Performing Arts

Please call the phone number listed with the venue for specific dates, times and ticket information.

dance

• NOMAD: THE RIVER Yin Mei's multimedia dance-theater piece invokes the potent force of two fabled rivers, China's Yellow River and the Ganges in India, in order to explore memory, history and cultural traditions. Runs through Sept. 28, $5-$18, Bryn Mawr College, Goodhart Hall, 101 N. Merion Ave., Bryn Mawr, 610-526-5210.
• ONE-YEAR WISSAHICKON PARK PROJECT Throughout the 2007-08 season, choreographer Merin Soto will conduct 16 performances in the park joined by six fellow dancers. The program investigates the communion between movement and the elements, balance and nature. Sept 29, 11:30am, FREE , Wissahickon Valley Park, 9800 Germantown Pike, 215-685-0060.
• STANDPIPE Tania Isaac Dance brings a fresh perspective, new choreography, new dancers and new music to re-imagine growing up in the "third world." Runs through Sept. 29, $15-$20, Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St., 215-898-6791.

  theater

• AMADEUS Peter Shaffer's Mozart fantasy-drama pits the wunderkind against a bitter court composer, Antonio Salieri. Dismayed by Mozart's adolescent behavior and charmless self-confidence, Salieri vows to do everything in his power to take Mozart down. Directed by Jiri Zizka. Runs through Oct. 27, $19-$60, Wilma Theater, Broad & Spruce sts., 215-546-0895.
• ASSASSINS In Stephen Sondheim's most controversial musical, various presidential assassins and would-be assassins, from John Wilkes Booth to Squeaky Fromme, tell their versions of the story — and then influence Lee Harvey Oswald's decision to murder John F. Kennedy. Directed by Terrence J. Nolen. Runs through Oct. 21, $27-$45, Arden Theatre Company, 40 N. 2nd St., 215-922-1122.
• BEYOND THERAPY In Christopher Durang's zany comedy, Bruce and Prudence are single Manhattanites who just want to find a nice date. On advice from their very eccentric psychiatrists, each places a personal ad and they find each other. But several obstacles — including the therapists themselves and the wrath of Bruce's live-in lover, Bob — ensure the romance will be anything but easy. Directed by Dina Amin. Runs through Oct. 14, $20-$80, Villanova Theatre, Villanova University, Vasey Hall, 800 Lancaster Ave., Villanova, 610-519-7474.
• BORN YESTERDAY In Garson Kanin's timeless comedy, crooked businessman Harry Brock hires a journalist to educate his showgirl mistress, Billie Dawn, which backfires when the latter discovers exactly how corrupt her boyfriend really is. Directed by Marilyn Yoblick. Runs through Sept 30, $15, Stagecrafters Theater, 8130 Germantown Ave., 215-247-8881.
• CRIMES OF THE HEART This dark comedy focuses on three sisters, considered good country people, whose lives have gone terribly wrong. Runs through Oct. 6, $25-$30, The Ritz Theatre Company, 915 White Horse Pike, Haddon, NJ, 856-858-5230.
• DEATH AND THE MAIDEN Written by Ariel Dorfman, this political thriller explores the effects of a totalitarian dictatorship on the hearts and souls of its citizens. Runs through Oct. 27, $10-$22, Curio Theatre Company, 815 S. 48th St., 215-525-1350.
• DOG SEES GOD CB's loyal canine succumbs to rabies, leading him to question the existence of life after death. He looks to friends and family for guidance, but they are either too high, too goth, too drunk or too crazy to provide any real sort of solace. Directed by Bill Egan. Runs through Oct. 13, $20-$25, Plays & Players Theater, 1714 Delancey St., 215-735-0630.
• THE FULL MONTY After a group of unemployed steelworkers from Buffalo, NY realize how much money male strippers make, they decide to change careers. Their new profession makes them plenty of new friends and boosts their booty-shaking confidence. Directed by Tom Quinn. Runs through Oct. 6, $16-$24, Montgomery Theater, 124 Main St., Souderton, 215-723-9984.
• GUYS AND DOLLS Nathan Detroit, holding the dubious title of organizer of the oldest floating crap game in New York, takes on fellow gambler Sky Masterson and a pure-at-heart Salvation Army reformer. Of course, hijinx ensue. Directed by J. Everett Rihel. Runs through Oct. 6, $13-$20, Barnstormer's Theater, Ward & Tome sts., Ridley Park, 610-461-9969.
• I DO! I DO! This two-person musical takes us between the sheets of Agnes and Michael, as they try to keep the marital flame alive through the good, the bad and the ugly of their 50-year odyssey together. Runs through Oct. 21, $15-$39, Bristol Riverside Theatre, Radcliffe & Market sts., Bristol, 215-785-0100.
• IN CONFLICT Based on the book by Yvonne Latty, this drama chronicles the unheard voices and experiences of Iraq War veterans as they speak about duty, loss and the fight to stay alive. Runs through Oct. 13, $20, Randall Theater, Temple University, 13th & Norris sts., 215-204-1122.
• THE LONESOME WEST This play by Martin McDonagh is like Sam Shepard's "True West" as viewed through Irish eyes. Brothers Coleman and Valene manufacture brawlish arguments from even the smallest of topics following the (accidental?) death of their father. Directed by David O'Connor. Runs through Oct. 6, $15-$104, Lantern Theater, 10th and Ludlow sts., 215-829-9002.
• MISS SAIGON In this theatrical spectacle, heartstrings are pulled to their breaking point as an American soldier and his Vietnamese girlfriend are forever separated during the fall of Saigon, but hopes remains for the soldier and the child he never knew. Runs through Oct. 14, $8-$39, Media Theater for the Performing Arts, 104 E. State St., Media, 610-891-0100.
• MAN OF LA MANCHA Based on Cervantes' "Adventures of Don Quixote" and set during the Spanish Inquisition, this heartfelt musical is about a man who just wants to be a chivalrous knight errant in an era where there's no such thing. Runs through Oct. 21, $10-$67.50, Walnut Street Theatre, 9th & Walnut sts., 215-574-3550.
• A NIGHT IN THE OLD MARKETPLACE This world premiere musical adaptation of Yiddish playwright I.L. Peretz's famous work puts a Klezmer spin on a magical tale of men trying to right past wrongs and rediscover the meaning of faith along the way. Directed by Alexandra Aron. Runs through Oct. 21, $35-$55, Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut St., 215-569-9700.
• THE NOTHING FACTORY Billed as an "illuminated musical allegory," shadow puppeteer Erik Ruin mixes slide projection, paper mache masks and moving scenery to present a world where everybody wants everything. Donations welcome. Fri, Sept. 28, 8pm, FREE , The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St., 215-573-3234.
• NUNSENSE Sister Julia of the Little Sisters of Hoboken, NJ accidentally serves vichyssoise soup tainted with botulism to her fellow nuns, killing 52. The surviving sisters must then go to some great lengths to raise funds for the dead nuns' funerals. Runs through Sept. 30, $25-$47, The New Candlelight Theatre, 2208 Millers Rd., Ardentown, DE, 302-475-2313.
• RECKLESS This dark comedy begins with a hit man trying to snuff out a man's wife at his request — on Christmas Eve no less. What follows is a fantastic and nightmarish journey of escape. Directed by Jeff Stanley. Runs through Oct. 6, $15-$25, Mason Gross Performing Arts Center, 85 George St., New Brunswick, NJ, 732-932-7511.
• SAY GOODNIGHT GRACIE The genius of George Burns is brought back to life in this one-man tour de force. Come relive the wit, wisdom and unique comic timing of this entertainment legend. Directed by Kevin Glaccum. Runs through Oct. 21, $25-$40, Act II Playhouse, 56 E. Butler Ave., Ambler, 215-654-0200.
• THE SEARCH FOR SIGNS OF INTELLIGENT LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE This one-woman show stars Jen Childs and features 16 characters representing all walks of contemporary female American life from prostitutes to soccer moms and, of course, Trudy the bag lady. Directed by Mary Jackman Carpenter. Runs through Oct. 28, $12-$34, Walnut Street Theatre — Independence Studio on 3, 825 Walnut St., 215-592-9560.
• SENIORS OF THE SAHARA It's the world premiere of this comedy in two acts by Barbara Pease Weber. Sylvia Goldberg has just returned from her grandson's wedding in Israel with a peculiar souvenir: an antique teapot she purchased at an outdoor market. Little does she know the teapot contains Eugene, a geriatric genie whose former master isn't ready to let him go just yet. Runs through Sept. 30, $12, Old Academy Players, 3544 Indian Queen Lane, 215-843-1109.
• THEOPHILUS NORTH Based on Thornton Wilder's autobiographical novel, Theophilus North quits his teaching job and sets off to see the world only to have his car break down in the affluent town of Newport, RI. Here he is forced to fend for himself, mixing with rich and poor alike, and ultimately realizes his life's purpose. Directed by Abigail Adams. Runs through Oct. 7, $29-$48, People's Light & Theatre Company, 39 Conestoga Rd., Malvern, 610-644-3500.
• THREE TALL WOMEN Edward Albee's Pulitzer Prize-winning play is about the triumphs and woes of an elderly dame trying to save her sanity. With the help of a caregiver and a lawyer, she revisits her past to find the "happiest time."Runs through Oct. 27, $16-$21, Society Hill Playhouse, 507 S. 8th St., 215-923-0210.