Disney's The Little Mermaid

                                                     Ariel- Diana Huey

                                                                 
Walnut Street Theatre is producing the Philadelphia professional regional premiere  of Disney’s The Little Mermaid on its Mainstage through January 2, 2022. This is a knock-your-socks-off production for kids and adults alike. It is a perfect show to introduce your children or grandchildren to the theatre or to accompany them if they are experienced theatre goers as my 13-year-old granddaughter is, but adults do not need a child to accompany them to enjoy this show. Twenty-three delightful songs ring out through the rafters. Some may be familiar like “Part of your World,” sung in a breathtakingly beautiful voice by Ariel (Diana Huey) and “Kiss the Girl” sung pleadingly in calypso by Sebastian (Dana Orange). Another audience favorite is “Positoovity” cheerfully sung by Scuttle (Ellie Moonie) and  “Les Poissons” energetically sung by  Chef  Louis ( Ben Dibble). The costumes and sets are electrifying. Flotsam (Adam Hoyak) and Jetsam (Jessie Jones) are “eye-popping” as they glide across the stage effortlessly to help Ursula (Rebecca Robbins). Rebecca brings down the house with several of her numbers as well although the audience isn’t cheering her on but appreciating her talent. The choreography is well done and the costumes are unique. Costume Designer Mary Folino created many colorful costumes to produce “Under the Sea” and additionally made the mermaids seem believable with the addition of long scarves attached to their sides.. Ariel is frequently swimming. Diana Huey is  perfect for this role. Her body movements when swimming replicate the mermaid’s movements in the animated movie version of The Little Mermaid. For more information or tickets to this brilliant holiday production, call 215- 574-3550 or visit online at WalnutStreetTheatre.org. Guests must be fully vaccinated and show proof of vaccination before entering the theatre. All must wear a mask.

Lantern Theater Company's The Plague

            

                           Ensemble Cast        

                          

The Plague, adapted  from Albert Camus’ La Peste, will be live-streamed as filmed from Lantern Theater’s main stage through Nov. 7. An all-star cast featuring Anthony Lawton as Dr. Rieux, Peter  DeLaurier as Jean Tarrou, Kirk Wendell Brown as Grand, J. Hernandez as Raymond Rambert, and Amanda Schoonover as Cottard certainly does not disappoint. I would go anywhere to see Anthony Lawton perform; the other four members of the cast give memorable performances as well. Following words hurled onto the stage in quick succession – “odd” “out of place” “out of the ordinary,” "ugly”-  Dr. Rieux recounts  the tale of two dead rats found in a hallway in the middle of April. By the end of April there is a death count of 8,000 people in the town and in the beginning of May one of the characters announces that no one is qualified to isolate anyone who is sick. There is an urge to avoid a panic. Camus wrote La Peste as a reminder of a cholera epidemic but also as a metaphor for rising fascism. Camus continues with death tolls, madness in the streets and looting. Eventually, when a serum is finally developed, there are some deniers who refuse to have the hope that is offered. Written in the 1940’s, it is all too uncomfortably a mirror for our present-day lives. Neil Bartlett’s adaptation, The Plague, is haunting. This stellar cast presents a performance that reverberates long after the final words are spoken.

Felicia Boswell and Company

 

The Walnut Street Theatre, located at 825 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa. has opened its 2021-2022 season with an exciting musical tribute to some of the greatest musical voices of our time: Beehive – The 60’s Musical. Created by Larry Gallagher and directed and choreographed by Richard Stafford, the show will be presented through October 31. The show begins with a black and white video from the 60’s as the 6 girls enter the stage- Jasmine- ( Ayana Major Bey ), Alison-( Lindsey Bliven ), Wanda-( Felicia Boswell ), Laura- (Sara Gallo ), Gina – (Karissa Harris ) and  Pattie – ( Bonnie Kelly ). They introduce The Name Game to the audience and ask for volunteers. The entire audience becomes involved as it is played three times and then again with each actor. The entire first act is high energy as there are quick costume and wig changes  off stage while one actor has a solo or three sing together on stage. Everyone has a chance for a solo, whether it is “Where the Boys Are “ against a curtain with a gown that matches its color in a shimmering blue, or “My Boyfriend’s Back” against a background of a video showing snapshots of a myriad of young men. The second act features tributes to individual performers  such as Tina Turner, Janis Joplin, and Aretha Franklin. The talent of these young actors is extraordinary. The audience wants to sing along with old-time favorites and roars appreciatively along with each rendition. Costume designer Mary Folino had an enormous task supplying an abundance of costumes and she accomplished it superbly. For more information or tickets to this toe-tapping show, call 215-574-3550 , 800-982-2787 or visit www.walnutstreettheatrer.org ticketmaster.com

BRT Presents...

                                                                      Joe Kinosian

Bristol Riverside  Theatre, located at 120 Radcliffe Street in Bristol, Pa, is presenting Murder for Two, a wickedly funny murder mystery musical through October 10, 2021. In it, one actor plays the detective, and another actor portrays a myriad of suspects. Joe Kinosian not only co-authored the book along with Kellen Blair and composed the music while Blair composed the lyrics, but he also brilliantly portrays a wide variety of suspects, both male and female. Martin Landry portrays  Marcus, “the detective.”  They take turns accompanying each other on the piano. Both men not only have an excellent sense of comic timing, but they are also accomplished musicians as well. Marcus has a limited amount of time to solve the mystery of who murdered Arthur Whitney. There are a few running “gags” throughout the 90-minute performance that have the audience roaring in their seats. Other funny lines are more subtle, and you can find yourself laughing out loud when you least expect it. The ending has a twist. Who knows who has seen it coming? Proof of vaccination and ID was checked at the theatre’s entrance and the whole procedure went very smoothly. For tickets or  more information visit brtstage.org or call 215-785-0100.

Me & The Devil

The Lantern Theater is streaming a World Premiere of Me and the Devil through September 17, 2021. It was written  by Steve Broadnax III and Charles Dumas. Steve Broadnax III also directs the production and plays the part of the Devil.  In reality,  Robert Johnson became a Blues phenom almost overnight after having shown very little skill with the guitar, thus the rumor that he made a deal with the Devil. Lawrence Stalling portrays Robert Johnson phenomenonally. He not only sings seven songs that Robert Johnson has written for the guitar, but with slight costume adjustments he also portrays several other characters. Music is delightfully played by Curtis Craig. After a premature death, Robert Johnson arrives in Hell because of a contract he has signed with the Devil- - his soul in exchange for becoming the world’s best Blue’s musician. Because he has died before he has become well known,  Robert pleads that the Devil has no claim to the contract. Lawrence Stalling is excellent as he portrays a wide variety of witnesses who speak for the Devil’s point of view and others who speak for Robert’ s. The drama is well paced with a twist at the end. For more information or tickets, call the box office at 215-829-0395.

RAIN kicks off Kimmel's 2021 Season

  RAIN -A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES

The Kimmel Cultural Campus presents RAIN - A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES with The Best of Abbey Road Live! from October 29 – 31 at the Merriam Theater. In celebration of Abbey Road, this show brings the album’s greatest hits to life, in addition to all your early favorites

Together longer than The Beatles, RAIN has mastered every song, gesture, and nuance of the legendary foursome, delivering a totally live performance that’s as infectious as it is transporting. Let RAIN take you back with all of the greatest hits along with all of your other Beatles favorites! This adoring tribute will take you back to a time when all you needed was love, and a little help from your friends!

Like The Beatles, the onstage members of RAIN are not only supreme musicians, but electrifying performers in their own right!

Kimmel Cultural Campus’ Merriam Theater

Friday, October 29, 2021 at 7:30 pm

Saturday, October 30, 2021 at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm

Sunday, October 31, 2021 at 1:00 pm

Tickets are on sale now and start at $39.  Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999 or online at www.kimmelculturalcampus.org. The Kimmel Box Office is currently closed, as the Kimmel Cultural Campus prepares to reopen to the public after 18 months on September 18, 2021.In-person ticket sales can be conducted at the Academy of Music Box Office, located at 240 S. Broad Street. Group sales are available for groups of 10 or more and can be purchased by calling 215-790-5883. See www.kimmelculturalcampus.org for more informatio

The Kimmel is committing to a healthy and clean environment with increased disinfection, enhanced ventilation, and will enforce recommended health authority guidelines, including masks and vaccinations upon reopening. In response to the City of Philadelphia’s mask mandate, masks will be required when inside all buildings. Masks are required to be worn at all times when on the Kimmel Cultural Campus, except when actively consuming food or beverage in designated locations. Prolonged periods of mask removal are not permitted.

 Effective September 18, all attendees for public events must show proof of full vaccination at the time of entry. Proof of negative COVID-19 tests will not be accepted, with the exception of children under the age of 12; children under 12 will be required to show a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours of the event. This policy is subject to change based upon guidance from the CDC and local health authorities. Details and procedures are in development and will be rolled out to the public and ticket holders ahead of the September 18 reopening event.

PTC 2021-2022 Season

 

The  Philadelphia Theatre Company’s 2021-2022 season will have two world premieres and a play with beautiful music

The first production is called The Garbologists, by Lindsay Joelle.  It is a contemporary odd-couple comedy, and follows two city sanitation workers in a 19-ton garbage truck who discover there’s more that binds them than taking out the trash.

Punctuated by soaring gospel performances, Choir Boy, by Academy Award-winner Tarell Alvin McCraney, is a piercing play about a young man finding his voice. The play won two Tony Awards on Broadway and will be directed by PTC Resident Artist, Jeffrey Page.

The third and final show is also a world premiere. It’s called Where We Belong, written and performed by Madeline Sayet. She's an Indigenous theatre-maker and Shakespearean scholar who journeyed across geographic borders, personal history, and cultural legacies in search of a place to belong. 

Philadelphia Theatre Company is prioritizing audiences’ safety as they return to the Suzanne Roberts Theatre.

 They have established three ways to bring people back into the theatre safely.

1. Proof of vaccination will be required.

2. Masks must be worn inside the theatre.

3. Reduced capacity seating in the mezzanine will be offered to welcome those patrons who need an additional precaution in order to reenter the theatre. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please call the Box Office (215) 985- 0420

 

Lantern Theater's 2021-2022 Digital/Live Season

 

The Lantern Theater Company is having a different approach to theater this season.  In the fall, the audience will be able to purchase tickets for plays that were performed on the St. Stephens theater stage and are streamed on demand. The first one, Me and the Devil, is a world premiere, written and directed by Steve H. Broadnax III. It will be streamed on demand  September 9 – 17, 2021. The Plague begins its premier and streaming on demand October 7. Tickets are $20 per household or  $35 for a fall digital pass. Call the box office  at 215-829-0395. Anthony Lawton returns to the stage live Dec 3-30  for his fabulous one-man Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. For the 2022 season,  plans are for the audiences to return to the theatre to see live performances. Masks must be worn, and members must show proof of vaccination. The January production, Fabulation, or the Re-Education of Undine, will be performed in the St Stephen’s Theater, 923 Ludlow Street. A Man for All Seasons, performed from March 10 -  April 10, 2022, will be presented at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Place. Travesties, which will be performed May 19 – June 19, 2022, will be on the stage of St. Stephens Theater. Additionally, there will be a fourth production to be announced,

BRT 2021-2022 Season

 

Bristol Riverside Theatre, located at 120 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, Pa,, will open its 35^th season with a two-person madcap musical Murder for Two from September 21^st-  October 10^th. This zany comedy has two actors with one playing the detective and the other playing all thirteen suspects. Both actors take turns accompanying each other on the piano.

Skeleton Crew will open on Thursday, November 4, 2021 at 7:30 pm. and runs through November 4, 2021. Four Detroit auto workers panic as rumors that their factory is closing circulate through their tight-knit work community. Each worker must make difficult choices about loyalty to each other, the company and themselves.

I and You opens January 27, 2022, at 7:30.and runs through February 13, 2022. Caroline hasn’t been in school for months due to an illness. Anthony, a high school athlete, arrives at her door with an urgent assignment from their English teacher. As the two begin to get to know each other and share their secrets, they uncover a mystery that has brought them together. The ending  will astound the audiences.

A Comedy of Tenors  will run from March 8 through March 27, 2022. This is one of the funniest farces to hit the stage. I have seen Ken Ludwig’s outrageous A Comedy of Tenors twice and it was hilarious both times. Just imagine multiple cases of mistaken identities and many doors.

A Few Good Men will run from May 3 to May 22, 2022. This show is about power structure in America, our national ethics, race and gender and one woman facing off against a sea of men.

There is a special fundraising cruise into the new season  with the Boat to Bristol Champagne Cruise running during the Murder for Two on September 26 and Oct 3, 2021. Take a champagne cruise down the Delaware. You’ll be picked up at the Trenton marina and cruise over to BRT in time to have lunch before the curtain goes up. Tickets are $100 and seating capacity is limited. To purchase, call Jackie Di Ferdinando at 215-785-6664. For subscriptions, single tickets, or more show information about the season, call 215-785-0100 or visit online at brtstage.org.

 

Kimmel Cultural Campus Protocols

 

                                               Kimmel Cultural Campus

                                     And Resident Companies

                    Announce Required Proof of Vaccination

                       Ahead of September 18 Reopening Event

                                        And 2021/22 Season

 

Kimmel Cultural Campus and Resident Companies are also following City of

                           Philadelphia mandate for masks at all Campus events

 

 

The Kimmel Cultural Campus has announced that all guests for public events will be required to show proof of vaccination across their venues: the Kimmel Center, the Academy of Music, and the Merriam, as well as the off-campus Forrest Theatre. All attendees for public events must show proof of vaccination at the time of entry. Children under 12 will be required to show a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of the event. This policy is subject to change based upon guidance from the CDC and local health authorities. Audiences are encouraged to visit the Safe and Clean Commitment page  online for health and safety guidelines.

While entry procedure for proof of vaccination is still being developed, the announcement comes alongside similar mandates from New York City and other touring venues across the nation. Ticket holders will be notified with detailed instructions well in advance of their performance dates.

In addition to a Covid-19 vaccination policy for all its employees, in keeping with Philadelphia’s mask requirement, masks will be required. Masks will be required for everyone in the theatres except while actively engaged in consuming food or beverage. Additionally, the Kimmel Cultural Campus has invested in new HVAC systems to meet the CDC requirements to maximize fresh air intake.

Peddler's Village

                                                   Just Jacque and Mademoiselle Fifi Ennui

                                                   (two characters in "Murder at the Moulin")

Peddler’s Village is debuting a new summer entertainment series featuring mystery, comedy, music, and fun. On select Friday nights audiences can enjoy Comedy Under the Stars with an all-star line up of comedians. On Saturday nights audiences can journey back in time to 19^th Century France for “Murder at the Moulin.” This new whodunit outdoor murder mystery has plot twists, laughs, a colorful cast of characters as well as some audience participation. On select weekends there will be live music under the big tent

Peddler’s Village and Without a Cue Productions have also teamed up for murder mystery walking tours during which guests can inspect crime scenes, gather clues, and question suspects as they walk through the village.

Showtime Under the Star performances are all 18 years old and up. Seating begins at 7:00 for a 7:30 show and tickets are for a table for two. There is a cash bar that serves themed drinks and take-out food is available from five of the seven restaurants in Peddler’s Village. Buttonwood Grill is known for ‘the best burgers in Bucks County”; Co*k ’n Bull serves signature American classics like chicken pot pie; Hart’s Tavern has fried pickle chips  and soups and sandwiches; Peddler’s Pub has a menu of sandwiches and brews. Guests who purchase tickets to “Murder at the Moulin” or Comedy Under the Stars receive a 10% discount at any of these restaurants on the day of the show. The mystery of “Murder at the Moulin” is light and the characters are very engaging. The plot is “over-the-top” as it is meant to be, and the show is a lot of fun. For groups or single tickets, call  the Peddler’s Village Hospitality Center at 215-794-4051.

Peddler’s Village is a 42-acre shopping, dining, lodging and family entertainment destination in Buck County Pennsylvania. It features 60+ retail shops, 7 restaurants, the Plough Inn, and the Giggleberry Fair indoor family fun center.

 

Walnut Street Theatre's 2021-2022 Season

 

Beyond My Backyard

By Judy Cohen

The Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia’s oldest theatre, is excited to announce its return to the live stage for its 213^th season in September. The season starts  with music of the 60’s in BEEHIVE, the 60’s Musical. This musical has over two dozen timeless hits including “It’s My Party,” “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” and “Where the Boys Are.” The show runs from September 28 – October 31, 2021. ‘

Next the Walnut is going “Under the Sea” with the Philadelphia premiere of DISNEY’S THE  LITTLE MERMAID. Based on the beloved Hans Christian Anderson tale and the classic film, Disney’s The Little Mermaid  is a beautiful story of Ariel who challenges her father’s authority  and dreams of finding her own way above the sea.  With irresistible songs like “Kiss the Girl,” Disney’s The Little Mermaid  may  be  one of the most spectacular productions ever staged at the Walnut. It will be presented from November 16, 2021 – January 2, 2022.

A little later in January audiences will be delighted with  NOEL  COWARD’S BLITHE SPIRIT. To gather background for his new book, novelist Charles Condomine and his second wife,
Ruth,  invite a medium to perform a séance. The ghost of his first wife accidently materializes but only  to Charles. She is still in love  with him and doesn’t want a little thing like death to stand in her way. From the hysterical mind of Noel Coward comes Blithe Spirit    where ” ’Til  Death Do Us Part ” no longer applies. This mayhem can be seen on the Walnut stage January 11- February 13, 2022.

Walnut Street Theatre presents a world premiere adaptation of a play based on a classic Sherlock Holmes tale, THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND . After her twin sister’s unusual death and afraid that she will be next, she enlists the aid of the world’s greatest detective, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Six talented actors , playing over 30 characters, unravel the mystery. This quick-change adventure can be seen on the stage from February 22, 2022 –  March 27, 2022.

The final show of the season is the inspiring true story about heart, heritage and two people in love who believed in their talent, music and each other to become an international sensation. ON YOUR FEET  is a Broadway musical about Gloria and Emilio Estefan and is one of the most inspiring stories in music history. It will appear on  the Walnut main stage April 12 - May 29, 2022.

Subscriptions are available now for as little as $25 per show, - up to 70% savings off regular ticket prices. For more information or tickets, call 215-574 3550 ext. 6 or visit online at www.WalnutStreetTheatre.org. 

The Way I Walk

 

1812 Productions, Philadelphia’s only All Comedy Theatre, is streaming its latest production, The Way I Walk, through May 23, 2021. Producing Artistic Director Jennifer Childs assembled three other extraordinarily talented Philadelphia actors and over an 8-month long collaborative process, the four women have developed a smash. Set up to be initially engaging  in a zoom conference break-out room, Jennifer Childs, Melanie Cotton, Tanaquil Marquez and Bi Jean Ngo delight the audience with their interactions. An ingenious board game, The Way I Walk, is designed to develop harmony and spirit among co-workers at a retreat. It is  played not only in the zoom room as the characters  choose their game pieces. This innovative game is also played on  a life-sized board with each of the actors dressed as their game pieces. It is absolutely  ingenious how the play is maneuvered back and forth between the real-life board and the zoom room. Characters are given a chance to sing, dance and see what it is like to walk in each other’s shoes. This is a brilliant concept exceptionally well executed. Contact www.1812productions.org  for  more information or tickets.

 

 

The Craftsman

The Lantern Theater Company is streaming Bruce’s Graham’s play The Craftsman through March 28. Anthony Lawton is a craftsman in the truest sense. In Act I, he aptly portrays the wealthy, smug, brash art dealer accused of selling Vermeer’s, considered national treasures, to the Nazis. In Act II he demonstrates that he is also an artist with considerable talent, defying noted art critic Abraham Bredius, portrayed by Paul L. Nolan.  Ian Merril Peakes portrays a Dutch leader of the resistance who hates the opulent Han van Meegeren for becoming rich while dealing with the Nazis. Graham does not portray one dimensional characters. The Craftsman is a fascinating group of character studies that reflect the after-effects of World War II in Amsterdam and the six-member ensemble cast does an excellent job of fleshing out each individual. Bruce Graham’s work is a brilliant portrayal of the damage that hate can do to the psyche, the high value that we place on art in our culture, and the lengths a person might go to fulfill an innate craving for recognition.  For more information or tickets for this thought-provoking work, visit www.lanterntheater.org.                         

Bristol Riverside Theatre

                                                 Jennifer Byrne  &  Timothy C. Goodwin

Bristol Riverside Theatre is live-streaming Singles in Agriculture, a play by Abby Rosebrock, for four nights only. Set on the last night of a yearly convention of single farmers, this production takes place in the bedroom of one of the males who has invited one of the females to his room. It is filmed in the  couples' real-life bedroom. Priscilla, ( Jennifer Byrne ) has come equipped with a bottle of alcohol and a paper cup and is perky, outgoing, and vivacious. Joel ( Timothy C. Goodwin) is quiet, withdrawn, and a fundamentalist Christian. As is discovered two thirds into the play, he is also a virgin. The play is captivating, particularly for its camera angles.  Priscilla and Joel move quite a bit both on and off the bed and the camera frequently changes the view. As Priscilla and Joel reveal more and more about their lives to each other, the play becomes increasingly compelling. The production will be live-streamed through January 30, 2021. Tickets are $30-$35. The tickets are available at www.brtstage.org  or by calling 215-785-0100.

Lantern Theater Company

                                                         Genevieve Perriere as Molly Sweeney

Brian Friel, sometimes referred to as the Irish Chekhov, was one of Ireland’s most beloved playwrights. Molly Sweeney is one of the last plays set in his fictitious small town near Donegal, Ireland.  It is being presented on demand by the Lantern Theater Company and will stream through February 14, 2021. The outstanding ensemble cast of Ian Merrill Peakes  (Frank Sweeney), Geneviève Perriere (Molly Sweeney), and Anthony Lawton (Mr. Rice) was filmed live in Lantern Theater’s home- St. Stephen’s Church theatre in Olde City Philadelphia. Thanks to  actor and playwright Michael P. Toner, who specializes in Irish theatre, the cast had an excellent dialogue coach.

What does it take to produce a play  from an award-winning playwright in this age of COVID-19?   According to Molly Sweeney’s director Peter De Laurier, “…3 weeks on Zoom, 2 weeks with double masks, distancing, transparent barriers, a constant flow of cold outside air and Testing! Testing! Testing!"

 Although blind since infancy, Molly’s life at 41 was a meaningful one. She had learned as a young girl how to navigate the world of the blind through touch and she was very adept. Her new husband was a bit of a drifter, unemployed, and eager to have Molly undergo surgery as his pet project and a way to give meaning to his life. The doctor, Mr. Rice, a washed up alcoholic, saw the surgery as a chance to revive his once formidable career. Molly Sweeney is in effect many monologues. At the end of each a fade out occurs before a new character’s monologue begins. The lighting on each character -  Molly, Mr. Rice and. Frank- is unique, causing the set behind to change color. The colors are matched to the characters’ clothes; the clothes are matched to their moods. Additional darker clothing is added near the finish. This is a stunning cooperative effort of Scenic Designer Nick Embree, Lighting Designer Janet Embree, and the Costume Designer Leigh Ivory Clark Paradise. Tickets for this supremely well-acted and thought-provoking production are only $20 per household and are available at www.lanterntheater.org or by calling 215-829-0395. Ticket buyers will receive an email with a private access link.

 

 

Villlanova Theatre

 

  
Villanova Theatre is presenting its first filmed musical, Songs for a New World, with music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown directed by alumna Kara Scaramazza. It will stream on demand January 28 – February 7 on Music International’s new platform,ShowTx4U. Rentals are available for 48 hours for $10.The actors have performed in isolation for all but the final number. Each of the songs in the revue-style Songs for a New World tells a self-contained story. Each one explores the central themes of freedom, change and adaptation in the face of fear. The musical speaks ultimately of resilience and how people can do the hard things working together. Villanova University is located on the Villanova University campus in the John and Joan Mullen Center for the Performing  Arts (Lancaster and Ithan Ave.) The performance will be seen on-line only. To purchase tickets, visit www.villanovatheatre.org or https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/4328.   Questions about ticketing can be answered by Margo Raube , Performing Arts Coordinator at margo.raube@villanova.edu or 610-518-5006.

Paper Doll Ensemble

 

#SaveThe Dolls

On January 12, 2021, The Paper Doll Ensemble’s business page on Facebook was wrongfully disabled without any prospect of appeal. Paper Doll Ensemble, a local feminist  theatre collective, suspects this misunderstanding was fueled by the topic of their most recent Clubhouse discussion dealing with racism, The Cult of Trump, and how to combat the mindset of Qanon supporters.  They believe Facebook’s algorithm thought they were in support of these things when in fact they were in a dialogue to dismantle them. Their discussion group was created as part of their anti-racism plan. PDE External Relational Manager, Grace Hoffman says, “Theatre is our way to enact social change, but if we are censored in this way, we face a MAJOR hurdle in continuing to do so.”

Co-Founder Amanda Jensen comments, “If our content is deemed as breaking their code of conduct, we would be happy to remove it, but we are simply asking for that chance.”

The Paper Doll Ensemble was established in 2017 and redefines traditional stories of the female experience combining dance and visual art. For more visit https://paperdollensemble.com/