his first national tour but with a voice as dynamic as his, it certainly won’t be his last. A very engaging ending to the production is almost an overture in reverse; many of the stars return to center stage and do a short remix of the songs they have sung during the show. Tickets for the remaining shows may be purchased by calling (215)893-1999, visiting online at kimmelcenter.org, visiting the Kimmel Center Box Office or the Merriam Theater Box Office (open during performances only).

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer:The Musical  is premiering on the Merriam stage Dec 17-20 as part of Broadway Philadelphia.  Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer became a classic after it appeared for the first time on television in 1964.  Bob Penola, producing partner, wrote the adaptation of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer:The Musical and has kept it true to the original animated film.  A parallel story is told of Hermey the elf (Wesley Edwards) who is different from all the others because he wants to be a dentist instead of making toys and Rudolph (Lexy Baeza) who is different from the other reindeer because of his red nose.  Hermey and Rudolph  meet after they both run away from home and instantly form a friendship. Puppeteers appear throughout the performance working animals, the Abominable Snow Monster, and misfit toys. The children seem mesmerized, but when a huge mechanical dog appears pulling the sleigh carrying Yukon Cornelius (Ben Burch), giggles are heard throughout the entire theater from the younger members of the audience. The special effects on a projection curtain are excellent. My young granddaughter’s favorite part of the show was Rudolph's flying through the air, but the beautiful snow storm projections are hard to beat. The grand finale has the entire audience participating and leaving the theater with smiles from ear to ear. Tickets can be purchased for the eight remaining performances by calling 215-731-3333, visiting online at kimmelcenter.org/broadway, at the Kimmel Center box office, Broad & Spruce Sts.(open daily 10 am to 6 pm) or at the Merriam Theater box office 250 S. Broad St. (open during performances only). 

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer:The Musical

RUDOLPH MUSICAL FLIES

INTO PHILADELPHIA

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON  DECEMBER 17-20

  Family-Friendly Stage Adaptation of
                             CBS'

 Highest Rated Christmas Special

                            Of All Time

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer:The Musical 

                Get tix today at kimmelcenter.org.

The animated television classic, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer made its television debut in 1964 and has become the longest running and highest rated television special.  It will return live on stage when Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical makes its Philadelphia premiere Dec 17 – 20 at the Merriam Theater as part of Broadway Philadelphia. Broadway Philadelphia is presented collaboratively by the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and the Shubert Organization. Performances are at 7:00 pm on Dec. 17 and 18, with 3 performances on Sat. Dec. 19 and Sunday Dec 20 at 11:00 am, 2:00 pm and 5:30 pm.  The story tells the tale of a young Rudolph who isn’t allowed to play any Reindeer games because of his shiny red nose. He runs away and meets new friends and has a series of funny adventures. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical virtually whisks the audience into the production as songs drive the plot while familiar set designs characters and costumes come to the stage via projections. Added to all of this is a talented cast and puppeteers to help create the magic on stage. The production will benefit PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center.