Molly Sweeney

\

The Lantern Theater Company is  continuing its 2020/21 season with a filmed production of Molly Sweeney by playwright Brian Friel, directed by Peter deLaurier and featuring Anthony Lawton, Ian Merrill Peakes and Genevieve Perrier. This fully designed production was filmed at  Lantern’s home at St. St. Stephen’s Theater, 10^th and Ludlow Streets in Center City Philadelphia. Molly Sweeney will stream on demand from Friday, January 22, through Sunday, February 14, 2021. Molly is a 41-year-old Irish woman who has been blind since she was 10 months old. Raised at home, she was taught by her father to  appreciate the tactile world around her and has become a self-assured and independent woman... until her husband Frank and her ophthalmologist  Mr. Rice persuade her to undergo risky surgery to restore her vision. The play examines how the characters make assumptions about the lived experiences of others. Lantern Theater Company will explore the themes of Molly Sweeney on its Lantern Searchlight blog, available online at lanterntheater.org/searchlight. Tickets for the productions are $20 per household and are available online at www.lanterntheater.org or by calling (215) 829-0395. Ticket buyers will receive an email with full instructions and a private access link.

 

The Hip Hop Nutcracker

The Kimmel Center for Performing the Arts presented The Hip Hop Nutcracker which was directed and choreographed by Jennifer Weber and was recorded live at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on December 12, 2020. Performed by 12 break-dancers, a violinist and a DJ, this astounding adventure on the stage was mind-boggling. Each member of the troupe exhibited phenomenal athleticism as some twirled around on their heads, and others balanced upside down on one arm. Dancers cavalcaded across the stage and back to the familiar tones of  Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite. Through the magic of  flash videography Clara and the Nutcracker Prince time-traveled through decades. There were extraordinary lighting effects and special effects. In one number, “snow” fell onto the stage as dancers dressed in white imitated snowflakes falling from the sky. Due to the pandemic, there are no plans to have live shows of this performance, but if the Kimmel should arrange for it to be performed  live in the future, I would highly recommend making reservations to see it.           

A Week With Frog and Toad

 

Despite the pandemic and the world-wide closing of theatre doors, the Arden Theatre has found a way to bring joy into every theatre enthusiast’s home by streaming its successful run of the Arden Children’s Theatre’s A Year With Frog and Toad. Starring Jeffrey Coon as the Frog, Ben Dibble as the Toad, Steve Pacek as the Snail and a host of other friends in 2004, 2009 and again in 2016, this tale is every bit as delightful in 2020. There are many songs, and the  lyrics are so “catchy” you want to sing along and hope the songs never stop. “Eating Cookies” and "Toad Looks Funny in a Bathing Suit” had the audience rocking. There were a lot of recurring jokes that had the younger members of the audience scream in laughter and my  “sophisticated” 12-year-old granddaughter who had seen the show in 2016 smile.  Snail delivering mail that took a year- lights onto the snail’s progress throughout the course of the show’, and the reference to a broken clock every time someone wanted to know the time. Donald Eastman did a fantastic job with the set design- a separation of the stage floor serves as both a swimming pool and later as a fire pit for an outdoor evening. Thom Weaver  did marvelous  work with the lighting, changing daytime to night. This is one show that can be seen endless times and something new can be appreciated from it with each experience. Kudos to the Arden for making it available again.

This Is The Week That Is

 

 1812 Productions, Philadelphia’s only all comedy theatre, is presenting their annual political satire, This Is the Week That Is through January 3, 2021. Because the production is being streamed onto your devices, there are obviously differences with this iconic landmark of humor and ones of the previous 14 years. There are fewer large numbers and cast interactions. The pace is slower, and the audience is encouraged to participate in live chats throughout the show. Thankfully, there are also bits that are still recurring, such as the adored Patsy from the stoop of South Philly who this year can be found at Four Seasons Landscaping. David Jadico has returned and is the only cast member to have been part of the show for all fifteen seasons. Bravo to the ensemble cast who overcame gigantic hurdles in preparing for this show. They not only had to individually write their own material but they also had to film themselves on their iPhones! Newcomer Annie Fang is an amazing COVID-19 and  Brett Ashley Robinson is marvelous as CiCi.  The outstanding performance of the show, however, is the entire cast performing their rendition of “Masks, the Musical, ” a parody of several Broadway shows. Video and sound designer Jorge  Cousineau gathered all individual videos and seamlessly made a video of the singing and dancing that is exceptional. For more information or tickets, call 215- 592-9560 or visit online at www.1812productions.org.

 

The Hip Hop Nutcracker

The Kimmel Cultural Campus will be happy to present the streaming premiere of The Hip Hop Nutcracker, a contemporary dance phenomenon, on Saturday December 12, at 7 pm. Tickets to the streaming event must be purchased in advance and are available at kimmelcenter.org. This is set to Tchaikovsky’s timeless music and is re-imagined through a multi-camera, fast-paced, production with a dozen all-star break dancers, a DJ and a violinist, There is also a special appearance by MC Kurtis Blow, one of the founding fathers of rap music, who opens the show. Just like in the original version of the Nutcracker, the themes of love and community remain the same. This virtual production is directed and choreographed by University of Pennsylvania graduate and Olivier Award nominee, Jennifer Weber and is produced by the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) Proceeds from this cultural event will benefit the Kimmel Cultural Campus’ ‘Road to Reopening’ Relief Fund. General admission tickets are $25 and allow guests to stream the show on the night of the event only. There is also a VIP ticket for $55. This ticket not only allows guests to stream the show the night it plays, but also to have access to view it “on demand for 48 hours. VIP ticket holders also can gain entry to a live, post-show talkback with the show’s creators as well as an autographed poster that will be mailed to their home.  For more information and to purchase tickets, visit kimmelcenter.org.