The Owlery

The features blog of The Temple News

Theater Archive

Monday

22

June 2015

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Out and About: June 22, 2015

Written by , Posted in Art, Arts & Entertainment, Food, Nightlife, Theater, Uncategorized

Tchaikovsky with Fireworks
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The residency at the Mann Center begins with this Philadelphia favorite. Cristian Măcelaru, conductor, and Hai-Ye Ni, primary cello, will perform some of Tchaikovsky’s most beloved work, like Swan Lake, while fireworks light up the sky. More information is available at http://www.manncenter.org/events/2015-06-23/tchaikovsky-fireworks-philadelphia-orchestra. 
When: Tuesday, June 23 at 8 p.m.
Where: The Mann Center lawn, 52nd and Parkside Street
Cost: $20-$35 on Ticketmaster

Dinner and a Movie at Headhouse Square
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The Shambles is hosting a new, free movie series over the summer. The monthly series also features an ever-changing list of local restaurants and food trucks to complete the outdoor event with alfresco dinner. The Muppets Take Manhattan will kick off the screening series. More information can be found at http://southstreet.com/dinner-movie/.
When: June 24 at 6 p.m.
Where: Headhouse Square Shambles, 2nd and Lombard Streets
Cost: screening is free; food is pay-as-you-go

Dinner with the European Masters of Cheese
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Designed to honor Daphne Zepos, a trailblazer in the global cheese community, this one-of-a-kind event allows participants to speak with some of the world’s greatest cheese experts and makers. “It will be a night of learning about all things cheese and enjoying a selection of delectable dishes prepared by Di Bruno Bros” with a line-up featuring José Luis Martin, Giorgio Cravero, Phillipe Goux, Betty Koster, Todd and Maugan Threthowan and Stacey Hedges. More information can be found at http://blog.dibruno.com/2015/06/11/special-event-alert-cheese-experts-of-europe-unite/.
When: Thursday, June 25 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Where: 1730 Chestnut Street, second floor
Cost: $75 for entry and dinner

Supper, People on the Move
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 (photo by Jennifer Baker)
Featuring new work by choreographer Silvana Cardell, this performance is inspired by migration and “explores the complex experience of dislocation.” The dance focuses on the human experience throughout the world and the journey of immigrants. In addition to the performances at Crane Arts, there is an accompanying exhibit at Independence National Historical Park focusing on area immigrants with a free screening of the dance performance. More information can be found at http://supperdance.com.
When: Thursday, June 25 at 8 p.m. (opening)
Where: Icebox Project Space at Crane Arts, 1400 North American Street
Cost: $20/$15 for students at https://supper.ticketleap.com/dance/dates

Poor Richard
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Philadelphia artists Kelly Franklin and Carol Jarvis explore the wit and timelessness behind Benjamin Franklin’s phrases written under the pseudonym “Poor Richard.” The opening reception for the show, a translation of Franklin’s “text with symbolism and a deep-rooted love of nature,” is this Friday. Both artists will be attendance. More information can be found at http://www.paradigmarts.org/blogs/news/35323585-kelly-p-franklin-carol-p-jarvis-press-release.
When: Friday, June 26 at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Paradigm Gallery, 746 S 4th Street
Cost: Free

Monday

15

June 2015

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Arden Theatre’s passionate plight

Written by , Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Theater, Uncategorized

By Grace Maiorano

As Clara yearns for the return of her lover, Giorgio, she describes in a letter how “sometimes I think that when you watch a person sleep there’s a transparency that lets you see their soul …”

Unfortunately, one could see a few souls in the audience.

Despite those drowsing attendees, the Arden Theatre’s anomalous portrayal of Stephen Sondheim’s Passion evoked a compulsively twisted nature of unforeseen love, unlike his serendipitous tale of West Side Story. The show, running through June 28th, is another segment in the theatre’s series of Sondheim spectacles.

The set design of Passion is primarily composed of large black panels that attempt to serve as scene-changers, but in actuality maintain a one-dimensional space housing similarly one-dimensional characters.

The single-sided individuals, as well as the basis of the story, could agitate any feminist. The play’s foundation centers upon women’s objectified roles in life, stitched together with lyrics like, “a woman is a flower whose purpose is to please,” and “as long as you’re a man, you still have opportunities … whereas, if you’re a woman … you are either a daughter or a wife.”

The story is set during 19th century Italy in a remote military base. The strapping, yet vapid, character of Giorgio, played by Ben Michael, is forced to leave his erotic affair with a lustful married woman, Clara, played by Jennie Eisenhower, to fulfill his military duties.

The musical maintains its ideology of superficial concepts with Giorgio’s hollow demeanor, confirming that as long as the male is attractive, women can overlook the rest.

The actor who played Giorgio, Ben Michael, appeared to excel in this empty role, occasionally appearing aloof on stage. But, this worked well, considering his character’s disposition.

“As far as acting, the lead man got better as the play went on,” said theatre-goer, Mary Lou Bremser. “Maybe he just needed to warm up.”

At the outpost, Giorgio finds himself the subject of an almost-fatal infatuation when a mundane, ill, and much-less-seductive woman, Fosca, played by Liz Filios, develops an ungodly obsession for him that disturbs her mental state. She will nearly – quite literally – drop dead at the declaration of his unrequited love.

The clichéd theme resurfaces again through Fosca’s interest in books, which is merely omitted by her lackluster sexuality, a clearly obvious contrast to the character of Clara.

Through a series of letters, Giorgio attempts to convince Clara that Fosca’s fixation couldn’t possibly deter the relationship with his beloved mistress on the home front, but as Fosca lurks in the corners on the stages, she lurks in the corners of Giorgio’s mind.

Inevitably, the passion turns into a plague. As the story comes to a close, Fosca’s passive, yet persuasive, ways subtly erode Giorgio into a submissive state. He declares his own love for her, kills her cousin, and promptly winds up in a mental hospital by the end of the musical.

One of the production’s more impressive points is its effective use of lighting, especially noticeable in narrative scenes throughout the musical, like letter-reading dialogue and storytelling.

In the “Sunrise Letter” scene, Clara’s face is beautifully lit with pinkish-orange shades that bring life to the imagery she creates of a sunrise with her angelic voice and Sondheim’s timeless lyrics.

Passion is peppered with the sporadic tenor sounds of fellow militants who sing their way through scene transitions. Through barbershop-sounding harmonies, they mostly reiterate plot points and underlying themes in order to keep some of those drowsing audiences members in check.

“Watching the show was a little itchy at times,” said theatre-goer, Lynette Lazarus. “It may have been better with the special effects.”

Unfortunately, due to technical difficulties, the production’s videography elements, which were created to embellish the set, were not shown during this particular performance.

If there is anything one can take away from this production, it’s the understanding that unlike the characters and the set design it occupies, women are multidimensional beings free from the ideas this musical suggests.

Grace Maiorano can be reached at grace.maiorano@temple.edu.

Tuesday

31

March 2015

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‘Dirty Dancing’ the musical to show through April 5

Written by , Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Theater

Broadway Philadelphia continues its 2015-16 season with “Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story on Stage” at the Kimmel Center’s Academy of Music through April 5. The 1987 Oscar-winning film starred Jennifer Grey as Frances “Baby” Houseman, who falls in love with a camp’s dance instructor, Johnny Castle, played by Patrick Swayze. Now a worldwide phenomenon, the stage adaptation retells the classic story with all its dancing and original music, including such hits like “Hungry Eyes” and “Hey Baby,” as well as “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.”

Dates and times vary with tickets ranging from $40.50 to $120.50.

 

Tuesday

24

March 2015

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Tomlinson hosts Thornton Wilder’s “The Matchmaker”

Written by , Posted in Living, Theater

Thornton Wilder’s “The Matchmaker” is an American play about the relationship between love and money. The play centers on the charming and charismatic character Dolly Levi. Dolly gets hired by the rich widower Horace Vandergelder to help broker fortunate marriages for himself and his niece Ermengarde, but Dolly has other plans.

Filled with “mistaken identities, near-misses and a wild romp through 19th century New York,” The Matchmakers proves false the old saying that money can’t buy happiness. The first showing is Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. It will run until April 4 with alternating showings at 7:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. “The Matchmaker” will show in Tomlinson Theater. Tickets are $10 with TUid and can be purchased in the Temple Theaters box office.

Tuesday

10

March 2015

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The Pennsylvania Ballet presents “Swan Lake”

Written by , Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Music, Theater

“Swan Lake” will be having its second and last weekend run at the Academy of Music from March 14-15. Set to the score by Tchaikovsky, the Pennsylvania Ballet’s version of the world-renowned love story features modernized choreography from Christopher Wheeldon, in addition to visual costumes and sets.

The performances will be at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on March 14, with the last 2 p.m. show on March 15. Ticket prices vary.

Monday

16

February 2015

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Midnight Madness at Ritz at the Bourse

Written by , Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Theater

Every Friday night through the rest of February and March, the 400 Ranstead St. location of the Ritz Bourse movie theater chain will be hosting midnight screenings of some nostalgic classics.

On Feb. 20, the Ritz will be showing 1975 cult classic “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” with special live shadow cast Transylvania Nipple Productions, who will act out the whole movie and sell prop bags for $2. For those brave enough, the $10 screening also includes a lingerie contest.

Tuesday

3

February 2015

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EXHIBIT ON KENNEDYS comes to THE Constitution Center

Written by , Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Theater

A new exhibition coming to the National Constitution Center, “Creating Camelot: The Kennedy Photograph of Jacques Lowe,” will highlight the photojournalist’s work documenting the lives of the Kennedy family while President John F. Kennedy was in office. 70 photos will give viewers a look inside the relationship Lowe had with President Kennedy and his wife and daughters. A film documenting Lowe’s work with the Kennedy family will be shown alongside the photographs.

The exhibition opens Feb. 13.

Thursday

29

January 2015

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Filming for “Creed” comes to Main Campus

Written by , Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Theater

Older men in bowties and pressed shirts crossed Broad Street in a line of more than 50 people.

The “referees” for the fight scene of the newest Rocky installation, “Creed,” along with soon-to-be hundreds of extras for the film, walked across Main Campus on Thursday around 11 a.m. into Temple’s Performing Arts Center.

A catering company, production staff, trucks of lights, chairs and parts of the set lined Broad Street, beginning at 9 a.m.

The scene shot at TPAC, identified by a member of the crew and extras as a fight scene, would probably have the crew filming until 8 or 9 p.m. that same night. TPAC is the only building on Main Campus where the movie will be shot. Filming will last until Friday, Jan. 30.

The movie, set to be released in January 2016, follows Balboa as he takes on the role of a trainer and mentor for Apollo Creed’s son or grandson.

The director is Ryan Coogler, also known for his work in Fruitvale Station. Coogler co-wrote the film with Aaron Covington.

Many of the extras, according to a member of the cast, unable to disclose his name for privacy reasons, are part of the Screen Actors Guild in Philadelphia, located at 230 S. Broad St.

Tuesday

27

January 2015

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Mega-Bad Movie Night: On Tour with “Them!”

Written by , Posted in Art, Arts & Entertainment, Theater

The Academy of Natural Sciences’ Mega-Bad Movie Night returns with a screening of the 1954 sci-fi horror flick “Them!” at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute on Jan. 29. In addition to live commentary on the film about giant, man-eating ants, the Academy will be on hand with live bugs and some bug cuisine for the daring, with Yards Brewery giving free beer to 21-and-older patrons.

  Tickets to the 7 p.m. event are $15.


Tuesday

20

January 2015

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2015 Witout Awards for Philadelphia Comedy

Written by , Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Theater

Philadelphian comedians are getting the spotlight in the 2015 Philly Comedy Awards, held by WitOut at World Café Live Philadelphia on Jan. 25.

This year’s award show is hosted by the co-founders of Five Dollar Comedy Week, Aaron Nevins and Kate Banford, who will be presenting awards in 12 categories, including Best Sketch Comedy Video and Special Achievement in the Field of Tweeting. The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are $16-$20.