This Is The Week That Is

                                                                     Founding Fathers
 

1812 Productions, Philadelphia’s only all Comedy Theatre, is presenting its This Is The Week That Is: Election Edition in the Plays and Players Theater 17th and Delancey Streets, Philadelphia. Audiences can be delighted by the election humor through November 3, 2024. The ensemble crew of Newton Buchanan, Pax Ressler, Lexi Thammavong, Robyn Unger, and Jen Childs is excellent beginning with the “’fact checking” of every statement Jen makes in her curtains speech.Three large screens allow video projections throughout the show. Michael Long's video designs are outstanding. Lexi makes an appearance as an adorable Liberty Belle to play a Bachelor Game with 3 candidates, Johnny Legend, Hulk Hogan, and a Bear. After the candidates respond to several questions, the Liberty Belle chooses the silent bear. He will make several appearances later in the show. This Is the Week That Is always has an audience participation segment. This time the audience member is chosen to make a run for president of the United States and must have a running mate. Guess who the running mate is - The bear! The audience member has an opportunity to choose items of clothing and accessories for the bear. There is a  segment highlighting Tim Walz and “Weird” statements made by the opposing party and another highlighting JD Vance’s  ‘single cat ladies’ remarks, both of which are enjoyed by the audience. Unfailingly, Sean Close’s Daily News Report is spot on. Jen Childs is a multi-talented writer, director, and actor. Every year in  This Is The Week That Is  Jen satirizes  a corner of South Philly by putting on her baseball hat backwards and donning her Patsy persona.  Invariably Patsy on the Stoop gives us something to look forward to so we can learn what she knows about “this and that.” This year’s segment has a surprise as she invites her whole ‘family’ to come join her in song. For more information or tickets, visit www.1812productions.org.  
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Jersey Boys

Jersey Boys is appearing on the mainstage of the Walnut Street Theatre through November 3, 2024. Will Stephan Connell gives a fabulous performance as Franki Valli, the lead singer of the iconic pop band The Four Seasons. He is joined by the extremely talented Bob Gaudio who provides the music for the show and in the show as well as band-mate Eddie Olmo II. Tommy DeVito ( portrayed by Ken Sandberg) and Nick Massi ( portrayed by Chris  Stevens ) are the other two members of this band that have the audience members rocking in their seats throughout the performance. An announcement was made before the show began that no one was to sing along to the familiar lyrics because the people on the stage could sing the songs much better. As difficult as it was to obey this admonition, almost everyone was very cooperative and settled for a little swaying in the seats instead. I’m sure this pleased the cast.  It was not necessarily easy on those of us who were sitting behind the enthusiastic boppers. The show is loaded with hit songs, over 30 in all. It is a delightful retelling of the struggles  a young  singing group surmounts on their way to  their induction into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. For a fun-filled experience, get tickets now to see Jersey Boys. For  more information or tickets, call 215- 574-3550 or visit online at walnutstreettheatre.org . or ticketmaster.com

 

How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical

Ensemble Arts Philly is presenting a holiday engagement of Dr Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical at the Miller Theater from November 26 through December 1. This holiday classic is sure to delight both children and adults alike. Audiences will discover the magic of Dr. Seuss’ classic tale as it comes to life on stage.  Max the Dog narrates as the mean and scheming Grinch, whose heart is “two sizes two small,” decides to steal Christmas away from the holiday-loving Who’s. The Grinch broke box office records for two consecutive years on Broadway. Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical  features magnificent sets designed by John Lee Beatty and costumes designed by Robert Morgan, inspired by Dr. Seuss’ original book. The 2024 production is directed by Matt August and choreographed by Bob Richard, based on the original choreography by John Luca and originally created by four-time Tony Award winning director, Jack O’Brien. For additional information on the production, please visit www.GrinchMusical.com. Tickets 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. Orders for groups of 10 or more may be placed by calling 215-790-5883 or emailing groupsales@ensembleartsphilly.org . For more information, contact www.ensembleartsphilly.org.  

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 )