Faith Healer

                                              

                                                        

                                                                     Ian Merrill Peakes

The Lantern Theater Company is presenting Faith Healer through Sunday, March 3, 2024, at St. Stephen’s Theater in Center City Philadelphia. The play is a series of monologues in which each character relates a story from their perspective. The drama is surprising , but even more astounding are the diverse accounts for the same events. Frank Hardy ( Ian Merrill Peakes) is a Faith Healer who doesn’t always have faith in his ability to heal. He is accompanied on his British Isles tour by his manager Teddy ( Anthony Lawton) and Grace, (Genevieve Perrier), whom he refers to as his mistress. Frank frequently finds comfort in the bottle and can be verbally abusive to Grace. Grace’s monologue is an eye-opener. She resents Frank and calls him a liar for referring to her as his mistress rather than his wife. After seven years on the road with him and his abuses,  Grace returns home to face her ailing father who cannot forgive the fact that she gave up a promising career  in the legal field to run away with Frank. She tells of fleeing her father’s house and  returning home to Frank where she gets pregnant and delivers a stillborn 9 months later in Scotland .The end of this second monologue foreshadows the end of the fourth.  Gracie yells to come quick to see Frank. Teddy (Anthony Lawton) is the Faith Healer’s promoter and begins the third monologue.  He sells tickets for the events and tries to have large audiences of people who need to be healed. He tells of one night that had 10 cures by the Faith Healer although he wasn’t sure if it was the actual cure or the audience’s faith that promoted the cures. Teddy’s love for Grace is evident as he relates her child labor in Scotland and his calling out to Frank who runs away up a hillside. Teddy laments a father-to be leaving Grace and when the child is still-born, he follows her directions; buries the child; and marks the spot with a small wooden cross. In the fourth monologue, Frank is warned to leave a pub where he had bragged that he could heal someone in a wheelchair. He was told if he didn’t cure the man, the crowd would kill him. He said he would wait for the wheelchair to arrive. Lights out. The three actors portraying Frank, Grace and Teddy are among the best in their field. Anthony Lawton has perfected the monologue with his productions of Charles Dicken’ A Christmas Carol, but Ian Merrill Peakes and Genvieve Perrier give excellent performances as well. For more information or tickets, call 215-829-0395 or visit online at www.lanterntheater.org.

Stepmom Stepmom Stepmom

                       

                                                             Abdul Sesay & Jessica Johnson

InterAct Theatre Company, located at the Proscenium Theatre at the Drake . 302 S.  Hicks  Street, is presenting the World Premier of Stepmom, Stepmom, Stepmom through February 18, 2024. Known for its commitment to diversity and promotion of dialogue on  societal issues, InterAct does not disappoint in producing this play.  Kaila, (Jessica Johnson) is a Black woman unsatisfied with the sex-life in her marriage. She wants her husband Louis ( Scott R.  Sheppard) to be rough and hit her. Louis , a white male, has lived his life  respecting women and can’t imagine the optics of his raising a hand to his wife. Kaila fantasizes about what her life would be like with her very good-looking ex. After hearing some of her fantasies which were accidentally recorded on his laptop, Louis begins to wonder if perhaps he might be able to accommodate his wife and still stay true to himself. Abdul Sesay  is very convincing as Kaila’s ex-boyfriend, Marc. Donovan Locket does an excellent job of portraying Tichelle, Kaila’s  best friend, who tries to get Kaila to determine what she really wants in life. InterAct hosts discussions for audience members almost every day of the week after the show. For tickets and show times, visit https://www.interacttheatre.org/step-mom-step-mom-step-mom.

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 .