The Flatlanders

                                                               Scott Greer & Jennifer Childs

Bruce Grafham’s, The Flatlanders, produced by 1812 Productions, Philadelphia’s All Comedy Theatre Company, can be seen at Plays and Plays Theatre, 1714 Delancey Place. Be sure to catch A Bright Comedic Duo of comedy in this hysterical rendition In it, artistic director and founder of 1812 Productions, Jennifer Childs, and Scott Greer, her real-life husband are stranded in a blizzard in the Poconos the night before their wedding. Bruce Graham has written a marvelous one act play that is replete with laugh lines which Jen and Scott deliciously deliver deadpan. There is  also slapstick which generates  streams of laughter from the audience as well as some kink with hidden sex toys. The show is uproarious. This  excellent gem is a must-see for all Jennifer Childs and Scott Greer fans in addition to anyone else who enjoys a good laugh. The play can be seen through February 18, 2024 in Philadelphia and will open in March through April in Delawatre. 

Ensemble Arts Philly

 

The Kimmel Cultural Campus and The Philadelphia Orchestra are announcing Ensemble Arts Philly, a new brand name to encompass a wide variety of genres including Broadway, comedy, theatre., jazz, dance, and family presentations across three venues: the Kimmel Center for the Performing  Arts, the Academy of Music, and the Miller Theater. The new brand name will also represent free programming, community service partnerships, digital rush opportunities, and educational activities- including the new Musical Theatre Program: Set The Stage for 5-7 graders.

The new name and accompanying URL (www.EnsembleArtsPhilly.org) will ensure ticket purchases are made though official channels and will enable guests to purchase tickets to events from multiple genres in one transaction- including The Philadelphia Orchestra and Broadway. Tickets to events can also be purchased in person at the Box Offices at all three venues-  The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, The Academy of Music, and Miller Theater- or by  calling Ensemble Arts Philly Audiences Services at 215-893-1999. Visit www.EnsembleArtsPhilly.org/plan-your-visit/box-office/ to check box office hours and locations. All visitors to the old website will be redirected to the new web page. Ticket Philadelphia will become the ticketing and audience services department of Ensemble Arts Philly, continuing exceptional customer service under the new name.

 

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

                                         Brandon O'Rourke, Anna D. Bailey
                                                                            Greg Wood & Susan Riley Stevens

Walnut Street Theatre is producing Edward Albee’s phenomenal work, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf ?  on its main stage through February 4, 2024. Unlike a typical production seen at the Walnut, this show has only one set through-out its three acts, but the design team is outstanding with multiple experiences on Walnut Street Theatre stages --- Roman Tatarowicz- Scenic Design; Ryan O‘Gara -Lighting  Design; and Christopher Colucci -  Sound Design. A special nod goes to Costume Coordinator Natalie De La Torre who initiates a change in Martha after a costume change. Welcome to newcomer and Wig Designer, Claire Waid. Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?  generates a series of appalled laughter as the audience examines the dysfunctional relationships presented on stage and wonders if any apply to their own lives. Albee’s play is extremely funny on one hand but shockingly disturbing, on the other.  The play is set in a college town at 2:00 a.m. after a professor’s party. Martha (Susan Riley Stevens) and George ( Greg Wood) stumble through their front door. Shortly after, guests Nick (Brandon )O’Rourke  and Honey (Anna D. Bailey) arrive, and the foursome begin what is an endless night (morning)  of drinking. Martha constantly belittles George because he doesn’t live up to her expectations and George, in turn, is nasty to Martha. Funny lines are  frequently interspersed in the script, made even more humorous when Honey makes outrageous comments indicating she doesn’t understand the conversation. With a great deal of drinking and a great deal of shouting, there is little wonder that lines can be blurred between reality and fantasy. Honey’s naivete is fun to watch while Martha’s portrayals of her pent-up frustrations are nail-biting. For more information or tickets, call 215- 574-3550 or visit online at walnutstreettheatre.org or ticketmaster.com.

Cirque Dreams Holidaze

                                                                 Christmas is Here

 Cirque Dream Holidaze, appearing at the Miller Theatre through December 31, 2023, is all about the magic and pageantry of Christmas. Presented by the Kimmel Cultural Campus and the Shubert Organization, Cirque Dream Holidaze is a pure delight, with something sure to captivate everyone in your party, no matter what  their age. Act I is set with gigantic Gingerbread Men. People tumbled with ropes,  others inside a gigantic hoop, and a third, amazingly simultaneously juggled hula hoops over several parts of his body. One of the most phenomenal performances of the evening followed the Dance of the Toy Soldiers when the Penguins  begin their jump rope dancing routine. The speed of their feet was extraordinary and watching four people jump in and out of ropes was impressive! There were a lot of aerialists and a lot of holiday music. Act II began with audience participation. Cast members chose 6 members of the audience to go up to the stage and shake a bell when someone on stage pointed to them. The bells sounded silly at first but ended up making music with orchestral accompaniment. The show continued with a breathless light pole balancing act and a contortionist who elicited “wows” from all over the audience. Many of the acts were accompanied  by Christmas favorites . Christmas is Here was exquisite in its presentation . The aerialist who accompanied the singers was magnificent in her performance as well. The grand finale was an outstanding idea. It  reprised a tinge of each performance.  This is a first rate holiday show. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999 or  by visiting online www.kimmelculturalcampus.org . In-person tickets sales can be purchased daily from 10:a.m.- 6:a.m. at the Academy of Music Box Office, located at 240 S. Broad Street.

Mrs. Doubtfire

The Kimmel Cultural Campus and The Shubert Organization are presenting the musical comedy, Mrs. Doubtfire, based on the 1993 movie. Mrs. Doubtfire will be appearing at the Academy of Music on the Kimmel Cultural Campus from February 6 – 18 as part of the 23-24 Broadway Series. Philadelphia local, Rob McClure, is reprising his Tony Award nominated dual roles of Daniel Hilliard and Euphegenia Doubtfire alongside his co-star and real-life wife, Maggie Lakis, who plays Miranda Hillard in the U.S. National Tour. After losing custody in a messy divorce, out-of-work actor Daniel Hilliard creates the kindly alter ego of Scottish nanny Euphengenia Doubtfire in a desperate attempt to stay in their lives. A hysterical and heartfelt story about holding onto your loved ones against all odds, Mrs.Doubtfire is the musical comedy for our times, proving we’re better together. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, visiting online at www.kimmelculturalcampus.org, or visiting the Box Office of the Academy of Music located at 240  S. Broad Street between the hours of 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.  For more information about Mrs. Doubtfire, visit www.DoubtfireBroadway.com .

This Is The Week That Is

 

1812 Productions, Philadelphia’s, only all comedy theatre, is presenting its annual satirical review of current events, This Is The Week That Is   at 1714 Delancey Place through December 31,2023. A myriad of skits and video productions on three screens had the audience in stitches. The 10,00 Pyramid  is a spoof on a popular game show that shows the differences in knowledge between different generations. RED Dolls is a beautiful production number in which Chris Christie is no longer a red doll and Nikki Hailey  is the only female one. You must come and see this fantastic show this year if only to see Jennifer Childs dressed as one of a handful of Banned Books.  There are also the usual segments - Good News, An Audience Participation, and Patsy from the Stoop in South Philly - but my favorite rendition this year is an  excellent parody  of The Cell Block Tango  from Chicago, starring “indicted” Hunter Biden,  Rudy Guliani, Ron DeSantis and  Donald Trump. This is the 18^th year that 1812 has presented This is the Week That Is, and it is probably Jennier Child’s most sophisticated one. Every year I tell myself that the comedy routines cannot possibly get any better and yet this year surpasses all with the breadth of its coverage. From the writers’ walk-out to “The Golden Bachelor", this is a show guaranteed to make you laugh. For more information or tickets, call 215-592-9560 or visit 1812productions.org.

Beauty and the Beast

                                                       Julia Udine & Daniel Wisniewski

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is appearing  on Walnut Street Theatre’s main stage through December 31, 2023.  It is an absolute joy.  Audiences of all ages will be delighted with over fifteen musical numbers, many of which are accompanied by charming choreography and costumes. There are several big production numbers, including “Gaston” in a tavern,   and “Be Our Guest” , “Human Again”  and “Beauty and the Beast”, all taking place  in the Beast’s castle. As amazing as viewing silverware and plates dance and salt and pepper shakers cavorting across the stage is, this is not the most incredible  portion of the show. Disney’s Beauty and the Beast begins with a fairy tale book projection, then the curtain of Walnut’s very deep stage opens up to reveal a scene from Belle’s provincial French town. The curtain rises again when Belle’s father goes into the woods then yet again when he is attacked by wolves and asks for asylum and appears in the Beast’s castle. There is still another room in the castle that can be shown and simultaneously a curtain falls, and everyone is taken back to the town. There are frequent scene changes and the ease in which this is done and the seamless change in backdrops is breathtaking. Come and see this very talented all-star cast. For more information about tickets, call 215-574-3550, or visit online at walnutstreettheatre.org  or ticketmaster.com  .