Performing Arts

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

dance

• DANCE ALUMNI SHOWCASE Temple's Boyer College of Music and Dance presents some of the finest work of its finest grads. Fri, Oct. 3, 8pm; Sat, Oct. 4, 3 & 8pm, $5-$20, Conwell Dance Theater, Temple University, Broad St. & Montgomery Ave., 800-298-4200.

 

 

• GROUP MOTION DANCE COMPANY The German Society hosts two pieces by the Group Motion Dance Company. Manfred Fischbeck's Fugue/Subter-fug(u)e, combines modern dance with the classical arrangements of J.S. Bach. Then, Kun-Yang Lin's sinuous and ethereal "The Emptiness of Snow" rounds out the evening. (YouTube has some rehearsal footage if you'd like a sneak peek!) Sat, Oct. 4, 7-9pm, $15-$20, the German Society of Pennsylvania, 611 Spring Garden St., 215-627-2332.

 

 

• THE UMBRELLA DANCE The Anne-Marie Mulgrew and Dancers Co. will perform their signature street art piece at Clark Park farmers' market. Enjoy their stately neo-Victorian procession, as well as cabbage and squash. Sat, Oct. 4, 1pm, FREE , Clark Park, 43rd St. & Baltimore Ave., 215-462-7720.

  theater

• AH, WILDERNESS! A departure from his usual work, this comedy by Eugene O'Neill is a sentimental piece about the loves and lives of the Miller family, set in turn-of-the-century (last, century, that is) Connecticut. Directed by Ruth K. Brown. Runs through Oct. 4, $5-$15, Chapel St. Players, 27 N. Chapel St., Newark, DE, 302-368-2248.

 

 

• ANNA BELLA EEMA Playwright Lisa D'Amour's vision of mother/daughter love features trailer-park vampires, a girl made of mud, police chases and the occasional musical number. Directed by Lisa Jo Epstein. Runs through Oct. 11, $15-$20, Adrienne Theatre, 2030 Sansom St., 215-407-0556.

 

 

• THE BABY DANCE Let the buyer beware! Jane Anderson's unsettling piece deals with the process of "baby brokering," a private adoption from one poor family to a rich infertile couple. The show, directed by April Field, pulls no punches depicting one of the shadier postnatal practices in our country. Runs through Oct. 5, $15, Shubin Theatre, 407 Bainbridge St., 215-882-2600.

 

 

• BUMALIK Inspired by the recent travels to the Philippines, local artists Lovella Calica, L. Capco Lincoln and Michelle Posadas present this evening of film, poetry and performance in exploration of the questions, "Why does one return to the land of their ancestors?" and "How does one return to their everyday life when the trip is over?" Sat, Oct. 4, 8pm, $5-$15, Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St., 215-573-3234, bumalik.blogspot.com.

 

 

• CANDIDE After a few decades, Leonard Bernstein's musical based on Voltaire's philosophical comedy gets dusted off and updated with a new version by John Caird. Directed by Terrence J. Nolan. Runs through Oct. 12, $29-$48, Arden Theatre Co., 40 N. 2nd St., 215-922-1122.

 

 

• DRIVING MISS DAISY Before Miss Daisy graced the silver screen, her stage version won playwright Alfred Uhry the Pulitzer Prize. Director Peter Reynolds, a Barrymore Emerging Artist. Runs through Oct. 5, $12-$30, Hedgerow Theatre, 164 W. Rose Valley Rd., Media, 610-565-4211.

 

 

• EXPECTING ISABEL Pulitzer Prize nominee Lisa Loomer's "seriocomedy" examines the experience of popping out a kid in 21st-century America. The protagonists are a Manhattan couple who begin the journey to parenthood without knowing what they're getting into. Directed by Douglas C. Wager and performed by Temple students. Runs through Oct. 5, $5-$20, Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St., 215-204-1122.

 

 

• THE HOTHOUSE One of the early works by Nobel Prize-winning playwright Harold Pinter, this dark comedy explores a state institution from the point of view of its more-than-slightly-unhinged staff with sharp dialogue and an even sharper message. Directed by Kathryn MacMillan. Runs through Oct. 12, $20-$35, St. Stephen's Theater, 10th & Ludlow sts., 215-829-0395.

 

 

• LAKE STREET EXTENSION With only three characters sharing the spotlight, Lee Blessing's drama features a vociferous Christian father, his wayward hustler son, the El Salvadoran refugee he's taken in and enough baggage and dirty secrets to fill the stage. Runs through Oct. 18, $21, Red Room at Society Hill Playhouse, 507 S. 8th St., 215-923-0210.

 

 

• LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT Winner of the Pulitzer for Drama, this masterwork by Eugene O'Neill recounts a single summer day in the lives of one family. O'Neill's autobiographical work shows just how dysfunctional families can be; remember, this play is from the 50s, before Springer. Directed by Robert Hedley and performed by Villanova's finest. Runs through Oct. 5, $5-$24, Vasey Hall, Villanova University, Villanova, 610-519-7474.

 

 

• MY FAIR LADY Girl meets guy, guy tries to "civilize" girl, guy falls in love, girl falls in love, and they're so very British. The Media Theatre's production will have all the songs and trappings you remember — lov-er-ly. Runs through Nov. 2, $22-$42.50, the Media Theatre, 104 E. State St., Media, 610-891-0100

 

 

• THE PERSIANS Author Ellen McLaughlin has produced an English version of Aeschylus' play recounting the downfall of Persia and the birth of Greek democracy. Directed by Jade King Carroll. Runs through Oct. 19, $29-$48, People's Light & Theatre Co., 39 Conestoga Rd., Malvern, 610-647-1900.

 

 

• PHANTOM Long overshadowed by a somewhat more famous production, "Phantom" (without that "of the Opera" at the end) is an alternative to the bombastic style of Weber that preserves the atmosphere of the original novel. More grit, less melodrama. Directed by Chris Alberts. Runs through Oct. 5, $32-$55, the New Candlelight Theatre, 2208 Millers Rd., Ardentown, DE, 302-475-2313.

 

 

• REEFER MADNESS Presented by 11th Hour Theatre Co. and the Montgomery Theater, this musical is based on the melodramatic cautionary film "Reefer Madness," which indicated that smoking the "Demon Weed" led to sexual deviance, violent crime, teen pregnancy, insanity, and eventually death. Runs through Oct. 4, $16-$33, Montgomery Theatre, 124 Main St., 215-723-9984.

 

 

• ROCK'N'ROLL The latest gem from Tony favorite Tom Stoppard explores what happens when love, politics, and poetry meet in the Eastern Bloc. Director Blanka Zizka worked with fellow Czech native Stoppard on the script, so expect some extra treats. Runs through Oct. 26, $44-$60, Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad St., 215-546-7824.

 

 

• SEXUAL PERVERSITY IN CHICAGO One of David Mamet's early successes, this one-act explores the dating life of two couples in early 1970s Chicago. And like most Mamet plays, the characters tend to be real jerks who you wouldn't want to know in real life, but are fascinating to watch. Directed by Beverly Redman and performed by Ursinus theatre students. Runs through Oct. 4, $2-$5, Kaleidoscope Performing Arts Center, Ursinus College, 601 E. Main St., Collegeville, 610-409-3795.

 

 

• THE SPITFIRE GRILL A musical by James Valcq, "Spitfire Grill" follows a young traveler's efforts to fit in at a restaurant in a small Wisconsin town. Director Keith Baker's production will feature a folk and bluegrass score. Runs through Oct. 12, $34-$42, Bristol Riverside Theatre, Radcliffe & Market sts., Bristol, 215-785-0100.

 

 

• STATE FAIR Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical is unapologetically, well, a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical: Set at the Iowa state fair, this love story includes numbers such as "It Might As Well Be Spring," "You Never Had it So Good" and "It's a Grand Night for Singing." Indeed. Runs through Oct. 19, $10-$70, Walnut Street Theatre, 9th & Walnut sts., 215-574-3550.

 

 

• THIS IS OUR YOUTH The Simpatico Theatre Project's first show of the season is a romp through early Reagan America. The protagonist has 48 hours to spend $15,000 stolen from his father, and is torn between any number of young rich kid vices. Remember when Dad used to leave around massive bundles of cash in the early '80s? Ah, those were the days. Directed by Jennifer Pratt. Runs through Oct. 19, $15, 2nd Stage @ the Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St., 215-423-0254.

  opera

• GIARGIARI BEL CANTO COMPETITION This "American Idol" style competition features the creme de la creme of Philly's opera scene from the Academy of the Vocal Arts accompanied by music director Danielle Orlando, will compete at this event. Thu, Oct. 2, 7:30pm, $15-$30, Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St., 215-735-1685.

  cabaret

• CABARET AT the PAA Barrymore nominee Denise Whelan returns to for an evening cabaret, accompanied by Jeff McDonnell. Runs through Oct. 4, 8pm, $15-$30, Philadelphia Art Alliance, 251 S. 18th St., 215-545-4302.

 

 

• THE MARTHA GRAHAM CRACKER CABARET Join Martha — aka Dito van Reigersberg — for an evening of everything from classic Judy to Prince. Every second Thu, 9pm, $10, L'Etage, 624 S. 6th St., 215-592-0656.