Bullets Over Broadway The Musical

Broadway Philadelphia, presented collaboratively by the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and the Shubert Organization, is presenting the national tour of Bullets Over Broadway through Nov. 1 at the Academy of Music. You won’t be dodging a bullet by skipping this show. .This is one stream of bullets you won’t want to miss. It is an explosive night of fun! When unsuccessful playwright David Shayne, (Michael Williams), needs funding for a Broadway production, he unknowingly accepts underwriting from mob boss Nick Valenti( Michael Corvino). There is only one caveat: Nick’s girlfriend must have a part in the play. And then all hell breaks loose. Michael William, with his many solos and his homespun little boy charm, outshines his counterpart on Broadway. Olive (Jemma Jane) hysterically portrays the “dumb blonde” wannabe actress, demonstrating her skills with “The Hot Dog Song.“ All of the female leads, Hanna Rose DeFlumeri, Emma Stratton and Rachel Bahler prove they can belt out a song to ring through the rafters (which is no small accomplishment in the Academy of Music). And while the singing is  certainly memorable, it is the dancing in this production that is mind-boggling. The female dancers are in several ensembles with an array of costumes. They waltz, tap and shimmy their way into everyone’s hearts. The gangsters are phenomenal. Never before have so many pair of male feet so completely captivated an audience by their exquisite tap routines. Cheech (Jeff Brooks) is perhaps the biggest surprise of the show. As Nick Valenti’s right-hand man, he sits in rehearsals to keep an eye on Olive and becomes a clandestine playwright. His rich voice resonates in ensemble or solo pieces (“Up a Lazy River,” “Tain’t Nobody’s business if I Do”) and his ability to enter an ongoing line of a tap routine without missing a beat is a pure delight to watch. Tickets for this Philadelphia premiere of the National Tour of Bullets Over Broadway   are available by calling 215-731-3333, visiting online at kimmelcenter.org/broadway, or at the Kimmel Center box office, Broad and Spruce Sts.( open daily 10 am to 6 om) or at the Academy of Music box office, Broad and Locust Sts. (open during performances only.

Rizzo

Scott Greer & Amanda Schoonover

The set of Theatre Exile’s production of Bruce Graham’s world premiere of Rizzo is minimalistic, but the performance of Scott Greer and the ensemble cast is anything but. Scott Greer’s performance is explosive as he portrays the volatile Frank Rizzo journeying through his years as a Philadelphia policeman, Police Commissioner and Mayor. While Damon Bonetti, as a reporter, keeps Rizzo on track throughout, the ensemble cast of Robert Daponte, Akeem Davis, Paul L Nolan, William Rahill and Amanda Schoohover weave flawlessly through Rizzo’s life-story  animatedly appearing as multiple characters front and center and dynamically interacting with Scott Greer. The Rizzo years are vividly retold by this exceptionally talented cast. Theatre Exile’s production of Rizzo, based on Rizzo: The Last Big Man in Big City America by Sal Paolantonio is being presented at the Christ Church Neighborhood Playhouse through Nov. 7. Whether you were a fan of Frank Rizzo during his tenure, couldn't abide the man, or never lived anywhere near Philadelphia during the Rizzo era and had no personal connection with the larger-than-life politico, you will be enthralled by this performance.  Tickets are available by calling (215) 218-4022 or visiting online at www.theatreexile.org. 

Metamorphoses

Wow! There is a theatrical production unlike any other appearing now at the Arden Theatre, 40 N. 2^nd Street through Nov.1. Metamorphoses is in a class of its own. To say that it is being presented on the F. Otto Haas mainstage would be somewhat of a misnomer, as most of the play’s action takes place in a pool, which holds 26,000 gallons of water and has its base temperature at slightly over 100 degrees. The imagery is exquisite.  The choreography is breath-taking. Led by director Doug Hara who performed in the first production of Metamorphoses in 1998, the ten-member cast takes on 50 different roles. Celebrated playwright Mary Zimmerman has adapted the 2000 year old classic myths of Ovid, weaving spellbinding tales of a variety of gods and their interactions among themselves as well as with mortals. There is not much time left in the run; if you haven’t seen this production yet, run to your phone, computer or Arden box office before the show leaves town. Tickets may be obtained by calling 215-922-1122, visiting online at www.ardentheatre.org or by walking up at the box office, 40 N 2^nd Street.

Photograph 51

Harry Watermeier &
Genviève Perrier

The Lantern Theater, located in St. Stephen’s Church, 10^th and Ludlow Street, is presenting Photograph 51 through October 11.  Members of the brilliant ensemble cast of Chris Anthony, Trevor William Fayle, Joseph Mc Granaghan, Harry Smith and Harry Watermeier play foils for Genviève Perrier, portraying female scientist Dr. Rosalind Franklin. Dr. Franklin is a scientist in London, England in the mid 20th century, a time when females are barely acknowledged.  As she devotes her life to her research, jealous colleagues surreptitiously take her findings and earn themselves a Nobel Prize for discovering the helix of DNA while she meets an early death from cancer. Anna Ziegler’s play is well written. Thanks to Kathryn Macmillan’s direction, the five male cast members appear and disappear from different parts of the stage and speak a line or two  and then stop, seeming to interrupt each other yet at the same time, seeming to continue each other’s thoughts.  This technique is very effective and serves to underline the solidarity of the male scientists as opposed to the solitude of Dr. Rosalind Franklin. The play is both powerful and thought provoking. For more information or tickets, call 215-829-0395 or visit online at LanternTheater.org.  

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High Society

Walnut Street Theatre, located at 825 Walnut Street, is presenting High Society on its main stage. Based on the play, The Philadelphia Story by Philip Barry with music and lyrics by Cole Porter and additional lyrics by Susan Birkenhead., this high energy musical will appear through October 25. Megan Nicole Arnoldy gives an excellent performance as New York Socialite Tracy Lord who is preparing for her upcoming weekend wedding. Her mannerisms are kittenish and her voice is solid and strong.  Jon Reinhold portrays George Kittredge, Tracy’s fiancé. Paul Schaeffer portrays Dexter C.K. Haven, Tracy’s ex and Ben Dibble portrays Macaulay “Mike” Connor, a reporter sent to cover the wedding. All three would like to be the one to exchange wedding vows with Tracy and all three have an opportunity to express themselves in song.  Many foolish side plots take place during the course of weekend. Grace Gonglewski is delightful as Margaret Lord, Tracy's mother. Alexis Gwynn and Cambria Klein share the role of Dinah Lord, Tracy's younger sister. Both young ladies are already accomplished actors. A very talented ensemble cast of maids and man-servants sing and dance their way throughout the weekend-long celebration. It is Jenny Lee Stern as Liz Imbrie, secret society reporter, who steals the show, however.  She is a showcase of talent. Her facial expressions are uproarious; her voice can knock down the rafters; and her body language would make a mime envious. If all of this weren’t enough to have you flock to the theatre to see the show, the scenic design by Robert Andrew Kovach is extraordinary.  This is certainly a production you won’t want to miss. For more information or tickets, call 215-574-3550, 800-982-2787, or visit online at www.walnutstreettheatre.org or Ticketmaster..

Lantern Theater Season Preview

The Lantern Theater, located in St. Stephen’s Church, 10th and Ludlow Streets, recently had a lovely season preview event featuring the theater’s education director and the directors of each of the season’s upcoming plays as well as some of the actors in these plays. Education Director Craig Getting enthusiastically described the education programs in the city serving 3000 students, many in the form of in-school residencies.  The programs help students to tell classic stories in their own ways to better understand the original version. Teachers are also being trained and given tools to teach these theater units on their own.

Photograph 51 was presented by director Kathryn MacMillan and actors Geneviève Perrier and Harry Smith. The director informed the audience that she had been in touch with the playwright daily. The show has just opened in London and the playwright has made some changes but MacMillan felt those changes were not suitable for the Lantern. The Lantern’s production will be unique. The main character, Rosalind, is a Jewish female scientist in a man’s world. She is responsible for the discovery of the helix of DNA.  Geneviève Perrier dedicates her performance to her Jewish grandmother who was a dentist in France. Smith portrays Morris Wilkins, an incredibly intelligent young man who is socially inept and doesn’t understand how people work.

Underneath the Lintel- will also be directed by Kathryn MacMillan and Peter DeLaurier will reprise his Barrymore award winning performance.  DeLaurier’s character is a librarian who “dances on the edge of personality disorders.”

Oscar Wilde: From the Depths- Director Craig Getting interviewed playwright Charles McMahon.  McMahon mentioned that in writing The Importance of Being Ernest, Oscar Wilde was writing about his own life.  Wilde also went to prison as a result of a libel suit which he knew to be erroneous.  The question is why?  Perhaps McMahon answers that question and others in his play.

As You Like It- Charles McMahon is the director and J Hernandez the represented actor. McMahon described Shakespeare’s play as one with a lot of jokes and as series of reversals. Consider the  two main characters.  One sees the world as it is and it liberates him.  The other sees the world as it is and it depresses him.

36 Views – by playwright Naomi lizuka, Director Peter DeLaurier and designer Jorge Cousineau. This is a study of what’s true and what’s false.  It uses the metaphor, what is true Asian art? What do we value? What happens when a person whose habitual response to relationships is avoidance finds himself in love? This has been described as a “profoundly unusual play.”

The preview was fascinating. All five shows are bound to be intriguing. For more information, visit online at www.lanterntheater.org or call 215-829-0395.

Bullets Over Broadway

BULLETS OVER BROADWAY

WILL LAUNCH  2015-2016

BROADWAY PHILADELPHIA

THEATRE SEASON

      NATIONAL TOUR MAKES PHILADELPHIA PREMIERE

           OCT 27- NOV 1 AT ACADEMY OF MUSIC

                        Tickets On Sale Now! 

The national tour of Woody Allen’s musical comedy,  BULLETS OVER BROADWAY will make its Philadelphia premiere, kicking off the new Broadway Philadelphia  season from Oct 27 – Nov 1 at the Academy of Music.  Broadway Philadelphia is presented collaboratively by the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and the Shubert Organization. BULLETS OVER BROADWAY premiered last season on Broadway and received six Tony-Award nominations, including Best Book  of a Musical and Best Choreography.  The tour is under the direction of Jeff Whiting who worked on the Broadway production. Original choreography will be replicated. 

The production, set in  the 1920’s, tells the tale of a playwright who needs someone to back his next show and a mobster who is looking for some way to please his less than talented showgirl girlfriend. BULLETS OVER BROADWAY features existing music of the period including “Let’s Misbehave” and “I’m Sitting On Top Of  The World.”

Tickets are available beginning September 4 by calling 215-731-3333, visiting online at kimmelcenter.org/broadway, at the Kimmel Center box office, Broad and Spruce Sts.(open daily 10 am to 6 pm) or at The Academy of Music box office, Broad and Locust Sts. (open during performances only). Orders for groups of 10 or more may be placed by calling 215-790-5883 or 866-276-2947.  Performances are Tuesday through Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm. Friday & Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm; Sunday evenings at 6:30 pm; matinees Saturday at 2:00 pm and Sunday at 1:00 pm.

In addition to Bullets over Broadway, the new 2015-2016 season of Broadway Philadelphia will include Matilda The Musical (Nov. 17- 29, 2015;  Pippin (Feb 23 – 28, 2016); The Sound of Music (March 15 – 20, 2016); Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Mar. 22 – Apr 3, 2016); If/Then (Jun 21 – 26, 2016), all at The Academy of Music. Additional productions will include The Book of Morman (Nov 24 – Dec. 27,2015) at the Forrest Theatre; Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical (Dec.15- 20 ); Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Dec. 29, 2015 – Jan 3, 2016), both at the Merriam Theater; and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Feb 16 – 21).