Laura Giknis

The lights may be dimmed on Broadway, but the future is bright. End your summer enjoying songs from the Broadway shows just waiting to shine again. You’ll hear fan favorites from Come From Away, Moulin Rouge, and Company. See Broadway Ahead, LIVE, outdoors, and in-person.

Bristol Riverside Theatre has moved its William Penn Bank Summer Music Fest outside for the summer season and continues with the theatre's traditional concert series which will bring the sounds of Broadway and the 80s to Bristol Township's brand-new outdoor amphitheatre. This BRT summer tradition continues under the leadership of former BRT Artistic Director Keith Baker and features several of BRT's favorite voices.

Bristol Riverside Theatre follows up its season opener, An Act of God, with Kim Wayans and continues its 33rd Season with Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey's Broadway hit, Next To Normal. This Tony and Pulitzer winning musical drama about a family coming apart at its center runs October 29 to November 24, 2019. Opening Night is Thursday, October 31 at 7:30pm. BRT's Artistic Director Keith Baker directs this rock musical that features NYC-based actress Donna Vivino in the role of Diana.. All performances are at Bristol Riverside Theatre in Bucks County, located at 120 Radcliffe Street. Tickets are $15-$55 and are available online at brtstage.org, at the theatre's box office, or over the phone at 215-785-0100. 

Bristol Riverside Theatre's Summer Music Fest celebrates the 50th anniversary of Woodstock with Woodstock at 50: A Celebration running July 18-28. BRT revisits this pivotal moment in music history with songs such as "Piece of My Heart", "With A Little Help From My Friends", and "Evil Ways". Led by Keith Baker and the BRT Concert Band, the program features BRT favorites Demetria Joyce Bailey, Laura Giknis, Danny Vaccaro, Tasha Waters and introducing newcomer Paul Binotto.

Bristol Riverside Theatre kicks off its Summer Music Fest series with Love Is Here To Stay running June 13 - 23. Filled with hit after hit, Love Is Here To Stay features the standards in pop culture we'll never forget. You'll enjoy songs like "It Had to Be You", "Just in Time, and "Ain't Misbehavin'". Led by Keith Baker and the BRT Concert Band, the program features BRT favorites Demetria Joyce Bailey, Laura Giknis, Yanellie Pabon-Garcia, Keith Spencer, and Kevin Toniazzo-Naughton.

After climbing the back stairs to the third floor, I entered into an intimate theater dressed to look like an attic in a historic home. It felt full of secrets.

Walnut Street Theatre's 2018-19 Independence Studio on 3 season concludes with the captivating narratives and beautiful musical arrangements of CIVIL WAR VOICES. Written by James R. Harris and directed by Bill Van Horn, the production begins previews on April 23, opens April 25, and continues through May 26.

2018 brought in a number of popular shows and events from the stages of Philadelphia and suburbs, right down to the Jersey Shore. Wish I could have seen them all. However, www.broadwayworld.com was there to see so many amazing people and creative teams bring out their best as my BWW colleagues also weigh in on their favorites. It was a difficult to choose from so many great offerings. So here are my picks.

Walnut Street Theatre continues its landmark 210th season with Roald Dahl's MATILDA THE MUSICAL. Directed by Linda Goodrich, with choreography by Michelle Gaudette, MATILDA THE MUSICAL begins previews on November 6th, opens on November 14th, and runs through January 6th on the Walnut's Mainstage.

Walnut Street Theatre continues its landmark 210th season with Roald Dahl's MATILDA THE MUSICAL. Directed by Linda Goodrich, with choreography by Michelle Gaudette, MATILDA THE MUSICAL begins previews on November 6th, opens on November 14th, and runs through January 6th on the Walnut's Mainstage.

Bristol Riverside Theatre concludes its Summer Music Fest series with BROADWAY SUMMER SPECTACULAR on August 9-19 with a trip to the Great White Way, BRT style.  Broadway Summer Spectacular features an evening packed with Broadway hits from composers like Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jerry Herman, and Leonard Bernstein. Keith Baker and the BRT Concert Band are joined by BRT veterans Jake Blouch, Laura Giknis, Maggie Griffin-Smith, Kevin Toniazzo-Naughton, and Tasha Waters.

Put on your platform shoes, your feather boas and get ready for one of the most popular musicals of all time.

Walnut Street Theatre concludes its landmark 209th season with the ultimate feel-good musical, MAMMA MIA! Filled with ABBA's catchiest hits, and directed and choreographed by Richard Stafford, this high energy musical begins previews on May 15th, opens on May 23rd, and runs through July 15th on the Walnut Mainstage.

Walnut Street Theatre concludes its landmark 209th season with the ultimate feel-good musical, MAMMA MIA! Filled with ABBA's catchiest hits, and directed and choreographed by Richard Stafford, this high energy musical begins previews on May 15th, opens on May 23rd, and runs through July 15th on the Walnut Mainstage.

Walnut Street Theatre concludes its landmark 209th season with the ultimate feel-good musical, MAMMA MIA! Filled with ABBA's catchiest hits, and directed and choreographed by Richard Stafford, this high energy musical begins previews on May 15th, opens on May 23rd, and runs through July 15th on the Walnut Mainstage.

I have a confession to make. Though I have seen hundreds of plays and musicals since MAMMA MIA! premiered on Broadway in 2000, until I saw Riverside Theatre's giddily silly, yet oddly emotional production-running now through April 29- I had never seen this polarizing jukebox musical; neither on stage, nor screen. However, it would have been impossible for anyone with even a passing interest in theatre or pop culture to not have heard countless opinions about the show, both good and bad, over the years. Is MAMMA MIA! hokey? Yes, it is. Does it have plot holes large enough that you could scuba through? In spades. Nearly two decades after it premiered in London, does it already feel even more dated than its disco-era music would lead you to believe? Absolutely. But, if you go in knowing and accepting MAMMA MIA! for what it is, then it is also an absolutely transportively entertaining night at the theatre.

Walnut Street Theatre concludes its landmark 209th season with the ultimate feel-good musical, MAMMA MIA! Filled with ABBA's catchiest hits, and directed and choreographed by Richard Stafford, this high energy musical begins previews on May 15th, opens on May 23rd, and runs through July 15th on the Walnut Mainstage.

Riverside Theatre's production of Mamma Mia! adds two additional performances! Mamma Mia! runs April 10-29, 2018 on the Stark Stage and is sponsored by Dave Horner with additional support from Riverside Theatre's Patron Producers' Group. Mamma Mia! is a co-production with the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia.

Riverside Theatre, led by Producing Artistic Director/CEO Allen D. Cornell and Managing Director/COO Jon R. Moses, present one of Broadway's longest-running musicals, Mamma Mia! Sponsored by Dave Horner and Riverside Theatre's Patron Producers Group, Mamma Mia! performs on the Stark Stage from April 10-29, 2018. Mamma Mia! is produced in association with the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia.

Bristol Riverside Theatre heads into the new year with Donald Margulies' Pulitzer Prize-winning classic Time Stands Still January 23-February 11. Directed by Susan D. Atkinson, the ensemble cast includes Laura Giknis, Eleanor Handley, Michael Satow, and Danny Vaccaro.