The Climb

                                  Ciera Gardner, Trevor Fayle, Sam Rosentrater & Claris Park

InterAct Theatre Company, located at 302 S. Hicks Street is presenting  the World Premiere of The Climb through June 23, 2024.  Written by C.A. Johnson and directed by Catherine K. Slusar, the play chronicles a month in the life of a successful photographer and her wife, who has been her muse for the past 6 years. Tiffany, stunningly portrayed by Ciera Gardner, feels “objectified” and plans on a month-long hike in the woods to get away from it all. Marge, her wife, portrayed by Sam Rosentrater, is steadfast and shocked at her decision to go, claiming all the successes  she has achieved as a photographer belong to both of them. Bella, portrayed by Claris Park, is a new student of Marge’s  who at first admires her work, but later becomes critical. The fourth member of this talented ensemble is Trevor Fayle who  portrays Ike, a fellow hiker Tiffany meets on the trail. The set design is an excellent representation of a trail in the woods, yet at the same time, it leaves room  to  illustrate what is happening with Marge.  Ike and Tiffany set up a  very realistic campfire and are caught in a torrential rainstorm the next day. Spoiler Alert! Both  the flames of the campfire and the sheets of pouring rain are actually video projections.  All the actors in the play give credible performances, with the strongest performances  coming from  Ciera Gardner and Claris Parker.  There is a surprise ending, but as with all the works presented at InterAct, you’ll leave the theatre with a plethora of things to discuss. For more information or tickets, call 215-568-8079 or visit online at boxoffice@interact.org

CORTEO

Cirque du Soliel’s CORTEO premiered in Philadelphia at the Liacouras Center on May 30, 2024. Italian for a joyous procession, CORTEO is the representation of a clown’s dream of his own  funeral bedecked with music, parades, a circus ambience, and Angels nearby in attendance. The circus atmosphere is delightful. Act after act appears on the stage and performs to audiences seated on both sides of a huge arena.  There are numerous versions of trapeze artists, each spectacular in their own right starting with women climbing in and hanging from huge chandeliers. Other artists tumble across bed mattresses only to alight on top of the bedpost! Such boldness requires an enormous amount of agility. Additional trapeze artists  twist and turn as they are lifted above the stage on a pair of ribbons and others are  miraculously thrown and caught across from each other on raised platforms.  Repeated gasps heard throughout the venue are a testament to the excitement this show produces. But that is not all! There are jugglers and  quick comedy sketches as well as musical processions across the stage. Everything is accompanied by beautiful  music. While most of the show is in Italian, knowledge of the language isn’t necessary to appreciate this marvelous performance.  

MAMMA MIA!

 

_{Ensemble Arts Philly and the Shubert Organization are presenting the} Broadway smash hit, Mamma Mia! at the Academy of Music from August 6 – 11, 2024, as part of the show’s 25^th anniversary tour. The musical showcases the feel-good show based on the songs of the band ABBA. Set on a Greek island paradise, the musical tells the tale of a mother, a daughter, and three possible dads on the eve of Sophie’s wedding. For nearly 25 years, audiences all around the world have fallen in love with the characters, the story and the music that makes MAMMA MIA!  the ultimate feel-good show. To date, MAMMA MIA! has been seen in 50 productions in 16 languages. MAMMA MIA! The Movie became the highest grossing live action musical film of all time upon its release in 2008. Tickets to this Broadway hit can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999 or visiting online at www.ensembleartsphilly.org. In-person ticket sales can be purchased daily from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the Academy of Music Box Office, located at 240 S. Broad Street. See www.ensembleartsphilly.org.   for more information.  

Les Miserables

  

                                                      

                                                                 Nick Cartell

Ensemble Arts Philly and the Schubert Organization are once again presenting the Tony Award-winning musical Les Misérables. This spectacular event can be seen at the Academy of Music August 27 – September 8, 2024. Back by popular demand, this record-breaking show is appearing in Philadelphia for the 13^th time. Set against the backdrop of  19^th Century France, Les Misérables tells the story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice, and redemption – a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. This uplifting story has become one of the most celebrated musicals in theatrical history. Tickets are now on sale. They can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999 or by visiting online at www.ensembleartsphilly.org. In person tickets can be purchased from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the Academy of Music  Box Office located at 240 S. Broad Street . Orders for groups of 10 or more may be placed by calling 215-790-5883 or by or emailing groupsales@ensembleartsphilly.org.  See www.ensembleartsphilly.org  for more information.

Funny Girl

 

                                                       Katerina McCrimmon

Ensemble Arts Philly and The Shubert Organization are presenting the Philadelphia premiere of the Broadway revival, Funny Girl, at the Academy of Music from July 16- 28 2024, featuring Grammy Award-winner Melissa Manchester as Mrs. Brice  and introducing rising star Katerina McCrimmon as Fanny Brice. After debuting on Broadway in  1964, Funny Girl  starred Barbra Streisand in the movie in 1968 and became the highest grossing film in the U.S. that year. Newcomer Katerina McCrimmon is capturing the hearts of audiences everywhere. This is the retelling of the bittersweet story of a girl from the Lower East Side who dreamed of a life on stage and the iconic songs that go along with it, such as “Don’t Rain on my Parade” and “People.” Funny Girl is directed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer, and features the classic score by Tony, Grammy and Academy Award winner Julie Styne and lyrics by Tony Award nominee and Grammy Award winner Bob Merrill with additional songs from Styne and Merrill. Harvey Fierstein revised the original book. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999 or by visiting online at ensembleartsphilly.org. In person ticket sales can be purchased daily from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the Academy of Music Box  Office, located at 240 S. Broad Street. See ensembleartsphilly.org for more information.

Comedy of Errors

                                        Matteo Scammell, Kishia Nixon & Dave Johnson

The Lantern Theater Company, presenting their works in St. Stephens Theater at 10^th  & Ludlow Streets in Philadelphia, is producing Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors through June 16, 2024. An outstanding ensemble cast has  the audience buzzing in their seats, trying to follow the list of characters. All too soon it becomes apparent that things aren’t quite what they seem when servants appear without expected rewards. So, too, is a seafarer mistaken for a husband and a husband is locked out of his house. The results are madcap and zany and inordinately farsical. At one point one of the characters even turns to the audience members and asks, “Does anyone even understand Shakespeare?”  The acting is “over the top,” in keeping with the general Modis Operandi of the production. This is one of Shakespeare’s earlier plays and  Shakespeare probably did not have so much flippancy in mind when he wrote it. The phenomenal sound effects curated by Christopher Colucci and the extraordinary Lighting Designs by Shon Causer add elements that leave the audience in stitches. For more information or tickets, call (215) 829-0395 or visit online at www.lanterntheater/.org.

Little Women

                                                 Noa Harris, Camryn Hamm, Hannah Taylor & 

                                                                           Rachel Pantazis

Little Women: The Musical is playing through May 12, 2024, at the Playhouse on Rodney Square as part of Broadway in Wilmington. Based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott, the production has 18 original musical numbers. Every member of the fine ensemble cast is given a chance to shine with a solo, although Hannah Taylor, portraying protagonist Jo March, belts out many more numbers than any other cast member. Camryn Hamm, portraying Jo’s sister Beth, sings a lovely duet with her as well as one with Mr. Lawrence ( Chris Carsten). Noa Harris gives a convincing performance as Jo’s petulant younger sister Amy.  Jo’s sister Meg , (Rachel Pantazis ) is the first one to break Jo’s heart. Moriel Behar gives an outstanding performance as the prim and proper Aunt March. The set design is very interesting with projections and a half-hidden staircase. Five exciting shows are on tap in Wilmington for the 2024-25 season.