Anita Holland News

Quintessence Theatre presents George Barnard Shaw's ST. JOAN, running now through April 22, 2016. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Henry Wishcamper's contemporary take on Thornton Wilder's THE MATCHMAKER -- the inspiration for the musical Hello, Dolly! -- revealing social truths through mistaken identity, outrageous misbehavior and spontaneous romance, appears in Goodman Theatre's 856-seat Albert Theatre, now through April 10, 2016. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

PlayPenn, Philadelphia's nationally recognized professional new play development organization, presents the first event in a new play reading series to be held at The Drake. Located at 1512 Spruce Street, the newly renovated Drake houses two theatres and will be home to PlayPenn alongside resident partners Azuka Theatre, InterAct Theatre Company, Inis Nua Theatre Company, and Simpatico Theatre Project. The reading series Philly Plays @ The Drake, will involve fourteen local playwrights, fourteen local directors, and over 80 local actors in a communal celebration of the vibrant new play scene from January through June, 2016.

Casting is complete for Henry Wishcamper's contemporary take on Thornton Wilder's The Matchmaker-the inspiration for the musical Hello, Dolly!, revealing social truths through mistaken identity, outrageous misbehavior and spontaneous romance.

Quintessence Theatre Group continues its sixth season of progressive classic theatre with an original stage adaptation of The Brothers Grimm's HANSEL & GRETEL. HANSEL & GRETEL opened on Saturday, December 12, and all performances are at the Sedgwick Theater, 7137 Germantown Ave in Mt Airy, Philadelphia, 19119. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!

Quintessence Theatre Group launches its sixth season of progressive classic theatre with Shakespeare's romantic tragedy ROMEO AND JULIET presented in rotating repertory with Wallace Shawn's celebrated translation of Machiavelli's sex comedy THE MANDRAKE. A nine actor repertory ensemble comprised of Quintessence's best and director Alexander Burns will continue to establish Quintessence's brand of full throttle epic classic theatre for today. ROMEO AND JULIET will begin previews on Wednesday, September 30 at 7pm and open on Saturday, October 3 at 8pm.  THE MANDRAKE will begin previews on Wednesday, October 14 at 7pm and open on Saturday, October 17 at 8pm. All performances are at the Sedgwick Theater, 7137 Germantown Ave in Mt Airy, Philadelphia, 19119. To purchase tickets visit www.QuintessenceTheatre.org or call 215.987.4450.

Theater Breaking Through Barriers (TBTB) just celebrated the opening night of its revival of Agatha Christie's The Unexpected Guest - running through May 10 at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street) - and honored the 35-year legacy of its late founding Artistic Director Ike Schambelan. Scroll down for photos!

Quintessence Theatre Group concludes its fifth season of progressive classic theatre with Alexandre Dumas' THE THREE MUSKETEERS. Celebrating its fifth birthday, Quintessence has created a world premiere adaptation of Dumas' epic adventure directed by Quintessence Artistic Director, Alexander Burns.

Quintessence Theatre Group concludes its fifth season of progressive classic theatre with Alexandre Dumas' THE THREE MUSKETEERS. Celebrating its fifth birthday, Quintessence has created a world premiere adaptation of Dumas' epic adventure directed by Quintessence Artistic Director, Alexander Burns.

Quintessence Theatre Group continues its fifth season of progressive classic theatre with Franz Kafka's THE METAMORPHOSIS. As part of the centennial celebration of Kafka's groundbreaking masterpiece, Rebecca Wright directsSteven Berkoff's timeless stage adaptation.

Quintessence Theatre Group continues its fifth season of progressive classic theatre with Franz Kafka's THE METAMORPHOSIS. As part of the centennial celebration of Kafka's groundbreaking masterpiece, Rebecca Wright directs Steven Berkoff's timeless stage adaptation.

All performances are at the Sedgwick Theater, 7137 Germantown Ave in Mt Airy, Philadelphia, 19119. To purchase tickets visit QuintessenceTheatre.org or call 215.987.4450.

Quintessence Theatre Group continues its fifth season of progressive classic theatre with Simon Reade's stage adaptation of Lewis Carroll's ALICE's ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND. Last Christmas Quintessence took you on an adventure across the English countryside and into the wild wood. This year we will venture down the rabbit hole. A theatrical event for the whole family, Quintessence's special brand of imagination theatre will take you on a whirlwind adventure with Alice and allow you to escape the holiday madness in Wonderland. Bringing together the best professional actors and designers from Philadelphia and across the country, Artistic Director Alexander Burns leads this collective of artists on a mission to ignite the classics through visceral, actor-focused and text-driven productions. ALICE's ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND will begin previews today, December 10 at 7pm and open on Saturday, December 13 at 7pm. All performances are at the Sedgwick Theater, 7137 Germantown Ave in Mt Airy, Philadelphia, 19119. To purchase tickets visit QuintessenceTheatre.org or call 215.987.4450.

Quintessence Theatre Group continues its fifth season of progressive classic theatre with Simon Reade's stage adaptation of Lewis Carroll's ALICE's ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND. Last Christmas Quintessence took you on an adventure across the English countryside and into the wild wood. This year we will venture down the rabbit hole. A theatrical event for the whole family, Quintessence's special brand of imagination theatre will take you on a whirlwind adventure with Alice and allow you to escape the holiday madness in Wonderland. Bringing together the best professional actors and designers from Philadelphia and across the country, Artistic Director Alexander Burns leads this collective of artists on a mission to ignite the classics through visceral, actor-focused and text-driven productions. ALICE's ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND will begin previews on Wednesday, December 10 at 7pm and open on Saturday, December 13 at 7pm. All performances are at the Sedgwick Theater, 7137 Germantown Ave in Mt Airy, Philadelphia, 19119. To purchase tickets visit QuintessenceTheatre.org or call 215.987.4450.

Theater Breaking Through Barriers (TBTB), the critically acclaimed theater company dedicated to advancing artists with disabilities and changing the image of people with disabilities from dependence to independence, presents its fourth annual short play festival, POWER PLAYS -- a collection of five world-premiere short plays by celebrated playwrights Bekah Brunstetter, Bruce Graham, John Guare, David Henry Hwang and Neil LaBute -- with performances to run June 12-29 at Theatre Row's Clurman Theatre (410 West 42nd Street). The company is proud to announce that the 8pm performance today, June 14 will feature ASL interpretation by sign language interpreters Sarah Brandenburg and Craig Fogel.

Theater Breaking Through Barriers (TBTB), the critically acclaimed theater company dedicated to advancing artists with disabilities and changing the image of people with disabilities from dependence to independence, presents its fourth annual short play festival, POWER PLAYS -- a collection of five world-premiere short plays by celebrated playwrights Bekah Brunstetter, Bruce Graham, John Guare, David Henry Hwang and Neil LaBute -- with performances to run June 12-29 at Theatre Row's Clurman Theatre (410 West 42nd Street). Official press opening is Sunday, June 15. Roberto Cambeiro, Christina Roussos, Artistic Director Ike Schambelan, Russell Treyz, and Associate Director Nicholas Viselli direct.

Theater Breaking Through Barriers (TBTB), the critically acclaimed theater company dedicated to advancing artists with disabilities and changing the image of people with disabilities from dependence to independence, presents its fourth annual short play festival, POWER PLAYS - a collection of five world-premiere short plays by celebrated playwrights Bekah Brunstetter, Bruce Graham, John Guare, David Henry Hwang and Neil LaBute - with performances to run today, June 12-29 at Theatre Row's Clurman Theatre (410 West 42nd Street). Roberto Cambeiro, Christina Roussos, Artistic Director Ike Schambelan, Russell Treyz, and Associate Director Nicholas Viselli direct.

Theater Breaking Through Barriers (TBTB), the critically acclaimed theater company dedicated to advancing artists with disabilities and changing the image of people with disabilities from dependence to independence, presents its fourth annual short play festival, POWER PLAYS -- a collection of five world-premiere short plays by celebrated playwrights Bekah Brunstetter, Bruce Graham, John Guare, David Henry Hwang and Neil LaBute -- with performances to run June 12-29 at Theatre Row's Clurman Theatre (410 West 42nd Street). The company is proud to announce that the 8pm performance on Saturday, June 14 will feature ASL interpretation by sign language interpreters Sarah Brandenburg and Craig Fogel.

Theater Breaking Through Barriers (TBTB), the critically acclaimed theater company dedicated to advancing artists with disabilities and changing the image of people with disabilities from dependence to independence, presents its fourth annual short play festival, POWER PLAYS - a collection of five world-premiere short plays by celebrated playwrights Bekah Brunstetter, Bruce Graham, John Guare, David Henry Hwang and Neil LaBute - with performances to run June 12-29 at Theatre Row's Clurman Theatre (410 West 42nd Street). Roberto Cambeiro, Christina Roussos, Artistic Director Ike Schambelan, Russell Treyz, and Associate Director Nicholas Viselli direct.

It was an exciting, interesting and surprising season in the Philadelphia/ South Jersey theater world. Here are some of my favorites picks with one additional New York entry worth remembering.