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THE KITCHEN WITCHES, dcp Theatre, 02/01/2019-02/16/2019
SPINNING INTO BUTTER, The Stagecrafters, 02/01/2019-02/17/2019
SHAKESPEARE IN HOLLYWOOD, Players Club of Swarthmore, 02/08/2019-02/23/2019
FOUR WEDDINGS AND AN ELVIS, Kelsey Theatre, 02/15/2019-02/24/2019
RAPUNZEL, Kelsey Theatre, 02/23/2019-02/23/2019
26 PEBBLES: PHILADELPHIA PREMIERE, ALLENS LANE THEATER, 03/01/2019-03/17/2019
THE PAJAMA GAME, The Barley Sheaf Players, 03/01/2019-03/23/2019
SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE BAKER STREET IRREGULARS, dcp Theatre,...
SHREK, THE MUSICAL, Players Club of Swarthmore, 03/01/2019-03/10/2019
TALES FROM THE BROTHERS GRIMM, Newtown Arts Company,...

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      Outrageous Tim Firth Comedy at Old Academy: CALENDAR…

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      Footlighters Theater Presents 5th BROADWAY IN BERWYN Show

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Forge’s First Avenue Finale: THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Charms and Delights
Reviews

Forge’s First Avenue Finale: THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Charms and Delights

Tap dancing, a beautiful ingénue, an alcoholic chaperone, an aviatrix, an over-the-top Casanova, and singing gangsters.  What more could one ask for in musical theatre?  It’s rare that I attend a show these days where the audience is belly-aching with laughter and the kids are wide awake, laughing and paying attention.  Forge Theatre’s final production on First Avenue is a gem, from start to finish.  A 2006 Tony award winner for best book and score, THE DROWSY CHAPERONE is a 1920’s parody of traditional musicals, sure to tickle your fancy.

Forge vet Bob Goretski plays the neurotic yet lovable Man in Chair, who narrates through one of his most beloved musicals, complete with a bright red self-titled vinyl for us old-timers to reminisce along with him.  A familiar plot of boy gets girl, boy loses girl, boy …well, you can figure out the rest.  However this girl happens to be Broadway diva star Janet Van de Graaf, adeptly played by Janine Herd.  Herd’s rendition of “Show Off” is the first in a series of show-stoppers.  Though the story is cute, it’s the show within the show that makes it such a hit.  The stellar cast that Director Marnie Herzfeld and Musical Director Denise Wisneski expertly guided through weeks of rehearsals did not disappoint.

Goretski’s portrayal of the fanatical narrator makes you picture his closet of Barbara Streisand wigs, you can almost hear his rendition of Cabaret from his shower, that’s how perfectly believable and committed he was to his Man in Chair.  He revels through the show that never was, the “comedy within a musical,” and we the audience, become theatre geeks willingly.  Anyone who’s ever attended one musical in their lives can appreciate this charming, clever and campy romp.

Along with the wonderful Goretski, there are so many talents in this show it’s difficult to name them all.  Steve Schulz clearly stood out as lady-killer Adolpho.  Schultz kept everyone howling, his brilliant comic timing along with the hilarious and talented Regina DePaolis stole every scene they were in.  DePaoli’s Chaperone was sentimentally bawdy, her rendition of “As We Stumble Along” another show-stopper.  Danielle Greenberg as the classic dumb blonde Kitty was adorable, Renee Schultz’s Trix the Aviatrix let out an impressive belt in “I Do, I Do in the Sky,” and stand-out Jason Fazio is sure to hit Broadway any day now.  Fazio along with Carey Rumpf as leading man Robert Martin excited us with their tap duet “Cold Feets.”  Additional players JT Grosch, Beth Eustis and Jack Roberts also deserve credit for creating a top-notch show.  It’s no wonder the show is nearly entirely sold out, a stellar cast and ensemble, kudos to Herzfeld and Wisneski and their team for a delightful night of music and comedy.

Forge’s black box space makes staging any musical a director’s challenge, with the orchestra too close to the playing area.  But these difficulties will hopefully be overcome in their new digs.  Be sure to check out Forge Theatre’s next show, THE 39 STEPS, in their new home in Port Providence.

THE DROWSY CHAPERONE
Book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar
Music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison
Directed by Marnie Herzfeld
June 7 – 29, 2013
Forge Theatre
241 First Avenue
Phoenixville, PA 19460
610-935-1920
www.forgetheatre.org

Forge Theatre
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Connie Giordano
Connie Giordano

Originally from the Philadelphia area, actress Connie Giordano earned an MFA at City University of New York, where she studied with some of the greats including Mike Nichols and F. Murray Abraham. She has performed and directed in the Greater Philadelphia area as well as Off-Broadway in New York City. She is also an on-air representative for QVC as well as a print and life-style model. Connie acts in local commercials, is a certified AFAA fitness instructor, and has taught as an Adjunct Professor of Theatre at Delaware County Community College and Immaculata University. She is also a member of SAG/AFTRA and Actor’s Equity.

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THE KITCHEN WITCHES, dcp Theatre, 02/01/2019-02/16/2019

SPINNING INTO BUTTER, The Stagecrafters, 02/01/2019-02/17/2019

SHAKESPEARE IN HOLLYWOOD, Players Club of Swarthmore, 02/08/2019-02/23/2019

FOUR WEDDINGS AND AN ELVIS, Kelsey Theatre, 02/15/2019-02/24/2019

RAPUNZEL, Kelsey Theatre, 02/23/2019-02/23/2019

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Founded by Holley Webster in 1976, STAGE Magazine began as a well-loved, paper-based newsletter that was often found in the lobbies of Philadelphia area theatres and the hands of audition-hungry actors.


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