Youth is the time of our lives when the more adventurous among us follow French poet Arthur Rimbaud’s dictum that “everything we are taught is false.”
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Tag: musical
PASSING STRANGE (Wilma): A worthwhile caricature of art
The performers leave a bright impression in a play that’s a caricature of life and art,
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TOUCHTONES (Arden): This must be a bad connection
Naughty and nice collide in TOUCHTONES, a musical fantasy in world premiere at the Arden.
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TOUCHTONES (Arden): 60-second review
This treacly throwback neither titillates nor liberates.
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A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM (Walnut): A funny thing is happening now at the Walnut
Sondheim’s classic musical in a new production is directed by Frank Ferrante.
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CABARET (Arden): Glücklich zu sehen?
CABARET has taken on a new level of relevance, but Matthew Decker’s re-creation of Sam Mendes’ famous production remains stuck in the past.
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A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM (Walnut Street Theatre): 60-second review
The promise of “something for everyone” is both too little and too much.
View More A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM (Walnut Street Theatre): 60-second review
MOTHER EMANUEL—AN AMERICAN MUSICAL PLAY (New Freedom Theatre): Taking the theater to church
New Freedom Theatre honors Emanuel Nine in new musical by creating a gospel celebration that honors their lives
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FUN HOME (national tour at Forrest Theatre): A study in want
There was a perfection to the timing of FUN HOME’s arrival in Philadelphia: Another take on FUN HOME
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SIDE SHOW (Media Theatre): Coming together on a small stage
SIDE SHOW is a tricky piece, but there was much to savor at Media Theatre’s production
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THIS IS THE WEEK THAT IS: THE ELECTION SPECIAL (1812 Productions): Yuugely funny
Ho boy, it’s been quite the election cycle. Thankfully, Philadelphia has 1812 Productions to ease the pain with its annual satirical show.
View More THIS IS THE WEEK THAT IS: THE ELECTION SPECIAL (1812 Productions): Yuugely funny
Spelling Bee: Interview with Chloe Sierka
Feeling altogether out-of-the-loop with regards to this mysterious sleeper gem and Avenue Theater Company I caught up with choreographer and assistant director Chloe Sierka
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[podcast] Jen Childs on I WILL NOT GO GENTLY
Today’s podcast features artistic director, writer, and performer Jen Childs. We talk about the latest 1812 offering, I Will Not Go Gently where a stellar team of creatives breathe life into the faded career of “Sierra Mist”.
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ALWAYS … PATSY CLINE (Walnut): Crazy for this show
Ted Swindley’s blend of a heartwarming bonding of two good ole’ gals and more than two dozen songs associated with singer Patsy Cline.
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THE THREEPENNY OPERA (Villanova): Brecht played louder than the music
Republished by kind permission from Neals Paper. Kurt Weill’s insistent tingel-tangel score for THE THREEPENNY OPERA pervades the Vasey Hall stage, with horns and drum pumping…
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MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG (Temple Theater): Parties and excess
The young talent the school is grooming stands out in the Temple Theater production of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG.
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ALWAYS… PATSY CLINE (Bristol Riverside): Sweet dreams of a country superstar
Cline is a natural subject for the theater. Although the sad facts of Patsy’s marriage and difficult personal life are alluded to, ALWAYS… PATSY CLINE is more about a relationship a star was able to form with a fan than a full biography of the singer.
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MARY POPPINS (Walnut): Flying between lightness and gravitas
In doing MARY POPPINS, a director has to decide between approaches: light and fantastical like the movie or darker like the book.
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THE ADDAMS FAMILY (Media Theatre): A weird-family musical
THE ADDAMS FAMILY is such a familiar piece, and beloved by many for various reasons
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9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL (Walnut Street): Performance over plot
Sharp performances keep 9 TO 5 so consistently entertaining it masks a contrived plot and mediocre music and lyrics.
View More 9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL (Walnut Street): Performance over plot