Theater

Thursday, April 10, 2025

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Theater

Chali Cooke, Cornelius Davis, Gabrielle Beckford, Andrew Leggieri, Khalifa White,
and Dana Orange in 'Dreamgirls.'

Theater

Walnut Theater’s ‘Dreamgirls’ wows with its stars but not much else

The musical with great actors and costumes falters in its overall production.

Thom Cardwell poses for a photo during a star-studded event in Philadelphia in this undated file photo.

Obituaries

Thom Cardwell, writer, queer film festival organizer, and original ‘American Bandstand’ dancer, has died at 79

The Broadway musical "& Juliet" is at the Academy of Music through April 6.

Theater

‘& Juliet’ is a joyous retelling of ‘Romeo and Juliet’

From left: Gabriel W. Elmore, Tyler Elliot, Imani Lee Williams, Zachary Valdez, Rafi Mills, and Christopher Patrick Mullen in Quintessence Theatre's "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

Theater

Quintessence’s ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ shines with its top notch cast

Amanda Schoonover (from left), Kaitlyn Cheng, and Mallory Avnet in Hedgerow Theatre's "Nora: A Doll’s House."

Theater

‘Nora: A Doll’s House’ at the Hedgerow Theatre is a fitting homage to the Ibsen classic

Akeem Davis plays the titular role in August Wilson's "King Hedley II" at the Arden Theatre through March 30.

Theater

‘King Hedley II’ at the Arden is a master class in live theater

James Ijames' reworking of the August Wilson 1980s text reminds us how the Reagan years never really left us

Maya Lagerstam as Storyteller 1 and Tyler Joseph Ellis as Storyteller 2 in The North American Tour of 'Shucked.' Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman.

Theater

‘Suffs,’ ‘Kimberly Akimbo,’ ‘The Outsiders,’ and more Broadway hits to land in Philadelphia this year

The season, packed with Tony winners and Philly premieres, is finished off with the wondrous 'Cirque Dreams Holidaze.'

Mrs. Perlmutter received her bachelor’s degree in literature at New York University.

Obituaries

Ruth Perlmutter, professor, film scholar, and cofounder of the Jewish Film Festival, has died at 96

“She was vivacious, athletic, and witty," said Ralph Hirshhorn, founding member of the Chestnut Hill Film Group. "And always was organizing things.”

Adrianna Hicks with the original Broadway company of "Some Like It Hot." The touring Broadway production runs at the Forrest Theatre from May 20 to June 1. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

Theater

10 best shows paired with (more than) 10 best dinner spots to keep you busy this spring

“Birthday Candles” with schnitzel, “Rent” with some pizza, or “Primary Trust” paired with some mai tais. Take your pick.

Melanye Finister starred as Beneatha in a People's Light production of "A Raisin in the Sun" more than 30 years ago. Today she's starring as Beneatha's mother, Mama.

Theater

Why did a veteran Philly actor take 30 years to come back to ‘A Raisin in the Sun’?

Melanye Finister earned her equity card playing Beneatha in 1993. Now she is playing her mother.

Jillian Pirtle, CEO of the Marian Anderson Museum and Historical Society, holding Anderson's first recording.

Theater

Marian Anderson is having a moment in Philly. So, why doesn’t her museum get the respect it deserves?

Jillian Pirtle made a promise to keep Marian Anderson's legacy alive through the tiny museum house and she's not letting anything stop her.

From left: Melanye Finister, Morgan Charéce Hall, Kristopher King Clark, and Candace Thomas in People’s Light’s production of Lorraine Hansberry’s "A Raisin in the Sun." The show runs through March 30.

Theater

People’s Light’s ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ is a tribute to Lorraine Hansberry’s very relevant legacy

It is undoubtedly one of the great American plays of the 20th century and almost 70 years after the play’s debut, Hansberry’s tale still speaks to the struggle of achieving the American Dream

The cast of Arden Theatre Company's 2025 production of August Wilson's "King Hedley II," running Feb. 27 to March 30, 2025.

Theater

James Ijames finds a very Philly attitude in August Wilson’s characters

Directing “King Hedley II” at the Arden Theatre this month, the Pulitzer winner reflects on the playwright’s enduring relevance.

Theater

Lantern Theater Company’s ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ shines in its comic timing

A time-tested rom-com, a play full of tricks, and scenes that get funnier and funnier

(L-R) Jordan Dobson, Brooke Ishibashi, Mary Elizabeth Scallen, and Robi Hager in Philadelphia Theatre Company's "Night Side Songs."

Theater

Philadelphia Theatre Company’s ‘Night Side Songs’ is an empathetic look at illness and death

The musical draws from interviews with local patients and professionals and takes its audiences on a deeply personal journey

A file photo of members of the U.S. Army Field Band and Soldiers' Chorus performing at Independence Hall July 4, 2024. The U.S. Army Chorus, which is a different Army performing group, performed at the White House over the weekend.

Nation & World

Yes, the U.S. Army Chorus sang ‘Les Mis’ at the White House Governors’ Ball

Why is the U.S. Army Chorus’ ‘Do You Hear the People Sing?’ performance from 'Les Misérables' going viral? We explain.

Theater

Wilma’s ‘Half-God of Rainfall’ is a mesmerizing, dizzying journey through Greek and Yoruba mythologies

It takes time to acclimate to the style of storytelling, but Lindsay Smiling's directorial debut is out to fight an infallible tyrant

Anna Zeng (Bi Jean Ngo) and Professor Qiu (Justin Jain) in InterAct Theatre Company's "Quixotic Professor Qiu," running at the Drake through Feb. 23.

Theater

InterAct Theatre Company’s ‘Quixotic Professor Qiu’ is a spy mystery that presents a familiar but chilling reality

Playwright Damon Chua bases the play on real-life instances of Chinese American scientists being wrongfully accused of spying for China.

Mrs. Gorn graduated from Lycoming College with a bachelor's degree in communications.

Obituaries

Carrie Gorn, longtime public relations, communications, and marketing consultant, has died at 49

Her clients included Quintessence Theatre Group, Curio Theatre Co., EgoPo Classic Theater, Tribe of Fools, the Wilma Theater, Philadelphia Theatre Co., and People’s Light.

The cast of Arden Theatre Company’s 2025 production of "Holy Grail of Memphis."

Theater

Arden’s ‘Holy Grail of Memphis’ is a bluesy new play about race and music

Set in Memphis, the play examines the legacy of 'race records' and asks the question: Who does this music truly belong to?