How to Catch Creation

Jonathon Banks & Lindsay Smiling

Emerging playwright Christine Anderson examines the creation of art, life and family in the Bay area of San Francisco in her How to Catch Creation, presented by the Philadelphia Theatre Company and appearing at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre through April 14, 2019. The lighting, set and sound are all extremely well done. Set concurrently in 2014 and mid 1960’s, How to Catch Creation features a series of vignettes that bleed into one another on a revolving circular stage. The lighting changes help delineate the change in time ….Creation has multi layers. No sooner is the audience introduced to characters in one vignette, than another one appears on the rotating stage. As soon as that formula becomes familiar, characters begin to appear in each other’s story lines. The ensemble cast is very talented. Shayna Small, portraying Riley, gives a consistently strong performance throughout. Stephanie Weeks’ monologue as Tami's breaking down in front of Griffin (Lindsay Smiling) is exceptional. For more information or tickets, call 215-985-0420 or visit philatheatreco.org.

Measure for Measure

Time after time, year after year, The Lantern

Theater Company has proven itself to be the premiere theater company for Shakespearean productions.  This year, when the company decided to tackle Measure for Measure, one of Shakespeare’s problem plays, it again proved to be no problem for director Charles McMahon nor veteran actors Anthony Lawton and Ben Dibble. The production might have been a taxing one as everyone in the eight member cast has multiple roles but the very talented ensemble cast pulls it off with ease. Anthony Lawton is in top form and Ben Dibble is at the top of his game.  Chris Anthony, Adam Hammet, Kirk Wendell Brown and Jered McLenigan are marvelous additions to the ensemble cast as are Charlotte Northeast and Claire Inie-Richards who performs an amazing Isabella.  Despite the problems that had to be overcome, this is a comedy and quick costume changes add to the humor. The second act is quite a bit funnier than the first. The conclusion is not obvious until the end of the play and even in the final seconds there is a humorous twist. Whether you are a Shakespeare fan or not, this is a production you won't want to miss.   For tickets or more information, call 215-829-0395 or visit online at www.lanterntheater.org. 

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time will be playing on Walnut Street Theatre’s main stage through April 28, 2019. Austin Nedrow, who celebrated his 18^th birthday onstage opening night, brilliantly portrays Christopher Boone, an autistic 15 year old who has difficulty relating to his surroundings. Because Christopher takes everything literally, there are several humorous albeit bittersweet moments in the script. Alicia Roper, while portraying Christopher’s teacher, Siobhan, creates a loving,safe environment for him. Both Ian Merril Peakes and Karen Peakes (Chrisopher's parents) demonstrate the frustrations and foibles of raising a child on the autism spectrum. Set designer Roman Tatarowicz modeled the piping on the stage after the neurons in the brain of an autistic child. While the acting is first rate in this production, the piping, lighting, sounds and video projections are  electric characters as well. The entire creation is purposed to give the audience an insight into Christopher’s mind. It is fascinating and beautifully done. For more information or tickets, call 215-574-3550, 800-982-2787, or visit online at www.walnutstreetheatre.org or ticketmaster.  

April Events at the Kimmel

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The Grammy® nominated international music group Celtic Woman is returning to the Academy of Music on Thursday, April 4, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. as part of their new tour Ancient Land. In Ancient Land, Celtic Woman continues their tradition of excellence in telling stories through song – songs that bring a piece of Ireland to audiences everywhere. Ancient Land is the group’s 13^th studio album and features all new material including original compositions, traditional Irish songs and re-imagined contemporary works. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, visiting online at www.kimmelcenter.org or at the Kimmel Center Box office.

The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, in association with Nickelodean and VStar Entertainment Group , presents PAW Patrol Live!  "Race to the Rescue". an action-packed. music-filled production. The pups are from the  preschool series Paw Patrol. On stage, they share lessons about citizenship, social skills and problem solving. The performance features up-tempo music and a cleverly written script that is a great introduction to theatre for young children.In addition to classical scenery, there is a high-tech video well that visually transports families to an authentic PAW Patrol environment, including locations from the TV series.Performances will be held in the Academy of Music  from Friday April 5 - Sunday April 7, 2019.

The Kimmel Center’s Cultural Campus is presenting the Philadelphia premiere of ANASTASIA at the Academy of Music from Tuesday, April 9 through Sunday, April 14, 2019 as part of the Kimmel Center’s 2018-19 Broadway Philadelphia season. Tickets are on sale now at www.kimmelcenter.org.  This new musical has played to sold out crowds since its official Broadway opening in April 2017. It has garnered multiple Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle awards and nominations. The original cast recording is available at BroadwayRecords.com, Amazon.com. and iTunes. For more information about performance times, Visit www.kimmelcenter.org.

The Kimmel Center’s resident dance company, PHILADANCO returns to the Perelman Theater Friday. April 12, through Sunday April 14, 2019 with an all-new production entitled Dance Philly Style, a celebration of Philadelphia’s contribution to the dance world. The company’s founder, Joan Myers Brown, has chosen work from Philly-made choreographers - artists known to have touched on African-American traditions, socio-political issues and other culturally relevant themes, among them Anthony Burrel, known for his work on Beyoncé’s music videos. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, visiting online at www.kimmelcenter.org. or at the KimmelCenter Box Office. Group sales are available for groups of 10 or more and can be purchased by calling 215-790-5883.

The Kimmel Center Cultural Campus welcomes Italy’s NoGravity Dance Company as they perform their aerial and acrobatic show, From Hell to Paradise in the Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall on Saturday, April 20, 2019 at 8:00 p.m. The show features gravity defying dancers and extraordinary effects. Their performance is a perfect blend of magic, illusion, and aerial art. NoGravity Dance Company blends various art forms to produce a unique look, combining Baroque and Renaissance movements with aerial dance. Additionally, the show features a non-stop parade of effects and live music on the Kimmel Center’s Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ performed by organist Alan Morrison.

The all-female critically-acclaimed Diva Jazz Orchestra is celebrating 25 Years with a new high energy show Swingin’ It Forward and will be on stage at the Kimmel Center’s Perelman Theater on Saturday April 27, 2019 at 8:00 p.m. The ensemble emulates big bands sounds while incorporating original compositions and solos of their own.  The group is comprised of 15 very talented women who have toured the world to critical and popular acclaim and have performed in numerous jazz festivals in notable venues, among them Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the Hollywood Bowl. Additionally the group toured with Maurice Hines for his autobiographical musical Tappin’ Through Life.

World-renowned physicist Professor Brian Cox will appear at the Kimmel Center for his immersive live experience, UNIVERSAL: Adventures in Space and Time on April 28, 2019 at 7:00 PM in Verizon Hall. The program will use ultra-high resolution LED screens to present state of the art graphics and imagery from ground-based telescopes and space probes. Professor Cox will explore the latest missions to the planets, the nature of space and time from the Big Bang to black holes, and the origin and fate of life and intelligence in the Universe. He will also address questions about the value of science, how we acquire scientific knowledge and why we should trust it. Brian Cox is Professor of Particle Physic at the University of Manchester as well as a Fellow of the Royal Society. He is an award-winning broadcaster and has published several best-selling books.

Jazz organist and composer Lucas Brown will be performing in the Kimmel Center’s SEI Innovation Studio on Sunday, April 28, 2019, at 7:00 p.m. The world premiere jazz project is SKYVIEWS by Lucas Brown. A graduate of Temple University and Westminster Choir College, Lucas Brown excels in both Jazz and Classical Music, performing at venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Smithsonian Museum, the Jazz Standard and the Blue Note. In addition to Brown, the performance will feature Behn Gillece (vibraphone), Doug HIrlinger (drums), Sean Markey (guitar), Victor North (saxophone), Elliot Bild (trumpet) and Nick Lombardelli (trombone). This is a free event.