by Deitra Oliver For 40 years, The Ritz Theatre Company in Haddon Township has been bringing affordable, high-quality productions to the region, and this celebratory season has been a joy to partake in. La Gringa, the current show for their 40th season, directed by Edwin “Rico” Santiago, was very much a homecoming event for me as a reviewer. As a “No Sabo” kid, raised by a Puerto Rican mother and an African American father, this story spoke to a struggle I have felt my whole

by Robert Banskter Konstantin Stanislavski once said, “There are no small parts, only small actors.” A phrase we have all heard at one point or another in our theatre careers. One-Act Play Festivals are a testament to that fact, creating so many opportunities for actors who have not had a chance to shine in lead or featured roles to get a chance to stretch their wings, and it allows performers who wish to try directing an opportunity to do so. The 6th Annual One-Act Play Fes

by Stephen Kreal On Friday, September 4th, I went to see the opening night performance of “Marrying George Clooney: CONFESSIONS FROM A MIDLIFE CRISIS,” a sharp-witted play written by award-winning playwright, screenwriter, and activist Amy Ferris, and adapted from her best-selling memoir, at Haddonfield Plays and Players. This production was part of special programming at HPP, which has produced female-centric plays for several years now. The stage adaptation (adapted from

by Shannon Reed At some point in our lives, each person has likely read a Shakespeare play or two. As I have ventured more and more back into the theatre, I have been lucky to experience more and more of Shakespeare’s works. The thing that always seems to strike me the most as I watch these pieces unfold onto the stage is the relevance of the lessons in our world today. A similar sentiment is seen in this production of The Winter's Tale at the Players Club of Swarthmore. Dire

by Abigail Williams There’s nothing like dating in the modern era. No, really… there’s NOTHING like it. For people of all ages, the dating game can be a struggle and blow to self-esteem or make you the star in your own rom-com movie. In Langhorne Players’ production of On the Market, Charlotte (Janet Rosenberg) experiences it all and more. Written by Jason Odell Williams, On the Market is a modern rom-com following Long Island real estate agent, Charlotte, as she re-enter

by Devion Watson Musical theatre has a way of completely pulling you out of your own world and putting you inside someone else’s, and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical at the Levoy Theatre did exactly that. I absolutely loved this production. It was captivating from beginning to end, and there were so many moments where I completely forgot I was watching actors perform a musical. I felt like I was actually watching Carole King tell me her story. Every piece of this producti

by Jacob Graves From the moment I entered the theatre at Salem Community College, I immediately felt transported into the wonderful world of the 1920s. The painted set offered an interesting twist on the usual staging of Anything Goes, creating a warm, “homey” atmosphere aboard the cruise liner that made me feel as though I was being pulled into the story. The set construction by Noah McFadden and Ben Wentzell, along with the painting work of Amber Baratz and Travis Gibson a

by Deitra Oliver Kelsey Theatre of Mercer County, in conjunction with Off-Centre Stages, presents Company, the classic musical by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth. Produced by Abigail Acolia and directed by Jonathan Edmondson, with assistant directors MJ Santry and Alaina Stampe. Company is an exploration of relationships in various forms through the eyes of consummate bachelor Robert- Bobby to his friends. Starting with Robert’s 35th birthday, surrounded by his bevy of co

by Ellorah Maeve Is blood thicker than water? If a relationship is bad, would you leave the person or stay and give them a second chance? These are questions that can have many different answers. As stated by the local playwright, Michael Roche, we can all relate to having difficult relationships. Eden Street Players production of the one-act plays It’s My Birthday, Bitch and All My Plants Are Dead are great character studies into the dynamics of what a toxic relationship

by Amber Kusching Guys and Dolls is a classic American musical that premiered on Broadway in 1950, based on the colorful fictional world of author Damon Runyon. With music by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling, the show went on to win five Tony awards, including Best Musical. The show was revived on Broadway in 1992, and to this day, its story and music connect to audiences from all over the world. The show features two overlapping love stories: a charming but broke gam

by Megan Guy I was excited for the opportunity to review a childhood favorite of mine, Mary Poppins. Having seen the stage musical in both high school and community theatre productions, I was already familiar with the score and many of its magical moments. This was my first time attending a Viviana Theatre Company production, so I was surprised to arrive at a church rather than a traditional theatre. The sanctuary itself, surrounded by beautiful stained-glass windows, create

by Talia Walters The second you walk into this theater, your first instinct is to wonder how powerful and bold a production can truly be given the smaller size of the theater. The amazing team behind this production instantly proves that size does not matter. True West, written by Sam Shepard and directed by Wasif Sami, is currently playing at the Hamilton Murray Theater located on the beautiful Princeton University campus. It follows the story of two brothers, Austin (playe

by Shannon Reed From the time that I was a little girl, I have loved The Little Mermaid. A proud owner of an Ariel sheet set and a well loved cassette tape of the sound track, The Little Mermaid has stood as one of my favorite Disney movies. While in college I learned of the Broadway version and it only made my love grow. Based on the 1989 movie of the same name, Disney’s The Little Mermaid premiered on Broadway in 2008. With this deep love and nostalgia for this show coming

by Deitra Oliver Life and love will always find a way, even amid the darkest struggles, and that was my greatest takeaway from Where the Lost Children Play. Written by Hannah Lee Defrates and directed by Jim Cook Jr., with producers Cheryl and Joe Stark, the play is making its New Jersey debut at The Blue Moon Theatre. This new and exploratory play is a must-see event. Set in an unused fourth-floor stairwell - because why use the stairs when there is an elevator? - lies the

by Lucinda Fisher Alvarez Disney's The Little Mermaid, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, and book by Doug Wright, was presented by the Yardley Players at Kelsey Theatre on the campus of Mercer County Community College in West Windsor, New Jersey. This is one of Disney’s classic princess fairytales and it did not disappoint with dancing, singing, laughter, and fun! Under the direction of Kristy Davis, the production brought the beloved Disne

by: Stephen Kreal On Friday, July 10th, I attended the opening night performance of “Home, I’m Darling” at Langhorne Players Theater at The Old Mill. The Spring Garden Mill is located at 1440 Newtown-Richboro Road in Newtown, PA 18940. It is a very quaint theater space. This production was produced by D. Ryan Lafferty and co-produced by Ken Marblestone. “Home, I’m Darling” was written by British playwright/screenwriter Laura Wade. It has received numerous awards since its in

by Aimee Ferenz I had the great joy of attending another children's series show at Players Club of Swarthmore, this one “Dragons Love Tacos” by Ernie Nolan, based on the book by Adam Rubin and illustrated by Daniel Salmieri. The show follows a young boy and his dog who are left home alone while their mother runs out to pick up dinner. While channel surfing, the boy finds a show promising to reveal the incredible secrets of dragons. This 38 minute production takes the audienc

by: Deitra Oliver Rydell High School and the class of 1959 are taking over the stage at The Ritz Theatre in Haddon Township, NJ, through mid-July, and it is a trip you will want to take. Directed by Bruce A Curless for the 40th Anniversary Season, their production brings familiar characters, songs, and storylines to life with a freshness that is exciting to watch. Working as the assistant to the director is Randi Fowler. Grease tells the story of a group of friends navigati

by Ellorah Maeve What would you do if a fellow actor drops a line in the middle of a show? What happens when a fellow actress passes out in the middle of a scene? If a prop is missing from the stage, how would you improvise? You don’t have to wonder for long when you come to watch The Play That Goes Wrong, written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields at Oakwood Summer Theatre. The play within a play is a murder mystery called The Murder at Haversham Manor, but t

by Deitra Oliver Shakespeare strikes fear into the hearts of many directors, actors, and theatregoers. The language, complex characters and storylines, and the weight of expectation all contribute to why so many shy away from Shakespeare. Shakespeare 70, in association with the Kelsey Theatre, is celebrating their 56th year of sharing Shakespeare’s works and proving why we shouldn’t be afraid not only to watch, but to enjoy these classic plays. Their summer offering is one o