Rachel Beecher

Review: ‘Mamma Mia!’ The Farewell Tour at the Merriam Theatre

With shows like Green Day’s American Idiot and Carole King’s Beautiful, musicals based off of pop hits have become more popular in recent years. However, there is one show that is the mother of...

Review: ‘The War of the Roses’ at Delaware Theatre Company

Based on the iconic novel-turned-film of the same title, The War of the Roses follows the legendary Jonathan and Barbara Rose as their seemingly perfect marriage devolves into a deadly search and...

Review: ‘The Bridges of Madison County’ at the Media Theatre

While there seems to be a never-ending stream of books or movies remade into musicals, few compare to 2014 Broadway musical The Bridges of Madison County. The book by Pulitzer Prize winning Marsha...

Review: ‘Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story’ at Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, PA

As the world still mourns ‘The Day the Music Died,’ Bucks County Playhouse resurrects the amazing talent lost too soon. With book by Alan James and iconic songs by Buddy Holly such as, “That’ll Be the...

Review: ‘See What I Wanna See’ at 11th Hour Theatre Company in Philadelphia

Based on short stories by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa, See What I Wanna See tells stories of two different time lines questioning truth and faith. Originally work shopped at Williamstown Theater Festival and...

Review: ‘Always…Patsy Cline’ at Walnut Street Theatre – Independence Studio on 3 in Philadelphia

As one of the most iconic country singers of all time, Patsy Cline was taken away from us too quickly. At age 30, she left us with classics as “Walkin’ After Midnight,” “Stupid Cupid,” “Crazy,” and “I...

Review: ‘The Sound of Music’ at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia

While there are amazing new Broadway hits like Hamilton and Fun Home, some things are classic for a reason. And may I say, they just don’t make musicals like The Sound of Music anymore. Celebrating...

Review: ‘Too Much Sun’ at ISIS Productions in Philadelphia

Philadelphia’s own Nicky Silver delivers once again with Too Much Sun, a modern play focusing on a family and the drama that comes with a summer house in Cape Cody. The framing, shape, and journey of...

‘Hansel and Gretel’ at Quintessence Theatre Group in Philadelphia, PA

While all of us are familiar with the story of the two siblings wandering into a witch’s candy house in the woods, Quintessence puts a fun spin on the story. With catchy songs, fun characters, and...

‘Diner: The Musical’ at Delaware Theatre Company

In a Grease meets Jersey Boys coming of age story, Diner: The Musical has a something for everyone. Following a group of friends living in Baltimore, December 1959, the gang confronts spurring...

‘Behind the Music: Holiday Edition’ at Act II Playhouse in Ambler, PA

Sonny Leo and April Woodall create a fun evening full of historical anecdotes, personal traditions, and holiday classics that are just as likely to melt your heart and make you laugh. Matt Silva boots...

‘The Bald Soprano’ at Curio Theatre Company in Philadelphia

After a somber Handmaid’s Tale, Curio Theatre Company sure changes directions with Eugene Ionesco’s hilariously absurd The Bald Soprano. Director Charlotte Northeast updates this 1950’s English comedy...

‘This Is The Week That Is’ at 1812 Productions in Philadelphia

1812 Productions consistently brings Philadelphia great comedy year after year. This Is The Week That Is is no exception with current events changing daily showcased in a sketch comedy meets satirical...

‘Black Nativity’ at Theatre Horizon in Norristown, PA

With an original twist on the classic Christmas story, Horizon Theatre’s joyful Black Nativity overflows with exuberance and heart. The book and songs are a combination of classic Christmas classics...

‘Billy Elliot: The Musical’ at The Media Theatre, in Media, PA

Billy Elliot has something for every audience member: great dancing, a powerful story, lots of humor, a beautiful score, and some of the most talented young actors and dancers you will ever see on the...

‘Underneath the Lintel’ at Lantern Theater Company in Philadelphia

To quote Lantern Artistic Director and director of this production Kathryn MacMillan, “Time is the currency by which we negotiate all the relationships in our lives.” And Underneath the Lintel is...

‘Watership Down’ at Simpatico Theatre Project and Drexel University’s Mandell Professionals in Resident Project (MPiRP) in Philadelphia

Watership Down, adapted by John Hildreth from Richard Adams’ novel of the same title, is far away from the world of reality, rich with metaphor and symbolism. Originally produced by Lifeline Theatre,...

‘Fox on the Fairway’ at Act II Playhouse in Amber, PA

If The Fox on the Fairway shows how the other half lives, well, I don’t know if I want to be a part of that other half. But I certainly do want to watch those country club hijinks from afar. Ken...

‘Playing the Assassin’ at Delaware Theatre Company in Wilmington, DE

In my experience, football fans and theater goers don’t frequently overlap, but Playing the Assassin combines these two vastly different fandoms surprisingly successfully. With the second production...

‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ at Curio Theatre Company in Philadelphia

As I walked through the narrow passageway leading into Curio’s space, I entered into a spacious, deteriorating church to an ominous red lit stage, hearing that it was a two hour and ten minute...

‘Animal Farm’ at Luna Theater Company in Philadelphia

Even though you probably read Animal Farm in high school, seeing Luna Theater Company’s Animal Farm will evoke a completely different sensory experience. The theatricality of the play offers the...

‘The Mandrake’ at Quintessence Theatre Group in Philadelphia

Sex sells, and this certainly true of Quintessence’s The Mandrake. Their 6th season starting off a “Love and Lust” theme, The Mandrake certainly fulfills the quota for lust, and then some. Originally...

‘Song for the Disappeared’ at Passage Theater Company in Trenton, NJ

Passage Theater Company bears the title of the only professional theater in Trenton, New Jersey. They open their 30th Season by producing T clan and close friends amidst a family crisis, Songs for the...

‘Antigone’ at The Wilma Theater in Philadelphia

The Wilma is a theater known for being original and taking risks, and Antigone is no exception. As part of the larger Unburied Bodies project, this production of Sophocles’ classic Greek tragedy...

‘The Children’s Hour’ at EgoPo Classic Theater in Philadelphia

As EgoPo Classic Theater’s Artistic Director Lane Savadove said in his curtain speech, “Women play a big part of the American canon.” And the 2015-15 season’s theme, “American Giants II: Women,” a...

‘Maurice Hines is Tappin’ Thru Life’ at Delaware Theatre Company in Wilmington, Delaware

Delaware Theatre Company perfectly kicks off its 37th season with Tappin’ Thru Life. A life as fascinating as Tony Nominated Maurice Hines’ deserves to be told in this theatrical manner. Tony-Award...

‘Photograph 51’ at Lantern Theater Company in Philadelphia

Anna Ziegler’s Photograph 51 kicks off the Lantern’s 2015-2016 with a bang. Set in London 1953, this 2008 play tells the story of Dr. Rosalind Franklin and her surrounding colleagues racing to...

Philadelphia Fringe Festival: ‘Kill Will’ at The Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre

Kill Will at The Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre has combat, drama, more combat, comedy, and a little more combat. Written by Barter Theater Associate Artistic Director Derek Davidson and directed by...

‘According to Goldman’ at Act II Playhouse in Philadelphia

While one often finds the journey to a Philly suburb arduous, According to Goldman makes the trip out to Ambler worth it. As a patron walks into the theater, people are socializing, cackling, and...