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 pr

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 think o

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 i

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 s

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 Stephen T. Kreal On Friday October 3rd, I attended the opening night performance of Ghost: The Musical with a very enthusiastic audience at The Blue Moon Theatre in Woodstown NJ. Originally produced in 2011 in England and on Broadway in April 2012, Ghost: The Musical is an adaptation of the iconic 1990 film starring Demi Moore, Whoopi Goldberg, and the late Patrick Swayze. The film's Academy Award-winning screenwriter, Bruce Joel Rubin, adapted the story for the stage bei

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, written by Christopher Durang, is something many of us, myself included, can relate to. That deep feeling of nostalgia, yearning for the things you loved so dearly as a child. That sometimes paralyzing fear of the unknown, especially the arguably biggest unknown that is the future. The dueling feelings of loving your family with all your h

by Mike McKeon For many, Halloween has always presented the chance to change yourself and be anything you want. There are endless opportunities for you to be anything from Rockstar, Super Hero, Ghost, or even the Villain. Anything but, well… “Normal”. That’s the point anyway, right? As spooky season approaches we will all be busy enjoying countless haunted attractions, horror festivals, and Trunk-or-Treats. However, be sure not to leave out options presented by your local

by Aimee Renna One of Sondheim’s most famous works takes the stage once more, this time at the Gateway Playhouse in Somers Point, NJ. While the theater itself has a long history, the Gateway Playhouse is a newer established company that found its home here in 2017 after a beautifully done renovation. This production is double casted; I was able to attend the show on Saturday, September 27th, so the cast that I will be writing about are those that appeared that evening. From

by Angela Robb As someone who was a child in the 1990s and early 2000s Nickelodeon was always on my TV and from its premiere in 1999 SpongeBob Squarepants was an immediate favorite. Even now over 25 (wow I’m old) years later the episodes from its prime hold up. Despite its target audience being children its humor is somehow even funnier from an adult’s perspective. SpongeBob Squarepants is still running in its 16th season and expanded to include several feature length films

by Stephen Kreal On Friday, September 19th, I went to the opening night performance of Flaming Idiots at Playmasters Theater Workshop, nestled in Neshaminy State Park in Bensalem PA. Flaming Idiots is written by award-winning playwright and actor Tom Rooney. It was directed by Kathy Garafano. Rob Drigant acted as Stage Manager. Flaming Idiots was originally presented in 1992 at the TADA! Theatre off-off Broadway in New York City. It was the co-winner of the 1992 New Americ

by Laura Duffy “Don't breathe too deep Don't think all day Dive into work Drive the other way…” In my humble opinion, there’s always something to be gained from seeing a production of Rent. The show has it all - an addictive rock score, a powerful message, complex and lovable characters, and, unfortunately, continuing political and social relevance in today’s world. A perfect example: sitting in the audience at Haddonfield Plays and Players on Friday night, watching two dear

by Kristine Bonaventura “After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.” - Philip Pullman. Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play tells the story of six survivors from an unspecified apocalypse involving nuclear power plants and how they manage to push society forward through storytelling - specifically, their memory of The Simpsons. As someone who grew up watching The Simpsons I was particularly excited to experience this production

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 Evelyn Passanante “Nothing is too wonderful to be true” at the Spotlight Theatre! Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, a musical written by Jeffery Lane with music and lyrics by David Yazbek, is a hit at a local community theater in Lansdowne, PA. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, an 11-time Tony nominated musical, based on the 1988 movie of the same name, is a comedy telling the story of two con men with the names of Lawrence Jameson and Freddy Benson, who begin to work together to swindle a

by April Johnson On Friday, September 12th, I had the opportunity to visit the Bridge Players Theater Company to view SISTAS: The Musical. As the first leg of their season dedicated to the theme titled “We Are Family,” BPTC chose a gem that has been scarcely presented in the South Jersey area. An Off-Broadway jukebox piece written by Dorothy Marcic, SISTAS: The Musical tells the story of five Black women who find love and old memories packed away in the attic after thei

by Don Toal Jr. Nostalgia is a powerful thing these days. As the world becomes increasingly complex and chaotic, we tend to cling ever tighter to the media, stories, aesthetics–and ideals–from when life felt simpler and safer. But those experiences are incredibly subjective and individualized for each one of us, and it’s rare to experience that nostalgia through someone else’s point of view. This, in addition to some truly dynamite vocal work, is the hallmark of Atlantic

by M. Smith It is no secret that theatre is sometimes used as an escape from reality. When you go to see a show, it may be after a long day or you are just interested in being whisked away to a reality that isn’t your own. However, for many, that privilege is not always available to them, as their reality and the challenges that they are facing is not something that they can simply escape from. In today’s political climate, people are facing violence and being forcibly remov

by Stephen Kreal On Saturday, August 16th, I attended a performance of Grease, produced by Oakwood Summer Theater. The production was directed AND choreographed by Piper Byrne. It was presented on the campus of Salem Community College, in their beautiful, state-of-the art Davidow Theater. The history of this musical is interesting. It started in Chicago in 1971 and underwent several permutations along the way. The original book, music, and lyrics were written by Jim Jacob