Summder 1976

McKenna Kerrign and Grace Gonglewski

The Lantern Theatre Company, located at St. Stephen’s Theater,10^th and Ludlow Streets, Center City Philadelphia, is presenting Summer 1976   through October 11, 2026.  Diana, played by McKenna Kerrigan, is a quirky artist when she first meets Alice, portrayed by Grace Gonglerwski.  Her short, clipped sentences are acerbic.   Alice is a laissez-faire academic wife and Grace is a driven artist. They seemingly have little in common but bond over having young children of the same age who immediately become best friends. Grace’s husband, Doug, is sometimes also given voice by Diane.  Playwright David Auburn has provided witty dialogue throughout Summer 1976. This is not a comedy but rather a chance for the characters to grow and mature through a series of circumstances and for the audience to laugh in appreciation. Grace and McKenna are excellent in their roles. They are both onstage for the entirety of the 90-minute one-act with only a scattered minute here or there when one of them is not in the spotlight …and oh the spotlight! Thanks to Lighting Designer J. Dominic Chacon the spotlight  also deserves title billing. Whenever Alice or Diana speaks to the audience, the spotlight is on her, and the other character is in shadows. This type of scenario happens frequently in the performance and the stage lighting is exquisite. For tickets, call 215-829-0395 or visit online at www.lanterntheater.org

This Should NEVER Be a Musical

1812 Productions, Philadelphia’s All Comedy Theatre Company, is presenting This Should NEVER be Musical through September 27, 2026. Artistic Director Jennifer Childs noted the company is appearing on the Arcadia stage of the Arden Theatre while celebrating its 30^th Anniversary season, the same stage on which a fledgling 1812 Company began its performances 30 years ago. This Should NEVER Be a Musical is an improvised reality show. Four “contestants” react to information provided from audience members prior to the start of the show. Through a series of musical elimination tasks, including spinning a wheel to determine the type of song to sing and being subject to audience voting, one by one the contestants are eliminated. The last one standing presents his musical, aided by other cast members, of course. The winner on opening night was There is No Name. This quickly morphed into a quirky story about a woman who had a “condition” that wouldn’t allow her to remember anyone’s name, even seconds after she heard it. The musical had several songs, a lot of angst and much laughter thanks to the excellent ensemble cast of Mykey Carpenter, David Dritsas, Eliana Fabiyi, Kristin Finger and Kelsey Hebert. You will probably see an entirely different musical if you go, but go you must. The cast  will be the same and they are an improv treasure, able to compose hysterical dialogue, songs, and choreography on the spur of the moment.

She Gets Around

 

Jennifer Child’s is performing in her third solo show, She Gets Around, through May 17, 2026 at 1812 Production’s home, Plays and Players Theater, 1714 Delancey Place. While her other two solo pieces were enjoyable, funny, even memorable, She Gets Around is on a whole new plane. Jen is brilliant as she performs sketch after sketch and dons various items of clothing “from her closet“ that relate to specific times of her life. Each sketch is wildly funny and the entire audience roars with laughter in the 90- minute show. Jen is a whirlwind: she sings; she dances across the stage; she prances up and down a huge ladder to unhook clothes from a clothes pin, and she relates to the audience. One of the most endearing parts of the show is Jen in her girl scout uniform as a second grader in “time-out.” She is on the “time-out” stool several times and in heart-breaking terms she explains how unfair it is.  One of the most gratifying segments is Jen’s tribute to all the female comedians who came before her. I absolutely loved this show. Jennifer Childs is always excellent but this show is outstanding. Contact the box office at 215-592-9560 for information on how to get your tickets today.

Seng's Hair Salon

InterAct Theatre Company is presenting’s Seng’s Hair Salon through May 10, 2026 at The Proscenium Theatre at The Drake, 302 S. Hicks Street, Philadelphia, Pa. InterAct has commissioned three playwrights, with the help of The William Penn Foundation, to write a play about a community in Philadelphia that is under-represented on local or national stages. Seng’s Hair Salon, by Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay, is the second of the three chosen plays which are part of the Philly Cycle. It is set in a neighborhood in South Philly and encompasses the stories of Lao, Vietnamese and Cambodian families. Together the Asian community is a tight-knit group which has found its commonality in the great care they are given and the gossip they share in the chairs of Seng’s Hair Salon. Developers threaten to “buy out” the properties on the block, one by one. The younger generation cannot see Seng giving up her salon and are willing to go door to door to get support. Seng’s best friend Ahn has a new house built in Vietnam with a room added especially for her. She pleads with Seng to retire, sell her salon and move with her. Will Seng’s secret keep her in Philly? The play answers this question as well as developing a wonderful insight into family life and cultural norms in that Asian community. Be sure to get your tickets at https://www.interacttheatre.org/sengs

She Gets Around

                                                                          Jennifer Childs

Actor, playwright, comedian and 1812 Productions’ Producing Artistic Director, Jennifer Childs returns to the stage with a brand-new solo comedy, She Gets Around. It will be running April 24 through May 17, 2026 as part of the Phoebe & Otto Premiere Series at Plays & Players Theatre. In the show, Jennifer Childs is cleaning out her closet and reminisces with every piece of clothing in it. Through a whirlwind of characters, and comedic riffs, she explores the many versions of the “bad girls” and “good girls” she has been in her life. The show introduces many unforgettable personalities from a 7-year old who complains about being put in “time-out” to a variety of female comics who helped shape the landscape of comedy. Together these characters guide Childs as she considers whether she should be more like Doris Day or Tallulah Bankhead. The production will add an element of theatrical spontaneity: the audience will determine the order in which the characters will appear. Tickets are available at 1812productions.org. 

Shucked

Ensemble Arts Philly and The Shubert Organization will be presenting the Philadelphia Premiere of Shucked, the Tony Award-winning new musical comedy, at the Forrest Theatre from April 21- May 3, 2026.  It’s a hilarious show of love, sacrifice and hope, centered around one community’s obsession with corn. The score is written by Grammy Award winners, Tony Award nominees and Nashville superstars Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally. The design teams are helmed by Drama Desk, Tony and Emmy Award nominees and winners. The cast boasts some members of the original Broadway cast (Miki Abraham as Lulu, Quinn VanAntwerp as Gordy) as well as Doylestown, Pa native Mike Nappi as Peanut. To purchase tickets, visit www.ensembleartsphilly.org or Telecharge.com or call Telecharge at 212-239-6200. Group orders may be placed at Broadway Inbound or by calling 866-302-0995. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Forrest Theatre Box Office, located at 1114 Walnut Street, Monday thru Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, April 30, 7:30 PM will have the addition of an American Sign Language performance.

Marsha Blovotnick and the Mavelous Magical Chicken Soup

                                                       Ensemble Cast at Shabbat Dinner

Theatre Ariel, Philadelphia’s only theatre dedicated to telling stories about the Jewish experience, is presenting the world premiere of Marsha Blovotnick and the Marvelous Magical Chicken Soup. This very humorous production can be seen through March 22 at The Bluver Theatre @ The Drake, Hicks Street, Philadelphia. Marsha, (Janis Dardaris) a self- proclaimed lesbian, lives in a ramshackle house that was her father’s that also serves as her acting studio. She is angry at the world, her three ex-wives, and particularly at her sister, Janice. Janice, (Susan Riley Stevens) is the antheses of Marsha.  She is well dressed and coiffed, has a home in the country, belongs to the country club, and has a very calm demeanor.  Adam Pelta-Pauls is charming as the Chorus. He both explains Marsha and the other characters to the audience and repeats what is said back to Marsha to the delight of the audience. As Marsha is preparing a Shabbat dinner, she realizes she has forgotten to make chicken soup. A mysterious ancestor arrives with magical chicken soup that will change anyone who eats it. Marsha has great plans for this soup.  Plans sometimes work in unexpected ways. The sound and lighting design are excellent in this production. Kudos to Christopher Colucci and Will Lowry. Tickets may be obtained online at theatreariel.org .