Cirque Dreams Holidaze

                                                                 Christmas is Here

 Cirque Dream Holidaze, appearing at the Miller Theatre through December 31, 2023, is all about the magic and pageantry of Christmas. Presented by the Kimmel Cultural Campus and the Shubert Organization, Cirque Dream Holidaze is a pure delight, with something sure to captivate everyone in your party, no matter what  their age. Act I is set with gigantic Gingerbread Men. People tumbled with ropes,  others inside a gigantic hoop, and a third, amazingly simultaneously juggled hula hoops over several parts of his body. One of the most phenomenal performances of the evening followed the Dance of the Toy Soldiers when the Penguins  begin their jump rope dancing routine. The speed of their feet was extraordinary and watching four people jump in and out of ropes was impressive! There were a lot of aerialists and a lot of holiday music. Act II began with audience participation. Cast members chose 6 members of the audience to go up to the stage and shake a bell when someone on stage pointed to them. The bells sounded silly at first but ended up making music with orchestral accompaniment. The show continued with a breathless light pole balancing act and a contortionist who elicited “wows” from all over the audience. Many of the acts were accompanied  by Christmas favorites . Christmas is Here was exquisite in its presentation . The aerialist who accompanied the singers was magnificent in her performance as well. The grand finale was an outstanding idea. It  reprised a tinge of each performance.  This is a first rate holiday show. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999 or  by visiting online www.kimmelculturalcampus.org . In-person tickets sales can be purchased daily from 10:a.m.- 6:a.m. at the Academy of Music Box Office, located at 240 S. Broad Street.

Mrs. Doubtfire

The Kimmel Cultural Campus and The Shubert Organization are presenting the musical comedy, Mrs. Doubtfire, based on the 1993 movie. Mrs. Doubtfire will be appearing at the Academy of Music on the Kimmel Cultural Campus from February 6 – 18 as part of the 23-24 Broadway Series. Philadelphia local, Rob McClure, is reprising his Tony Award nominated dual roles of Daniel Hilliard and Euphegenia Doubtfire alongside his co-star and real-life wife, Maggie Lakis, who plays Miranda Hillard in the U.S. National Tour. After losing custody in a messy divorce, out-of-work actor Daniel Hilliard creates the kindly alter ego of Scottish nanny Euphengenia Doubtfire in a desperate attempt to stay in their lives. A hysterical and heartfelt story about holding onto your loved ones against all odds, Mrs.Doubtfire is the musical comedy for our times, proving we’re better together. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, visiting online at www.kimmelculturalcampus.org, or visiting the Box Office of the Academy of Music located at 240  S. Broad Street between the hours of 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.  For more information about Mrs. Doubtfire, visit www.DoubtfireBroadway.com .

This Is The Week That Is

 

1812 Productions, Philadelphia’s, only all comedy theatre, is presenting its annual satirical review of current events, This Is The Week That Is   at 1714 Delancey Place through December 31,2023. A myriad of skits and video productions on three screens had the audience in stitches. The 10,00 Pyramid  is a spoof on a popular game show that shows the differences in knowledge between different generations. RED Dolls is a beautiful production number in which Chris Christie is no longer a red doll and Nikki Hailey  is the only female one. You must come and see this fantastic show this year if only to see Jennifer Childs dressed as one of a handful of Banned Books.  There are also the usual segments - Good News, An Audience Participation, and Patsy from the Stoop in South Philly - but my favorite rendition this year is an  excellent parody  of The Cell Block Tango  from Chicago, starring “indicted” Hunter Biden,  Rudy Guliani, Ron DeSantis and  Donald Trump. This is the 18^th year that 1812 has presented This is the Week That Is, and it is probably Jennier Child’s most sophisticated one. Every year I tell myself that the comedy routines cannot possibly get any better and yet this year surpasses all with the breadth of its coverage. From the writers’ walk-out to “The Golden Bachelor", this is a show guaranteed to make you laugh. For more information or tickets, call 215-592-9560 or visit 1812productions.org.

Beauty and the Beast

                                                       Julia Udine & Daniel Wisniewski

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is appearing  on Walnut Street Theatre’s main stage through December 31, 2023.  It is an absolute joy.  Audiences of all ages will be delighted with over fifteen musical numbers, many of which are accompanied by charming choreography and costumes. There are several big production numbers, including “Gaston” in a tavern,   and “Be Our Guest” , “Human Again”  and “Beauty and the Beast”, all taking place  in the Beast’s castle. As amazing as viewing silverware and plates dance and salt and pepper shakers cavorting across the stage is, this is not the most incredible  portion of the show. Disney’s Beauty and the Beast begins with a fairy tale book projection, then the curtain of Walnut’s very deep stage opens up to reveal a scene from Belle’s provincial French town. The curtain rises again when Belle’s father goes into the woods then yet again when he is attacked by wolves and asks for asylum and appears in the Beast’s castle. There is still another room in the castle that can be shown and simultaneously a curtain falls, and everyone is taken back to the town. There are frequent scene changes and the ease in which this is done and the seamless change in backdrops is breathtaking. Come and see this very talented all-star cast. For more information about tickets, call 215-574-3550, or visit online at walnutstreettheatre.org  or ticketmaster.com  .

 

Company

                                           Derrick Davis, Judy McLane & Britney Coleman

 There is a brilliant play on stage at the Forrest Theatre through December 10, 2023. It is the smashing success of the revival of Sondheim and Furth’s  Company , presented by the Kimmel Cultural Campus and the Shubert Organization.  Britney Coleman (Bobbie) leads an outstanding ensemble cast. Spectacular vignettes feature Bobbie’s friends celebrating her 35^th birthday party. Exceedingly funny, Bobbie’s friends express their various marital plights in song. Several numbers received uproarious applause from the audience, most notably  Matt Rodin's (Jamie's) rendition of "Getting Married Today" and  Judy McLane's (Joanne's) rendition of  "Ladies Who Lunch." The set designs are simplistic yet glorious thanks to Tony Award set designer  Bunny Christie.  Bobbie’s singing against a backdrop of a thunderstorm is phenomenal, thanks to  Set Designer Neil Austin and Sound Designer Ian Dickenson, both  Tony Award nominees. Company is a marvelous compilation of Sondheim’s songs with an extremely accomplished cast. For more information or tickets, call 212-239-6200, visitwww.telecharge.com or visit in person at the Forrest Theater box office 1114 Walnut Street.

Crumbs from the Table of Joy

                                           Morgan Charece Hall & Brett Ashley Robinson

Lynn Nottage’s Crumbs from the Table of Joy will be playing at the Lantern Theater Company at St. Stephen’s Theater through December 10, 2023.  It is an exquisite memory piece.  Morgan Charéce Hall, portraying Ernestine Crump, Godfrey’s older daughter, narrates the play as she steps in and out of the drama. Her performance is exceptional as she weaves the story of her father (Walter DeShields) moving up north to follow the teachings of Father Divine in Philadelphia and her Aunt Lily’s (Brett Ashley Robinson) free-thinking communist ways. ( It is debatable who steals more scenes- Ms. Hall or Ms. Robinson .) Ernestine and her sister are often mocked at school for their poverty as evidenced in their hand-made clothes, but discrimination becomes more intense once their father marries  a white woman.  Lynne Nottage weaves many themes throughout this masterpiece.  It is sometimes funny, quite often serious, but always breathtaking. For more information or tickets, call 215-829-0395 or visit online at www.lanterntheater.org.

 

Elephant in the Room

                                                                      Priyanka Shetty

Akuka Theatre, located in the Louis Bluver Theatre at The Drake, has extended the run of The Elephant in the Room through November 19th. Written and performed by Priyanka Shetty, this one act play, set in the dressing room of a theatre, explores the paths the playwright has traveled to reach the point of her performing in front of her parents who have traveled from India. I found The Elephant in the Room mesmerizing. Priyanka’s performance is bold as she illustrates two sides of arguments with her mother; has the door slammed in her face during auditions when she reaches America; has arguments with her “aunties”; and pleas with her brother to take her side and not side with her parents about having her freedoms. Her slight change of costume keeps the pace of the piece moving. Tales of rascism and near despair  are replaced by hope and  determination. She frequently speaks to the audience and the  audience members laugh in appreciation of her travails. Priyanka tells her truth in this, her first foray into playwrighting and does so exceedingly well.