Mum Puppettheatre 115 Arch St. (215) 925-7686 www.mumpuppet.org
If a return to childhood is what you seek, you may find yourself drawn to Mum's Puppettheatre. But your intuition would be wrong. The medium may be the same as that of Bert & Ernie, Punch & Judie and the rest of your hand-held, puppet friends, but don't be confused - Mum's is to an average puppet show what Dancer in the Dark (that film with Bj”rk, a.k.a. she of the swan dress) is to an animated Disney musical. Through the use of puppets and masks, Mum's creates "art that moves," often without words. Come for the countless accolades, stay for a behind-the-scenes look at hand-puppeteering.
1812 Productions 421 N. Seventh Street, Suite 218 (215) 592-9560 www.1812productions.org
This local, non-profit, all-comedy theatre company was born in 1997, when its founders made a commitment to "making people laugh." Since then, it has grown from a theatre company with just two actors and a single annual show into a theatrical force to be reckoned with. Housed in the Arden Theatre, 1812 produces four professional productions per season. Small Fish, 1812's current production, might sound a little like Finding Nemo for grown-ups, but don't be deterred. You never know, it might just actually make you laugh.
InterAct Theatre Company Adrienne Theater 2030 Sansom St. (215) 568-8077 www.interacttheatre.org
With performances held at The Adrienne, a cozy Rittenhouse theater, InterAct features intimate, no-name plays with unknown actors. But that's okay by me; it's InterAct's personality that makes it so appealing. The company began in 1988 as a hub for new writers looking to break into the biz, an ethos that still reigns today. InterAct takes on controversial topics - like Bush's Homeland Security Act or "designer babies" - from which it cultivates original, thought-provoking productions. For the price of a ticket, you get a comfy seat and a new perspective. It's a must for hippies and a good bet for the rest of us.
Prince Music Theater 1412 Chestnut St. (215) 569-9700 www.princemusictheater.org
Founded as the American Music Theatre Festival in 1984, the Prince Music Theatre spent the early part of its history shifting from one venue to another. All that changed in 1999, when the company underwent a name change and moved into the historical, beautiful Midtown Theatre, thus allowing the newly christened Prince Music Theatre to realize its aims of bringing Broadway-style shows to Filthadelphia. If you feel classy and elegant one day, I'd give it a try. Be forewarned: tickets can easily put a dent in your wallet, so you might want to bring your parents along for the ride.
Walnut Street Theatre 825 Walnut St. (215) 574-3550 www.walnutstreettheatre.org
Named the "Official Theatre for the State of Pennsylvania", Walnut Street has been around since 1809, making it the oldest continuously operating theatre in America. It attracts timeless productions and prides itself on classical theatrical style. To score a cheap seat at WST, arrive early to get yourself a $15 student ticket. Otherwise, you'll be stuck forking over some serious buckaroos (anywhere up to $80, depending on the show). This is a theater to which Thomas Jefferson, Bill Cosby and Groucho Marx have all paid a visit, and as of right now, they're presenting the Tony-award nominated play Enchanted April. So, what are you waiting for? Go get nutty.
Arden Theatre Company 40 N. Second St. (215) 922-7011 www.ardentheatre.org
The Arden Theatre Company brings contemporary playwrights to a modern, 360-seat mainstage theater in Old City. In the past, the company has put on productions of Death of a Salesman and The Taming of the Shrew, both of which are theatre's version of required reading. The Arden's highly acclaimed Children's Theatre recently showcased The BFG (yes, that Roald Dhal classic we all loved so dearly) and future offerings are sure to be just as delectably endearing. Unfortunately, big things come with big prices - expect to spend more here than you might at one of the less established theatrical venues.
