Theater

A&E Calendar


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Published: Jan 12, 2011

The Understudy All About Eve meets Kafka in Theresa Rebeck's satirical and touching backstage comedy, an off-Broadway hit in 2009 and already a regional theater favorite. Through Jan. 30, Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad St., 215-546-7824, wilmatheater.org.

A Moon for the Misbegotten Eugene O'Neill may be America's greatest playwright — and he wrote nothing finer than the mournful, intimate-yet-epic Moon, which features one of the greatest of all female roles, here entrusted to the wonderful Grace Gonglewski. Through Feb. 27, Arden Theatre Co., 40 N. Second St., 215-922-1122, ardentheatre.org.

The Glass Menagerie Tennessee Williams' first smash hit was once familiar to every high school student in America, but now it's a relative rarity. Too bad — it's a brilliant work, sly and tragic and funny. Jan. 18-Feb. 6, Walnut Street Theatre's Independence Studio, 825 Walnut St., 215-574-3550, walnutstreettheatre.org.

Lidless Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig's 2009 tale of a Guantanamo Bay interrogator won an Edinburgh Fringe award, as well as high praise from playwright David Hare, who complimented its "political urgency." Enterprising director Seth Rozin brings Lidless to InterAct for its Philly première. Jan. 21-Feb. 13, InterAct Theatre Co. at the Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St., 215-568-8079, interacttheatre.org.

Race David Mamet's most recent play for Broadway crackles with his characteristic wit and brio, as this master agent provocateur takes on the hottest hot topic of all. A Philadelphia première. Jan. 21-Feb. 13, Philadelphia Theatre Co. at Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St., 215-985-0420, philadelphiatheatrecompany.org.

Lieutenant of Inishmore Nobody does edgy like Theatre Exile — ditto dark Irish plays. So Martin McDonagh's violent comedy about a feud ramped up to impossible extremes should be ideally served here. Feb. 17-March 13, Theatre Exile at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey St., 215-922-4462, theatreexile.org.

A Midsummer Night's Dream This most enchanted (and enchanting) comedy is served up by a cast of local favorites and that fine director of Shakespeare, Charles McMahon. March 10-April 10, Lantern Theater Co. at St. Stephen's Theater, 19 S. 10th St., 215-829-0395, lanterntheater.org.

The Master Builder Director Ken Marini and a distinguished cast take on Ibsen's saga of a man immersed in midlife personal and professional free fall. More than a century after it was written, the play has never seemed fresher. March 23-April 17, People's Light & Theatre Co., 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, 610-644-3500, peopleslight.org.

Hell Director Lane Savadove's exceptional imagination should be on full display with this theatrical retelling of Henri Barbusse's brilliant novel of life (and death, and everything in-between) in a Paris boarding house. April 27-May 15, EgoPo Classic Theater at the German Society, 611 Spring Garden St., 215-552-8773, egopo.org.

26 Miles Playwright Quiara AlegrÃa Hudes is quite the local-girl-makes-good: The West Philly native wrote the libretto for the smash hit In the Heights. Now the enterprising Flashpoint folks offer up her mother-daughter road comedy. May 4-28, Flashpoint Theatre at the Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St., 215-665-9720, flashpointtheatre.org.