by Ash Kotter Though I’m now very many years removed from academia, I’ve retained enough of my studies to recall that Anton Chekhov’s plays are… heavy. I mean that in the weight-bearing sense for an actor’s muscles. His dialogue is stylized, lyrical, and certainly not effortless speech, even within a world of theatrical realism. An admittedly reductive summary for this review, Chekhov shines light into the corners of the human experience we tend to associate with more years

by Josh Buffington “You Can't Stop the Beat” at the Levoy Theatre! I entered the theatre on opening night to some of the nicest ushers I have ever met, which made me so excited to watch this iconic show and set the mood from the beginning! Walking to my seats, looking at the gorgeous theatre, admiring the amazing set designed by Mary Boner and built by Chris Watts and Tim Boner; everything was so beautiful, even all of the little details from the record shop to the giant U

by Aimee Renna The thrilling Disney Theatricals favorite, “Newsies” has hit the Viviana stage at Swarthmore United Methodist Church. The show follows the historic News Boys strike that took place in New York City in 1899. Led by the fictional Jack Kelly, a newsboy who longs for the freedom of the West, the kids form the News Boys Union to defend themselves against the predatory practices of their boss (and owner of The World), Joseph Pulitzer. Jack befriends reporter Katheri

by Amber Kusching What happens when rock ‘n’ roll hits suburbia? The 1960 musical Bye Bye Birdie—with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Lee Adams, and book by Michael Stewart—explores the mayhem that results from the 1950’s rhythmic revolution seeping into the quaint and quiet town of Sweet Apple, Ohio. Chaos ensures when the studded leather-stud, Conrad Birdie (based on Elvis Presley), arrives in the small town to bestow a farewell kiss on one adoring fan (Kim MacAfee)

by Hayley Anderson If you’re looking for a night full of fun, laughter, and pink, Legally Blonde at Ciccone Theatre in Paramus, NJ is the show to be at. Legally Blonde is one of my favorite shows, and Sceneworks Studios definitely did it justice with this performance. The producers (Ariela and Joseph Pizza), Director (George Croom), Assistant Director (Sebastian Tabakov) and staff and cast of the show do a fabulous job at creating a poignant story of self-discovery and stayi

by Cassidy Scherz If you are searching for a fun-filled night of humor, then look no further than Bridge Players Theatre Company’s Much Ado About Nothing! Written in 1598 by William Shakespeare, this classic comedy tells the story of two romantic pairs that emerge when a group of soldiers arrives in the town of Messina. The young Hero becomes engaged to Claudio, and with help from Hero’s father and uncle, along with Claudio’s friend the Prince, the group conspires to match H

by Lisa Palena Based on the 1944 classic starring Judy Garland, Meet Me in St. Louis follows the adventures of the wholesome and enchanting Smith family at the turn of the 20th century, the year before the World’s Fair in St. Louis. Family patriarch, Alonso (Brian Davis), works tirelessly as a junior partner in a legal office, while his wife Anna (Leah Panuccio) attempts to keep the family in line with the help of Irish maid Katie (Suzanne Houston) as well as her father (Ba

by Aimee Renna Last night at South Camden Theatre Company, I was able to witness a fresh collaboration with new theater troupe, Meraki Productions, where they put on a lively performance of The Trail to Oregon. Meraki Productions is on their third full length performance after starting in 2023 under the direction of Caroline Vollmer. The cast is made of six young performers, four of which have been participating since the troupe’s creation; the other two joined during the se

by Laura Duffy On Wednesday night, amidst flash flood warnings and fearsome bolts of lightning, I attended the world premiere of Gordon Prager’s Conversations With Miranda, produced by Zakarak Productions and performed at the Players Club of Swarthmore. This new work follows Miranda (Julianna Schauerman) and Stephen (Neill Hartley), a married couple who must navigate life across planes of existence – Miranda, in the afterlife, and Stephen, left behind in the physical world.

by Mike McKeon “BUNBURY!!” This is a fun new word I learned this weekend and have been yelling randomly around the house. Honestly, I’ve been repeating it enough that it is starting to drive my fiancé a little crazy. This old, but catchy term is from the 1895 play The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde. (No, 1895 is not a typo) I had the privilege of seeing a rendition of this classic play, produced by Shakespeare 70 at Kelsey Theatre at Mercer County Community Coll

by Stephen Kreal On Sunday, June 8th, I went to see the matinee performance of Angels in America: Perestroika at the Ritz Theater in Oaklyn. This production is the second half of the two-part story; the Ritz produced part 1 several months ago. The plays are written so that either play can be produced in isolation. Director Matthew Weil cast both plays with the exact same (outstanding) cast for both productions. The Ritz also included a summary page of the events of part one

by M. Smith When you think of someone you have met in your life, does a part of you ever think about how fate plays a role in bringing you two together? How if you hadn’t done a specific thing or been at a specific place at a specific time you wouldn’t have met them? Well, Ordinary Days by Adam Gwon explores just those types of connections at Masquerade Theatre in conjunction with Herrick Theatricals! The story explores the separate lives of 4 people in New York and how the

by April Johnson The weekend of June 6th, 2025, I had the opportunity to return to the quaint yet powerful Blue Moon Theater. I have to say that I was honored and excited to view another production from this impressive theater company. Although the venue is small in stature, it is packed with power to present popular as well lesser known productions. Arriving at the front door, I was welcomed by the surfside motif including a beach chair, ball, along with other items of be

by Don Toal Jr. Theatre is an art form steeped in traditions. We have our superstitions, our beliefs in what brings us good luck and fortune…and what will definitely not. We have our conventions, those storytelling techniques which are assumed as part of our craft. (Ever wonder where the ‘fourth wall’ came from? Theatre raised it – and broke it – first.) And we have certain works that are layered into the bedrock of our art form, that over decades have established the fr

by Don Toal Jr. “You’ve got to be carefully taught.” That line, sung briskly by Lt. Joseph Cable, a model military man haunted and hobbled by his own learned prejudices, is a biting statement on racism and intolerance that is just as relevant now as it was in 1949 when Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II penned it as part of their landmark musical, “South Pacific.” While the show was groundbreaking for many reasons both musically and culturally, it was this song in par

by M. Smith BREAKING NEWS! The Players Club of Swarthmore is painting the town pink as its latest production of Legally Blonde: The Musical by Heather Hach, Laurence O’Keefe, and Nell Benjamin is taking the area by storm! This musical tells the story of Elle Woods, and how she goes from the president of Delta Nu sorority that no one takes seriously to a lawyer who stands up for what’s right against all odds. Now, I must first prepare you all that this is one of my favorite m

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 Don Toal Jr. Comedy can bloom from many sources. It can be unearthed in our expectations being subverted, from the opposite of what we thought might happen. It can be rooted in the absurd, the bizarre, the delightful nonsense that shakes up our daily routine. And it can spring forth from the simple act of two humans, with all the flaws and foibles that make them so, interacting and playing off each other to great effect. All three of these gardens of joy are in full bl

by Laura Duffy Hairspray is one of those musicals that I think everyone who loves theatre has some sort of relationship with – whether you’ve seen or performed in a live production, watched the original 1988 film, the 2007 musical version, or the 2016 televised event Hairspray Live!...or maybe just witnessed Nikki Blonsky’s downfall via Twitter…Hairspray is and forever will be an iconic addition to the musical theatre canon. I have my own personal connections to the musical,

by Josh Buffington Day by day I was hoping for the chance to see an amazing production of Godspell and Haddonfield Plays & Players definitely delivered. Godspell for those who do not know what it is, it is a musical telling the story of Jesus and his apostles, focusing on how his teachings create a community that carries on his message after his crucifixion. It uses songs, skits, and parables from the Gospel according to St. Matthew to illustrate his lessons. Whilst the res