THE TONY AWARD-WINNING BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL

WILL RUN AT THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC

ON THE KIMMEL CENTER CULTURAL CAMPUS

FEBRUARY 19 – MARCH 1

 HELLO, DOLLY!

   

Hello, Dolly!, the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Revival starring Carolee Carmello, will run in Philadelphia February 19 – March 1, 2020 at the Academy of Music on the Kimmel Center Cultural Campus, as part of the 2019-20 Broadway season.  It is being brought to Philadelphia with the help of a very successful revival team. Hello Dolly! has broken box office records on Broadway and the touring company is paying tribute to the original work of   legendary director/choreographer Gower Champion – It has stagings hailed as one of the greatest stagings in musical theater history. Led by four time Tony award-winning Director Jerry Zaks and choreographed by Tony Award winner Warren Carlyle, the entire creative team of the Broadway production is reprising their roles for this national tour. This is a catch -your-breath production that you absolutely cannot miss! Tickets are on sale now and start at $20.00. Tickets can be purchased by calling (215) 893-1999, visiting www.kimmelcenter.org, or at the Kimmel Center Box Office. Group sales are available for groups of 10 or more and can be purchased by calling (215) 790-5883. More information at www.kimmelcenter.org. 

This Is the Week That Is

Ensemble Cast in Top 40 sketch

1812 Productions, Philadelphia’s all comedy theatre located at 1714 Delancey Place in Center City, is presenting its annual political comedy This Is the Week That Is through January 4, 2020. As Dave Jadico begins his curtain speech, interspersed with numerous puns, one by one additional cast members come on stage, are introduced, and complain about the excessive use of puns. Two hold up signs petitioning an impeachment from the curtain speech. All cast members agree, followed by an impeachment trial which is left up to the audience. Due to popular demand, 1812 Productions has been including This IS The Week That Is in their season schedule for the past 14 years. This year the delicious satire in the first act is fresh and innovative. Relying heavily on the theme of elections, the ensemble cast outdid themselves in quick costume change, gender reversal and role play. “Steve Harvey” introduces contestants for The New Pyramid. When “Bernie Sanders”, “Joe Biden”, “Elizabeth Warren” and “Cory Booker” take the stage, the audience erupts in laughter. No less humorous are some of the categories on the board, such as Nicknames, Big Words and Porn Stars. When the categories are revealed, big Ooooohs are emitted from the audience. In a perfect world, one would expect these categories to be easy but of course, neither candidate scores a point. By now the audience expects a similar result from Warren and Booker and they are not disappointed. There are several hysterical numbers in the America Top 40 Countdown. One of the funniest is a cast member ensconced in a huge globe that is browner than green decrying climate change, singing “You Let Me Down.”  Perhaps the piece de resistance was a   Hamilton riff with all the Democratic Presidential candidates who had not been previously seen on stage. For those who like tradition, Patsy still sits on her stoop; there is still news from the News Desk and an Interview from the Lobby. But please don’t hesitate getting tickets to this performance thinking you have seen one just like it last year, because you haven’t.  This is 2020.0 – brighter, fresher, and more edgy. For more information or tickets, call 215-592-9560 or visit online at www.1812productions.org.

Snow Queen

 Eunice Akinola

Arden’s Children’s Theatre is presenting Hans Christian Anderson’s The Snow Queen on their main stage through January 26, 2020. The ensemble cast is very talented as every member plays multiple roles with the exception of   Eunice Akinola  and Daniel Ison who are limited to two apiece and Mary Fishburn who must maintain her regal presence in her titular role. Ms. Fishburne is an excellent Snow Queen who cares nothing for any of her subjects but only for her herself and the perfection of her own reflection. When a sliver of her mirror falls to the ground and lands in the eye of Gerda’s best friend Cei, (Daniel Ison) he turns from friendly to sullen and follows the siren song of the Snow Queen as she leads him away. This delightful tale is told with intermittent singing and  music backed up by a fiddle and flute. Gerda, played so convincingly by Eunice Akinola, is determined to rescue her best friend Cei. She sets out on her journey in the red boots her grandmother has given her with some vague idea that Cei and the Snow Queen have headed North. Special effects in this production are outstanding for children. Non-essential characters come to the stage with buckets of "snow" and heap it all over the stage. Other “snow” falls lightly from buckets above the cat walk. Gerda has fascinating exploits in the spring when she interacts with flowers and a white picket fence and children in the audience cheer when brilliant beach balls announce the arrival of summer. Traveling through each season with Gerda as she searches for her friend Cei is an enchanting adventure for children and adults alike. For more information or tickets, call 215-922-1122 or visit online at www.ardentheatre.org or visit the Arden Box Office at 40 N. 2nd Street, Philadelphia Pa.

Cirque Dreams: Holidaze

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Philadelphia, PA, November 4, 2019) – Cirque Dreams: Holidaze brings its latest electrifying and re-

imagined live family holiday spectacular to Philadelphia December 26 – 29, 2019, at the Merriam Theater on the Kimmel Center Cultural Campus for eight unforgettable performances during the holiday season. This critically-acclaimed extravaganza is both a Broadway musical and new Cirque adventure wrapped into the ultimate holiday gift for the entire family! 

“This magical stage spectacle is the perfect show the entire family can experience together during the holiday season,” said Anne Ewers, President & CEO of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. “Part of our ongoing, back-by-popular-demand Family Discovery Series, this engagement has wide appeal, from Broadway to cirque fans. It also forwards our Cultural Campus mission to engage the community – and our littlest arts lovers – with live performance and education.”

The one and only Cirque Dreams: Holidaze has been hailed by The New York Daily News as “A delicious confection of charm, sparkle and talent by the sleighload.” It’s “the perfect holiday gift and show everyone will enjoy,” raved BroadwayWorld of the sold-out performances that “dazzled…at The Kennedy Center,” Washington Post. The Tennessean proclaimed it “A dazzling Holidaze Spectacle…for both young and old” at the Grand Ole Opry House.

Broadway Director and Cirque Dreams Founder, Neil Goldberg, has searched the world to assemble a remarkable cast of incomparable cirque artists, singers, dancers, and talent to mesmerize audiences with new acts, holiday scenes, theatrical innovation, and much more in 2019.

Set in a multi-million-dollar wonderland of elaborate scenes and dozens of original holiday production numbers, this spectacular show celebrates the most wonderful time of the year as they experience over 300 spectacular costumes and 20 of the world’s most astonishing acts. 

Broadway singers perform original music along with a new twist on seasonal favorites such as “Deck The Halls,” “Winter Wonderland,” and “Jingle Bell Rock.” On the edge-of-your-seat acrobatics are performed by toy soldiers, snowmen, penguins, candles, reindeer, gingerbread, carolers, Santa, plus colossal ornaments flying, balancing, and stretching imaginations in this groundbreaking holiday stage spectacular. It’s “Las Vegas…meets family entertainment…meets musical theatre” touts the Boston Globe.  

CIRQUE DREAMS: HOLIDAZE

Performances are at the Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Merriam Theater on

Thursday, December 26, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.,

Friday, December 27, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, December 28, 2019 at 11:00 a.m.,  3 p.m.,  and 8:00 p.m. and

Sunday, December 29, 2019 at 3:00 p.m.

Cirque Dreams: Holidaze is part of the Family Discovery Series, sponsored by Santander and is recommended for ages 5 and older.

Tickets can be purchased by calling (215) 893-1999, visiting www.kimmelcenter.org, or at the Kimmel Center Box Office. Group sales are available for groups of 10 or more and can be purchased by calling (215) 790-5883. More information at www.kimmelcenter.org.

Shrek The Musical

Nichalas L. Parker &
Ben Dibble

Walnut Street Theatre, located at 825 Walnut Street, is presenting Shrek the Musical, on its mainstage through January 5, 2020. Nichalas L. Parker is the endearing ogre Shrek; Julia Udine  is a “beautiful” princess with a big secret and Dana Orange is an excellent Donkey trying to be a “best friend” to Shrek. It is Ben Dibble, however, who steals the show as the mean Lord Farquaad. Spending the entire production on special knee pads, Ben Dibble gives us a pint sized Lord Farquaad whose ambition is to marry a princess in order to become king. Not willing to come in contact with the dragon who protects the castle where the princess lives, Lord Farquaad sends Shrek to rescue her. When Princess Fiona and Shrek develop a certain closeness through joint rude behaviors, the audience becomes hysterical, and it is not just the kids in the audience who laugh. Robbie Roby’s choreography throughout  is spell bounding. The ensemble astounds as Pinocchio & Fairy Tale Character’s sing and dance in clockwork precision in several numbers. This is a delightful production for people of all ages. For more information or tickets, please call 215-574-3550 or visit www.walnutstreettheatre.org.    

The critically-acclaimed, award-winning THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL will make its Philadelphia premiere at the Forrest Theatre as part of Broadway Philadelphia, presented by the Kimmel Center Cultural Campus and The Shubert Organization. Winner of the 2018 Drama Desk and Outer Critic Circle Desk Awards,  It can be seen at the Forrest Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 3, 2019 through   1:00 p.m. Sunday December 15. 2019.

SpongeBob and his friends leap from television to the Forrest Theatre stage in a Broadway blockbuster event featuring original music. Bring the entire family to celebrate friendship and cooperation, and learn the power of unity and inclusion. THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL explodes with energy and features an original pop and rock-infused score by several Grammy® Award-winning songwriters: Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, Lady Antebellum, Cyndi Lauper & Rob Hyman, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants, T.I., Domani & Lil’C and songs by David Bowie & Brian Eno, and by Tom Kenny & Andy Paley. Additional lyrics by Jonathan Coulton. Additional music is by Tom Kitt.

 Led and conceived by visionary director Tina Landau (2018 Tony Award nominee) and a Tony Award®-winning design team, the production brings the spirit of SpongeBob to life with humanity, heart, and pure theatricality. THE SPONGE BOB MUSICAL features a book by Kyle Jarrow, orchestrations and arrangements by TomKitt, musical supervision by Julie McBride & Tim Hanson, and choreography by Christopher Gattelli. The design team includes scenic and costume design by David Zinn, lighting design by Kevin Adams, projection design by Peter Nigrini, sound design by Walter Trarbach, hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe, make-up design by Joe Dulude II, 

THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL is a one-of-a-kind musical event with original songs by Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, Lady Antebellum, Cyndi Lauper & Rob Hyman, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants, T.I., Domani & Lil’C and songs by David Bowie & Brian Eno, and by Tom Kenny & Andy Paley. Additional lyrics are by Jonathan Coulton. and  additional music is by Tom Kitt.

The Original Cast Recording is available now from Masterworks Broadway wherever music is sold and streamed. 

SpongeBob SquarePants launched on July 17, 1999, and has reigned as the number-one kids’ animated series on TV for the last 17 years, generating a universe of beloved characters, pop culture catchphrases and memes, theatrical releases, consumer products, a Tony award-winning Broadway musical and a global fan base.  SpongeBob SquarePants is the most widely distributed property in Viacom International Media Networks history, seen in more than 208 countries and territories, translated in 55+ languages, and averaging more than 100 million total viewers every quarter.  SpongeBob SquarePants is created by Stephen Hillenburg and produced by Nickelodeon in Burbank, Calif.  The character-driven cartoon chronicles the nautical and sometimes nonsensical adventures of SpongeBob, an incurable optimist and earnest sea sponge, and his undersea friends.

Tickets can be purchased by calling (212) 239-6200, visiting www.telecharge.com, or in-person at the Forrest Theatre Box Office (1114 Walnut St.). Group sales are available for groups of 10 or more and can be purchased by calling (866) 302-0995 or visit www.broadwayinbound.com.  For more information visit www.kimmelcenter.org.

Next to Normal

Donna Vivino, Liam Snead
 & Danny Vaccaro

Bristol Riverside Theatre, located at 120 Radcliffe Street is presenting the much-acclaimed rock musical Next to Normal through November 24, 2019. Director Keith Baker’s production is nothing short of brilliant.  Roman Tatorwicz has designed a simplistic yet perfect set with two sets of spiral staircases and a loft overlooking the downstairs living area of the family home. Barrymore Award winner Ryan O’Gara, the associate lighting director for Hamilton, has done outstanding work with this set. The lights that flash on and off the set give the impression of waves of electricity generating throughout the air, mimicking electro-shock therapy. Next to Normal’s strong ensemble cast readily succeeds in showcasing the deterioration of one person’s mental illness  and how it can affect her entire family. Tom Kitt’s music and Bryan Yorkey’s lyrics are beautifully sung and frequently in exquisite harmonies by two or three cast members. Donna Vivino is very convincing as Diana, the confused mother who suffers from various forms of mental illness and cannot seem to find a treatment that works. Danny Vaccaro is Dan, her loyal husband who stands by her. Laura Giknis beautifully portrays Diana’s teenage daughter who gets no attention from her parents.  Gary Lumpkin is new to the professional stage and I look forward to seeing more of him. He was a great foil for Natalie, staying steadfastly by her side. Liam Snead is phenomenal as the spirit of Gabe, particularly during his number, “I’m Alive,” which he performs while singing, dancing and running up and down two sets of staircases. Scott Greer is always synonymous with great and this time is no exception as he portrays two different doctors, trying to help Diana. For more information or tickets to this truly marvelous show, call 215-785-0100 or visit brtstage.org.  .