New Jerusalem
There’s still time to catch one of last year’s hottest shows, revived as Lantern’s season-starter. The unlikely hit dramatizes the 1656 trial of renegade philosopher Spinoza, “intoxicated by God,” dedicated to logic, and — like all prophetic thinkers — scorned by his contemporaries.
Through Sept. 23, St. Stephen’s Theater, lanterntheater.org.
Angels in America, Part Two: Perestroika
Those who missed last spring’s masterful staging of Part One: Millennium Approaches, directed by Blanka Zizka, can stop crying about it. Both parts of Tony Kushner’s Tony-winner will play in rep with the same great cast.
Through Oct. 21, Wilma Theater, wilmatheater.org.
Next to Normal
The Arden scores the area’s first professional production of Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt’s 2010 Pulitzer Prize winner for Drama, starring not only Rachel Camp, Michael Doherty and Kristine Fraelich, but Jorge Cousineau’s innovative video design.
Sept. 27-Nov. 4, Arden Theatre, ardentheatre.org.
The Outgoing Tide
Can anyone top the Philadelphia Theatre Company’s superb local premiere of Bruce Graham’s The Outgoing Tide? New Delaware Theatre Company artistic director Bud Martin will try with star power. Emmy winners Peter Strauss and Michael Learned, plus Ian Lithgow, play a family facing Alzheimer’s disease.
Oct. 10-28, Delaware Theatre Company, delawaretheatre.org.
Stars of David
Philadelphia Theatre Company opens its season with a world- premiere musical, a “snapshot of Jewish identity” based on interviews with famous American Jews put to music by composers and lyricists like William Finn, Sheldon Harnick and the late Marvin Hamlisch.
Oct. 17-Nov. 18, Suzanne Roberts Theatre, philadelphiatheatrecompany.org.
Behind the Eye
Gas & Electric Arts’ elegant, movement-driven productions occur too infrequently. Lisa Jo Epstein’s staging of Carson Kreitzer’s play about fashion model, photographer and Man Ray muse Lee Miller stars Kittson O’Neill, with original music by Melissa Dunphy.
Oct. 24-Nov. 18, Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre, gasandelectricarts.org.
Pookie Goes Grenading
Winner of the fall season’s greatest-title award, J.C. Lee’s new comedy is about teenage misfits in Camden determined to make a movie, even if it takes weapons-grade explosives.
Oct. 31-Nov. 18, Off-Broad Street Theater, azukatheatre.org.
The Republican Theater Festival
Philly director Cara Blouin has unleashed a tempest in the liberal theater community by inviting playwrights to submit one-acts celebrating politically conservative values. Show up to jeer or cheer the results, if you still have any stomach for politics by this point.
Nov. 12-14, Plays & Players Theatre, forearmedproductions.com.
Dave & Aaron Go to Work
Outrageously multitalented Dave Jadico and Aaron Cromie channel classic vaudeville acts like Laurel & Hardy, Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton in their new wordless comedy with music, slapstick, puppetry and magic in an original holiday family show.
Nov. 29-Dec. 31, Plays & Players Theatre, 1812productions.org.
Also in our Fall Arts Guide:
- A local teacher talks to Tony Danza about teaching in the city's public schools.
- Frank Furness designed PAFA’s Historic Landmark Building on North Broad in 1876.
- Fall Arts Guide: Rock/Pop
- Fall Arts Guide: Visual Art
- Fall Arts Guide: Jazz
- Fall Arts Guide: Dance
- Fall Arts Guide: Classical
- Fall Arts Guide: Roots
