Bristol Riverside Theatre (BRT) announces the return of its highly anticipated 2025 Mid Penn Bank Summer Music Fest. This year’s powerhouse lineup features a stellar mix, including  The Bronx Wanderers, Beatles vs. Stones: A Musical Showdown, and Purple Xperience, alongside the uproarious musical comedy Oy Vey! It’s The Calamari Sisters.

This year, the concerts are back at BRT’s historic, intimate, and recently renovated theater. The theater  offers an inviting atmosphere with comfortable seating, free on-site parking, wheelchair accessibility,  assisted listening devices, and a full range of concessions, including beer and wine.   

Get ready to kick off the summer with these unforgettable shows: 

The Bronx Wanderers | Thursday, May 8 – Sunday, May 11, 2025 

An electrifying journey through rock ‘n’ roll’s greatest hits, from Frankie Valli to Queen! The Bronx  Wanderers bring boundless energy, unmatched talent, and harmonious vocals, having earned standing  ovations throughout their Las Vegas residency. This high-octane tribute to classic rock will have the  audience dancing in the aisles from start to finish.

Beatles vs. Stones: A Musical Showdown | Wednesday, June 25 – Sunday, June 29, 2025 Which legendary band will reign supreme? In this one-of-a-kind “battle of the bands,” two world-class  tribute acts — Abbey Road and Satisfaction — go head-to-head, bringing the timeless music of The  Beatles and The Rolling Stones to life in alternating sets. The showdown concludes with an epic joint encore that no rock ‘n’ roll fan will want to miss! 

Purple Xperience | Wednesday, July 16 – Sunday, July 20, 2025 

Calling all Prince fans! Direct from Minneapolis, Marshall Charloff & The Purple Xperience deliver a tribute to the iconic superstar like no other. With jaw-dropping musicianship and electrifying showmanship, this unforgettable performance captures the magic of Prince’s greatest hits, blending  R&B, soul, and new wave in a mesmerizing live experience. 

Oy Vey! It’s The Calamari Sisters | Wednesday, July 23 – Sunday, July 27, 2025 

When the Calamari Sisters are hired to cater an event at a Jewish funeral home, culinary chaos and comedic brilliance ensue. From matzah balls to meatballs, challah bread to pizza dough, and gefilte fish  to baccala, the girls try desperately to bridge the cultural gap. This laugh-out-loud musical comedy blends Italian and Jewish traditions with side-splitting songs and outrageous antics, proving that family is the secret ingredient to making both death and dinner unforgettable.  

If You Go

Tickets are available at 215-785-0100, brtstage.org. Ticket prices start at $50 for adults or purchase a Mid Penn Bank Summer Music Fest 3-Pack Subscription and enjoy three incredible performances for as low as $135. 

Bristol Riverside Theatre is at 120 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, PA

Review by Lisa Panzer 

Darkness Rises, A Star Wars Inspired Horror Experience only at Lincoln Mill

Dare to traverse the ‘dark side’ at ‘Star Wars’ inspired Lincoln Mill Haunted House, where the Sith, some armed with light saber-saws, and their creepy cronies urge you to join them. Courageously crafted corridors of chilling horror filled scenarios await, carving the way through an alley-GORY-cal mythos of insanely morbid sci-fi infused macabre. Will you be convinced join the diablerie? 

This otherworldly frightening tour de ‘Force’ is inescapably all pervasive in its feel. Immense detail has been committed to creating an immersive environment via interaction with some stellar actors, eerie lighting, superb sound effects and theme song, forced air, and surprising moving, and sometimes gutsy, props that pop, and often plop! All combine to create an eerie atmosphere from a super spooky world populated with galactic ghouls. Fun times! 

If You Go

Look for the show to return in October 2025.

Darkness Rises

Lincoln Mills Haunted House

4100 Main St. 

Philadelphia, PA 19127

https://lincolnmillhaunt.com/

Run Time: 

20-30 minute tour

By Betty Lou Roselle

Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express is based on a 1934 detective novel by Agatha Christie featuring Hercule Poirot. It is adapted by Ken Ludwig adding his comedy talents to the production. Everyone knows Agatha Christie, detective novelist and playwright whose books have sold more than 100 million copies, translated into 100 languages. An interesting fact about Dame Agatha is that in 1926 Christie’s mother died, and her husband, Colonel Archibald Christie, requested a divorce. In a move she never fully explained, Christie disappeared and, after several highly publicized days, was discovered registered in a hotel under the name of the woman her husband wished to marry.

Who murdered Samuel Ratchett?

As the play opens just after midnight, a snowdrift stops the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious train is surprisingly full for the time of the year, but by the morning it is one passenger fewer. Isolated and with a killer in their midst, the passengers rely on detective Hercule Poirot to identify the murderer – in case he or she decides to strike again.

Director Jennifer Wolfe has assembled an extraordinary cast that Christie would certainly approve of.

Bill Haburcak plays the role of Samuel Ratchett with a relish. He tries to enlist Hercule Poirot to help him discover who has been threatening his life. We quickly observe why someone would want to kill him. John Devine is solid as the proprietor of the Orient Express trying to keep his friend Poirot from frightening the other guests.

Meghan Hanson is mysterious as Mary Debenham as is her lover Colonel Arbuthnot played by Mickey Donahue. Jacob Ryan plays the clueless Hector MacQueen with enthusiasm. Kate Scanlon shines as Countess Andrenyl. Nick Squeri is good in his double roles as Michel the Conductor and the Headwaiter.

Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express” includes these three suspects.

Stephanie Donahue’s charming as Greta Ohisson, assistant to Princess Dragomiroff royally played by Susan Wefel. It was wonderful watching Princess Dragomiroff square off against Helen Hubbard played with gusto by Barbara Scanlon (nice change of character when the truth comes out).

Bill King is excellent as Hercule Poirot, never missing a clue to solving this mystery. His monologue figuring everything out in the end is epic. Voiceovers were provided by Loic Barnieu and Connor Scanlon.

Kudos to director Jennifer Wolfe, Stage Manager Peggy Oleynick and the entire production staff for their great work. There are six performances left: May 9, 10, 11; 16,17 and 18.

Colonial Playhouse is at 522 West Magnolia Ave., Aldan, PA. Call 610-622-5773 or visit www.colonialplayhouse.net.

The King is back at Venice Island– and so is the music! Join us for a night of twisting and shouting with The Ghostlight Players for their spring musical, “All Shook Up!” You won’t want to miss all the pelvic thrustin’ and honkey tonkin’ from the talented cast – get your tickets today!

3 SHOWS ONLY!

Friday, May 9th at 7:30 PM

Saturday, May 10th at 2:00 PM

Saturday, May 10th at 7:30 PM

Tickets: Ludus – The Ghostlight Players Inc

$20 – General Admission (Adult)

$17 – General Admission (Child/Senior Citizen)

4th Annual Shoe Box Short Theatre Festival

Saturday, May 17

7:00-9:00 PM

The Shoe Box Short Theatre Festival highlights original assorted works by local and regional artists. This year features pieces by:

Thoughts by The Collective Mic Productions

Out Of The Heart Wicked Things Doth Come by Jaz

Smart Casinos by Brooke Shilling

La Diva Noire Speaks Love, Strength & Freedom by The Collective Mic Productions

We’re All Sad So Let’s Laugh by Teresa Nutter

General Admission $10.00 + $1.20 Service Fee at Shoe Box Short Theatre Festival in Philadelphia – Checkout

Venice Island Performing Arts Center is at 7 Lock Street, Philadelphia, PA

Beginning May 14, Hedgerow Theatre Company presents the regional premiere of “Endlings: by Korean-Canadian director, playwright, and screenwriter Celine Song. Directed by Kalina Ko, the play follows two generations of Korean women grappling with the weight of their pasts, the loss of their cultural heritage, and the complexities of identity, all while confronting the haunting question of what it means to be remembered.

Endlings is set to run from May 13 to June 1. 

Song has written and directed stage and film productions depicting beautiful explorations of the perils of the human condition. Audiences may recognize her as the writer and director of the 2023 romantic drama Past Lives, which earned Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and Best Director. As a  playwright, she has received critical acclaim for her work, including her first major production,  Endlings, which premiered in 2019 at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  The play led to her becoming a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, the oldest and largest  playwrighting prize for women writing for English-speaking theater. 

Endlings is set on two different islands. On the Korean island of Man-Jae, three elderly haenyeos – sea women – spend their dying days continuing a fading ancient tradition, diving into the sea to fish with nothing but a knife. On the Island of Manhattan, Korean-Canadian playwright Ha Young (Shin)  struggles to finish a new play as she navigates the expectation that she write more “authentic” stories inspired by her identity.  Endlings poses a thought-provoking question: who gets to tell stories, and how do those stories shape our  understanding of the world? 

Hedgerow’s regional premiere presentation of Endlings features an award-winning cast of stage actors.  Portraying the three haenyeos are Helen Hayes Award-winning Washington, D.C.-based actor Tuyết Thị Phạm as Go Min, New York-based actor Gray Choi as Sook Ja, and New York-based actor  and dancer Shigeko Sara Suga as Han Sol.  Sarah Shin appears as the play’s struggling playwright Ha Young. Rounding out the cast in various ensemble roles are Philadelphia-based actors Scott Berkowitz, Ethan Goonewardene, Paul Harrold,  John Harvey, and Kevin McCann.  

If You Go

• Preview Tuesday, May 13, at 7:30  p.m.
• Opens on Wednesday, May 14, at 7:30 p.m. with post show reception
• Performances through Sunday, June 1.  Ticket link: Hedgerow Theatre Company
• Recommended for audiences ages 15 or older
• Approximate 100-minute runtime with no intermission.
• Pride Night May 22, at 7:30 p.m. for LGBTQIA+ audiences  
• Open-caption performances  available May 29- June 1
• Relaxed Performance on Saturday, May 31, at 2 p.m. 

Media Theatre presents

Tickets and more information online at www.mediatheatre.org .

Venue Details:
The Media Theatre
104 E. State Street
Media, PA 19063

 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.

Adventure awaits as Arden Children’s Theatre invites families to embark on an unforgettable journey filled with courage, friendship, and excitement in Greg Banks’ lively stage adaptation of The Hobbit now through June 1. Directed by Rebecca Wright, the imaginative production brings Middle-earth to life in a magical, action-packed retelling of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved classic, designed for audiences ages seven and up. Through clever storytelling and dynamic staging, audiences are drawn into the journey of Bilbo Baggins, a humble hobbit who steps out of his comfort zone and embarks on an epic quest that tests his bravery, wit, and heart.

The Hobbit unfolds on the Arden’s intimate 175-seat Arcadia Stage (40 N. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA), where thrust seating arrangement immerses audiences into Bilbo’s journey.  

The Hobbit’s dynamic cast features five talented actors—Eliana Fabiyi, Kelly McCaughan, Nathan Alford-Tate, Ciera Gardne and Sean Lally — who, together, play more than 20 characters throughout the 90-minute production. 

This playful and whimsical adaptation of The Hobbit is perfect for young adventurers, highlighting the themes of friendship, courage, and loyalty that made Tolkien’s novel a classic of children’s literature – Rebecca Wright. 

With a minimalistic set that captures the woodsy, forested landscapes of Middle-earth, audiences are transported into a magical, colorful world populated by fantastical creatures, including trolls, goblins, eagles, and elves—staying true to the vivid descriptions in Tolkien’s original book. The play follows Bilbo, who would much rather be nestled in his cozy Hobbit Hole with a cup of tea and a plate of bacon and eggs. Instead, he’s swept into an unexpected adventure, journeying through freezing mountains and eerie forests, where he encounters both fearsome foes and loyal friends. Though hesitant at first, Bilbo discovers that his true strength lies not in physical power but in his cleverness, bravery, and heart—transforming him from a timid hobbit into an unexpected hero. With a cast of longtime Arden collaborators and fresh new voices, the production blends story and spectacle, bringing the audience along Bilbo’s extraordinary journey.

The stellar cast features Eliana Fabiyi (Bilbo), a Philadelphia-based actor, writer, and sound designer who has previously appeared at the Arden in Treasure Island (Jim Hawkins/Emily), The Bluest Eye (Maureen Peal), Peter Pan (Jane/Tootles), and A Midsummer’s Night Dream (Fairy/Musician). Fabiyi’s regional work includes roles at People’s Light, Orbiter 3, and Ninth Planet. 

If You Go:

The Hobbit  runs through June 1.

Single ticket prices vary by performance and start at $35. Tickets are available online at ardentheatre.org, by phone at 215.922.1122, or at the box office at Arden Theatre Company (40 N. 2nd Street). 

Special events/performances: 

• Student Matinees | Available Tuesdays through Fridays at 10:30 a.m.
• American Sign Language (ASL) Shadow Interpretation | Friday, May 16, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. & Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 4 p.m.

It’s been a few years since everyone’s favorite group of pals have all been together at the same time, but this calls for a celebration! Gunther has successfully opened a chain of cafes and his six best customers have taken a trip down to Philadelphia for the grand opening of “Perk Place.” The party isn’t all fun and games, however. Ross and Rachel are on a break…again, some unexpected guests cause tension for Monica and Chandler, Phoebe is having issues finding a babysitter for her nieces and nephew, and is someone actually trying to SHARE food with Joey?! Before the night is out, someone might be a victim of some “friendly” fire.

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If You Go:

• March 1 – May 31, 2025
  Saturdays at 5pm and 8pm, Sundays at 3pm

  The actors work within the audience – they do not use a stage.

  Dates: Saturdays and Sundays March 1 – May 30

  Tickets: $35 Standard Admission plus tax and box office fee

  $75 VIP Admission includes cocktail or snack, clue packet, and party favor.

  Where: Red Rum Theater, 601 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA

  Get Tickets

• Doors open 30 minutes ahead