Theater performances to feed your inner thespian this November
A year ago in my Fall Preview, I lamented the theater community's financial woes and loss of venues woes. But, as Annie tells us, the sun'll come out tomorrow, and so it has.
Antigone
Wilma Theater, Oct. 7-Nov. 8
Remember Attis Theatre of Greece's high-testosterone Ajax: The Madness two Fringes ago? Now the company brings its thrilling acting techniques to bear on Sophocles' great tragedy, featuring actors from both Athens and Philadelphia, including the controversial Jennifer Kidwell in the title role.
wilmatheater.org, 215-546-7824
The Children's Hour
EgoPo Classic Theatre, Oct. 7-25
Lillian Hellman's powerful drama about two teachers accused of a lesbian relationship, should be hopelessly dated by now, but, regrettably, is not.
egopo.org, 267-273-1414
Hooked!
Inis Nua Theatre Company, Oct. 7-25
The American premiere of a dark Irish comedy that promises to keep us "cringing and laughing."
InisNuaTheatre.org or 215-454-9776
Disgraced
Philadelphia Theatre Company, Oct. 9-Nov. 11
I was knocked out by Ayad Akhtar's terrific and troubling play in New York; others were too - it won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize after Off-Broadway and Broadway runs.
philadelphiatheatrecompany.org, 215-985-0420
The Mandrake
Quintessence Theatre Group, Oct. 14-Nov. 8
Machiavelli, the conniving mind that gave us "The Prince" and the resulting adjective "Machiavellian," wrote this comedy (!) about living (literally) at the pleasure of the powerful Medicis in 16th-century Florence.
Equivocation
Arden Theatre Company, Oct. 15-Dec. 6
Terrific playwright Bill Cain imagines Shakespeare between that rock and the hard place of a royal commission: Write a true and treasonous play or write a king-pleasing, fraudulent one.
ardentheatre.org, 215-922-1122
Rizzo
Theatre Exile, Oct. 15-Nov. 8
More Bruce Graham - and this is a new one. Here he dramatizes Philly's most controversial top cop, the larger- than-life Frank Rizzo, as he prepares for his 1991 mayoral campaign.
theatreexile.org, 215-218-4022
Animal Farm
Luna Theatre, Oct. 17-Nov. 7
An all-female cast of creatures (some more equal than others) in this stage adaptation of George Orwell's famous political allegory.
lunatheatre.org
Grounded
InterAct Theatre Company, Oct. 23-Nov. 13
A pregnant ace fighter pilot juggles drones and family in this award-winning British drama.
interacttheatre.org, 215-568-8079
Watership Down
Simpatico Theatre Project, Nov. 4-22
Multimedia - puppets, masks, projections - in this adaptation of the much-loved rabbit-centric novel.
simpaticotheatre.org, 267-437-7529
Lights Rise on Grace
Azuka Theatre, Nov. 4-22
A rolling world premiere about family strife.
azukatheatre.org, 215-563-1100
Black Nativity
Theatre Horizon, Nov. 12-Dec. 6
Langston Hughes reimagines the Christmas story. The show is filled with African-American dance and gospel songs making a joyful noise.
theatrehorizon.org, 610-283-2230
Becoming Dr. Ruth
Walnut Street Theatre's Independence Studio on 3, Nov. 17-Dec. 27
A biodrama about America's beloved sex therapist, the little lady who said the most unladylike things.
WalnutStreetTheatre.org, 215-574-3550
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