Walnut Street Theatre announces it’s spectacular holiday musical for the whole family, Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST . It begins previews  on November 21, opens on November 29, and runs through the holiday season ending December 31, 2023. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST tells the story of a prince who is cursed by a magic spell and Belle, who wanders from her village to his castle and helps him  break the spell. The staged version of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST  combines the  songs of the animated film  with an expanded score and 6 additional songs. The first staged production on Broadway, following the success of the animated film , received 9 Tony Award nominations. Walnut Street’s production will feature an ensemble cast of 25 performers, many of them familiar to Walnut Street audiences, alongside a live orchestra. Open captioning will be available  during the 7pm performance on 12/3. For more information or tickets, call 215-574-3550 or visit online at walnutstreettheatre.org or ticketmaster.com

ELVIS- A Musical Revolution

Lucas Pastrana

Walnut Street Theatre is producing the World Premiere of ELVIS - A Musical Revolution through November 5, 2023. Lucas Pastrana exudes Elvis as he evolves from  his first  recording session through his tumultuous successes and decline decades later. Through 16 show-stopping tunes, he leaves the audience enthralled with his voice, his on-stage gyrations, and his grit. With the aid of the projection designs of Caite Hevner, the audience is whisked back in time to see Elvis as a young boy. Several scenes are beautifully enacted with the very talented kid Elvis ( Joey Caroto ) and his mother, the talented veteran Walnut Street actor, Rebecca Robbins. (Joey Caroto shares the role with Hunter Silverman on alternate performances.) Kid Elvis is interspersed with adult Elvis throughout the performance as time shifts back and forth. The projections show dates as well as real-life photos of Elvis. Kelly Briggs  gives a very strong performance as Colonel Parker. You might love Elvis, but this is one character you’ll love to hate. Director and choreographer Jeff Calhoun has been remarkably enterprising with the dance numbers. Not only are  they catchy and fun to watch, but the routines also utilize cast members who have other parts in the performance. This show is transformative, washing away years from those who lived through the Elvis Era and enlightening others on the star's birth, influence and eventual musical decline. No matter how you have perceived Elvis in the past, ELVIS- A Musical Revolution is one show you should not miss. For more information or tickets, call 215-574-3550 ext 6,  or visit online at walnutstreettheatre.org. or ticketmaster.com.

 

Assassins

                                      Assassins urging on Lee Harvey Oswold ( Robi Hager )

Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins  (book by John Weldman) can be seen in the  Arden’s F. Otto Haas stage through October 22, 2023. This production brings to life the chilling narratives of some of America’s most notorious figures in a way that is equal parts disturbing and mesmerizing. Set against the backdrop of a carnival shooting gallery, Assassins delves into the minds of  those who attempted to assassinate U.S. presidents. From John Wilkes Booth to Lee Harvey Oswald, the show introduces us to a crew of historical characters, each driven by their own twisted motivations. The ensemble cast is nothing short of stellar. Each actor delivers performances that are as disturbing as they are riveting. The score is hauntingly beautiful, with songs ranging from darkly humorous to evocative. When “Another National Anthem” is sung and videos of storming the capitol on Jan. 6, appear on a screen, there is a collective gasp from the audience. One of the most compelling aspects of Assassins is the ability to make you question your own moral compass as the characters each justify their actions and grapple with their need for recognition. This is a thought-provoking theatrical experience that will linger in your mind long after the final curtain.
For tickets, call 215- 922-1122 .

 

WICKED

 

The Kimmel Cultural Campus presents the return of the Broadway sensation WICKED  for a month-long engagement from November 1-26 , 2023 as part of the 23-24 Broadway Series.  Winner of 3 Tony Awards, WICKED is the 4^th longest Broadway show. It is the winner of over 100 international awards including Grammy and Tony Awards.

It takes a look at Oz long before Dorothy arrives . The world cannot accept someone who is different with green skin. She must be “wicked”. With an exhilarating score that includes the hits “Defying Gravity,” “Popular” and  ”For Good”, WICKED has been hailed by the New York Times as “the defining musical of the decade, and by Time Magazine as “a magical Broadway musical with brains, heart, and courage. NBC Nightly News called the hit musical “the most successful Broadway show ever.”

Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999 , visiting online at www.kimmelculturalcampus.org, or visiting the Academy of Music  Box office  daily from 10 am-6 pm located at 240 S. Broad Street.

 

Mean Girls

The Kimmel Cultural Campus and the Shubert Organization present the second National Tour of Tina Fey’s hit musical, Mean Girls, from October 3 - 8, 2023. Mean Girls makes its Philadelphia  return at the Campus ‘ Miller Theater , kicking off the 23-24 Broadway series. It stars former Kimmel-based musical theater Ethan Jih-Cook and MaryRose Brendel, alongside University of the Arts grad Mikela Rada.

Mean Girls made its world premiere in 2017 and opened to rave reviews on Broadway in April 2018. It has been called “hilarious “ by New York Magazine  and  "Fresh, Fun and Infectious,” by People Magazine.  Entertainment Weekly has called it “ A Marvel: Dazzling and Hilarious.”

Cady Heron grew up on an African Savannah, but nothing prepared her for the wild and viscious ways of her strange new home in suburban Illinois. Can she topple the Queen Bee without getting stung?  Come and see for yourself ! 

Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, by visiting online at www.kimmelculturalcampus.org. or   by visiting the box office in person at  240 Broad Street.

For more information about Mean Girls, visit www.MeanGirlsOnTour.com

 

 

 

Assassins

 

The Arden Theatre Company kicks off their 36th Season with Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s Assassins. This Tony Award - Winning Musical begins September  21, 2023, with an Opening Night on September 27. It has already been extended to October 22, 2023. Original and humorous, Assassins  tells the story of Americans consumed by grievance and a desperate need to be heard.  Arden’s production of Assassins is the 16^th time they have presented a show by Sondheim. There is an all-star cast including but not limited to Scott Greer, Katherine Fried,  Darren Micael Hengst, Monica Horan and Christopher Patrick Mullen. The outstanding production design team includes Paige Hathaway- Scenic Design, Thom Weaver - Lighting Design,  Elizabeth Atkinson - Sound Design,  Jorge  Cousineau -Video Design, and Ryan Touhey – Music Director/Orchestrations. For more information or tickets, call 215- 922-1122; visit online at www.ardentheatre.org; or visit in person at the Arden box office at  the Arden Theatre Company at 40 N. 2^nd Street.

 

Tartuffe

        Frank X and Jered McLenigan

The Lantern Theater Company is producing Moliere’s Tartuffe, translated into English verse by Richard Wilbur, on the stage at St. Stephen’s Theater through October 8, 2023. What a delight! Meghan Jones’ scenic designs are masterful in their simplicity and their hint of grandeur with  a multitude of entrances and exits for the actors. Veteran actor Frank X doesn’t disappoint in his role of Orgon, head of the household.  He’s thoroughly besotted and under the spell of the falsely pious and malevolent Tartuffe. 3-time Barrymore Award winner Jered McLenigan  brilliantly portrays Tartuffe. With a slight shift  of body language and change of  the register of his voice, Tartuffe’s character fluctuates from supplicant  to bold leader back to coy charmer. His facial expressions are a marvel and the audience laughs in appreciation. The verse itself is cause for laughter on many occasions. Additionally, there are numerous instances of situational humor. Lee Minora’s  Dorine is hysterical when she sits on a step with a bag of popcorn to watch a  spat between Morgan Charece Hall’s Mariane and Dave Johnson’s Valere. For more information or tickets to this captivating romp, call 215-829-0395 or visit online at www.lanterntheater.org.