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June 29-July 5, 2006
Arts Agenda : Performing Arts
Please call the phone number listed with the venue for specific dates, times and ticket information.
dance
DANCEBOOM The fifth annual festival celebrates contemporary Philly dance while bringing in guest artists from New York and Minneapolis. Program 1 includes performances by Chris Aiken, Tania Isaac and Reactionaries with a pre-show performance by Raices Culturales Latiamericanas. Program 2 includes Ballet X, Hijack and Kate Watson Wallace with a pre-show performance by Anne Marie Mulgrew Dance. Program 3 includes performances by Keely Garfield, Headlong and Subcircle, with a pre-show performance by Mixed Pickles. Runs through June 30, Wilma Theater, Broad & Spruce sts., 215-546-7824.
QUIDAM Quidam, a Latin word meaning "anonymous passerby," is a splendid acrobatic show united by the theme of loneliness in a busy modern world. The show features music, extravagant design and, of course, clowns. Runs through Aug. 6, $28-$75, Cirque du Soleil Grand Chapiteau, Broad St. & Washington Ave., 1-800-678-5440.
theater
BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE In 1969, NYC Don is trying to reach his goal of being a successful songwriter while coming to terms with the love he has for his next-door neighbor. Sounds cliche, except Don is blind. Runs through July 8, $15-$23, Montgomery Theater, 124 Main St., Suite 1, Souderton, 215-723-9984.
DISNEY'S THE LION KING You know you sing "Circle of Life" in the shower. And every time you stand on a cliff, you have a flashback to the scene where Simba becomes king. Elton John and Tim Rice's score makes for a powerful theater rendition of the film. Directed by Julie Taymor. Runs through Sept. 10, $25.50-$138, Academy of Music, Broad & Locust sts., 215-893-1999.
THE FOREIGNER Two army buddies take an excursion to an old fishing lodge, where everything—of course—goes wacky. Runs through July 23, $27-$46, People's Light & Theatre Company, 39 Conestoga Rd., Malvern, 610-644-3500.
FRUITFLIES Awarded 'Best of the Festival' at the 2005 Fringe, this show follows a wholesome girl who moves from the Midwest to Philadelphia, then encounters her closeted brother and falls in love with her gay boss. Part of the LGBT Theatre Festival. Runs through June 30, $15, Arden Theatre Company, 40 N. 2nd St., 215-922-1122.
GODSPELL It's everyone's favorite '70s musical about the Bible! Get ready for an extra-large dose of love, hope and optimism with songs like "All Good Gifts" and "Light of the World." Holy, holy, holy. Runs through July 9, $10-$65, Walnut Street Theatre, 9th & Walnut sts., 215-574-3550.
HANSEL AND GRETEL This classic Grimm's Fairy Tale takes place in the park's Open Air Theater. Gingerbread houses and witches are universal themes of fun and enjoyment. Yeah!. Runs through July 15, 7-8pm, $5-$10, Washington Crossing State Park, Titusville, NJ, 609-737-1826.
JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH Want your rug rat to eat healthy? Roald Dahl's classic comes to the stage for a limited time—because the peach will go bad if it's out in the open for too long. Runs through July 2, $7-$10, Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey St., 215-735-0630.
MISS SAIGON Post-war Vietnam love stories are always fun, but this is the most popular. It's the story of an American Marine and a young Vietnamese orphan that have a reluctant sexual encounter in a brothel, and then fall in love. Runs through July 7, $22-$24, Bucks County Playhouse, 70 S. Main St., New Hope, 215-862-2041.
MAN OF LA MANCHA Do you live in a fantasy world where pancakes multiply and it rains Skittles? For Don Quixote, that type of thinking is the norm. Being crazy is pretty stellar, especially in musical form. Runs through July 9, $30-$45, The New Candlelight Theatre, 2208 Millers Road, Ardentown, DE, 302-475-2313.
MONDAY NIGHT MONOLOGUES Actors present a diverse selection of monologues in an intimate and intense setting. Hosted by Dambra Sabato. Every Mon. Runs through Aug. 21, 8pm, $10, Noyes Museum, Lily Lake Rd., Oceanville, NJ, 609-652-8848.
MUMMY DEAREST Love and murder never get old at this mystery dinner theater, hosted by Imma N. Denile. Runs through Sept. 30, 7:15pm, $39.95, Peddler's Village, Rts. 202 and 263, Lahaska, 215-794-4000.
NAKED WILL Based on a short story by Oscar Wilde, this show delves into theories that Shakespeare was bisexual and that many of his characters were based on his male lovers. Part of the LGBT Theatre Festival. Runs through July 1, $15, Arden Theatre Company, 40 N. 2nd St., 215-922-1122.
OUT OF ORDER A conservative junior minister arranges a tryst with a Labour Party secretary, but then everything goes wrong in this Ray Cooney play. Runs through July 1, $25.25-$27, Off-Broadstreet Theatre, 5 S Greenwood Ave.
OUT ON BROADWAY Broadway songs take on a decidedly gay perspective in this Philadelphia premiere. Featuring tunes from "Mame," "Sweeney Todd" and "The Producers," among others. Part of the LGBT Theatre Festival. Runs through July 1, $15, Arden Theatre Company, 40 N. 2nd St., 215-922-1122.
A PERFECT GANESH Written by Terrence McNally, this play follows two women on a journey through India as they try to come to terms with their life. One has discovered she has cancer and the other is trying to reconcile the death of her gay son. Part of the LGBT Theatre Festival. Runs through July 1, $15, Arden Theatre Company, 40 N. 2nd St., 215-922-1122.
PROPHECIES OF WAR This rumination on and indictment of war uses music, video, war letters and presidential speeches to question its validity.It also touches on the post-traumatic stresses soldiers and their families go through. Runs through July 8, 8-10pm, $30, Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut St., 215-569-9700.
RADIO GALS It's the 1920s and radio rules. Hazel Hunt receives a transmitter as a retirement gift and decides to start her own radio station. WGAL is born and so is this wacky comedy. Runs through July 2, $10-$25, Hedgerow Theatre, 164 W. Rose Valley Rd., Media, 610-565-4211.
SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL Singing and dancing intertwined with various Dr. Seuss favorites such as "Cat in the Hat" and "Horton Hears a Who" can only mean one thing: hilariously over-the-top theater. Runs through Aug. 5, $14-$25, The Ritz Theatre Company, 915 White Horse Pike, Haddon Township, NJ, 856-858-5230.
SINCE AFRICA A widowed socialite and African American minister clash over how to help a Sudanese refugee acclimate to life in urban America. Deals with themes of loss, identity and the challenges of creating a new home. Runs through July 25, $17-$25, InterAct Theater Company, 2030 Sansom St., 215-568-8077.
SLEUTH A successful detective novelist loses interest in his own stories and seeks out real-life death games. His insanity may or may not be attributed to the fact that he happens to be shacked up in a big English manor with a bunch of crazy guests. Part of the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. Runs through July 2, $26-$41, DeSales University, 2755 Station Ave., Center Valley, 610-282-WILL.
SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARVES A pale, black-haired girl walking through the woods followed by a bunch of singing dwarves, each assigned a prominent trait. We don't think Shakespeare wrote this one, but maybe he came upon them during his jaunts through the English countryside. Part of the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. Runs through Aug. 5, $10, DeSales University, 2755 Station Ave., Center Valley, 610-282-WILL.
TADHG STRAY WANDERED IN The Inis Nua Theatre Company presents Michael Collins' one-man show about a gent with a short temper. The quintessential pub tale, it's even being put on in a bar. Runs through June 30, $12, Fergie's Pub, 1214 Sansom St., 267-474-8077.
THE TEMPEST Wizardry, storms and drunken clowns abound in this Shakespeare classic about deceit and forgiveness. Being performed at the Park's Open Air Theatre. Runs through July 1, 8-9pm, $5-$10, Washington Crossing State Park, Titusville, NJ, 609-737-1826.
THE THING ABOUT MEN What happens when your husband figures out who your lover is and befriends him? Get the answers in Joe DiPietro and Jimmy Roberts' musical comedy. Runs through July 2, Walnut Street Theatre, 9th & Walnut sts., 215-574-3550.
TONY N' TINA'S WEDDING What better way to dance and mingle with real actors than in this interactive Broadway musical? Hey, it beats going to a real wedding—at least there's no registry. Show includes dinner, live music and a cruise. Runs through Aug. 25, $79, Spirit of Philadelphia, Penn's Landing, Pier 3, 1-800-660-8462.
WAR SONGS This musical celebrates the songs that were written during the Vietnam War. In other words, songs that were written under the influence. Runs through July 16, $27, Bristol Riverside Theatre, Radcliffe & Market sts., Bristol, 215-785-0100.
THE WONDERS OF THE WORLD: RECITE This quirky coming-of0age tale about a pair of packrats living by the sea looks like a cross between a yard sale and a children's play fort. Watch for a delusional grandma, meteor showers, infectious disease and unreliable radio broadcasts in this vaudevillian pageant of objects and imagination. Written by Missoula Oblongata, Sat, July 1, 8pm, $6, Spiral Q Puppet Theater Studio, 3114 Spring Garden St., 2nd Fl., 215-222-6979.
YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN! This Theatre Horizon production fuses 30 "Peanuts" comic strips to create a memorable sketch comedy show. Runs through June 30, 7pm, $5-$8, Upper Merion Township Building Park, 175 W. Valley Forge Rd., King of Prussia, 610-283-2230.
opera
LA RONDINE This Puccine piece is sung in Italian and follows a wealthy mistress through her trials and tribulations with love. Who knew love could make for the theme of a whole opera piece? Runs June 29-July 1, 8pm, $15-$20, Delaware Valley Opera Company, 1731 Chandler St., 215-725-4171.
OPERA PERFORMANCE Tomorrow's opera stars perform scene and act favorites. We'd like to know exactly how you become an opera star—unless your name is Pavarotti of course, Fri, June 30, 7pm, $10-$20, Academy of Vocal Arts, 1920 Spruce St., 215-218-9977.
PLAY IT BY EAR This improv opera is based on audience suggestion and interaction. Which means you can suggest someone sing like Pavarotti, and then laugh when they can't. Runs through Aug. 6, 9pm, $10-$22, Chalfonte Hotel, 301 Howard St., Cape May, 609-884-8409.
cabaret
CRUISING DOWN THE RIVER The Three Tremors are accompanied by Fred Miller on piano. Runs through June 29, 8pm, $15, Odette's Theater Room, 274 S. River Road, New Hope, 215-862-3000.
LATE NITE SNACK Get your midnight theater fix with Madhouse's monthly comedy extravaganza, featuring short sketches, fringey comedy, Bush skewering, short parodies of commercials and so much more, Fri, June 30, 11pm, $10, Playground at the Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St., 877-985-2844.
LE CABARET MELANGE A funky music, dance and performance art show. Every Fri. Runs through June 1, 7pm, $10, Monte Carlo Living Room, 150 South St., 267-456-3050.
PETER RAPANARO Holy Smokes! No literally. Rapanaro performed at Pope John Paul's funeral and has an upcoming audience with Pope Benedict. He's toured with the likes of Donny Osmond and Johnny Mathis and has developed quite a reputation in Vegas. Runs through July 2, 10pm, $15, Odette's Theater Room, 274 S. River Road, New Hope, 215-862-3000.
A SLICE O' MINNELLI That's right! Everybody's favorite showbiz star has taken time out from the tabloids in order to entertain us once again. Well... not really, but award-winner Rick Skye will make you believe it. Runs through July 1, 8pm, $17, Odette's Theater Room, 274 S. River Road, New Hope, 215-862-3000.
