Michael Philip News

The performing arts has many siblings, many guises, many mutations on a theme. Is HETTY FEATHER a drama, is it a musical? Or is it a creative hybrid with no discernible niche?

The 24th Annual Merritt Awards for Excellence in Design and Collaboration will take place on Monday, May 15th, 2017 at Loyola University Chicago.Legendary Broadway and Film Costume Designer Ann Roth (The Nance, The Book of Mormon, The English Patient, Midnight Cowboy) will receive the 2017 Merritt Award. 

Some of Philadelphia's biggest musical theater stars are teaming up for a one-night only salute to the Great White Way. The Summer Club Salutes Broadway will feature a 17-piece live big band performing hits from Jersey Boys, The Music Man, Guys and Dolls, Cabaret, and more at the Venice Island Performing Arts Center (7 Lock Street, Philadelphia) at 8PM on May 1.

Theatre and Dance at Wayne concludes its 2016-2017 Season with three productions that showcase the scope of the program's dramatic capabilities.

11th Hour Theatre Company readies a Valentine's Day treat for area musical theatre fans. The company continues The Spotlight Series, a cabaret series designed to put Philadelphia's favorite musical theatre performers front and center.

Get ready to kick off your Monday nights with the sounds of some of the region's most popular musical theater stars, accompanied by a 17-piece big band orchestra. Philly's favorite musical theater star Jeff Coon is bringing his Summer Club to Manayunk's Venice Island Performing Arts Center for a series of swinging shows throughout 2017.

The cast of The Other Cinderella includes Mark J.P. Hood, best known as a finalist on The Voice Season 10, as the Prince, with Jessica Seals (Cinderella), Rhonda Preston (Stepmother), Melanie McCullough (Stepsister Geneva), Miciah Long (Stepsister Margarite), Kylah Frye (Fairygodmama), Dwight Neal (King), Shari Addison (Queen), Kyle Smith (Page), Brandon Lavell (Groundhog), Henri Slater (Peanut Butter),Trequon Tate (Attendant), and Paige Hauer (Dorothy).

11th Hour Theatre Company finishes 2016 with a brand-new series. The company is introducing The Spotlight Series, a cabaret series designed to put Philadelphia's favorite musical theatre performers front and center. Each show is one night only. All shows are upstairs at World Cafe Live Philadelphia, 3025 Walnut Street. Tickets cost $40. The first of the series, Love is Love is Love, is Sunday, December 4 at 7 p.m.  Tickets cost $40 and are available online at www.11thhourtheatrecompany.org or by phone 267-987-9865.

11th Hour Theatre Company continues its 12th season with its second Next Step Concert Series performance. This time the series features a brand-new musical by three up and coming writers. Five Points, comes to the Next Step Concert Series, November 18-20. Five Points features Music written by Douglas Lyons and Ethan Pakchar, Lyrics by Douglas Lyons, and a Book by Harrison David Rivers.  The concert will be at The Arden's Studio Theatre at the Hamilton Family Arts Center. 62 N. Second Street.  Tickets cost $19-34 and are available online at www.11thhourtheatrecompany.org or by phone 267-987-9865.

11th Hour Theatre Company kicks off its 12th season with its Next Step Concert Series and a performance of the hilarious musical Urinetown. With Music and Lyrics by Mark Hollmann and Book and Lyrics by Greg Kotis, this concert reading of this popular musical will run October 21-23 at The Arden's Studio Theatre at the Hamilton Family Arts Center. 62 N. Second Street.  Tickets cost $19-34 and are available online at www.11thhourtheatrecompany.org or by phone 267-987-9865.

Get ready to kick off your Monday nights with the sounds of some of Philadelphia's most popular musical theater stars, accompanied by a 17-piece big band orchestra. Philly's favorite triple talent Jeff Coon is bringing his Summer Club to Manayunk's Venice Island Performing Arts Center for two swinging shows this November 7 and December 5.

The Kennedy Center announced today the roster of artists who will be participating in Jimmy Heath at 90, a concert honoring the 90th birthday of the legendary saxophonist, composer, educator, and bandleader. The celebration will take place on Sunday, October 30, 2016 at 8:00 p.m. in the Concert Hall.

11th Hour Theatre Company finishes its Next Step Concert Series with Andrew Lippa and John August's musical retelling of the wildly popular Daniel Wallace novel and Tim Burton movie, Big Fish. This concert performance runs June 18-20 at the Christ Church Neighborhood House, 20 N. American Street. Tickets cost $11-30 and are available online at www.11thhourtheatrecompany.org or by phone 267-987-9865.

This week FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com/Feinsteins or call (646) 476-3551.

Broadway's 40 theatres aren't the only places to catch performances from your favorite stars! Well after Broadway orchestras begin their overtures, ensemble members take their dance breaks, and performers belt out their eleven o'clock numbers, the party continues at various cabaret venues throughout New York City. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you some cabaret highlights for this week as picked by our theatre editors, including: 'Merman's Apprentice' Starring Klea Blackhurst, Anita Gillette, & More; New Musicals at 54: Big Red Sun by Georgia Stitt and John Jiler; Bobby Conte Thornton at 54 Below; Kyle Dean Massey at 54 Below; and Whistle Down the Wind: In Concert.

This evening, in a celebration attended by almost 750 theatre artists, staff, critics, and friends, Theatre Philadelphia distributed 26 awards at the 2015 Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre - now in its second successful season since relaunching in fall 2013. The Awards Ceremony was held at the Merriam Theater, followed by an After-Party at Dorrance Hamilton Hall at the University of the Arts. A full list of award recipients is below.

Walnut Street Theatre opens its landmark 207th season with the sparkling Broadway musical featuring the classic sounds of Cole Porter, HIGH SOCIETY. Directed by Frank Anzalone, with choreography by Mary Jane Houdina, this Philadelphia premiere opens tonight, September 16th, and runs through October 25th on the Walnut's Mainstage.

Walnut Street Theatre opens its landmark 207th season with the sparkling Broadway musical featuring the classic sounds of Cole Porter, HIGH SOCIETY. Directed by Frank Anzalone, with choreography by Mary Jane Houdina, this Philadelphia premiere began previews on September 8th, opens on September 16th and runs through October 25th on the Walnut's Mainstage. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Walnut Street Theatre opens its landmark 207th season with the sparkling Broadway musical featuring the classic sounds of Cole Porter, HIGH SOCIETY. Directed by Frank Anzalone, with choreography by Mary Jane Houdina, this Philadelphia premiere begins previews on September 8th, opens on September 16th and runs through October 25th on the Walnut's Mainstage.

Walnut Street Theatre opens its landmark 207th season with the sparkling Broadway musical featuring the classic sounds of Cole Porter, HIGH SOCIETY. Directed by Frank Anzalone, with choreography by Mary Jane Houdina, this Philadelphia premiere begins previews on September 8th, opens on September 16th and runs through October 25th on the Walnut's Mainstage.