Charlotte Cushman News

Philly's funniest friends, Artistic Director at Act II Playhouse, Tony Braithwaite, and Producing Artistic Director at 1812 Productions, Jennifer Childs, have created and are sharing the spotlight in a new comedy cabaret, Together Again For the First Time. Music Direction and piano accompaniment are by Owen Robbins. Reflecting the pace and style of classic comedy duo Mike Nichols and Elaine May, Braithwaite and Childs merge their wit and musical chops in a high-energy performance of songs, sketches and hilarious asides.

People's Light presents Lucy Kirkwood's The Children, 2018 Tony Award nominee for Best Play. Two retired nuclear physicists live a quiet life in a cottage by the sea. Outside, the world is plagued by earthquakes, tsunamis, and a nearby nuclear meltdown. When a former colleague turns up after forty years with a shocking request, three old friends must reckon with their shared culpability in this darkly funny disaster drama. Directed by Executive Artistic Director Abigail Adams, The Children stars People's Light veterans Janis Dardaris, Marcia Saunders, and Graham Smith; and runs in the 160-seat Steinbright Stage January 15 a?" February 9. Tickets start at $35, including fees. To purchase, call 610.644.3500 or visit peopleslight.org. People's Light is located at 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, PA 19355.

Two seldom-performed plays: one by dazzling Irish storyteller Enda Walsh, one by Pulitzer-winning American playwright Tennessee Williams, plus a remounting of the IRC's 2017 Fringe success from the grandfather of Absurdism usher in the Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium's 2020 season, their 15th in the Philadelphia region.

The 25th Annual Barrymore Awards were held in South Philly and awarded $92,000 in grants to artists and organizations.

Playwright Patrick Gabridge, the 2018-2019 Mount Auburn Cemetery Artist-In-Residence, is presenting THE AMERICA PLAYS, the second series of site-specific plays, following THE NATURE PLAYS produced in June. Whereas the earlier work explored the richness of the natural environment at the Cemetery, this series of five short plays brings to life the founder, sculptors, strong women of the era, and a compelling immigrant story about some of Mount Auburn's Armenian denizens. Guiding the audience from site to site through the lush grounds enhances their connection to the elements of the stories being told and grounds the drama in the flora and fauna of the landscaped jewel.

Announcing the world premiere of the The America Plays, the second series of site-specific short plays by Mount Auburn Cemetery's Artist-in-Residence, playwright Patrick Gabridge. The America Plays will run from September 12-22, 2019, for 11 performances at Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mt. Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA.

 On June 28, 1969, a routine police raid of a gay bar in New York City turned into a violent conflict that ignited protests lasting for days. The Stonewall Inn Uprising is celebrated by many as the birth of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. But the history of gay life in America extends far before and after Stonewall. Using commentary from LGBTQ+ allies and icons (including Matthew Shepard's parents, Stonewall eyewitness participant Mark Segal and Gene Robinson, the first openly gay priest to be consecrated a bishop by the Episcopal Church) and expert perspectives from Smithsonian curators, new documentary SMITHSONIAN TIME CAPSULE: BEYOND STONEWALL tells the story of the LGBTQ+ community in America through an exploration of rare artifacts in the Smithsonian collections, predominantly from the National Museum of American History. SMITHSONIAN TIME CAPSULE: BEYOND STONEWALL premieres Monday, June 24 at 8 PM ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel.

1812 Productions will present the original comedy, The God Project, written by Sean Close and Jennifer Childs and featuring Close, Childs, and Philadelphia theatre powerhouse Joilet Harris. David Bradley directs the production in his debut with 1812. The God Project will play from April 25 thru May 19 at Plays & Players Theatre. Opening Night will be Wednesday, May 1 at 7:00pm. Tickets and information are available at www.1812productions.org or at 215-592-9560.

Theatre Philadelphia's Barrymore Awards were announced yesterday. The awards recognized the best Philadelphia area theater from July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2018. Judges and recommenders saw 112 productions by 40 companies were eligible, of which 10 companies won awards, for 11 productions.

Inis Nua Theatre Company will open its 15th anniversary season with the Philadelphia premiere of The Monster in the Hall, written by Scottish playwright David Greig. This funny musical play about family, love and really big motorcycles is the second production Inis Nua will stage by Grieg, following the company's 2014 breakout hit Midsummer [a play with songs]. Midsummer went on to earn four Barrymore Award nominations. Monster will be directed by Claire Moyer and stars Claris Park, Doug Durlacher, Eleni Delopoulos and Jamison Foreman. Previews run October 3 and 4, with Opening Night set for October 5, 2018. The show runs until October 21 for a total of 15 performances. All performances will take place at the Louis Bluver Theatre at the Drake, 302 S Hicks Street in Philadelphia. Tickets are on sale now for $15-$35 by calling (215) 454-9776 or visiting inisnuatheatre.org.

Inis Nua Theatre Company is proud to celebrate its 15th anniversary with the announcement of the 2018-2019 season. Music, laughter and mystery will fill the stage as Inis Nua presents the American Premieres of Inua Ellams' untitled and Monsay Whitney's Box Clever, plus the Philadelphia Premiere of David Greig's The Monster in the Hall. With the new season, Inis Nua will continue to be the only America theatre exploring exciting contemporary plays from Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. All three works from across the pond will continue to bring Philadelphia audiences provocative, shocking and jubilant work by some of the best playwrights of today. Performances will be held at Louis Bluver Theatre at The Drake, 302 South Hicks Street. Subscriptions for the season are currently available and single tickets are on sale now. For tickets and more information, visit www.inisnuatheatre.org or call (215) 454-9776.

Tennessee Williams' rewrite of his earlier study of a claustrophobic small town and its gossipy residents, The Eccentricities of a Nightingale comes alive amid a renowned collection of outsider art at The Bethany Mission Gallery in Spring Garden, September 4 - 23, as part of the 2018 Philadelphia Fringe Festival.

Tennessee Williams' rewrite of his earlier study of a claustrophobic small town and its gossipy residents, The Eccentricities of a Nightingale comes alive amid a renowned collection of outsider art at The Bethany Mission Gallery in Spring Garden, September 4 - 23, as part of the 2018 Philadelphia Fringe Festival.

Tennessee Williams' rewrite of his earlier study of a claustrophobic small town and its gossipy residents, The Eccentricities of a Nightingale comes alive amid a renowned collection of outsider art at The Bethany Mission Gallery in Spring Garden, September 4 - 23, as part of the 2018 Philadelphia Fringe Festival.

Inis Nua's Pop-Up Play in a Pub is our chance to give our audience one more taste of the terrific playwrighting of Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. We gather upstairs at Fergie's Pub for the Pop-Up Play and also throw in the great taste of local East Passyunk pie shop Stargazy Pies and a Fergie's beverage. This year's offering is Charolais, a dark comedy by Noni Stapleton directed by Tom Reing.

The Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium, whose mission is to produce the works of absurdist playwrights and authors from around the globe, once again turns to The Onion, America's Finest News Source for its annual fundraiser for the 9th year running. Intimate L'Etage Cabaret will host the event, celebrating the on-line weekly satirical news source known for its outrageous and absurd humor on Sunday, May 20, 2018. Raw Onion: Comfort Food will have two performances at 6 pm and 8 pm.

1812 Productions will close its 21st season with the Philadelphia Premiere of Michael Hollinger's Hope and Gravity. After a 20-year personal and professional friendship, Producing Artistic Director Jennifer Childs will direct Hollinger's work, his first-ever production with 1812. Hope and Gravity will play from April 26 thru May 20 at Plays and Players Theatre. Previews begin April 26. Opening Night will be Wednesday, May 2 at 7:00pm. Tickets and information are available at www.1812productions.org or at 215-592-9560.

'The Lady Was a Gentleman' is a docu-comedy about the 19th century lesbian actress Charlotte Cushman (spouse of sculptor Emma Stebbins, who designed Central Park's Bethesda Fountain). 

Love, Lies and Taxidermy by Alan Harris will warm up the winter months at the Louis Bluver Theatre at The Drake (302 South Hicks Street). This offbeat comedy celebrates love, hope and lifting the ordinary into the magical. As The Guardian said, "…Harris spins a piece of very funny popular theatre about the need for dreams, seizing the initiative when all seems lost and bringing people together".

TOSOS ("The Other Side of Silence") is dedicated to preserving the theatrical heritage of the LGBT community through the development of new plays by emerging artists as well as revivals of established works. Our productions honestly explore the unique LGBT experience and cultural sensibilities in a life-affirming and respectful way.   TOSOS was originally formed in 1974 by playwright Doric Wilson. During its five-year existence, this first TOSOS featured new plays and revivals by playwrights from Brendan Behan and Noel Coward to Terrence McNally, Robert Patrick, Martin Sherman, and Lanford Wilson.