Burlington County Footlighters

by Stephen Kreal On Friday, May 1st, I attended the opening night performance of The Pirates of Penzance, the classic operetta written by Gilbert & Sullivan at Burlington County Footlighters Theater in Cinnaminson NJ. The production was directed AND choreographed by Lizi Baldwin. Heidi Kleber acted as stage manager. This spirited and fun musical debuted in 1879, and has remained popular ever since. The opera has been frequently revived, including a popular 1981 Broadway prod

by Deitra Oliver Burlington County Footlighters 2nd Stage theater is bringing the hilarious satire of Jason Milligan’s Walking on the Moon to life this week in Cinnaminson. The show debuted in 1995, and I am so glad I was able to see this specific iteration, directed masterfully by Kevin Esmond. Walking on the Moon tells the story of Chad Williams, a former astronaut who walked on the moon. Kind of a big deal. Unfortunately for Chad, his accomplishment is overshadowed by his

by Laura Duffy Based on true events, Calendar Girls tells the story of six Women’s Institute members from the Yorkshire Dales who raise money for a local hospital after one of the women’s husbands, John, dies of leukemia. The way they go about it, however, catches the attention of the world – the women decide to pose nude for an “alternative” fundraising calendar, with help from an amateur photographer who met John while working as a hospital porter. Leading the production

by Megan Guy If you’re a fan of romantic comedies in the likes of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, this show is a must-see! Director Valerie Brothers does an amazing job with a vision for this old-fashioned yet timeless musical by Joe Masteroff. Originally created in 1964 based on the play Parfumerie from the 1930s, She Loves Me explores themes of love and friendship and finding connections in the unlikeliest of partners. Set in the 1930s, She Loves Me primarily takes place in Mr. Ma

by Meg Bryan “Is she kind as she is fair? For beauty lives with kindness. Love doth to her eyes repair, To help him of his blindness; And, being helped, inhabits there.” Who is Silvia? What is she: Shakespeare At its core, Sylvia by A.R. Gurney is a story that showcases the well known relationship of man and man’s best friend, albeit in the most exaggerated sense. The show tackles love and conflict in multiple different senses as well as, sometimes quite accurately, depictin

by Evan Harris This has been one hell of a week, huh? I’m grateful for theatre when times are hard. My favorite shows have always been sources of comfort. Rent teaches us that when life feels unfair, love and friendship give us strength. Into the Woods reminds us that no one is alone. And Hadestown shows us that true love exists and you should never let your soulmate go once you find them. I also like shows like Bat Boy The Musical because it reminds me that even when the

by Cassidy Scherz If you are looking for an activity for the papas, the mamas, the sons, and the daughters this weekend, stop by Burlington County Footlighters to see their production of Fiddler on the Roof! This classic musical tells the story of Tevye, his wife, Golde, and their five daughters as they navigate religion, community, and class in their small, Jewish town of Anatevka in the year 1905. The family begins to assimilate into a rapidly progressing world - the three

by Stephen Kreal On Friday, April 4th, I had the pleasure of seeing the opening night performance of Table Settings at Burlington County Footlighters second stage. The production was directed by Alice Weber. Originally published in 1979, Table Settings has been a long-running, perennial hit off-Broadway. Table Settings premiered at Playwrights Horizons in New York City in January 1980, under the direction of award-winning playwright/director James Lapine. It was later made i

by Angela Robb If you’re reading this review, or anything on this blog, chances are you’re a theatre person. As a theatre person you are likely no stranger to the long hours that go into a tech run, the dress rehearsal that never seems to go according to schedule, the opening night jitters, the showmances that somehow always seem to reach a boiling point during the performances, and the performances that just don’t seem to go as well as the rehearsal. As a theatre person you

by Lori Clark I had the pleasure of attending the opening night of Pippin at Burlington County Footlighters. Watching a show as a reviewer, I experience theatre differently than I would as a regular audience member. I tend to reflect more deeply on how the performance affects me, contemplating the themes and ideas that echo in my mind as I take in each scene. Indulge me for a moment as I share what lingered with me after last night’s performance. I love community theatre. F

by Stephen Kreal On Saturday October 12th , I saw a performance “Dark Matters” written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. The performance took place on Burlington County Footlighters intimate “Second Stage”, where the audience is extremely close to the performers. The Play was directed by Gabrielle Affleck and stage-managed by Chrissy Wick. Aguirre-Sacasa is an American comic book writer, screenwriter, and playwright. Known for his work on the television series Riverdale, Glee, T

by Lisa Palena Based on the titular novel and subsequent Disney movies, Freaky Friday tells the story of Katherine and Ellie Blake, a mother and daughter duo who can never quite see eye-to-eye on, well, anything. A surprising turn of events involving a magic hourglass leads to a body swap, causing the two to literally step into the other’s shoes. But with Katherine’s second marriage only 24 hours away, the two characters know they only have one day to reverse the spell. I

by MJ Smith Can you picture it? A room with a dance floor that expands before you with a sea of people. The lights are dim with an occasional colorful strobe that reflects across the many, MANY decorations that adorn the room around you. The dresses and tuxes are as extravagant as the people who are wearing them as you take in the night that you have only heard stories about: prom night. This same night awaits you at the Burlington County Fair’s production of The Prom by C

by Aimee Ferenze The Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan sensation, “The Producers”, is a comedic musical following Max Bialystock (a washed up Broadway Producer) and Leo Bloom (an accountant/ wannabe Producer), based off of Brooks’ 1967 film of the same name. The story follows the two producers as they fraudulently oversell a flop Broadway musical with the intent of pocketing the funds for themselves. They buy the rights to the worst musical, hire the worst director, and cast th

by Lisa Palena Ken Ludwig’s Lend Me a Tenor, a farce set in September of 1934, is a comedy of errors that keeps the laughs coming from the first entrance to the creative curtain call. The story follows Tito Merelli, the world-famous Italian tenor who is set to perform the starring role in Pagliacci (his American opera debut). Henry Saunders, the general manager of the opera company, rightfully nervous that everything will go smoothly, charges his assistant Max to watch o

by Amber Kusching “The Rocky Horror Show” is a risqué, interactive musical comedy with a twist of horror and plenty of surprises. Newly engaged, Brad (Vincent DeMeo) and Janet (Emily Griffith), stuck with a flat tire during a storm, discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Michael Aquilino), a mad scientist transvestite from Transsexual, Transylvania. As their innocence is lost, Brad and Janet meet a houseful of wild characters, including a rocking biker and a creep

by Brian K. Herrick “Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.” While this Babe Ruth quote was definitely not intended for a review of the Burlington County Footlighters production of Damn Yankees, it definitely encapsulates the dedication and perseverance of a team clearly committed to the “Heart” of this story. From the moment you step into the intimate 100 seat house, you’re immediately transported back into an era that predates the theme park-esque stadiums we