Sing Hallelujah

 

The Kimmel Cultural Campus presents an evening of Jewish Music with SING HALLELUJAH  on April 26, 2023. Noa, a renowned musician, humanitarian and Israel’s most prominent  cultural advocate, will perform alongside regional choirs. Sing Hallelujah  returns for the fourth time to the Kimmel Cultural Campus. This year’s program will celebrate the 75^th Anniversary of the State of Israel and Israeli singer, songwriter and humanitarian Noa. Noa will perform alongside 175 singers from congregational and community choirs from synagogues throughout the Delaware Valley.  Cantor David  F. Tilman will lead  the assembled choirs  in music highlighting 75 years of Israeli musical tradition. Audiences can sing along with the choir to several renditions such as “Hallelujah”,  Naomi Shemer’s  “Yerushalayim Shel Zahav” “Ani V’Ata” by Arik  Einstein, and  “Oseh Shalom”  by Nurit  Hirsh. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215 893-1999 or by visiting online at www.kimmelculturalcampus.org. Tickets can also be purchased in-person from 10 A.M. – 6 P.M. in person at the  Academy of Music Box Office, located at 240 S Broad Street.

 

 

Into The Woods

                                          Ta'Nika Gibson,  Brooke Ishibashi, & Nancy Opel

The Kimmel Cultural Campus in partnership with the Shubert Organization is bringing the critically acclaimed Grammy-winning production of Into the Woods direct from Broadway for a limited engagement from April 4—9 2023. Broadway stars Montego Glover ( the witch ), Stephanie J. Block ( the Baker’s wife), Sebastian Arcelus. (The Baker) and Gavin Creel  ( Prince, Wolf) will reprise their Broadway roles. Into the Woods first premiered on Broadway in  1987, winning 3 Tony Awards, including best Score and Best Book. It became the first hit of the 2022-2023 Broadway season after being off Broadway for 20 years. This production is dedicated to the memory of Stephen Sondheim. For more information or tickets,  call 215-893-1999 or visit online at www.kimmelculturalcampus.org . Tickets can also be purchased daily from 10 a. m – 6  p. m in person at the Academy of Music Box Office located at 240 S. Broad Street.

Cats

Ensemble

The Kimmel Cultural Campus and the Shubert Theatre will be presenting the return of CATS, by popular demand. CATS  will be playing at the Miller Theatre ( March 14 – 19 ).  Composed by Andrew Lloyd Weber and based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, it is one of the longest running musicals in Broadway history. This new iteration features new sound design, new direction, and choreography. If you have seen the production before, plan to see it again with brand new eyes.  If you have never seen it, prepare to be in for a special treat. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999 or by visiting online at www.kimmelculturalcampus.org. Tickets can also be purchased in person at Academy of Music Box office, located at 240 S. Broad Street.

 

The Last Parade

                                                                      Ensemble Cast

InterAct Theatre is presenting the World Premiere of The Last Parade at the Proscenium Theatre at the Drake, 302 Hicks Street, Philadelphia, Pa. through February 19, 2023. The excellent ensemble cast of  Adam Howard ( Borya), Leah Walton (Zoya), Ava Weintzweig (Anya), Tim Moyer (Yasha),and Anthony Lawton (Leon) portray three generations of a Jewish family in post-Soviet Ukraine struggling with where to emigrate in 1991. The family had applied to both Israel and the United States for immigration and are waiting for invitations. Passions run deep among many members of the family and there are several twists in the plot. The design team has skillfully executed a bi-level  set. The stage is centrally raised off the floor, but scenes also take place on the  floor to the side while the central stage is back lit or dark. Adam Howard’s Broya is excellent with his thick accent and his asides to the audience. I have been  following Anthony Lawton for many years and will run to any show that he appears in, but it is Leah Walton’s Zoya that steals this show with the breadth of her emotions. For more information or tickets, visit https://interacttheatre.orgthe-last-parade.

Broads

                                        Melanye Finister, MB Scallen, & Rebecca Robbins

1812 Productions, Philadelphia’s ALL COMEDY Theatre Company, is presenting Broads through February 26, 2023, at Plays and Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Street. Curated and Directed by Jennifer Childs, Broads stars Melanye Finister, Rebecca Robbins, and Mary Elizabeth Scallen  who goes by  the name “MB”, confiding to the audience that it stands for “ more bourbon. “ This audacious One Act Revue has the three actors onstage for the entire time, allowing two of them a moment or two of respite around a bar when the third one has a solo. Broads are defined in numerous ways- “She takes up her own space. She knows what she wants.”  A tribute is paid  in song, jokes, one-liners, and vignettes to many of the world’s most influential Broads of their time. Mae West wrote books and plays and was a great Vaudeville Act. She wrote a play entitled “Sex” that had horrid reviews which only served to draw in more and more crowds of people. It ran for a year. In her diary she wrote that “good girls go to heaven but bad girls go everywhere.” Sophie Tucker, Belle Barthe, Patsy Abbot and Moms Mabley  are also part of the revue. Moms’ persona was an old woman in a nightgown with no teeth.  She recorded 24 albums including “Has Anyone Seen My Old Friend John?” after the death of JFK. Ms. Finister, Robbins, and Scallon are all  extremely talented women who can tell one-liners with skill as well as belt out a ballad. Tickets for this fun-filled revue can be purchased at 1812productions.org.

A Soldier's Play

Eugene Lee and ensemble cast 

The revival of the award winning  A Soldier’s Play  is being presented by the Kimmel Cultural Campus and the Shubert Organization through February 5, 2023 , at the Forrest Theatre, 1114 Walnut Street. This national tour stars Norm Lewis as Captain Richard Davenport and Eugene Lee as Sergeant Vernon C Waters but that is only the tip of the iceberg. While both of these men are outstanding in their individual roles, the expertise of the rest of the cast cannot be overlooked.  The scene is set in an  army barracks  of a Black unit in 1944 in Louisiana. When a sergeant is murdered, no one seems to worry too much until someone is brought in to investigate. There are many people who had a reason to kill the sergeant. (  I had thoughts of doing so myself. ) Through a series of investigations and flashbacks, the crime is solved. The acapella singing that is woven throughout the piece  is soulful. The changing of the lighting to place accents  is masterful. This is a powerful work on many levels. Tickets can be purchased by calling 212-239-6200, visiting www.telecharge.com or visiting the Forrest box office (1114 Walnut Street.)

 

Last of the Red Hot Lovers

 

Susan Riley Stevens & Scott Greer

Walnut Street Theatre, located at 825 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa., is presenting Neil Simon’s Last of the Red Hot Lovers on its main stage through February 5, 2023. Scenic Designer Brian Froonjian has done an outstanding job designing the set of a Manhattan apartment in the ‘60s.This is one of Neil Simon’s funniest comedies with built in laughs every minute or two.  Scott Greer is one of the finest comedic  actors in Philadelphia and is excellent in his role of Barney Cashman, the 47-year-old owner of a fish restaurant who wants to bring a little excitement into his life on the one afternoon that he knows his mother will be out of her apartment. On three separate occasions he invites a woman to meet him in his mother’s home and each instance is hilarious for completely different reasons.  First  Elaine Navazio (Grace Gonglewski ) enters the scene . Outgoing and brash, she is disappointed that Barney doesn’t have an apartment with a better stocked bar and a supply of cigarettes. When he sets up for his next guest with  more choices of drink and cigarettes laughter peals throughout the audience. Jessica Bedford portrays Bobbi Michele, his next guest but she is so hyper that drinks aren’t needed and the only thing she smokes is pot. Barney’s  final attempt is with Susan Riley Stevens, portraying Jeanette Fisher who is a long-time acquaintance. Jeanette is suffering from severe melancholy and is extremely depressed, resisting Barney’s offers of champagne. Barney chases her around the apartment nonetheless. This theatre experience is downright fun!  For more information or tickets, call 215-574-3550 or visit online at WalnutStreetTheatre.org or Ticketmaster.com