by Angela Robb Assassins, based on the musical by Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman, follows a group of people from various points in history who have attempted (either successfully or unsuccessfully) to assassinate the current president of The United States using a framing devise of a roadside carnival. It sounds like a weird topic for a musical but it was one I had always been interested in seeing live and never had the opportunity until Haddonfield Plays and Players annou

by Lori Caplan Clark When asked to review On Golden Pond which opened Friday, September 20 at Masquerade Theatre, I leapt at the chance. The movie version, released in 1981, remains one of my all-time favorites, so this was an assignment that I certainly looked forward to! The play, On Golden Pond, was written in 1979 by Ernest Thompson, and focuses on Ethel and Norman Thayer, an aging couple who spend their summers on a lake called Golden Pond. During this summer, their

by Angela Robb On the afternoon of September 14th my friend Andrew and I had a conversation about the difference between theatre people and people who like theatre. We put ourselves and those that we knew into each category and at the end of the conversation we determined that he is a person who likes theatre and I am a theatre person. We defined a person who likes theatre as someone who enjoys the shows that they see/do but that is where the love ends since their primary in

by Evan Harris I love theatre, but it’s not my only passion. I also love cooking, video games, and Dungeons and Dragons. Today, though, I want to focus on two things close to my heart: comic books and New Jersey. In 1978, my dad opened El Dorado Comics, a store that closed before I was born. Still, his love for superheroes, art, and community shaped me deeply. This passion brings me to The Toxic Avenger—New Jersey’s “first” superhero and the subject of South Camden Theatre

by Amber Kusching What’s the buzz? The first musical by Andrew Llyod Webber and Tim Rice to be produced for the professional stage, “Jesus Christ Superstar” has wowed audiences for over 50 years. A timeless work, the rock opera is set against the backdrop of an extraordinary and universally known series of events but seen, unusually, through the eyes of Judas Iscariot. Loosely based on the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, “Jesus Christ Superstar” follows the last wee

by Alex Davis Having done exactly no Googling prior to walking into the show, I didn’t know what to expect walking into Bridge Player’s production of “Dinner with Friends” this past Friday. What we were presented with was a sad, sometimes funny, difficult look at love, happiness, and partnership through both marriage and friendship. “Dinner with Friends”, written by Donald Margulies, tells the story of 2 married couples, Gabe (played by Stephen Kreal) and Karen (played by

by Aimee Ferenz The hijinx was alive and well at the opening performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Players Club of Swarthmore. The Shakespeare classic depicts three overlapping stories as they weave together in the woods outside of Athens. The first story is of Hippolyta/Titania and Theseus/Oberon follows the infidelity between the two couples (played by the same actors). Oberon pranks Titania with magic so that she falls in love with the first beast she sets her e

by Lori Caplan Clark Stepping into the Levoy Theatre in Millville, NJ, for The Wizard of Oz felt like entering a portal to a whimsical world where anything is possible. The Levoy, a truly beautiful space, set the perfect stage for this beloved classic, enchanting both the young and the young at heart. The theatre’s commitment to creating a full experience for its audience was evident in every detail. The lobby, adorned with Wizard of Oz-themed décor, set the scene, while i

by Aimee Ferenz As a reviewer, I am often sent to theaters I never would have known existed and this weekend I found myself to be very lucky. I attended a matinee performance of Anastasia as performed by Sceneworks Studios in Paramus Nj which is a little further away from home than I usually stray (two hours north to be exact). Not knowing the area, I was confused when my GPS listed the address as “permanently closed” but I double checked the Sceneworks Studio’s website and

by Angela Robb Honk has always been that show that I’ve heard so much about but never really gave a chance. I knew it was a retelling of the story of The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Anderson and I’ve heard lots of people say how cute it is but I never listened to any of the music or looked into how much they expanded on the story. All of that changed this past weekend when I went to my first performance at Players Club of Swarthmore to see Honk! From the second the sh

by Angela Robb On Saturday July 13, 2024 I took a drive to the beautiful town of Swarthmore Pennsylvania for not only my first review with South Jersey Theatre Critics but my first time seeing a show with Viviana Theatre Company! Despite it being my first show with Viviana I am no stranger to the space which is based out of Swarthmore United Methodist Church. I have performed in several shows with Spotlight Theatre over the years which utilizes the downstairs of the building

by Cassidy Scherz “Tonight” is the perfect night to stop by the Ritz Theatre Company to see their enthralling production of West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, and Arthur Laurents. And “who knows”, you might just find yourselves as enchanted by this beautiful production as I was. This modernized Romeo and Juliet tells the story of Maria, a young immigrant girl from Puerto Rico who dreams of making a life for herself in America, and Tony, a boy from New Yo

by Brian Herrick You walk into what you think is a regular solo show at the Masquerade Theatre on your normal Saturday night, and are immediately transported back to your favorite 16 Candles-esque school dance. Flooded with collegiate memories, with a touch of your favorite Princess Birthday party sprinkled on top, you immediately realize this was not the evening you expected. As patrons are ushered into this intimate space (sitting around 25-30 others), you finally reach yo

by April Johnson I had the pleasure to review Ritz Theater’s 4th Annual One Act Play Festival on June 28th and 29th, 2024. This event was part of the New Works Initiative, a two-day theatrical experience bringing to life original pieces written by accomplished and promising playwrights from around the country. The theater had a black box setting which made us feel as though we were part of each production. Friday, June 28th, 2024 The Interview of Four Alien Abductees (Clas

by Alex Davis Before reading this review, a note - due to the nature of the show, there is no way around giving some major plot points away that may be taken as “spoilers”. If that bothers you - I get it! Read this one singular paragraph and know that, in short, the production was moving, the performers were exquisite, and if you don’t mind a little heartbreak with your theater, don’t miss this show. John & Jen, a 2-person musical with music by Andrew Lippa, lyrics by Tom G

by April Johnson June 8th, 2024. It was a mild early summer Saturday afternoon when I visited the quaint and welcoming Blue Moon Theater, tucked away in Woodstown, NJ, to see the production “Charlotte’s Web” based on the beloved tale written by E.B. White and adapted by Joseph Robinette. The auditorium floor was laced with fallen leaves indicating autumn. The stage was pensively set as a farmhouse-styled writing room, laced with cobwebs, a large steer, and netting; along w

by M. Smith When was the last time that you heard a tale? One that truly transported you to a land of fantasy that captured every waking moment that you were reading or listening to it. A story that you finished and still couldn’t stop imagining the world that you were just transported to and now are already debating about rereading just to find that same feeling and ability to get lost in your imagination. Well, the Ritz Theatre Company’s production of Gint by Romulus Lin

by Aimee Ferenz Last night, I attended South Jersey Theatre Critics’ first Pennsylvania review at none other than The Playmasters Theater-Workshop in Neshaminy State Park, Bensalem. This serene location has stood since 1982 but The Playmasters have been sharing their love of theater since 1959. The people who have found a home in The Playmasters are wonderfully kind and excited to share their stories with you, this one being the play Ripcord by David Lindsay-Abaire. This 201

by April Johnson Mother’s Day, May 12, 2024. I traveled to the venue of Haddonfield Plays and Players to view the ground-breaking and controversial Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical. In familiarity to the venue along with the production I knew I was in for a treat. In receipt of my ticket, I realized there appeared to be a shrine filled with meditational tools. As I headed to the door, the open stage was full of scaffolding strategically draped with tapestries of

by Lisa Palena Once Upon a Mattress, a musical retelling of the famous princess and the pea fairytale by Hans Christian Anderson, has seen its share of productions- from the stage to the screen, it has sought to capture the heart of the audience-goer for over 65 years. The storyline is straightforward- Queen Aggravain (aptly named) will not allow anyone in the kingdom to marry until her son, Prince Dauntless finds an appropriate wife; a princess of true royal blood. To t