1812 PRODUCTIONS, at PLAYS & PLAYERS THEATRE, 1714 Delancey Street. Can a character who is desperate, loathsome, funny and weird be a “mensch” at the same time? Barrymore winner Scott Greer pulls it off in the lead role of “MISTAKES WERE MADE” by Craig Wright. He plays a mediocre broadway producer who dares to back a work of art. Aided and abetted by director Matt Pfeiffer and actors Amanda Grove and Georgia Schlessman, this trio takes the audience through a wild ride of laughter mixed with horror and slapstick simplicity. Oct. 6-30: 215.592.9560.
ARDEN THEATRE COMPANY, 40 N. 2nd Street. Passover 1865, and an injured Jewish Confederate soldier returns to his home. Amidst the rubble of the Civil War he reunites with two of his family’s former slaves. The three gather to celebrate the festival of freedom as they wrestle with long buried family secrets and their past roles as master and slave. Slavery and war, they discover, warp even good men’s souls. “THE WHIPPING MAN” by Matthew Lopez, directed by Matt Pfeiffer stars two well known local actors – Johnnie Hobbs, Jr. and James Ijames, accompanied by Cody Nickell. Oct. 27-Dec. 18: 215.922.1122.
BRISTOL RIVERSIDE THEATRE, 120 Radcliffe St. Bristol, Pa. John Barrymore was probably the greatest American Shakespearean actor of all time. However he was also a womanizer and an alcoholic. His legendary escapades eventually hastened his downfall.
“BARRYMORE” begins at his career’s end when he attempts to restart his professional life. The aging, almost forgotten actor rents a theater for a one-night financial backers audition. We see his rehearsal for that do-or-die night when his only audience is an offstage prompter. Jon Marans returns to BRT to direct our local Barrymore Keith Baker and prompter William Selby. Oct. 11-30: 215.785.0100.
EGO PO CLASSIC THEATER at PRINCE MUSIC THEATRE, Broad & Chestnut Streets. A year long festival of Jewish theater begins with “THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK”. Lane Savadove directs Wendy Kesselman’s new and muscular adaptation of the classic play. The diary, upon which the play is based, is one of the most widely read books in the world! Unfortunately the original play focused on sentimentality rather than the problems of ethnic anxiety and religious identity. Anne Frank is a 13 year old who must hide in a tiny attic with her family and a few friends to avoid Nazi persecution. She kept a detailed diary as she grew from puberty to young adulthood. Sara Howard is Anne and Rob Khan is her father, the protector of the attic community. Mary Lee Bednarek is Mrs. Van Daam whose past life was one of wealth and culture. Russ Widall is her husband, a pleasant but selfish businessman whose family shares the Frank’s sanctuary. Oct. 20-Nov. 6: 267.312.6432.
HEDGEROW THEATRE, 64 Rose Valley Road, Media, Pa. Agatha Christie’s first play “BLACK COFFEE” was dismissed by her agent as not worth submitting to any theater. Fortunately for us she ignored him, allowing Zorin Kovcic, Susan Wefel and the gang at Hedgerow, directed by Penelope Reed to bring us another brilliant who-done-it. A formula for a new explosive has been stolen. It’s inventor is killed when the lights go out leaving a roomful of suspects. Have no fear-Hercule Poirot and his companion/assistant Hastings are up to the task! Solve the mystery during intermission if you feel clever enough! Enter the drawing at which a winner will be selected and receive a ticket to a future show. Nov. 13: 610.565.4211
KIMMEL PRESENTS BROADWAY @ THE MERRIAM, 250 S. Broad Street. “ROCK OF AGES” a worldwide phenomenon, still rocking on Broadway features 28 classic rock tunes such as WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE, HERE I GO AGAIN, HARDEN MY HEART and RENEGADE. The story line begins in 1987 when a small town Kansas girl meets a big city dreamer. He works as a busboy in an L.A. legendary rock club and she wants to sing on Broadway. They fall in love to the great rock songs of the 80’s. This 5 time Tony award winner draws on the work of Pat Benatar, Whitesnake, Styx and many more. Oct. 18-23: 215.893.1999
LANTERN THEATER COMPANY at ST. STEPHEN’S THEATER, 10th & Ludlow Streets. Baruch de Spinoza is regarded by many as one of the father’s of modern ethical philosophy. The Philadelphia premiere of “NEW JERUSALEM, THE INTERROGATION OF BARUCH de SPINOZA AT TALMUD TORAH CONGREGATION: AMSTERDAM, JULY 27, 1656” by David Ives is based on true events in the trial and subsequent excommunication of Spinoza. Spinoza’s Jewish community fled the Inquisition in Portugal to find peace in seemingly liberal Amsterdam. Sam Henderson stars as Spinoza, David Blatt as the Parnas (leader of the community) and Seth Reichgott plays his accuser, Abraham van Valkenburgh. Directed by Charles McMahon. Call for info on special events and discussions. Oct. 6-30: 215.829.0395
OPERA COMPANY OF PHILADELPHIA, THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC, Broad & Locust Streets. Both opera buffs and novices will enjoy OCP’S “CARMEN”. The story of a beguiling gypsy and a naïve young Corporal embraces a tale of seduction, obsession, and deadly betrayal. Bizet’s masterpiece overflows with familiar and powerful melodies such as The Toreador Song, Habanera, and the Seguidilla. Many of the cast were locally trained at Curtis i.e Rinat Shaham as Carmen and Jonathan Beyer as Escamillo. A.V.A. provides dazzling vocal support with alumni Allyn Perez as Micaela, Jeremy Milner as Zuniga and Eric Dubin as both Morales and Dancairo. Sept. 30, Oct. 2,5,9 and 14. The Sept. 30 performance will be simulcast in a unique free performance at Independence Mall – bring your own picnic basket and blanket, lean back, look at the stars and wrap your self in the glorious music! 215.893.1018
PHILADELPHIA THEATRE COMPANY at THE SUZANNE ROBERTS THEATRE, Broad & Lombard Streets. John Logan’s Tony Award winning drama “RED” is a searing portrait of an artist’s ambition and vulnerability as he creates a definitive new work of art. Master abstract impressionist Mark Rothko has just landed the biggest commission in the history of modern art. This raw and provocative play is the story of Rothko’s work in his Bowery studio on a series of murals for New York’s famed Four Seasons Restaurant. Directed by Anders Cato with Stephen Rowe (who understudied the role in the Broadway production) as Rothko and Haley Joel Osment as Ken, Rothko’s challenging assistant. Various dates will have special events – talk backs, meet the artists, and a backstage tour. Oct. 14-Nov. 13: 215.985.0420
WILMA THEATER, Broad & Spruce Streets. In July 1941all the Jews in an obscure Polish village were murdered. Until 2001 the atrocity was attributed to Nazi troops. We now know it was done by their Polish neighbors. Director Blanka Ziska traveled to visit the site of Jedwabne, Poland to prepare for the U.S. Premiere of Ryan Craig’s English version of Tadeusz Slobodzlanek’s “OUR CLASS”. The lives of 10 classmates, 5 Catholic, 5 Jewish are told against the background of Soviet and German invading armies. Friends betray friends and the resulting violence forever haunts the survivors. The cast includes Krista Apple, Ross Beschler, Kate Czajkowski, Dan Hodge, Emilie Krause, Kevin Meehan, Allan Radway, Michael Rubenfeld, Matteo Scammell and Ed Swidey. Oct. 12-Nov. 13: 215.546.7824
