COVER STORY .

Theater


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Published: Jan 14, 2009

Sizwe Banzi Is Dead

This intensely moving play, a classic study of black identity in 1970s South Africa, should be in excellent hands here, with director Peter DeLaurier and actors Forrest McClendon and Lawrence Stallings.

Jan. 30-March 1, Lantern Theater Co. at St. Stephen's Theater, 19 S. 10th St., 215-829-0395, lanterntheater.org.

Blackbird

A young woman confronts the man who sexually abused her years before, in a play by John Harrower that's scary, tragic and completely unexpected.

Feb. 5-March 1, Theatre Exile at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey St., 215-922-4462, theatreexile.org.

Scorched

Wajdi Mouawad's international hit is part mystery, part family story and part political drama. Sounds made to order for director Blanka Zizka.

Feb. 25-March 29, Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad St., 215-546-7824, wilmatheater.org.

Arms and the Man

This rare opportunity to see G.B. Shaw's airborne comedy at the enchanting Hedgerow is the quintessential romantic spring date.

March 3-April 5, Hedgerow Theatre, 164 W. Rose Valley Road, Media, 610-565-4211, hedgerowtheatre.org.

A Year with Frog and Toad

Arden's brilliant musicalization of the children's classic returns with creators Jeff Coon (Frog) and Ben Dibble (Toad). I hope these guys will be doing Toad for the next five decades.

March 4-April 19, Arden Theatre Co., 40 N. Second St., 215-922-1122, ardentheatre.org.

Christine Andreas: Two for the Road

You don't need a play to make theater — not when you can have Ms. Andreas' magnificent voice, great songs and the good stories that come from 20 years with husband/collaborator Martin Silvestri.

March 11-22, Morgan's Cabaret/Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut St., 215-569-9700, princemusictheater.org/morgans-cabaret.php.

Jihad Jones

Tired of the racist cliché du jour, the as-seen-on-TV Islamic terrorist? (Yes, 24 — I do mean you.) Yussef El Guindi's satire, about an Arab-American actor who would rather play Hamlet but needs a paying gig, is a fresh and funny corrective.

April 10-May 10, InterAct Theatre Co. at the Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St., 215-568-8079, interacttheatre.org.

The Blue Bird

Give EgoPo's artistic director Lane Savadove a special Barrymore for imaginative programming. This season, devoted to expressionism, culminates in a production of Maeterlinck's classic, seen here with a live orchestra and a score by George Crumb!

April 25-May 10, EgoPo Productions at Mandell Theater, Drexel University, 3300 Chestnut St., 800-595-4849, egopo.org.

Grey Gardens

This haunting musical, based on a documentary about Jackie O's destitute cousin, Edie Beale, is one of the most original works of the last 20 years. The New York production is already legendary — how great and brave of PTC to bring it to Philly.

May 22-June 28, Philadelphia Theatre Co. at Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St., 215-985-0420, philadelphiatheatrecompany.org.

Let's Pretend We're Married

Ring the bells and head for the altar! The union of two beloved Philadelphia comic actors — Jennifer Childs and Tony Braithwaite — in an evening of songs and classic material on the subject of wedded bliss sounds like a marriage made in heaven.

May 26-June 14, 1812 Productions at Plays & Players Theatre, 215-592-9560, 1812roductions.org.

Doubt

Some critics thought the movie version of Doubt was too much like a play. For me, it wasn't enough like John Patrick Shanley's intensely focused, mesmerizing original. Here's your chance to see the real thing.

June 3-28, People's Light & Theatre Co., 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, 610-644-3500, peopleslight.org.