Theater: New and Noteworthy

Bad Theater Fest

(Vox Populi). A celebration of underdog theater, with 13 short plays (titles such as

Rats in a Hot Swishhunt

,

What's Cookin' with Zack Bwaff

, and

Budget Discount Carla

) and a couple of short films. 7 and 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The Tale of the Allergist's Wife (Cape May Stage). In this comedy, Majorie of Manhattan deals with a hilarious mother and a mysterious figure from her past. Wednesday through July 22.

Reviewed by Tirdad Derakhshani (T.D.), Jim Rutter (J.R.), John Timpane (J.T.), and

Always, Patsy Cline (Media Theatre). Fangirl's view of the gifted Americana singer. Through July 2.

Broadcast: The Musical (11th Hour Theater Company). A chamber musical about the history of radio. Ends Sunday.

Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Perelman Theater). Fresh from its Bucks County Playhouse run, this is a persuasive, rockin' ride through Buddy Holly's career. Through July 9. - J.T.

Evita (Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, DeSales University, Center Valley, Pa.). Glittering, tender, emotionally overwhelming rendition of the Webber/Rice classic musical. Through July 2. - J.R.

Footloose! (Surflight Theatre, Beach Haven, N.J.). Welcome back, Surflight, after two years dark. Summer opens with this musical about a guy who dances his way to acceptance. Through July 9.

The Gospel According to Thomas Jefferson, Charles Dickens, and Count Leo Tolstoy: Discord (Lantern Theater Company). Three greats of the 19th century compare notes in the afterlife. Witty, clever, thought-provoking, with three great leads. Through July 2. - T.Z.

Gypsy (Arden Theatre Company). Classic musical about a woman's career in vaudeville and beyond. Despite great sets and costumes, and a game cast, this production comes off a little stiff and old-fashioned. Ends Sunday. - J.R.

Hir (Simpatico Theatre Company at the Louis Bluver Theatre). A sensational comedy, a wild, surreal family drama, skewering normative masculinity, a blindingly articulate embrace of the possible future. Ends Sunday - T.Z.

Hound of the Baskervilles (Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, DeSales University, Center Valley). Comedy based on the Arthur Conan Doyle tale of Sherlock Holmes. Through July 16.

Man of La Mancha (Princeton Festival). An intimate, spare, and effective account of the Knight of the Woeful Countenance, with folks can really sing. Ends Sunday. - J.T.

The Male Intellect: An Oxymoron? (Montgomery Theatre, Souderton). Robert Dubac transforms himself into five funny, misled guys who give one another advice over beers. Ends Sunday.

Mother Emmanuel (New Freedom Theatre). A new musical play about the lives that ended in the church shooting in Charleston, S.C. Ends Sunday.

Project Dawn (People's Light, Malvern). A revolutionary court in Philly serves a passionate and shockingly funny group of women. Ends Tuesday.

Rosemary Clooney & Friends: Come on-a My House (Bristol Riverside Theatre). A singer, her times, and her tunes. Ends Sunday.

The Roses in June (Plays & Players Theatre). World premiere of Timothy Kolman's play about the Rose family, who flee Nazi Germany for what they hope will be a better life in London. Through July 1.

Saturday Night Fever (Walnut Street Theatre). In 1979 Brooklyn, Tony and Stephanie train together for a dance competition. You'll sing and dance the rest. Tremendous talent, and a worthwhile story arc, about the dark side of working-class life. Through July 16. - T.D.

School Play (St. Peter's School). Tribe of Fools' show about how school is just, well, comically painful for many kids; you'll recognize a lot of the stories. Ends Sunday.

Shakespeare in Hollywood (Stagecrafters Theater, Chestnut Hill). Ken Ludwig is everywhere. Two of Shakespeare's fairies appear on the lot during a 1934 filming of A Midummer Night's Dream. Ends Sunday.

SoLow Fest (For complete listings, locations, and times, see solowfest.com). A festival dedicated to DIY solo experimental theater. A few of the titles: A Shoe Full of Wet Sand (ends Sunday), Cinematic Human (ends Sunday), Go to Sleep (Sunday and Monday), and I Know the Wind for the Things It Touches (ends Sunday).

Will Rogers' U.S.A. (East Lynne Theater, Cape May). A musical revue of a great comic and his country in their day. Through July 22.