NEWSIES:the Musical

Casting has been announced for Philadelphia’s limited engagement (Oct 28-Nov 2) of Disney’s NEWSIES which will introduce the 2014-2015 Broadway Philadelphia season, presented collaboratively by the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and The Shubert Organization.  Featured performers are Dan DeLucca as “Jack Kelly”, Steve Blanchard as “Joseph Pulitzer,” Stephanie Styles.” as “Katharine,” Angela Grovey as “Medda Larkin,” Jacob Kemp as “Davey," Zachary Sayle as “Crutchie” and Vincent Crocilla and Anthony Rosenthal alternating the role of “Les.” Completing the cast are twenty-five talented ensemble members. NEWSIES is inspired by the real-life ‘Newsboy Strike of 1899’ when newsboy Kid Blink led a band of orphan and runaway newsies on a two-week-long action against publishing giants Joseph Pulitzer, and other powerful publishers.  Set in New York City at the turn of the century, NEWSIES is the inspiring tale of Jack Kelly, a captivating newsboy and leader of a rag-tag band of teenaged “newsies” who dreams only of a better life far from the hardship he meets on the streets.  When publishing giants Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst raise their distribution prices at the boys’ expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike for what’s right. While on Broadway, NEWSIES became the highest grossing show of the 2011-2012 season.  In Philadelphia, it will play at the Academy of Music from October 28 through November 2 Tuesday through Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm; Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm; Sunday evening at 6:30 pm with a Saturday matinee at 2:00 pm and a Sunday matinee at 1:00 pm. Tickets are available by calling 215-731-3333; visiting online at kimmelcenter.org/broadway; at the Kimmel Center Box Office, Broad and Spruce Sts or at the Academy of Music box office, Broad and Locust Sts (during performances only). Orders for groups of 10 or more may be placed by calling 215-790-5883 or 866-276-2947.

The Jost Project

Tony Miceli, Paul Yost,
Kevin MacConnelol

“Good Vibrations” will fill the air on Thursday, October 9, 2014 when The Jost Project performs in Chris’ Jazz Café, 1421 Sansom Street in Philadelphia. The cover charge is $15 and can be purchased at www.chris-jazz-cafe.seatengine.com.  For more information, call 215-568-3131. The Jost Project is composed of Philadelphia area musicians including internationally renowned vibraphonist Toni Miceli, singer Paul Jost and bassist Kevin MacConnell. Drummer Anwar Marshall will be performing with them at Chris’.   Performing classic rock in a classic jazz format, The Jost Project will be adding a whole new repertoire of music to their show.  Songs like “Come Together” and “Good Vibrations” will be added to such favorites as “Walk This Way” and “Kasmir.” Their CD, ‘Can’t Find My Way Home’ has been released by dot records and is available at dottimerecords.com, iTunes, Amazon.com and in retail stores.  For more information, contact SFPR Music, Sharla Feldscher, 215-627-0801#101 or Sharla@sf-pr.com.

Arcadia

Kittson O'Neil, Maxwell Eddy and
Alex Boyle

Lantern Theatre Company, located in St. Stephen’s Church, 10^th and Ludlow Streets, is producing Tom Stoppard’s masterpiece, Arcadia, through November 2. Stoppard gives us a unique glimpse of life in the time of Lord Byron and his contemporaries at the turn of the 19^th century as well as an in-depth peek at present-day scholars who try to glean information about that time period from journals, papers and artistic renditions that they have been found. Interestingly enough, things are not always what they seem. A hermit sketched on a landscape as a whim takes on great significance when it is discovered and studied centuries later. An assignation in the gazebo may be attributed to the wrong personage.   Sometimes research of the past is incomplete and conclusions are based on conjecture. And so Stoppard poses the hypothesis…”It is the wanting to know that makes us human. Failure is inevitable.”  With a stellar cast of 12, Lantern’s rendition of Stoppard’s Arcadia is as fascinating as it is spell-blinding. The audience is transported effortlessly between centuries and, at times, is able to become involved in the happenings of both centuries simultaneously. Humor abounds in both, although 19^th Century  Thomasina (Alex Boyle) her mother Lady Croom (Charlotte Northeast) and her tutor Septimus (Maxwell Eddy put on a very serious front as do researchers Hannah Jarvis (Kittson O’Neil) and Bernard Nightingale (Joe Guzman) two centuries later.  Be intrigued. Be captivated. But by all means, be in the audience for at least one performance of Arcadia. To coincide with this production Lantern Theater is presenting a four day festival of special events from October 23-26.  For more information about the festival or tickets to the production, phone 215-829-0395 or visit online at www.lanterntheater.org. 

Alice in Wonderland Jr

Alice in Wonderland Jr was performed on the main stage of the Walnut Street Theatre, 825 Walnut Street on September 20 and 21 and can be seen again on September 27 and September 28.  Based on Lewis Carroll’s book and subsequent movies, the show abounds with teen-aged talent from 21 students of the Walnut Street Theatre School.  Keelin  Kelly begins the production as he  portrays the Cheshire Cat and narrates the tale.  The three Alices, Emily Gallagher, Alexis Gwynn (small Alice) and Gabriela Barrett (large Alice) crawl in and out of a rabbit hole after eating a cookie… a very clever on-stage device. Equally clever  is  the flower garden with an attitude…Alexa Liss portraying Rose, Madi Resnic  portraying Lily, Maggie McPherson portraying Petunia, Skylar Raye Noyes portraying Violet and Dominque Swift portraying Daisy.  Morgan Snowden portrays the Queen of Hearts with a very regal bearing but she proves no match for the astute  Alice. This captivating young cast performs over sixteen songs during the one hour performance. It is truly a delight to watch these young performers.  For more information or tickets, call 215-574-3550, 800-982-2787 or visit online at www.WalnutStreetTheatre.org. 

La Bête

Scott Greer and Ian Merrill Peakes

The Arden Theater Company, located at 40 N. 2^nd Street, is beginning its 2014-2015 Season with La Bête, (The Beast). It will run on the Arden's F. Otto Haas stage through October 12. Ian Merill Peakes portrays Elomire, leader of an acting troupe in Prince Conti’s court.  Scott Greer is Valere, a troubadour that the Prince (Dito van Reigersberg) wants to bring to court to join the troupe. Elomire finds Valere bombastic beyond belief and wants no part of him. In French, bête not only means “beast,” but also, “stupid or idiot”.  “Etre bête" (to be stupid) is to believe in something so much that you cannot see anything else and therefore miss the point. Thus the foundation is set for this ludicrous farce.  Scott Greer is a comic genius. He is outrageously funny. Never before have so many words conveying so little meaning been uttered so exquisitely. Non-stop laughter fills the theatre while at the same time audience members are shaking their heads in disbelief at the utter nonsense of it all. Ian Merrill Peakes gives an outstanding performance as a principled troupe leader who takes a firm stand for the integrity of his craft. Despite the Prince’s wishes, such opposing views cannot peacefully co-exist. Someone’s, perhaps everyone’s, world must collapse in the aftermath. For more information or tickets to this intriguing show which is done completely in verse, call 215-922-1122 or visit online at ardentheatre.org. 

Til Divorce Do Us Part: The Musical

created and lyrics by
Ruthe Ponturo

A new musical comedy will be opening the 55^th Season of The Society Hill Playhouse.

Til Divorce Do Us Part: The Musical is a new musical comedy about the end of a marriage.  Inspired by a true story of love and loss, it is the tale of a woman who turns to her close friends who laugh, sing and dance their way through the end of a relationship and on to a new beginning. This comedy has its Philadelphia premiere Oct 15 and runs through Dec 7. Performances will be held Wednesday through Saturday evenings with matinees on Sundays. Tickets are $45. The Society Hill Playhouse is located at 507 S. Eighth Street (On Eighth Street between Lombard and South).  Parking is free on South Street every Wednesday night.  For more information or tickets call 215-923-0210 or visit online at www.societyhillplayhouse.org. Group rates are available and  group reservations may be made by calling 215-923-0211.

9 to 5: THE MUSICAL

Getting even with the Boss

Walnut Street Theatre, located at 825 Walnut Street, has opened its 206^th season with the spirited 9 to 5: THE MUSICAL. This magical musical comedy, featuring music and lyrics by Dolly Parton, will run through October 19^th on Walnut Street Theatre's mainstage.  Three co-workers, driven to distraction by their “sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical boss” devise a plan to remedy their work woes. Paul Schoeffler expertly portrays Franklin Hart Jr., the lecherous, treacherous menace. Spitfire Mary Marcello brilliantly portrays Roz, his no-nonsense Administrative Assistant, who lets her hair down in the number “Heart to Hart”.  Dee Hoty, as Violet, is the backbone of the trio of co-workers. She exudes both strength and panache on the stage, with a voice that is marvelous to hear in a solo, a duet, or as part of a group. Amy Bodner, who portrays Doralee, the misunderstood country girl, has a robust voice as well.  Amanda Rose is Judy, the third of the co-workers who band together. She expertly portrays a woman who matures from a shy brow-beaten wife to a female ensconced in self-confidence. Her gut-wrenching performance of “Get Out and Stay Out” brings the house down. Local favorite Ben Dibble portrays Joe, the persistent love interest for Violet. Unfortunately there is only one opportunity to hear him sing, for he has a fine voice. As there are numerous songs in this production, so too, are there frequent scene changes. Thanks to the phenomenal vision of Scenic Designer Robert Andrew Kovach, these are accomplished with split-second precision whether they involve rolling desks, sliding walls, or moving elevators. For more information or tickets to this extremely humorous and entertaining musical comedy, call 215-547-3550, 800-982-2787 or visit online at www.walnutstreettheatre.org. or Ticketmaster.