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.