The Wanderers

                                                             Robert Daponte & Arielle Siler

The Lantern Theater Company, on the stage at St. Stephen’s Church at 10^th and Ludlow Streets, is presenting its 3^rd work of playwright Anna Ziegler and what a choice it is! The Wanderers , which won the San Diego Critic’s Circle Award for Outstanding New Play, can be seen through October 6, 2024. The play is brilliant. It examines the lives of two married couples who live only blocks away from each other in Brooklyn yet in different worlds. One is a secular Jewish couple and the other is a member of a strict Hasidic sect. After the announcement of narrated chapters, the audience discovers  each  couple has similar experience to confront. The way in which these experiences are faced is a delightful knock-your-socks-off surprise. The ensemble cast is excellent. Abe and Sophie ( Robert DaPonte and Arielle Siler ) grew up together and always knew they would get married. Esther and Schmuli (Zoe Nebraska Feldman and Adam Howard ) meet on their wedding day and give a glimpse of life inside a Hasidic household. Julia Cheever  ( Alanna J. Smith) is Abe’s mid-life crisis. This is an exceptional one-act . For  more information or tickets, call 215-829-0395 or visit online at www.lanterntheater.org.

Book of Mormon

                                                                         Ensemble

Back by popular demand, The Book of Morman,   co-presented by Ensemble Arts Philly and the Shubert Organization, is returning to the Academy of Music  October 1 – 6. Since opening on March 24, 2011, The Book of Mormon  has become one of the most successful shows in Broadway history. In addition to nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical and the Grammy for Best Musical Theatre Album, The Book of Morman won five Drama Desk Awards,including Best Musical, the NY Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, Drama League Award for Best Musical and four Outer Critics  Circle Awards including Best Musical. The Book of Mormon has been performed on three continents and has won over 30 international awards. The musical has smashed long-standing box office records in New York, London, Melbourne, Sydney and cities across the U.S. and the world. Tickets can be purchased  by calling 215-893-1999 or visiting online at www.ensembleartsphilly.org. In person ticket sales can be purchased from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily at the Academy of Music Box Office, 240 S Broad Street. Orders for groups of 10 or more may be placed by calling 215-790-5883 or emailing groupsales@ensembleartsphilly.org. . For more information, visit thebookofmormontour.com. 

Mamma Mia!

                              

                                Jalynn Steele, Christine Sherrill & Carly Sakolove

Ensemble Arts Philly and the Shubert Organization are presenting Mamma Mia! as part of the show’s 25^th anniversary tour . The musical showcases the feel-good music  of the band ABBA. I’ve seen this show twice in the past 20 years, and this iteration remains delightful. Alisa Melendez’s portrayal of Sophie Sheridan is like a breath of fresh air. She opens and closes the show with  “I have a Dream,”  and sings a multitude of numbers throughout the performance. She has a wonderful stage presence and an engaging voice. The simple set is multi-purposeful as both a backdrop for the outdoors on the  Greek island and indoor bedroom scenes as well. Howard Harrison’s lighting design is  brilliant.  The special lighting effects  are particularly noteworthy when Christine Sherrill, portraying  Donna Sheridan, sings  “Money, Money” and a bit   later when she sings the title song, “Mamma Mia!.”  Additionally, the multi-colors of orange and yellow and red  against the backdrop at the end of the first act nearly perfectly simulate an outdoor sunset. There are many humorous moments throughout this performance.  Donna resurrects her old band act with band-mates Tanya (Jalynn Steele) and Rosie ( Carly Sakolove) as they sing  “Dancing Queen.”  A small group of ensemble members dress in wetsuits as they sing and dance, with interesting choreography, to  “ Lay all your Love on Me.”  A larger ensemble sings and dances to “Voulez -Vous.”  Rosie has a hilarious moment in the second act with Jim Newman portraying  Bill Austin as she sings,  “ Take a Chance on Me.”   The only problem with this entire performance is that the orchestra is a bit too loud at times.  It occasionally overpowers the performers as they sing. After final bows and quick costume changes, everyone returns to the stage and begins to sing favorite hits from the show. Everyone in the audience is up dancing by their seats, clapping, and  singing along. What a  wonderful night.

 Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999 or  visiting online at www.ensembleartsphilly.org . In person tickets can be sold daily from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the Academy of Music Box Office at 240 S. Broad Street. See www.ensembleartsphilly.org for more information.

Philadephia Fringe Festival

                                                                    Poor Judge ( a curated program)

The Fringe Arts Festival  is coming to Philadelphia again in September and it’s not too early to plan to visit some of these unique productions. The 28^th Annual Philadelphia  Fringe Festival  features over 300 diverse  productions and experiences through Philadelphia for a month - long celebration. The programming includes world premieres by Lightning Rod Special and Pig Iron Theatre Company  as well as a new interactive opera, We Have Gone As Far As Far As We Can Together. There will be several curated programs throughout the month as well as 14 digital events  and the return of the Festival Hub program featuring Cannonball, Circus Campus Presents , and the new Glen Foerd Hub. These independent satellite festivals feature dozens of individually produced  experiences in one centralized location. Tickets are now on sale. For more information and tickets visit online at FringeArts.com, by phone at 215-413-1318 or by visit the Fringe Festival Box Office at FringeArts ( 140 N Columbus Blvd. Philadelphia )

 

Hamilton

 

                                                                Ensemble

Hamilton is  coming to Philadelphia for a return engagement of 4 weeks. It will appear at the Academy of Music from October 29 through November 23, 2024. Hamilton is the epic saga that follows the rise of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton as he fights for honor  and a legacy that would shape the course of a nation. Tickets are available for purchase at www.ensembleartsphilly.org, in person at the Academy of Music Box Office, 240 S. Broad Street or by calling 215-893-1999.  Prices range from $23.00 to $213.00 with a select number of premium seats available from $203 for all performances. There will be a lottery for 40 $10 seats for all performances. Details will be announced closer to the engagement. To book a group of 10 or more, call 215-790-5883 or email groupsales@ensembleartsphilly.org  More information is available at ensembleartsphilly.org/groupsales.  To avoid purchasing fraudulent and counterfeit tickets from a third party, purchase all sales through www.ensembleartsphilly.org. Hamilton’s score blends hip-hop, jazz, R& B and Broadway. The show  has won 11 Tony Awards as well as Grammy and  Olivier Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. If you have never seen the show, now is your chance to purchase a ticket for a performance you will not forget. If you have seen it, you will certainly enjoy seeing it again. Purchase tickets now while good seats are still available.

'Twas the Night Before... by Cirque du Soliel

                                                             Reindeer jumping through hoops

For the first time ever, Cirque Du Soleil is bringing its holiday show, ‘Twas the Night Before… to Philadelphia. The show will run December 20 – 29 2024, at the Met.  The show is based on the classic poem , ” A Visit from St Nicholas, ” which tells the tale of a young girl who is jaded by Christmas but rediscovers its magic.  For years Isabella and her father have read “A Visit from St Nicholas”  together, but this year Isabella feels as if she’s outgrown the family tradition. Then the magic of the poem comes to life. Suddenly father and daughter are separated by a snowstorm that sends them on a fantastical journey.  In a winter wonderland inspired by the poem, they discover whimsical characters, acrobats, children, and reindeer who reunite father and daughter in the holiday spirit. Each and every one of the many acts follows a verse of the poem. 52 different costumes are used in the show, including 8 reindeer costumes. There are 16 men and 10 women in each cast with a touring  support staff of 17.  This is sure to be a delightful show for all ages. Tickets are available starting July 25, 2024 at www.cirquedusoleil.com/twas-the-night-before .

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