One-Minute Play Festival

Get your party hat on to enjoy a season’s worth of local theatre adventure rolled into one spectacular evening. The One-Minute Play Festival (#1MPF) and InterAct Theatre Company are presenting the 2^nd Annual One-Minute Play Festival Sunday August 3 through Tuesday August 5 at 8:00PM.  The festival will be held in the home of InterAct Theatre Company, the main stage of the Adrienne, 2030 Sansom Street.  “We’re incredibly pleased to host the 2^nd Annual Philly One-Minute Play Festival featuring a tremendous number of local playwrights, actors and directors,” says Seth Rozin, InterAct Theatre Company’s Producing Artistic Director. “In addition to being a fun, fast-paced evening of theatre, OMPF is a great way to celebrate the vitality of our theatre community.”  The festival will feature over 90 brand new One-Minute Plays by close to 60 playwrights from Philadelphia’s extraordinary contemporary writers; among them some of the most well-known and important voices throughout the country.  At least 39 of the participating playwrights contributed to the #1MPF in Philadelphia last year, among them Seth Rozin, Jacqueline Goldfinger, Sam Henderson and Michael Hollinger. The playwrights have been selected by invitation and are encouraged to write about anything which inspires their passion. As various themes and ideas have become apparent, the plays are grouped together to reflect these themes.  Teams of actors and directors work together to stage each group. The result is over 90 complete plays, all staged with 4 chairs. #1MPF examines the spirit of different communities through dialogue and consensus building.  Its goal is to represent local cultures of playwrights of different ages, genders and races  at various points in their careers. One half of the proceed of this event will benefit The Philadelphia New Play Initiative. This is bound to be an exciting evening.  It was amazing last year and I expect it to be equally remarkable this year as well. Tickets are available online at www.interacttheatre.org  or by calling 215-568-8079.

Fiddler on the Roof

the three Tevyes

The Moorestown Theater Company is presenting Fiddler on the Roof on the 50^th anniversary of its Broadway debut. Performances can be seen at the William Allen Middle School, 801 N. Stanwick Road in Moorestown through July 26. The 70 member cast is bursting with non-stop energy and is aptly accompanied by a 10 piece pit orchestra.  Because so many talented actors auditioned for roles in Fiddler, the decision was made to triple-cast the show, with the lead actors becoming members of the ensemble in the performances in which they were not playing their lead roles.  It is easy to understand, therefore, why even the ensemble pieces are so strong.  I was fortunate enough to see the performance with the Black Cast, starring Mark Pinzur as Tevye, Debbie Zimmerman as Golde and Maxine Pinzur as Yente the Matchmaker and was immediately transported back to another lifetime in Anatevka.  The White Cast, starring Bruce Jordan, Andrea  Leibowitz and Dolores  Sattin and the Gold Cast, starring Richard Fischer, Carol Ann Murray and Gina Zegel are sure to be delightful as well as they dance on-stage and sing in the aisles during the Black Cast’s performances.  The choreography is very well executed, which is no easy task with a cast of 70 on the stage. Even the scene changes are artfully done. Fiddler on the Roof is Moorestown Theater Company’s 12^th “Main Stage” Musical, and while I have not seen them all, I have seen several, and this one is certainly one of the best.  If you haven’t gotten seen this production yet, be sure to purchase a ticket for one of the remaining performances. Call 609-922-2506.

Xanadu

Sonny and Kira

Mazeppa Productions is a young theatre company founded in 2011 by Rob Henry and Brian Seaman. This is their fourth season of attaining their goal to bring “exciting and vibrant” musical theatre to Philadelphia through inventive productions. Their main production this season is Xanadu which can be seen at Christ Church Neighborhood House, 20 North American Street, in the Old City section of Philadelphia, through July 26.  Zanadu is a touching musical comedy about following your dreams. The exuberance and exhilaration of the young cast is contagious. The energy that each cast member exudes electrifies the entire audience.  Young Sonny Malone, played by C.J. Celeiro, becomes depressed when he can’t formulate his artistic vision concretely. Kira, a Greek muse portrayed by Erica Nicole Rothman, mysteriously appears to inspire him. Rothman not only inspires. She sings; she skates; she dances; she scats while another taps; and she can act! This young lady is just beginning her studies as a musical theatre major but I’m sure we will be seeing a lot more of her in the future. There is a wealth of talent in this production and thanks to Costume Designer Julia Poiesz, the costumes are dazzling.  Zanadu is not just a feast for your eyes, however. It's a font of laughter as well. The audience roars when Sonny, who questions the authenticity of the Greek muses, is treated to a response of “Why do you think we speak in unison?”  The show is 90 minutes of non-stop fun. For tickets or more information, call 215-559-9602 or visit online at www.mazeppa.org.

EgoPo's 20th Anniversary Gala

Tall Ship Gazela

Ego Po is having an incredible 20^th Anniversary Gala aboard the tall ship Gazela from 6:00-9:00 PM on Wednesday July 25. The ship is docked on Penn’s landing south of the Independence Seaport Museum. A gourmet dinner will be catered by Stephen Starr and will include such delicacies as shrimp cocktail, lobster Mac and cheese bites; Peppercorn crusted Filet Mignon, Roasted Salmon, Wild mushroom tart, vegetable lasagna and dessert Tapas. In addition, there will be an open bar with sea-themed cocktails, wine, beer and over-flowing champagne. If this doesn't seem like enough cause for celebration, performers from the last 8 years of EgoPo’s work will be on hand to sing live sea shanties and fireworks will be lit from Penn’s Landing after sunset. During the evening, the 2014-15 season of the Great American Dream Festival will be officially announced. A remarkable silent auction will include items such as tickets to museums, theaters, sporting events and dinner packages.  And that is not all.  The featured item is a live auction of a week’s stay at any luxury Marriot Villa in the US and Caribbean, including Aruba and St. Kitts. Tickets for EgoPo audience members are $150 and $200 for the general public.  You must hurry for they must be purchased by Monday June 23^rd. To purchase tickets, visit online at www.egopo.org or contact EgoPo at 267-273-1414 to confirm your reservation for a night you won’t forget. In the event of rain, EgoPo’s Gala will be postponed one day to Thursday, June 26^th .

COLIN QUINN UNCONSTITUTIONAL

The Philadelphia Theatre Company, housed in the Suzanne Roberts Theatre at Broad and Lombard Streets, is presenting Colin Quinn’s uniquely satirical take on the constitution and this country’s founding fathers through July 6. Unlike the 3 R’s we all learned in school,  Unconstitutional  is irreverent, irredeemable, and irreplaceable with another type of history lesson. Quinn’s matchless way of pointing out the foibles of our country and what Washington and Madison envisioned has the theatre filled with laughter as each anecdote brings forth more hilarity. Presidents George Bush, Ronald Reagan, and Obama are thrown into the mix along with the media-popularized Kardashians. Nothing is sacred in Quinn’s inimitable monologue except the constitution itself and the ever present desire to bring unceasing amusement to the audience, which he does with a certain panache.  For more information or tickets, call 215-735-7356 or visit www.PhiladelphiaTheatreCompany.org.

Ritu Comes Home

Ritu and her new family

InterAct Theatre, located at 2030 Sansom Street, is doing what it does best...tackling interesting and always thought provoking topics. This time it is in the form of a World Premiere, Ritu Comes Home by playwright Peter Gil-Sheridan. The production runs through June 22. There are multiple scenes in this two-act drama which are artfully separated by extreme blackouts on stage, allowing actors David Bardeen, portraying Brendan, Jered McLenigan, portraying Jason and Annie Henk, portraying their friend Yesenia to reposition themselves on the stage in various stages of drunken stupor.  Brendan and Jason live an affluent life-style in the suburbs of Bryn Mawr, thanks to Jason’s high-powered job. Their weekends are spent in drinking and shopping and corresponding with the Bangladeshi child they have supported for years by sending 80 cents a day to Bangladesh. Ritu’s sudden appearance in their home causes an unforeseen ruckus. It is unclear, and purposely so, which character is more surprised to see the other.  The play wrestles with several important themes, among them racism, adoption by a gay parent, the needs of one member in a gay partnership versus the desires of the other, and the possible outcomes of harboring an illegal runaway.  Be prepared for a surprise ending! Young actress Rebecca Khalil is excellent as Ritu.  Watch for more performances from her as she completes her studies. Annie Henk has been “work-shopping” this piece on and off for two years and is exquisitedly believable as Yesenia.  For more information or tickets, call 215-568-9079 or visit online at www.interacttheatre.org. 

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Walnut Street Theatre, located at 825 Walnut Street, is producing the Tony Award winning musical How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying on its mainstage through July 13^th. With its 20 musical numbers, many accompanied by dance routines, the audience does not need the applause sign which appears briefly, because applause continues non-stop throughout the production. Jeremy Morse, portraying J. Pierrepont Finch, window washer seeking a career up the corporate ladder, is only one of the many talented cast members.  Becky Gulsvig, portraying his love interest Rosemary Pilkington, has a very strong voice. But watch out for Joliet F. Harris, playing J.B. Biggley’s secretary, Miss Jones. Her moves and the way she can belt out a song will have you rockin’ in your seat. Mark Jacoby, playing J.B. Biggley, the president of the corporation, not only has a wonderful stage presence, but a  mellow baritone to match it  Thanks to the creative choreography of Michele Lynch, and a very talented ensemble, the dancing routines of both the men and the women bring the house down. Outstanding set designs are not uncommon for Walnut Street’s mainstage but scenic designer  Robert Andrew Kovach had his work cut out for him with  the many scenic changes required for this show, including several with an elevator. All are beautifully executed with a two-story stage. Everyone who has played a part in this extravaganza is to be congratulated for an effort exceptionally well done. Come out and join in the fun. For more information or tickets, call 215-574-3550, 800-982-2787 or visit online at www.walnutstreetthreatre.org.