Philadelphia Spotlight: July 2010
Second Coming
and Rachel Miller of The Second City
(© Michael Brosilow)
Chicago's unpredictable comedy troupe The Second City (which includes Gilda Radnor and Bill Murray among its esteemed alumni) returns to Philadelphia Theatre Company July 13-25. This new production features songs, sketches and improvisations from throughout the company's 50 year history.
Act II Playhouse presents local playwright Larry McKenna's romantic comedy Burt & Me (July 6-August 1). Featuring 20 songs by Burt Bacharach (including "Walk on By" and "Close to You"), the show is the story of high school sweethearts with a shared passion for the composer's music.
Many of Philly's top performers are in Center Valley, Pa this month at the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Theatre. In the intimate Schubert Theatre PSF is presenting Shakespeare's boisterous comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor (July 14-August 8). On the Main Stage, you can treat yourself to the Bard's Romeo and Juliet (July 21-August 8); it's being directed by celebrated fight choreographer Dennis Razze so expect plenty of fancy swordplay in Shakespeare's tragic tale of young love.
The new company Temple Repertory Theater makes its debut with rotating productions of Anton Chekhov's sensational dark comedy Three Sisters (July 3-August 1) and William Shakespeare's masterpiece Measure for Measure (July 6-July 30). Both productions feature outstanding casts of Temple MFA students. Comprised of professional actors, the ensemble includes the versatile Barrymore Award winner Genevieve Perrier and the dynamic Obie Award winning actress Yvette Ganier, who recently appeared in the Broadway revival of The Miracle Worker.
People's Light & Theatre Company takes a journey to that famous abode on Baker Street when PLTC presents Jeremy Paul's original play The Secret of Sherlock Holmes (July 7-August 8). A writer for the popular TV series Sherlock Holmes, Paul's new work focuses on the relationship between Holmes (Peter DeLaurier, who was terrific as the detective in PLTC's 2008 staging of Sherlock Holmes & The Case of the Jersey Lily) and Dr. Watson (Mark Lazar).