Author Archive: Margie

Radio Play at Media Fellowship House

Radio Play: His Gal Friday

Saturday, May 10th
Show begins 7:30 PM
Tickets $20
Location: Media Fellowship House

Presented by Radio Live Arts in partnership with Media Arts Council

“Extra! Extra! Live on Air: His Girl Friday Returns as a Radio Play Extravaganza!”

It’s the bustling newsroom of the 1940s with a fast-talking, headline-chasing radio play adaptation of the classic screwball comedy His Girl Friday! Enjoy an evening of rapid-fire wit, charm, and high-stakes journalism as star reporter Hildy Johnson goes head-to-head with her ex-husband and editor, Walter Burns, in a love-hate race against the clock.

When: Saturday, May 10, 2025, 7:30 pm

Where: The Media Fellowship House, 302 South Jackson Street, Media, PA

Tickets: $20

Presented by Radio Live Arts in partnership with Media Arts Council

Arden Theatre Company Closes Season With ‘Rent”

Philadelphia-based Arden Theatre Company is thrilled to close out its 2024-25 season with the electrifying Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical RENT. Following its Broadway debut in 1996, where it earned four Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book, and Best Featured Actor in a Musical, RENT redefined musical theatre by taking audiences on an unforgettable journey of love, loss, hope, and resilience. The Arden brings Jonathan Larson’s iconic story to life on the F. Otto Haas Stage, in a powerful new production directed by Terrence J. Nolen and Steve Pacek. The production begins May 15, with opening night May 21. Due to popular demand, RENT has been extended through June 22. 

With its unforgettable score and songs like “Seasons of Love” and “I’ll Cover You,” the production tells the story of a close group of young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create a life in New York City’s East Village during the height of the AIDS crisis.  

The dynamic cast features new and familiar faces to Arden audiences. 

 Tickets are available online at ardentheatre.org or at the box office at Arden Theatre Company (40 N. 2nd Street). . Single ticket prices vary by  performance and start at $65. 

‘Disenchanted’ at Old Academy Players

As part of its 2024-2025 Season, The Old Academy Players is proud to present the musical comedy, Disenchanted! by Dennis T. Giacino (Book, Lyrics, Music).  The Old Academy Players’ 546th production will run April 25 – May 11, 2025.

A full member of the DGA (Dramatists Guild of America), along with co-creator Fiely Matias, Giacino wrote the book, music, and lyrics for the Off-Broadway musical hit Disenchanted! Its first workshop was held in 2009 at Pearl Studios in NYC.  Over 700 women auditioned for 10 roles and the 1-night-only event (in which songs from the show were performed without script) played to a sold-out house, a standing ovation, and was immediately extended.  The journey to Off-Broadway began!  Fiely Matias directed the first workshop as well as the award-nominated NYC Off-Broadway production of Disenchanted! Award nominations were garnered from the Lucille Lortel Awards, the Outer Critics Circle for ‘Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical,’ and the Off Broadway Alliance for ‘Best New Musical’.

Disenchanted! has been performed around the globe (5 continents, 5 languages, 13 countries) to rave reviews, sold out houses, awards, and standing ovations.

Synopsis: Poison apples and lost slippers are just the beginning. The original storybook heroines are none-too-happy with the way they’ve been portrayed in today’s pop culture, so they’ve tossed their tiaras and have come to life to set the record straight. Forget the princesses you think you know — these royal renegades are here to comically belt out the truth.  Disenchanted! is a humor-packed musical with an edge.  Despite its “princess backdrop” this is not a family-friendly musical and is not appropriate for children. Content Warning:  Contains adult language and content.

Old Academy Players’ stellar cast includes: Carson Long as Snow White; Kristen Spangenberg as Cinderella; Alyssia Sims as Sleeping Beauty; Lisa Sims as Belle; Sharon Yun as Hua Mulan; Amy Tarr as The Little Mermaid; Isaura Sanguinetti as Pocahontas; Alexa Archer as The Princess Who Kissed the Frog; Courtney Bambrick as Rapunzel; and Jiana Koshy as Princess Badroulbadour.

Annie Hnatko directs and Steve Hnatko produces this production of Disenchanted!‘  This is the pair’s 8th production at Old Academy Players.

 

If You Go

April 25 – May 11, 2025.

Friday and Saturday performances at 8 pm and two Sunday matinées, May 4th and 11th at 2 pm.

Content Warning:  it is not suitable for young children.

Ticket prices are: $25 per adult; $15 for Students under 25 with valid ID; group rate (15 or more) $21 each. Tickets can be purchased online at www.OldAcademyPlayers.org. Reservations and more information can be obtained by calling the Box Office at 215-843-1109.

Old Academy Players is located at 3544 Indian Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129.  Parking for all performances is free.

About The Old Academy Players

The Old Academy Players has provided continuous community theater entertainment since 1923 and is a non-profit community theater in East Falls neighborhood of Philadelphia. Constructed in 1819, the Old Academy building has been the OAP home since 1932. Old Academy Players is a member of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance.  Most notable alumni include Tony Award-nominated actor Robert Prosky and Hollywood icon, Grace Kelly.  Support is provided by the “Philadelphia Cultural Fund”.

Brandywine Native Garden Hub Now Online

Brandywine Native Garden Hub, a new online resource designed to inspire gardeners of all levels and skillsets. Photo by Mark Gormel

The Brandywine Conservancy is thrilled to announce the launch of the Brandywine Native Garden Hub, a new online resource designed to inspire gardeners of all levels and skillsets. The Brandywine Native Garden Hub is a free, user-friendly website that serves as both an educational guide and an interactive database for anyone interested in incorporating native plants into their landscapes. Naturally occurring in a specific region without human intervention, native plants have adapted to the climate and soil over time, making them easier to grow and maintain, plus they directly benefit pollinators, wildlife, and the local ecology. With the Brandywine Native Garden Hub, users can search for and learn more about native plants specific to Pennsylvania and northern Delaware, save their favorites to personalized “Garden Boards,” and browse through a suite of educational resources to help enhance their gardening success.

Now available at www.NativeGardenHub.org, the Brandywine Native Garden Hub contains information on more than 250 native plant species found in our region. Each plant profile contains everything you need to know about the plant—from growing conditions to key attributes and wildlife benefits—along with photos that show different growth stages. Users can also personalize their searches by filtering for plants according to their garden’s specific growing conditions, including sunlight exposure, soil type, and soil moisture. Plants can even be sorted by the user’s preferred attributes and benefits, including plant type, height/width, peak bloom time, bloom color, deer resistance, fragrance, and more.

To help visualize and plan their dream gardens, users can create a free account to build personalized “Garden Boards” that are customized to their unique growing spaces. Boards can be curated for the spaces users currently have, the type of gardens they are looking to start—such as a container garden for smaller spaces or one designed to attract specific pollinators—or even boards for future garden inspiration. Once users set up their boards, they can “pin” their favorite plants while browsing to save them for building out their garden plans. Users can also add, edit, and create as many Garden Boards as they’d like, which can be referenced at any time on both desktop and mobile devices.

To equip users with even more tools for success during their gardening journeys, the Brandywine Native Garden Hub also features a wealth of educational resources. Users can dive into the beginners guide for getting started with native plants or browse through other articles, including topics on how to prep a container garden, tackling invasive species, and seasonal gardening tips. Additional articles will be published throughout the year for continued learning.

For more than five decades, the Brandywine Conservancy has been a trusted leader in growing and promoting the use, preservation, and appreciation of native plants. The Brandywine Native Garden Hub is the latest extension of this work, providing a digital platform to help gardeners bring the benefits of native plants to their own landscapes. To start your journey with native plants, visit www.NativeGardenHub.org.

 

‘Bug’ and ‘Hairspray’ at the Wilmington Drama League
Director Eric Merlino and his team have announced the cast of Bug.

Agnes: Meg Barton

RC: Abbey Kwietniak

Dr. Sweet: Gina Olkowski

Peter: Ryan Wolynetz

Goss: Jared Zimmerman

Bug runs from May 1-4.  The play by Tracy Letts (August: Osage County) involves a veteran drifter who draws a down-on-her-luck waitress into a web of psychological obsession and mutual dissolution.

 

Tickets/information at www.wilmingtondramaleague.org
After a record-breaking 169 auditioners who came out and shared their talent, director and choreographer Patrick Murray and his team are excited to announce the cast of Hairspray.

Tracy Turnblad: Jane Haracz

Edna Turnblad: Ashley Grantham

Penny Pingleton: Hayley Hughes

Amber Von Tussle: Lauren Cusick

Velma Von Tussle: Beth Dugan

Link Larkin: Cole Miller

Seaweed J. Stubbs: Shawn Weaver

Corny Collins: Danny Murphy

Motormouth Maybelle: Shana Roberts

Wilbur Turnblad: Edward Emmi

Little Inez: Amaya Howard

Prudy Pingleton/Gym Teacher/Matron: Catherine Callahan

Harriman F. Spritzer/Principal: Camilo Matos

Mr. Pinky/Newscaster: Justin DeStafney

Dynamite #1: Arianna Clark

Dynamite #2: Jacqueline Collins

Dynamite #3: Felicia Skinner

Tracy Cover: Avery Forst

Nicest Kids

Brad: Connor Mullin

Tammy: Sam Aitken

Fender: Sebastian Nguyen

Brenda: Natalie Ruth

Sketch: Michael Stuardi

Shelley: Carli Fruchtl

IQ: Nova Figurelle

Lou Ann: Samantha DiCarlo

Stanley: Jamie Depto

Ruby: Madelyn Moore

Duane: Isaac McHugh

Gilbert: Marshall Marsh

Stooie: Shane Teel

Lorraine: Lauren Alston

Cindy Watkins: Ashley Baker

Ensemble: Khamanie “KB” Beadle, Marissa Capuano, Tahir “Ty” Clay, Amanda Cusick, Karma Davis, Hannah Dugan, Avery Forst, Layla Everett, Naomi Everett, Tommy Fisher-Klein, Todd Hartsock, Allie Kotch, Becca Martin, Meghan Martin, Camilo Matos, Michael McDonald, Emma Moran, J’Lynn Morris, Jada Nganga, Sean Pyle, Amelia Sanfilippo, Marley Saunders, Haily Watson, Amari Winder

The musical runs Friday, May 30 through Sunday, June 15. Tickets are available now.

Next For Colonial Playhouse: ‘Murder on the Orient Express”

Colonial Playhouse presents Ken Ludwig’s clever adaptation of the Agatha Christie classic, “Murder on the Orient Express” May 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18. It boasts all the glamour, intrigue and suspense of Dame Agatha’s celebrated novel, with a healthy dose of humor to quicken the pace.

 

 

Cast:

Hercule Poirot – Bill King

Monsieur Bouc – John Devine

Mary Debenham – Meghan Hanson

Hector MacQueen – Jacob Ryan

Michel the Conductor/ Headwaiter – Nick Squeri

Princess Dragomiroff – Susan Wefel

Greta Ohlsson – Stephanie Donahue

Countess Andrenyi – Kate Scanlon

Helen Hubbard – Barb Scanlon

Colonel Arbuthnot – Mickey Donahue

Samuel Ratchett – Bill Haburcak

Performances

May 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18

Fridays & Saturdays: 8 pm ($17)
Sunday Matinees: 2 pm ($15)

Ticket link:  Murder on the Orient Express – Colonial Playhouse

Pig Iron Theatre Company presents ‘Franklin’s Key’

 The internationally acclaimed, award-winning Philadelphia- based physical theater company Pig Iron Theatre Company presents the world premiere of Franklin’s Key, written by Dan Rothenberg and Robert Quillen Camp. This thrilling, magical, sci-fi theatrical adventure explores Benjamin Franklin’s hidden discoveries in a parallel universe.

Running from June 3 to 29 at Plays  & Players Theatre (1714 Delancey Street, Philadelphia), this electrifying new production transforms some of the city’s most iconic landmarks into portals to adventure as two high school prodigies find themselves caught in a struggle between secret societies dedicated to safeguarding Franklin’s discoveries. Fans of The Goonies, Stranger Things, Harry Potter, The Da Vinci Code, and National Treasure will enjoy the artistry in this electrifying live stage production. 

Pig Iron Theatre Company, founded in 1995 in Philadelphia, has long been recognized for its daring and highly physical approach to theater-making. Its genre-defying works have earned critical acclaim. Their upcoming production of Franklin’s Key marks a significant shift from past experimental and genre defying works, embracing a more fantastical, family-friendly approach to storytelling. 

During the War of Independence, the British feared Benjamin Franklin could control the weather.  Franklin’s Key asks: what if that were true? A mystery unfolds for audiences in an alternate reality where Franklin’s undiscovered technology has been hidden underneath some of Philadelphia’s most treasured landmarks for centuries. Set in present-day Philadelphia, Franklin’s Key follows two teenage prodigies: Temple, a self-taught scientist, and her brother Arturo, a gifted musician. The two uncover an ancient mystery, setting off a chain reaction that draws them into a secret battle between rival factions seeking to harness the incredible but volatile powers of Franklin’s long-lost technology. Temple and Arturo, aided by a cast of quirky friends, traverse hidden tunnels under the city, leading them from abandoned subway platforms to the iconic statue of William Penn atop City Hall and the building-sized organ inside the old Wanamaker Department Store. With time running out, the team must navigate the labyrinth of Philadelphia’s forgotten tunnels, evade powerful enemies, and unlock the secrets Franklin left behind before his discoveries fall into the wrong hands. 

Franklin’s Key is like a Marvel movie translated for the stage. We are working with an amazing team of scenic and effects designers to evoke building-sized automatons, Da Vinci Code puzzles, and teenagers with telekinetic powers. While the story is cinematic in scope, audiences can expect Pig Iron’s signature, elegant stagecraft – sometimes disarmingly simple, but always surprising.  – Pig Iron’s  Co-Artistic Director Dan Rothenberg

 

Co-writer Robert Quillen Camp wrote the text for Pig Iron’s Pay Up and Chekhov Lizardbrain and is a  regular collaborator with downtown New York provocateurs Hoi Polloi. Co-writer and Director Dan  Rothenberg is one of the founders of Pig Iron Theatre Company, where he has been instrumental in  creating over 30 original works that have toured to 15 countries. 

Three actors from New York are leading the production as the teen heroes: actor and singer Taylor Rose  Mickens, making her Philadelphia theater debut, plays Temple. Temple’s brother Arturo is played by  Sam Gonzalez, a New York-based actor and dancer known for Invasive Species (The Tank, NYC),  Bathhouse.PPTX (The Flea, NYC) and performances at the Bushwick Starr and Joe’s Pub. Jacob Orr  (Montag, SoHo Rep) plays Temple’s hapless ex-boyfriend, Richard. 

The supporting ensemble includes Chris Thorn. Alice Yorke, Benjamin Bass, and Izzy Sazak. 

If You Go

  • Franklin’s Key takes place at one of the oldest theaters in the country, Play & Players Theatre, a charming 220-seat venue with a proscenium stage layout. 
  • Run time of 110  minutes, including a 15-minute intermission 
  • Performances take place Wednesday through Sunday evenings at 7 p.m., with matinees on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. and two Tuesday evening performances on June 3 and June 10 at 7 p.m. 
  • Tickets are available online at Franklinskey.com.. Daytime performances are available for group bookings.

Playcrafters of Skippack presents ‘The Revolutionists’

Playcrafters of Skippack presents….

Ticket link: Tix – Ticket Sales

For more information, visit Playcrafters

InterAct Theatre Company presents ‘Variety Pack’

This May, InterAct Theatre Company invites you to experience the unexpected with Variety Pack, a two-weekend festival celebrating Philadelphia’s most unconventional, boundary-pushing alt-comedy acts. It’s not just stand-up, not just improv, not just sketch—it’s a mix of everything and then some. A drag-king pageant, the entire Twilight saga in 60-minutes, a whirlwind cabaret, and live cartoons to name a few. The inaugural Variety Pack festival runs the first two weekends in May at the Louis Bluver Theatre at The Drake.

Festival Lineup:

Dan Kitrosser is Karen Tenderness in Have You Seen My House?

You’re going to love Karen Tenderness’ new house — that is, if she can find it! You see, Karen (played by Fringie Award Winner Dan Kitrosser) has lost her house, and now, through a whirlwind cabaret, and with your help, she’s going to find it! While belting songs by Patti Smith, Bette Midler, Dolly Pardon and more, this Karen Tenderness Cabaret answers the age old question: Where is Karen Tenderness’ house?

May 1, 7:00p

Live Theatre, Live!

Legendary disgraced BFA Acting Teacher (former) Leslie Von Kamper leads his “talented” students through the entire play making process in only one hour! With the help of a special Guest Assistant Director and a play that only they know, the students of the LVK Acting Studio for Adults audition, rehearse, perform, and give an enlightening talk back! Perfect for theatre skeptics and lovers alike!

May 1, 8:30 and May 3, 8:30p

Two Letters

Two Letters is an improv duo formed by Philadelphia actors and comedians, Em Harnett & DJ Gleason. Watch as these two people with names that have two letters interview an audience member and create an entire story while playing every single character. It’s just two people. And just two letters.

May 2, 7:00p and May 8, 7:00p

Yes and the City

Yes And The City is an improvised episode of beloved HBO series, “Sex And The City”. Yes And The City will follow your favorite four gals about town as they navigate men, sex, parties, chance encounters, fashion, icks, and maybe even love all in a 60-minute show. Darren Star please don’t sue us.

May 2, 8:30p and May 9, 8:30p

Cartoon Club

A late night block of BRAND NEW freaky-ass original cartoons hosted by Joe Bell! Featuring bits, characters, games but most importantly cartoons!

May 2, 10:00p

The Entire F***ing Twilight Saga…in 60 Minutes

Vampires. Werewolves. Creepy Babies. What more could you ask for? How about all of it…in 60 minutes? Yeah…you heard us. Theatre Contra is taking on the greatest (to some) franchises of all time and doing it all in an hour or less: The Twilight Saga. How is it possible? That’s a great question, but all we can say right now is hold on tight spider monkey, you’re in for one wild ride.

May 3, 7:00p and May 9, 10:00p

Clip Show

Two hosts, three guests, no clue. The Clip Show is a live comedy show hosted by renowned character actresses R. Eric Thomas and Chris Newcomer. Every night they welcome three famous guests who each have a new project to promote. The catch? The guests don’t know what they’re promoting until we roll footage of the clip they’ve supposedly brought. Presented by visionary producer Ms. Piggy, The Clip Show is one-part improv show, one part old-school talk show, one part Pirin tablets, one part other parts.

May 3, 8:30p and May 9, 7:00p

Lady Laughs Pageant

Philly’s only all-women and -queer comedy show brings a drag king pageant to Variety Pack! The finest kings in Philadelphia bring their best moves and tightest jokes to a panel of judges to crown a winner.

May 8, 8:30p

One Tan Show

Comedian Tan Hoang tries her best to perform her one woman show, unfortunately everything is going wrong, and a bunch of characters keep interrupting her.

May 10, 8:30p

If You Go: