Charlotte's Web

 

                                        

                                                     Ensemble Cast of Charlotte's Web

Arden’s Children Theatre is presenting its 4^th iteration of Charlotte’s Web on its F. Otto Haas main stage through January 29, 2023. It was adapted from E.B White's book by Joseph Robinette. Casie Girvin is a beautiful Charlotte and trained with the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts for this role. She makes her entrance into Wilbur the pig's barn by sliding upside down on silk scarves and then walking backwards like a spider followed by a few tumbles. She vows to save her friend’s Wilbur life. “If I can fool a bug, I can fool a man,” she muses and then spins “Some Pig” in her web. Of course it is seen as a miracle by Wilbur’s owner, and when it is replaced by “terrific, and “radiant,”  Mr. Zuckerburg decides to spare Wilbur's life and take him to the County Fair. The farm also has a  Goose and Gander who speak everything in triplicate and a rat who scavenges everywhere for bits to eat. Wilbur befriends all but his best friend is Charlotte who is works very hard to save him but becomes exhausted while doing so. When she spins a sack with over 500 eggs and tells Wilbur she will die before they are hatched, Wilbur promises to watch over them. Wilbur ends by contemplating that “It isn’t often that someone comes along who is a good friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both.” This is a show that can be enjoyed by audiences of all ages. The young children present asked very serious questions of the actors. My 14 year-old granddaughter, who had seen the show in 2018, really enjoyed it, and I thought the performance was very well done.  Tickets may be purchased at the Arden Box Office or online at ardentheatre.org. 

This Is The Week That Is

                                                      Patsy ( Jen Childs ) on her stoop

1812 Productions, Philadelphia’s only All Comedy Theatre Company, is presenting its annual political satire This Is The Week That Is  at Plays and Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Place, through December 31, 2022. The extremely talented 7-member ensemble cast is composed of both veterans and new members, all of whom have demonstrated talent in singing, dancing, writing, and being outrageously funny. Jennifer Childs is the head writer; Sean Close heads the news desk and Pax Ressler is the music director when not performing. Benson Thomas, Jackie Soro, Lexi Thammavong, and Robyn Unger round out the cast, all of whom open the show with banter back and forth about why 2022 is not an ”idyllic” year. A humorous sketch follows: Biden in Jeopardy which has 3 ages of Biden competing for the correct answers. The audience roars at the final jeopardy question “Where is Kamala?”

This is the 17^th year for this production, and it is one of the freshest and most clever that I have ever seen. ( I have seen all but the  initial one. ) Instead of bringing audience members up to the stage and perhaps embarrassing them, this year all audience members are asked to answer a brief survey and place their answers in a box. Cast members later take a few of the papers, call out the audience member's name and comment on what is written or compose songs on the spot incorporating the information. The audience members can be embarrassed right in the comfort of their own seats!

Perhaps the most original part of the evening was four Christmas songs vying for most popular: “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and “Frosty the Snowman.”  The first was represented by a Santa; the second by a woman in a nightgown using a walker to gets around; the third was dressed in brown fur with a red nose and the fourth had a hat, a carrot nose, and two branches for arms. An audience vote was taken between the first two and Santa won. In the contest between the next two, Frosty won. It was announced that the audience would get a chance to vote between Frosty and Santa in the second Act. 

The Philadelphia take on the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy is excellent. The little girl rejects a nutcracker and instead happily takes a “Gritty “ doll to bed with her and dreams of a life-sized Gritty who dances with her.

Unexpectedly a negative ad is projected onto one of the three screens. Two legs are shown. “Is this what you want your children to see? VOTE NO for I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.”

The Second Act determines the winner of the favorite Christmas song, has all of the up-to date news and of course, Patsy from her stoop on Schunk  Street.

If you have seen This Is The Week That Is before, you will probably be thinking about seeing it this year. If you are hesitating, don’t, because this year the show is fabulous. If you have never seen it, you must. You won’t be sorry. For more information or tickets, visit 1812productions.org.

Jagged Little Pill

The Kimmel Cultural Campus and The Shubert Organization will present the Broadway hit Jagged Little Pill at the Academy of Music from January 3 – 15, 2023. Inspired by the rock album of the same name by seven-time Grammy Award winner Alanis Morissette , Jagged Little Pill is part of the 2022-23 Broadway Series. 

 

Jagged Little Pill is a jukebox musical featuring Alanis Morissette’s groundbreaking hit songs such as “You Oughta Know,” and “Head Over Feet.” It interweaves the songs with the pain of the fictional Healy family and ultimately tells their story of healing and empowerment. The Healy’s appear to be an ideal suburban family – but when the cracks beneath them begin to surface, they must choose between maintaining the status quo, or facing the jarring truth about themselves, their community, and the world around them. 

 

Jagged Little Pill officially opened on Broadway on December 5, 2019, at the Broadhurst Theatre after beginning previews November 3.  Heidi Blickenstaff will reprise her role from the Broadway production as Mary Jane Healy; she is joined by Lauren Chanel  as Frankie Healy, Chris Hoch as Steve Healy and Dillon Klena as Nick Healy. The cast also includes Jade McLeod as Jo and Allison Sheppard as Bella. 

  

In the fall of 2020, the musical garnered a season-leading 15 Tony Nominations – including Best Musical – and Grand Central Publishing released a coffee table book that followed the journey of Jagged Little Pill to Broadway, with behind-the-scenes photos and stories from Alanis Morissette, Diablo Cody, the cast, and more. Following the show’s big Grammy Award win in 2021, Jagged Little Pill also won Tony Awards for Best Book of a Musical (Diablo Cody) and Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Lauren Patten).  

  

Follow @jaggedmusical on Twitter, @jaggedlittlepill on Instagram, and @jaggedmusical on Facebook 

 

CINDERELLA

     Kathryn Brunner & Rebecca Robbins

 

Walnut Street Theatre at 825 Walnut Street is presenting CINDERELLA through its now extended date of December 31, 2022. Originally written for television, this Rogers and Hammerstein’s musical has been updated to include messages of kindness and care for the common folk of the prince’s realm. This production is an absolute delight for audiences of all ages. My 14-year-old granddaughter who has grown up with the theatre since attending the WST children’s theatre as a tot, was enamored with the sets , the costumes, the dancing, and the music. Kathryn Brunner is a marvelous Cinderella. With wondrous stage presence, a beautiful smile, and a gorgeous voice, she sings many solos as well as duets with Prince Topher ( Brent Thiessen ), Marie ( Rebecca Robbins) and songs with Madame (Mary Martello) and her stepsisters. Not only are the solos and duets delightful, but the ensemble numbers are also incredible both vocally and with the beautiful choreography of Gerry McIntyre. The most astounding moments of the production are the two times that Marie takes a wand, tells  CINDERELLA to twirl around and her everyday dress becomes a ballgown. It defies explanation! For more information or tickets to this amazing show, call 215-574-3550 or 800-982-2787, or visit online at www.walnutstreettheatre.org or ticketmaster.com.

A Soldier's Play

 The Kimmel Cultural Campus and the Shubert Organization will be presenting the Philadelphia Premiere of Roundabout Theatre Company’s production of  A Soldier’s Play January 24 - February 5, 2023, at the Forrest Theatre. This show  not only won the 1982 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, but it also received a 2022 Tony Award for best revival of a play. A Black sergeant is murdered on a Louisiana  Army base in 1944. An investigation leads to questions about service and loyalty to the country. Emmy, Tony, and SAG Award nominee Norm Lewis will star as 'Captain Richard Davenport.’ Joining  him will be Broadway, TV and film star Eugene Lee who originated the role of ‘Corporal Bernard Cobb’ in the original 1981 Off-Broadway production of  A Soldier’s Play.  In this production he will have the role of 'Sergeant Vernon C. Waters.'  Tickets can be purchased by calling 212-239-6200, visiting telecharge.com or appearing in person, beginning on January 3, 2023, at  the Forrest Théâtre box office, 1114 Walnut Street.

Tina - The Tina Turner Musical

                                                                        Naomi Rodgers

Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, part of the Kimmel Campus’ and The Shubert Organization’s Broadway series, is appearing at the Academy of Music through December 4, 2022. This extremely energetic show is double cast with Naomi Rodgers and Zurin Villanueva sharing the title role, starring in four performances each, every week. Naomi has phenomenal stage presence, and her voice resonates throughout every tier of the Academy of Music as she belts out number after number.  Ayvah Johnson, who portrays a young “Anna-Mae” has a powerful voice that belies her pint-size. Through an impressive amount of musical and dance numbers,  Tina – The Tina Turner Musical  reveals the heartache Tina endured from the time her mother abandoned her, through her 16 years of an abusive marriage to Ike Turner (Garrett Turner), through  her difficulties in getting established as a solo artist. The choreography is excellent not only for Tina, but for the Ikettes who accompany her, and for the ensemble dancers as well. Interestingly to note, that while there is a small orchestra on stage for several of Ike and Tina's song and dance numbers, local musicians are used to enrich the core orchestration. Costume and wig changes are brilliantly done. Tina frequently has one costume covering another which is stripped away while the audience’s attention is elsewhere. Projections are an important part of this production. They are innumerable and extraordinarily effective. The finale is nothing short of fabulous. It has people clapping, dancing in the aisle, and bringing forth two encores. For tickets to this excellent show, call 215-893-1999, visit online at www.kimmelculturalcampus.org or visit the Box Office of the Academy of Music,  240 S. Broad Street from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

The Tattooed Lady

                                                          Jackie Hoffman et. al. in rehearsal

The Philadelphia Theatre Company is presenting the World Premiere Musical  of The Tattooed Lady through November 20, 2022, at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 South Broad Street. Starring Jackie Hoffman, the musical is based on a book by Erin Courtney and Max Vernon with music, lyrics, and orchestrations by Max Vernon. This is a very innovative show. Based on some of the history of the tattooed ladies in circus side-shows in the19th Century, The Tattooed Lady  uses songs, dance, and humor to make a plea for accepting differences in bodies and embracing those differences. Jackie Hoffman portrays a Grandma, dressed in sweats and sneaks, who is against any art that is not “normal” and is bothered by an exhibit at the library which probably has some tattoos displayed. She encourages her granddaughter, Joy (Maya Lagerstam)   to have her views. When Bob, ( Anthony Lawton) an old friend of  Grandma’s, appears on her doorstep with a huge trunk, lives are about to change. Joy gets sent upstairs. (This is a beautifully constructed, two- story set. ) Then Bob begs Ida to return to her old life. After she refuses, he opens the trunk to try to convince her, and out climb several tattooed ladies, including a younger version of herself. Through song and dance the story of her life is told in retrospect. There are many enjoyable musical numbers in this rock musical. Joy returns downstairs and sings a powerful solo of her own, The  show is a fast-paced two-and one-half hour production. It is light and humorous yet  generates some strong truths about the importance of the acceptance of one’s own body and beliefs. Tickets and more information are available at 215-985-0420, online at www.philatheatreco.org or in person during box office hours. 

 

Les Miserables

                                                             Steve Czarnecki & Nick Cartell

The Kimmel Cultural Campus and the Shubert Organization are hosting a return engagement of the incredible Les Misérables at the Academy of Music through November 13, 2022. This production is fantastic. Every detail is perfectly planned to mesmerize the audience. The curtain rises to a chorus of men singing on a slave ship. The company is a marvelous group of talented singers. As  the background changes, land approaches and Jean Valjean (Nick Cartell ) is given parole by Javert (Steve Czarnecki) .  There are no spoken words. This is truly a musical as everything is in song. After Valjean goes from place to place looking for food or lodgings but can’t find any because he was a convict, he is given respite from a priest. His following Soliloquy has the audience respond with appreciative applause. Sets are phenomenal and are changed seamlessly. The tenements have a realist feel to them as Gavroche  (Harrison Fox) leans out the window and sings Look Down. with the beggars. As Valjean ages and the show progresses through the years of  France’s history, additional cast members are added and wonderful song and dance numbers ensue. (Master of the House featuring  Matt Crowle as Thenardier is one of my favorites ).The fight scene on the barricade is impressive with  its realistic gunfire. The projections are extraordinary . Two of particular note are the tunnel scene with Valjean and the suicide scene Javert. They  both bring audible gasps    from the audience  This production is loved by the audience who applauds and cheers every time Nick  Cartell sings. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999 or online at www.kimmelculturalcampus.org. In person sales can be purchased daily at the Academy of Music Box Office located at 240 S. Broad Street. Visit  www.kimmelculturalcampus.org. for more information.

 

The Kimmel Cultural Campus and the Shubert Organization are presenting Blue Man Group  on  December 27- 31 at the Miller Theater ( formerly the Merriam Theater ) . This is the first time the group has come to Philadelphia in nearly 10 years. They are back by popular demand with a show that has elements of everything that has given them fame – signature drumming, colorful moments of creativity and quirky comedy and the men are still blue. There are many new elements as well. The show features original music, custom-made instruments, surprise audience interaction, and hilarious absurdity. It is universally appealing to people of all ages. Experience a delightful time with the Blue Men. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999 or visiting online at www.kimmelculturalcampus.org. Tickets can also be purchased in person daily between the hours of 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. at the Academy of Music  Box Office, located at 240 S. Broad Street.

 

Death of a Driver

 

The InterAct Theatre Company is presenting the Regional Premiere of Will Snider’s Death of a Driver through November 20, 2022. Hannah Gold portrays Sarah, a young and ambitious engineer who moved  to Kenya to build a major highway and improve the country’s infrastructure. She has drinks with Kennedy, her cab driver, (Akheem Davis) and persuades him to come to work for her and hire more men. This 85-minute production has several scenes which are delineated by the lights lowering on the stage and very short musical interludes. Both characters leave the stage and do a slight costume change at the end of every scene- a shirt added or taken off, pants legs rolled up or down- and they return to the stage with each scene representing a passage of time revealed  by the dialogue. The center of the stage is depressed and is used to represent a prison. Due to political unrest and tribal rivalry in Kenya,  Kennedy finds himself imprisoned. Sarah visits him and gets him released. An imprisonment several years later is another story. The performances in this production are outstanding. Kennedy is initially portrayed as a laid-back cab driver who wants to be-friend Sarah and continues this view of friendship throughout his relationship with her. Near the end of the play, he is very expressive and displays a wide range of emotions. Sarah, on the other hand, is friendly in the beginning but stoic and straight-faced at the end. The last scene of the production is gratuitous. The drama is very much more powerful without it. It is excellent, nonetheless, and very much worth-while seeing. For more information and tickets, visit https://www.interacttheatre.org/death-of-a-driver .

Rocky The Musical

Walnut Street  Theatre, located at 825 Walnut Street,  is presenting ROCKY, The Musical through November 6, 2022. A unique Philly saga with additional musical numbers and dance routines from the 2014 Broadway hit, ROCKY, The Musical, has made its premiere on Walnut Street’s mainstage. The show is fabulous on many levels. The curtain opens to the music of “Rocky FanFare”  as the audience sees two people boxing in a ring and ensemble members surrounding it. Set Designer Roman Tatarowicz  has multiple sets  that change easily. After the boxing ring disappears,  a skating rink ascends from the ceiling. Other sets subsequently whirl across the sides of the stage to form a pet store or a home interior. In the Second Act, the audience cheers as a replica of “The Rocky Steps” from the Philadelphia Art Museum ascends from the ceiling  and Rocky runs up and down the steps. Familiar numbers “Eye of the Tiger” and “Gonna Fly Now” are only a small part of the 22  musical numbers offered during the show. Mathew Amira delights the audience in his portrayal of Rocky Balboa with his physical stamina, as demonstrated when he works out prior to a fight and in the ring, and with his incredible voice. Rocky has four occasions to have a solo. Rocky  also sings many duets with love interest, Adrian, portrayed by Gianna Yanelli who has some strong solos  of her own. The Second Act has some endearing scenes with Rocky and Adrian and  a strong appearance by Fran Prisco who plays her brother Paulie. The  biggest scene is in the ring with the championship fight between Apollo Creed (Nichalas L. Parker) and Rocky. It is beautifully orchestrated. Musical numbers abound throughout this show as do delightful ensemble dance routines. There are so many things to love about this show that you just must get a ticket and see it for yourself. For tickets call  215-574-3500 or visit WalnutStreetTheatre.org  

The Glass Menagerie

 

  

  

Frank Jimenez & Hannah Brannau

The Arden Theatre, located at 40 N.2^nd Street, Old City Philadelphia, is presenting Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie on its F. Otto Haas main stage through November 6, 2022. Sean Lally is Tom Wingfield, both the narrator of the tale and a character within it. As narrator he does an excellent job of keeping the story moving. He has been tasked with supporting his family since his father walked out and is unappreciated by his mother. Krista Apple portrays Amanda Wingfield, his long-suffering mother. Both she and her daughter, Laura, beautifully portrayed by Hannah Brannau, live in fantasy worlds although they are not the same ones. Amanda  thinks that Laura will have several “Gentleman Callers” that will whisk her away from her humdrum existence and rescue her. Laura , who is physically handicapped, does not expect any Gentleman Callers and instead lives in a fantasy world playing with her Glass Menagerie animals. Amanda is the mother you will love to hate. She disparages Tom at every turn and never fails to express unrealistic expectations for Laura . When Tom brings a Gentleman Caller (Frank  Jimenez) to dinner, family dynamics change for a short while. The final scene is gut wrenching and  extraordinarily powerful in its simplicity. This is an excellent ensemble cast. The show should not be missed. For more information or tickets, visit www.ardentheatre.com.

 

 

 

 

Rocky, The Musical

 

Walnut Street Theatre is excited to announce that Rocky, the Musical has been  extended by popular demand but must end by November 6^th! ROCKY starts October 4, 2022 and opens October 12, 2022. Philadelphia has shown its love for  its gritty hometown hero even before the show opened  on the  mainstage of the Walnut Street Theatre 825 Walnut Street , causing it to extend  the run of the Rocky, the Musical  while there   was still a week before it landed on the Walnut stage.  The highly anticipated Broadway musical  version of ROCKY, a uniquely Philly saga, finally makes its triumphant premiere. Small-time boxer Rocky Balboa gets a once-in-a-lifetime shot to go from loan shark enforcer to heavy- weight titleholder, but does this ultimate underdog have what it takes? Based on the Academy Award-winning film, ROCKY features new musical numbers, along with favorites including “Eye of the Tiger” and   “Gonna Fly Now.” Rocky, the Musical is a beautiful love story, and a heart-stopping, knock-out theatrical experience for   everyone brave enough to follow their dreams. For more information or tickets, call 215-574-3550 or visit walnutstreettheatre.org. 

 

                                                       Anthony Lawton & Leonard C. Haas

Tom Stoppard’s Travesties is being performed by Lantern Theater Company at St. Stephen’s Theater 923 Ludlow Street, Philadelphia, Pa. through October 9, 2022. Stoppard has done it again! While none of his works are similar in nature,   ( The Lantern has produced 6 of them), they are all large in scope, almost like a 1,000-piece puzzle that seems impossible to understand at first glance but appears less intricate as pieces fit into place.  Travesty is defined as “a false, absurd, or misrepresentation of something”. There is a bit of all three in Travesties. Enjoy the ride! Scenic Designer Nick Embree did an excellent job with the sets that convert back and forth from libraries to apartments. The brilliant lighting and sound designs engineered by Drew Billiau and Christopher Colucci also indicate scene changes as well as spotlighting Cecily (Campbell O’Hare) waving  goodbye to Lenin( Gregory Isaac) as he leaves Switzerland by train to go to Russia to join a Revolution. The eight-member ensemble cast is fantastic. James Joyce (Anthony Lawton – who is ALWAYS SUPERB ) and  Tristan Tzsara (Dave Johnson) are both in love with Cecily while she and Gwendolyn ( Morgan Charéce ) are in love with someone named Jack ( Leonard Haas )who is actually playing Henry Carr while pretending to be Jack. Confused yet? Come see the outstanding set and the superb performances and figure it all out. Tickets may be purchased by visiting www.lanterntheater.org or calling 215-829-0389.

 

Fresh Ink Shorts

                                                                The Ensemble

Theatre XP is presenting the world premiere of Fresh Ink Shorts  September 8 through 18, 2022 in the Skinner Studio at Plays and Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Place as part of the Fringe Festival. R.T. Bowersox developed Fresh Ink Shorts  to showcase his work and the work of other writers whose own outstanding writing might never have been produced. The ten short plays range in length from 1 minute to 25 minutes, but all are delightful. The one minute “Final Apathy” has theatre goers saying “aha” while the longer “Please Begin Scanning” has the audience roaring in laughter. Spoiler Alert! Some of these shorts have a surprise ending. Curtain is at 8:00 for all performances. This is a delightful way to spend an evening. The excellent acting and good theatre don’t disappoint, For tickets, visit fringearts.com/66315 or get tickets at the door.

Dear Evan Hansen

                                                         Anthony Norman & Coleen Sexton

Dear Evan Hansen can be seen at the Forrest Theatre, 1114 Walnut Street, through August 28, 2022. The music and lyrics were written by the team of Justin Paul and Ben Pasek  and were inspired by Ben’s time in Friends Central School. Dear Evan Hansen is a heartwarming and thought-provoking musical that follows a high school senior with social anxiety as he deals with the aftermath of a classmate's suicide .Through a series of lies, Evan becomes a hero at school and community-wide. The story follows Evan as he tries to navigate his newfound social status, while also dealing with the guilt he feels over the death of a classmate he barely knew. Hundreds of images are projected against the back curtain throughout the performance to enhance the set. The beautiful music is performed on a raised platform on the stage, and the lyrics are incredibly moving. The ensemble cast is similarly phenomenal, with everyone giving outstanding performances. Dear Evan Hansen is an amazing musical that will stay with you long after you see it. It's a must-see for any musical theatre fan. For more information or tickets call 215- 239- 6200  or visit the Forrest box office at 1114 Walnut Street, Philadelphia. Pa.

Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Cultural Campus

 

 

 THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA AND KIMMEL CULTURAL CAMPUS kick off  a new season on Saturday September 17, with the Philadelphia Fall Arts Fest from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Featuring a diverse sampling of festival-style performances, this FREE event shines the spotlight on the rich and diverse arts and culture scene across the region. Interested arts organizations are encouraged to visit the website to sign up and participate, or search https://www.kimmelculturalcampus.org/events-andtickets/events/philadelphia-fall-arts-fest/. More about the 2022–2023 season is below: Broadway The 2022–23 Broadway season is the biggest and most critically acclaimed yet. Presented collaboratively by the Kimmel Cultural Campus and The Shubert Organization, this season features 14 dazzling productions, including Broadway’s newest blockbusters, and returning fan favorites, with a combined 49 Tony Awards® and 46 Drama DeskTM Awards. With a wide range of stories, the lineup covers the best of contemporary theater with the newest award-winning shows to come out of New York, plus returning classics and several Philadelphia premieres. The 2022–23 Broadway series includes: Annie (October 11 – 16, 2022); Les Misérables (November 2 – 13, 2022); TINA – The Tina Turner Musical (November 22 – December 4, 2022); Blue Man Group (December 27 – 31, 2022); Jagged Little Pill (January 3 – 15, 2023); A Soldier’s Play (January 24 – February 5, 2023); Come From Away (February 7 – 12, 2023); 1776 (February 14 – 19, 2023); CATS (March 14 – 19, 2023); SIX (March 21 – April 9, 2023); Jesus Christ Superstar (May 2 – 7, 2023); Beetlejuice (May 30 – June 11, 2023); Moulin Rouge! The Musical (July 5 – 30, 2023); and Disney’s The Lion King (August 16 – September 10, 2023). The Philadelphia Orchestra has an impressive schedule for the 2022-2023 year under the direction of Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin. The season opens on September 28, 2022. For more information about tickets to any of the events, contact www.kimmelculturalcampus.org

Into The Woods

                                                   Katherine Fried & Ben Dibble

The Arden Theatre Company has extended its production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods through July 10, 2022. Led by the incomparable Scott Greer as the Narrator, characters from five fairy tales are interwoven into each other’s lives as they enter the woods. Ben Dibble is outstanding as the Baker who has had no success in having a child due to a witch’s curse. Tiara Greene, an understudy for the witch, is phenomenal as she explains the curse and gives four tasks to complete to break the curse. The Baker must go onto the woods to find the items. He and his wife,( Katherine Fried) must interact with Red Riding Hood to get her cape; Jack, to get his cow; Rapunzel to get some of her hair) and Cinderella to get a gold slipper).The set is masterful. The witch appears out of a trap door, appearing to have climbed up Rapunzel’s hair to visit her in the tower where she is imprisoned. Ropes are lowered from the  ceiling and fastened to the floor by members of the cast to give the impression of woods that the characters must enter. Characters appear with white rope and stretch out a path so that Riding Hood knows which way to go to her Granny’s house. At the end of Act I everyone has gotten their wish and is content with Happily Ever After. The story appears over. Act II briefly begins with everyone happy after having gotten their wishes , but the happiness soon disappears for all, as one by one characters enter back onto the woods. This is not your young child’s fairy tale, as it is rather dark, but it is extraordinarily well done. Musical accompaniment by the 6-piece orchestra is beautifully performed on a raised stage and background claps and strikes add to the intensity of the program. For information or tickets visit www.ardentheatre.org.

The Complete Works of Jane Austen Abridged

 

                               Charlotte Northeast, Trevor William Fayle & Brittany Onukwugha

Tiny Dynamite presents The Complete Works of Jane Austen  Abridged through June 29, 2022. The audience is seated around small end tables with teacups and  Jane Austin titles stacked upon them for atmosphere. The ensemble cast of Charlotte Northeast, Brittany Onukwugha and Trevor William Fayle speak to the audience as they frequently step in and out of character. Their purported mission is to portray the essence of Jane Austen’s main works in 85 minutes. Using only hats , bonnets and shawls as props, the three actors dash off stage and change their voices when appropriate, eliciting frequent laughter from the audience. If you were not a “Janite” at the beginning of the performance, you were certainly on your way to becoming one by the end. Pride & Prejudice, Emma, Persuasion, Sense & Sensibility and Northanger Abby were all  beautifully explored as one after another the three actors discussed among themselves then determined which to present to the audience. A recorded version of The Complete Works of Jane Austen Abridged will stream for a limited time from June 29- July 17. Visit www.tinydynamite.org  for details and tickets for the streaming release.

Blythe Spirit

                                                      Ian Merrill Peakes &  Alicia Roper

The Walnut Street Theatre is presenting Noel Coward’s Blythe Spirit  through July 3, 2022, on its Mainstage. Written as a three act play in 1941, it’s a bit dated, but remains wickedly funny to this day. The spectacular set drew a round of applause from the audience as the curtain opened on Act I and gasps from the audience just prior to the curtain closing on Act III.  Ruth  and Charles Condomine  ( Karen and Ian Merrill Peakes)  invite Madama Acari ( Mary Marcello ) to perform a séance as part of research that Charles is doing for an upcoming book. The séance accidently produces the appearance of Charles’ departed first wife who can be seen and heard only by Charles. The resulting mayhem is hysterical. Mary Martello’s performance as a medium is, literally, out of this world. Her incantations are phenomenal; her persona is sublime; her every movement is designed to evoke a laugh. Alicia Roper’s appearance as Elvira,  Charles Condamine’s departed wife, is ethereal. From her head down to her toe, she appears ghostly white. The make-up, costume and wig effects are astounding. She still has designs on her husband. The big question looms- What can she do about it? Treat yourself to a delightful night out filled with non-stop laughter. For more information or tickets, call 215-574-3550 or 800-892-2787 or visit online at walnutstreettheatre.org or ticketmaster,com. 

                                                         

Hairspray

 

                                              Christopher Swan & Andrew Levitt

HAIRSPRAY, winner of eight 2003  Tony Awards, is appearing at the Miller Théâtre, formerly the Merriam Theatre, through Sunday, May 22, 2022. A rollicking musical. Hairspray is a toe- tapper that won’t let you sit still in your seat. It takes you back to the ‘60’s, perhaps a time of innocence, but the flames of racial inequity burned then as they smolder today. With the help of her two best friends Penny Pingleton (Emery Henderson ) and  Seaweed J. Stubbs, ( Jamonte D. Bruten)  Tracy Turnblad tries to make the Corny Colin Show a place where everyone could dance together, not just on Negro Day. 16-year-old Tracy Turnblad ( Niki Metcalf ) wants to skip school to dance on the Corny Colin Show. Edna, her mama, (Andrew Levitt aka Nina West) says "no". Two other teens, Amber, and Penny, also have disagreements with their mothers, resulting in “Mama I’m a Big Girl Now,” that each girl sings to her mom. The moms participate in the number.  Andrew Levitt has portrayed Nina West as a drag queen since 2001. He  is very nimble on his feet as he sings and dances across the stage. He appears in a variety of costumes throughout the evening among them a stunning evening gown. The show is filled with humor, both with comical situations as when  two teenage girls are swooning  over the same guy as well as with  one liners imparted with perfect timing by a variety of actors. The entire cast is extraordinarily talented. Edna and Wilber Turnblad’s rendition of “You’re Timeless to Me” brought the house down with applause and Motormouth Maybelle’s ( Sandie Lee ) interpretation of “I Know Where I’ve Been “ received thunderous applause as well. As for me, I sang  “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” all the way home to New Jersey.

This Is The Week That Is

1812 Productions, Philadelphia’s only all Comedy Theater Comedy, is once again presenting its much-acclaimed satirical news review, This Is The Week That Is. Changing daily to meet the ever-changing headlines, the show is part scripted, part improv but 100% pure delight. The humor is at times droll and at times hysterical but always entertaining. After an opening scene in which the multi-talented Artistic Director Jennifer Childs feigns exasperation with her cast for staying home on zoom instead of appearing live onstage, Sean Close, Donnie Hammond, Frank Jimenez, Pax Ressler Jackie Soro and Lexie Thammavong all enter the stage and join  in an opening number with Lexi introducing the concept of “copium.” Dating Game Billionaire Edition and The Price Is Right with Billionaire contestants follows. A commercial break appropriately appears after the two game shows with copium explicitly  explained in a bottle of perfume. The evening progresses with one skit after another.  This is not just your every-day 16^th year This Is The Week That Is. This is a very well-thought-out sophisticated production of knock-your-socks-off comedy. Pandemic-The Musical is brilliant. It has five musical numbers, each one both comical and poignant, including a solo of a face mask singing and dancing, an  Into the World (Woods) duet, and a grand finale of cue tips singing and dancing to Right Up Your Nose. As part of the This is the News That Is segment,  Donnie Hammond renders an outstanding performance as Ketanji Brown Jackson in her Senate Confirmations Hearings. Larger than-life videos of Senators Lindsay Graham and Ted Cruz are played asking her grueling questions to which she grabs a microphone and raps responses. Of  course, this production would not be the same without an appearance of Patsy from Schunk Street sitting on her stoop. Patsy speaks and interacts with the audience before the closing number. I have seen 15 of the 16 “weeks that is” and this production has the whit, pizzaz, sophistication and panache of all of them rolled up into one. For more information or tickets visit www.1812productions.org.