{"id":27609,"date":"2015-12-17T09:45:47","date_gmt":"2015-12-17T14:45:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=27609"},"modified":"2015-12-17T09:44:56","modified_gmt":"2015-12-17T14:44:56","slug":"on-stage-rudolph-the-musical-hits-philly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=27609","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: Rudolph The Musical hits Philly"},"content":{"rendered":"

Holiday shows aplenty light up area stages<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

By Denny Dyroff,<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Staff Writer, The Times<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"RUDOLPH-72\"<\/a>Now that the holiday season has arrived, it\u2019s a great time to head into Philadelphia to enjoy the colorful decorations, have dinner at a nice restaurant and then attend a live stage performance.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fortunately, there is a show at the Merriam Theater (250 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, 215-893-1999, www.kimmelcenter.org<\/span><\/a>) that is a perfect fit for just such a trip — \u201cRudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer The Musical.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The colorful show, which is part of the Kimmel Center\u2019s \u201cBroadway Philadelphia\u201d series, will be in Philly for an eight-show run from December 17-20.<\/span><\/p>\n

Based on the beloved television classic, \u201cRudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer The Musical\u201d features all of the favorite characters from the special including Santa and Mrs. Claus, Hermey the Elf, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, Clarice, Yukon Cornelius and, of course, Rudolph.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is has been more than 50 years since the television special arrived but Rudolph\u2019s history goes back to 1939 when Robert May created Rudolph for a coloring book promo given out by Montgomery Ward. Originally slated to be a moose, Rudolph became a reindeer, a less-imposing animal.<\/span><\/p>\n

The story has been adapted in many ways including a popular holiday carol, a TV special and sequels and a feature film with a sequel. The red-nosed reindeer\u2019s popularity is so great that United States Postal Service issues a series of postage stamps featuring Rudolph in November 2014.<\/span><\/p>\n

Last year, the musical version of the story was created to honor the 50<\/span>th<\/sup><\/span> anniversary of the television special. The tour was so well-received that it was brought back again this season for a six-week coast-to-coast tour with three separate casts and productions.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI did the Rudolph tour last year,\u201d said Hailey Tweter, during a phone interview last week from a tour stop in Hershey. \u201cWe played all over the East Coast and audiences everywhere loved it. I didn\u2019t know much about the musical before last year but I had seen the movie. For years, it\u2019s been one of my favorites.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Tweter plays the role of Clarice.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis year, I didn\u2019t audition until later than most,\u201d said Tweter. \u201cIt all happened in a couple of weeks. The creative team was very intent on making sure the character voices are true to the original voices. They knew what I could do because I was Clarice in last year\u2019s tour.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cClarice was very vintage. She has a floating and lilting voice. The song she sings is an encouragement for Rudolph. That is there always. She\u2019s a sweet little doe. I like that she is the first — and the only — one who sees Rudolph, sees his nose and doesn\u2019t look at it as abnormal. She thinks it\u2019s a handsome nose.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Snow and winter scenes are not Tweter\u2019s native environment. She grew up in Orange County in Southern California and attended Vanguard University in Costa Mesa.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVanguard has a great theater program — not just performing but also the technical part,\u201d said Tweter. \u201cI was studying classical singing and theater. Then, I chose theater. If a classical role arose, I\u2019d be on board. But, my heart really is in musical theater.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI love doing this show. Last year was the 50<\/span>th<\/sup><\/span> anniversary of Rudolph\u2019s air date so they wanted to mount this amazing production. And, they did great merchandising for the anniversary.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis show is so nostalgic. Everyone has seen the movie so there is this connection to the story. And, there is the message about bullying.\u00a0 Most importantly, there is the Christmas spirit. It\u2019s a wonderful show where kids can experience the magic of live theater.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for \u201cRudolph\u201d — https:\/\/youtu.be\/slne0mBRDds<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Performance times are 7 p.m. on December 17 and 18 and 11 a.m., 2 and 5:30 p.m. on December 19 and 20. Ticket prices range from $35-$95.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"book-mormon\"<\/a>

The Book of Mormon<\/p><\/div>\n

Another show that is running now and is part of the Kimmel Center\u2019s \u201cBroadway Philadelphia\u201d series is \u201cThe Book of Mormon,\u201d which is playing now through December \u00a027 at the Forrest Theatre (1114 Walnut Street, Philadelphia 866-276-2947,\u00a0www.kimmelcenter.org\/broadway<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

The lively musical, which was\u00a0seven years in the making, met with immediate\u00a0critical acclaim and won numerous theater awards including nine\u00a0Tony Awards (including Best Musical)\u00a0and a\u00a0Grammy Award\u00a0for\u00a0Best Musical Theater Album. \u201cThe Book of Mormon\u201d features book, lyrics, and music by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, and Matt Stone. Stone and Parker were the creators of the animated comedy \u201cSouth Park.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cThe Book of Mormon\u201d\u00a0tells the story of two young, inexperienced Mormon\u00a0missionaries\u00a0who are\u00a0sent to Africa. It is set in a remote village in northern\u00a0Uganda. In the village, which is about two hours north of Uganda\u2019s capitol Kampala, a brutal warlord is threatening the local population. The primary antagonist is the superstitious General, who does not like the missionaries and views them as a threat.<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for \u201cThe Book of Mormon\u201d — https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=OKkLV1zE8M0<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ticket prices ranges from $67-$177.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"a<\/a>

A Christmas Story, the musical.<\/p><\/div>\n

The Walnut Street Theatre (825 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, 215-574-3550, www.walnutstreettheatre.org<\/span><\/a>) is presenting \u201cA Christmas Story, The Musical\u201d now through January 10 on its Mainstage.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA Christmas Story, The Musical\u201d is a Broadway musical comedy based on the classic 1983 movie. Set in in Indiana in the 1940\u2019s, it features a bespectacled boy named Ralphie who has a big imagination and one wish for Christmas –a Red Ryder BB Gun.<\/span><\/p>\n

A kooky leg lamp, outrageous pink bunny pajamas, a cranky department store Santa and a triple-dog-dare to lick a freezing flagpole are just a few of the obstacles that stand between Ralphie and his Christmas dream.<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for \u201cA Chrustmas Story\u201d — https:\/\/youtu.be\/8ibc4ubYe9E<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ticket prices range from $20-$95.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"TheThreeMaries_620x420\"<\/a>Previews start on December 17 at the Prince Music Theater (1412 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, 267-239-2941, princetheater.org<\/span><\/a>) for a new show titled \u201cThe Three Maries \u00a0— A Philadelphia Phable.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0No Attytude Productions\u00a0presents the Philly-centric show penned by Michael Ogborn as a \u201cWorld Premiere Musical\u201d that will run at the Prince through January 10.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Three Maries\u201d is a musical comedy inspired by an historical event — Queen Marie of Romania\u2019s visit to the city of Philadelphia in October of 1926. This original \u201cCinderella -Pygmalion mash up\u201d is narrated from a Mummer\u2019s clubhouse on Dock Street.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The show is about one family and how the Queen\u2019s visit changed their lives forever.\u00a0 It generously showcases the famous sites and many of the city\u2019s unique cultural traditions. The settings and costumes are created using Mummer\u2019s inspired design. The original score is infused with 1920\u2019s jazz, vaudeville, Tin Pan Alley and the famous sound of the Mummer\u2019s string bands.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ticket prices range from $27-$52.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Suzanne Roberts Theatre (480 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, 215- 985-0420, http:\/\/philadelphiatheatrecompany.org<\/span><\/a>) features \u201cKen Ludwig\u2019s Baskerville — A Sherlock Holmes Mystery\u201d now through December 27.<\/span><\/p>\n

From the award-winning mastermind of mayhem, Ken Ludwig (\u201cLend Me a Tenor\u201d), comes a fast-paced comedy about everyone\u2019s favorite detective solving his most notorious case. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson must crack the mystery of \u201cThe Hound of the Baskervilles\u201d before a family curse dooms its newest heir.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ticket prices range from $24-$62.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Nutcracker_Image\"<\/a>A show that combines the best of ballet and the excitement of theater is the Pennsylvania Ballet\u2019s annual production of \u201cGeorge Balanchine\u2019s The Nutcracker.\u201d \u00a0This year\u2019s show, which is running now through December 31 at the Academy of Music (Broad and Locust streets, Philadelphia, 215-893-1999, www.paballet.org<\/span><\/a>), is the 47<\/span>th<\/sup><\/span> annual staging of the classic ballet.<\/span><\/p>\n

The ballet is based on E.T.A. Hoffman\u2019s tale \u201cThe Nutcracker and The Mouse King\u201d and set to a score by Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky. Featuring lively dances, colorful costumes and elaborate sets, \u201cThe Nutcracker\u201d is a production that appeals to audiences of all ages.<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Pennsylvania Ballet\u2019s \u201cGeorge Balanchine\u2019s The Nutcracker\u201d\u2014https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6j4HATkhrSY<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ticket prices range from $35 -$150.<\/span><\/p>\n

If dinner and a night at the theater sounds appealing but the thought of driving into Philadelphia and dealing with trying to park in Center City does not sound very appealing, there are two good alternatives.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Candlelight Theater (2208 Millers Road, Arden, Delaware,\u00a0302- 475-2313,\u00a0www.candlelighttheatredelaware.org<\/span><\/a>) is presenting the classic hit musical \u201cMame\u201d now through December 20.<\/span><\/p>\n

Performances are December 18 and 19 (doors 6 p.m.\/show, 8 p.m.) and December 20 (doors, 1 p.m.\/show, 3 p.m.). Tickets, which include dinner and show, are $59 for adults and $33 for children (ages 4-12).<\/span><\/p>\n

The Rainbow Comedy Theatre (3065 Lincoln Highway East, Paradise, 800-292-4301, www.RainbowDinnerTheatre.com<\/span><\/a>) is presenting \u201cGood Night, Mrs. Puffin\u201d now through December 27<\/span><\/p>\n

Matinee performances are every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and selected Saturdays with an 11:30 a.m. lunch and a 1 p.m. curtain. Evening performances are every Friday, Saturday and selected Thursdays with dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the show following at 8 p.m. Ticket prices range from $49-$55.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"moneen<\/a>

.moneen.<\/p><\/div>\n

The music schedule slows a little during the holidays but there is one show that has special significance — the return of Canada\u2019s .moneen.<\/span><\/p>\n

The veteran band from Brampton, Ontario (a suburb of Toronto) will head south of the U.S.\/Canada border this weekend for three shows in the northeast starting December 18 at Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill Street, Philadelphia, http:\/\/undergroundarts.org<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

The quartet, which features Kenny Bridges, Chris \u201cThe Hippy\u201d Hughes, Erik Hughes and Peter Krpan, will play Brooklyn on Saturday, Boston on Sunday and then return home. This mini-tour marks the first time .moneen. has played in the states in more than five years.<\/span><\/p>\n

The tour features .moneen. and Moving Mountains as co-headliners. The two groups have combined to make a split single featuring .moneen.\u2019s cover of Moving Mountain\u2019s \u201cArmslength\u201d and Moving Mountains\u2019 cover of .moneen.\u2019s \u201cThe Great Escape.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Formed in 1999, .moneen. recorded four albums in 10 years — the most recent of which was \u201cThe World I Want to Leave Behind\u201d in 2009.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn 2009, we were on tour with Say Anything, Moving Mountains and Eisley,\u201d said Bridges, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon from his home in Ontario. \u201cMy wife was pregnant with our first child so I was ready to get off the road.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI had felt really good with what we had done as a band so I thought it would be an O.K. time to walk away from it. I didn\u2019t want the band to just fizzle away but my heart wasn\u2019t in it. But, not everyone wanted to end it. So, we just took a break.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Six years have passed and the band is still more or less on break — more or less.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI stayed involved in music,\u201d said Bridges. \u201cOur drummer is a real estate agent and our guitarist got into home renovation work. Every once in awhile, we\u2019d get together for one or maybe two shows each year.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen, a few months ago, I was with Greg (Dunn) from Moving Mountains. That band was in a hiatus too. So, we decided to do some shows together with our bands. Our booking agent was up for it so we went ahead with it. Timing-wise it works. It all came together well.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Since it has been six years since the band\u2019s last album, .moneen. will not be breaking out any new songs on this tour.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt will be mostly songs from our older albums,\u201d said Bridges. \u201cI don\u2019t know what the future is but we\u2019re excited for now. All but one of us has kids now so we\u2019re only going to do a few shows. Music is an important part of life and none of us want to give it up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link\u00a0 for .moneen. — https:\/\/youtu.be\/3JRl2wNYNS8<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The show at Underground Arts will have Prawn as the opening act. Doors for the all ages show open at 7 p.m. and tickets are priced at $16.50.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"flash<\/a>The Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295,\u00a0http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org<\/span><\/a>) will have \u201cStand Up Comedy Night\u201d with Hannah Harkness, Neill Carroll, Matt Hagerty, Marc Staudenmaier and Mike Brooks on December 17, \u201cBetter than Bacon — 5th Annual Non-Denominational Holiday Extravaganza\u201d and Wussy Riot on December 18, Crossroads (Dennis Melton, Billy Penn Burger, Michael Melton, Tommy Geddes, Bob Beach) on December 19, Open Mic with Sam Kwietniak on December 20 and The Remedy, Luxury Lennens and Bill Rose from The Rose Project on December 23.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The schedule for the Steel City Coffee House (203 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, 610-933-4043, www.steelcitycoffeehouse.com<\/span><\/a>) features \u201cVocal Fusion A Capella Holiday Concert\u201d on December 17, \u201cAn Evening With Johnny A.\u201d on December 18 and The Peace Creeps and The Greg Sover Band on December 19.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at Chaplin\u2019s (66 North Main Street, Spring City, 610-792-4110,\u00a0http:\/\/chaplinslive.com<\/span><\/a>) on December 18 will feature Trent Vernon, Dre Carter, Beezy, Tahj Mill, Lil Rey, Tidge, Trey Day, J Byrd and DJ Ryan Simms. On December 23, the venue will host Ted The Fiddler\u2019s Big Time Birthday Bash.<\/span><\/p>\n

The schedule for the Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610-649-8389,\u00a0www.ardmoremusic.com<\/span><\/a>) includes Beru Revue Christmas Show & Benefit concert (December 18), Pigeons Playing Ping Pong with special guest Aqueous (December 19), Annual Holiday Extavaganza + Ron Smith Tribute (December 20) and Splintered Sunlight with special guest Old Soul Revival (December 23).<\/span><\/p>\n

Burlap & Bean Coffeehouse (204 South Newtown Street Road, Newtown Square, 484-427-4547,\u00a0www.burlapandbean.com<\/span><\/a>) will present Hot Club Philly on December 18 and Helyn Rain and Jeff Ratner on December 19.<\/span><\/p>\n

Doc Watson\u2019s Public House (150 North Pottstown Pike, Exton, 610-524-2424, docwatsonspublichouse.com<\/span><\/a>) will host a show by chatterband on December 19.<\/span><\/p>\n

Melodies Caf\u00e9 (2 East Ardmore Avenue, Ardmore, 610-645-5269, www.melodiescafe.com<\/span><\/a>) will present Rosemary Ostrowski\u2019s \u201cThe Living Room Series\u201d on December 17.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Grand Opera House (818 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-652-5577, www.thegrandwilmington.org<\/span><\/a>) will host the First State Ballet Theatre\u2019s production of \u201cThe Nutcracker\u201d on December 19 and 20.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Keswick Theater (291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 215-572-7650,\u00a0www.keswicktheatre.com<\/span><\/a>) presents India.Arie on December 17.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808,\u00a0www.st94.com<\/span><\/a>) will present Sons Of Serendip on December 17, Girls Guns & Glory and The Nightshade on December 18, \u201c’In The Spirit Of The Holidays with Annie Haslam & Friends\u201d and Jann Klose on December 19, and \u201cAn Elvis Christmas\u201d with Doug Church on December 20.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chameleon Club (223 North Water Street, Lancaster, 717-299-9684, http:\/\/www.chameleonclub.net<\/span><\/a>) will have Testosteroso, The Gone, and Render on December 18, Fuel, Trapt and She Pulled the Trigger on December 19, and August Burns Red, Polyphia and Wage War on December 20.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Holiday shows aplenty light up area stages By Denny Dyroff,\u00a0Staff Writer, The Times Now that the holiday season has arrived, it\u2019s a great time to head into Philadelphia to enjoy the colorful decorations, have dinner at a nice restaurant and then attend a live stage performance. Fortunately, there is a show at the Merriam Theater […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27602,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7842,7],"tags":[7846,7845,7848,7847,7849],"class_list":["post-27609","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts-entertainment","category-featured","tag-a-christmas-story","tag-rudolph","tag-the-book-of-mormon","tag-the-nutcracker","tag-the-three-maries"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27609","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=27609"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27609\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27610,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27609\/revisions\/27610"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/27602"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=27609"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=27609"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=27609"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}