by Lisa Croce The Bad Seed is a 1954 play by American playwright Maxwell Anderson, adapted from the 1954 novel of the same name by American writer William March. It centers around a seemingly perfect little girl, Rhoda Penmark, who is able to charm her way into getting just about anything she wants. When a classmate drowns under mysterious circumstances, her mother, Christine, starts to suspect that Rhoda may have had something to do with it, and other mysterious deaths surr

by: April Johnson On Saturday, November 8 th , I was delighted to view South Camden Theatre Company’s presentation of DOT  written by the award-winning actor and playwright Colman Domingo and directed by Zuhairah McGill . As the closing production of the company’s 20 th  season theme “Seasons of Love,” DOT is a contemporary story of the Shealy family who is dealing with the cognitive decline of their matriarch, Dotty.   DOT premiered as a part of the Humana Festival at the

by Mike McKeon Being one of two men in my department sets the stage for some teasing quite easily. This past week the teasing by my coworkers was about how men heedlessly create problems that eventually fall in the laps of the women in our lives for a solution. Most of the time this teasing is just for fun with no feelings hurt, and that day was just the same.  Nonetheless, as the expression goes, “Many a true word is spoken in jest” so I did not discount the point they were

by Don Toal Jr. Even the most timeless of tales deserve a glow-up. That’s not to say they require a makeover to stay relevant.  But for stories that have endured for literal centuries–with the earliest examples of the “rags to riches” folk tale we now know as Cinderella dating all the way back to the days of Ancient Greece, as Strabo’s Rhodopis –approaching them with fresh eyes and a new perspective can do wonders for preserving their magic. In this case, the makeover for R

By: Amber Kusching Steel Pier, named for the steel girders that supported the structure, has been an integral part of the Atlantic City Boardwalk for over 120 years. Opening on June 18, 1898 as a performance and entertainment pier, the Steel Pier quickly drew crowds with its renowned performers, and amazing and unique acts. Many celebrities walked the boards, ranging from the Three Stooges and Frank Sinatra to The Beatles and Benny Goodman. Though most people nowadays know i

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.

by Deitra Oliver Something Rotten , directed by Mark Morgan , is the Moorestown Theater Company’s 250 th  stage production, and the high quality of the show proves why they have been around for that long. Something Rotten is a comedic reimagining of the birth of the Shakespearean tragedy Hamlet , told from the vantage point of two bumbling brothers, their theater troupe, and a whole cast of zany characters, including good old Will Shakespeare himself. The Bottom brothers a

by Amber Kusching When murderous, carnivorous swarming birds overrun the world, survival becomes the number one focus for the determined published author Diane, and the emotionally unstable Nat. The two strangers are brought together by their will to live and their need to survive. The two take shelter in an abandoned home by a lake. Their shared fate lies in each other’s hands as they scrounge for food and supplies during the six hours the birds do not attack when the tides

by Evie Passanante Young Frankenstein at the Kelsey Theater, directed by John M. Maurer , is a hit like no other! Along with this fabulous direction, comes astounding musical direction, by Laurie Gougher , and dazzling choreography by Haley Schmalbach . This production truly brought Transylvania to New Jersey, immersing the audience the entire time.  Walking into the Kelsey Theater, I was greeted with the kindest ushers and usherettes, who handed out themed programs, look

by Dominic Traini Last Thursday I had the pleasure of seeing Evil Dead at Haddonfield Plays and Players. I had never seen the original movie or any of its sequels or adaptations, so I was going in completely blind. All I knew was that the 1981 film was a campy cult classic and that the original Broadway production famously featured a “splash zone” for all the excessive blood. So when I walked into Haddonfield Plays and Players’ off-location home at the Deptford Community Ce

by Mike McKeon This past Saturday I had the pleasure of viewing The Memory of Water  directed by Susan Jami Paschkes  at Bridge Players Theatre Company in Historic Burlington City.  The Memory of Water is a family drama that centers on three sisters dealing with their mother's funeral. The play is structured around the emotional and often conflicting ways the sisters remember their past and navigate their grief and resentment, balancing humor and tragedy as they uncover lon

by Laura Duffy Ride the Cyclone is a 2009 musical  with lyrics and book by Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell, which has developed a cult following in recent years due to internet popularity. It follows six high school students who die in a roller coaster accident, and are left in limbo with a mysterious mechanical fortune telling machine who forces them to compete for a chance to escape the afterlife.  Barnstormers Theatre set the tone for their production with a simple but

by Aimee Renna The children’s series of Players Club of Swarthmore has brought another excellent performance together in their second stage. The production Curious George and the Golden Meatball follows our favorite little monkey as he takes his dear friend’s meatball recipe all the way to Rome for a competition. While originally he was created by Margaret and H.A. Rey in 1941, the musical was written by John Cavanaugh and the Books and Lyrics were by Jeremy Desmon.  The p

by Mike McKeon “Stick it to the man” has been melodically playing through my mind all weekend, in both the literal and metaphorical meanings, as this show hilariously drives that theme home. On Thursday evening I had the pleasure of viewing The Grand Theatre: Home of The Road Company’s musical production of School of Rock directed by Maria Panvini and musical direction by Ruslan Odintsov.   When I hear a theatre is producing School of Rock I can’t help but immediately thin

by Lori Clark Picture this: it’s opening night of Rocky Horror Show  at the Ritz Theatre, and we are at a nearby restaurant, enjoying pre-show margaritas.  I’m people watching and take notice of some fellow patrons decked out in what I initially assumed were Halloween costumes.  It was only after further inspection that it dawned on me…these people were in their Rocky Horror  finest - fishnets, glitter, sequins, hats. The WORKS! Their energy and excitement were palpable, and

by Josh Buffington South Pacific  is a 1949 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical set during World War II on a South Pacific island. It explores themes of love, war, and racial prejudice. The story follows Nellie Forbush, a U.S. Navy nurse from Arkansas, who falls in love with Emile de Becque, a French plantation owner. Their romance is tested when Nellie discovers that Emile has mixed-race children from his late Polynesian wife, revealing her own ingrained prejudices. A parallel

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, depicti

by Stephen T. Kreal On Friday October 3 rd , I attended the opening night performance of Ghost: The Musical with a very enthusiastic...

by Meg Bryan “I miss the past, and I’m afraid of the future.” This climactic statement from Vanya in Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike...

by Mike McKeon For many, Halloween has always presented the chance to change yourself and be anything you want. There are endless...