Performing Arts

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

dance
• THE NINE MUSES The Music and Motion Dance Troupe presents a dance in honor of the "muses" that give way to their most inspired moments, Fri, Aug. 7, 7pm, free with $5-$10 admission, James A. Michener Art Museum, 138 S. Pine St., Doylestown, 215-340-9800.

  theater

• AIDA An update on Verde's operatic masterpiece, this Tim Rice- and Elton John-penned musical grapples with the perils of a love triangle and the responsibility of shaping history. Runs through Aug. 8, $17-$30, The Ritz Theatre Company, 915 White Horse Pike, Haddon, NJ, 856-858-5230.
• ALL SHOOK UP Riffing off the Bard's "Twelfth Night," this musical features hits by the King and deals with the aspirations of a girl bored with the staid politics of '50s middle America. Runs through Aug. 8, $25, Broadway Theatre of Pitman, 43 S. Broadway, Pitman NJ, 856-384-8381.
• AMNESIA AND ATTEMPTED MURDER The victim in this comedy comes to without her memory intact. Her family tries to help — and get revenge on whoever shoved her down the stairs a year ago — by creating a video. Runs through Aug. 7, $10, Shubin Theatre, 407 Bainbridge St., 215-514-7508.
• A CHORUS LINE This musical casts a light on the motivations and experiences of performers as they try out for the titular line. Runs through Aug. 16, $15-$25, Bucks County Playhouse, 70 S. Main St., New Hope, 215-862-2041.
• THE DROWSEY CHAPERONE JR. A musical is unleashed within this comedy when a theater fan drops the needle to the record, literally bringing the story to life. Various cases of mistaken identity ensue thereafter as the musical's starlet tries to test her true love and avoid interference from a gangster. Runs through Aug. 7, $8, Bristol Riverside Theatre, 120 Radcliffe St., 215-785-0100.
• FOOTLOOSE A bright-eyed city boy readjusts to life in a small town, where all things fun have been banned. Of course, he shakes things up and encourages everyone to get footloose. Runs through Aug. 8, $10-$12, The Media Theatre, 104 E. State St., Media, 610-891-0100.
• GETTING THERE This interactive show aims to entertain kids with toys and puppets, while also teaching them how to travel safely. Here's hoping there's no lesson on road rage on the way to the museum. Runs through Aug. 8, $15, Please Touch Museum, 4231 Ave. of the Republic, 215-581-3181.
• HAMLETTE This 30-minute take on the Shakespearean play is filled with laughs as the princess of Denmark strives for equal rights and respect while pursuing that whole "Avenge Me!" thing. Runs through Aug. 10, FREE , The Piazza at Schmidt's, 2nd St. & Hancock sts., atthepiazza.com.
• HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2 In this now-famous musical, school's almost out for the summer and someone is looking to break up two young sweethearts. Runs through Aug. 14, $5-$8, Upper Darby Performing Arts Center, 601 N. Lansdowne Ave., Drexel Hill, 610-622-1189.
• JACQUES BREL IS ALIVE AND WELL, AND LIVING IN PARIS This performance features Brel's songs from the '50s and '60s that celebrate the human experience in all its greatness and horror. Society Hill Playhouse is putting the show on in honor of Eric Blau, who passed away this February and is responsible for translating many of Brel's works into English. Runs through Aug. 16, $25, Society Hill Playhouse, 507 S. 8th St., 215-923-0210.
• THE MATCHMAKER Watch as this company fine-tunes the rough edges in this read-through of the play, which follows a widowed matchmaker as she goes after her employer. Runs through Aug. 9, FREE , Hedgerow Theatre, 64 W. Rose Valley Rd., Media, 610-565-4211.
• NEVER THE SINNER Mauckingbird Theatre presents this play that examines the notorious Leopold and Loeb murder, and the relationship between the two privileged college students who masterminded this crime simply for the thrill of it. Directed by Peter Reynolds. Runs through Aug. 30, $15-$20, Adrienne Theatre, 2030 Sansom St., 215-923-8909.
• ONCE ON THIS ISLAND This musical, drawing from "The Little Mermaid," serves up a mature look at the racial and socioeconomic divides while also taking the audience to a vibrant island setting where love clashes with harsh realities. Directed by Robert Henry. Runs through Aug. 7, $5-$8, Upper Darby Performing Arts Center, 601 N. Lansdowne Ave., Drexel Hill, 610-622-1189.
• ONE FOR THE POT Co-written by Ray Cooeny and Tony Hilton, this play centers around a son who's offered a gift of filthy lucre from his father's former business partner with the caveat that he must be the last of kin. Comedy ensues when a long line of people assert that they are just that. Directed by Jared Reed. Runs through Aug. 30, $12-$25, Hedgerow Theatre, 64 W. Rose Valley Rd., Media, 610-565-4211.
• ONE-ACT COMEDY BONANZA Five different playwrights/actors will present their works, including Christopher S. Schenk's "Sexy Voice" and Bill Peterson's "Killing Of A Pope." Runs through Aug. 9, $12, Old Academy Players, 3544 Indian Queen Lane, 609-504-9593.
• RAPUNZEL Watch the damsel in distress find her way out in this classic production. Runs through Aug. 8, $10-$12, Mitchell Performing Arts Center, 800 Tomlinson Rd., Bryn Athyn, 215-659-8550.
• THE ROCK TENOR Going for a mash-up worthy of Girl Talk, this musical combines tunes from The Police, Bach, The Rolling Stones and the music of "Les Miserables" to form something that only a double-handed, metal-horns gesture could properly salute. Directed by Vincent Marini. Runs through Aug. 23, $25-$40, Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad St., 215-546-7824.
• ROMEO AND JULIET The tale of star-crossed lovers (and one dumb friar) is performed by Theatre Horizon's teen troupe in the open air setting of Gazebo Park. Runs through Aug. 8, $10, Bryn Mawr Gazebo, 9 S. Bryn Mawr Ave., Bryn Mawr, 610-283-2230.
• THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE Based on the Julie Andrews film, this musical follows a young girl from middle America to the bright lights and sounds of '20s New York City. Runs through Aug. 8, $9-$12, Upper Darby Performing Arts Center, 601 N. Lansdowne Ave., Drexel Hill, 610-622-1189.
• TRUE TALES OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD Based on abolitionist William Still's writings, each performance will focus on a different individual who used the famed network to escape to freedom. Runs through Aug. 21, FREE , Independence National Historic Park, 6th & Market sts., 800-537-7676.

  opera

• LA BOHEME Focusing on the doomed love affair between a poet and a seamstress, this Puccini opera also celebrates the spirit of downtrodden artists who persevere through their work. Runs through Aug. 8, $15-$20, Delaware Valley Opera Co., 6498 Ridge Ave., 215-725-4171.

  cabaret

• MARTHA GRAHAM CRACKER The star of this show is Mrs. Cracker, a man in drag who's accompanied by musicians, dancers and comedians. Every second Thu, 8pm, $10, L'Etage, 6th & Bainbridge sts., 215-592-0656.