Around Phoenixville

Elska , a new award-winning family music artist, will be performing in the Philadelphia area at The Colonial Theatre on Tuesday, August 13th at 10:30 AM for a special all-ages concert with songs about her life on her imaginary Arctic Island. Elska, played by NYC-based singer/actress Shelley Wollert, has been making waves since the release of her award-winning debut pop-electronic album Middle of Nowhere. Elska is backed by a spell-binding blend of metallophones, chimes, bells, and twinkling analog synthesizers that entrance children as they learn about Elska's beautiful island and her small group of quirky friends. Check out Elska's video for the song "Midnight Sun in the Arctic" to get a feel for the ambient, dreamy magic that is Elska. Tickets for the show are just $8.50 and can be purchased at the Colonial Theatre website .

Scott Craig Jones is Edgar Allan Poe in a one-man show to be presented at Phoenixville Public Library on Thursday, December 6 from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. Poe reminisces about his life – and death – and performs eight of his masterworks, including The Tell-Tale Heart, The Raven, and The Masque of the Red Death. This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Phoenixville Public Library and is free and open to the public. Reservations are required. For more information or to reserve a seat, call 610-933-3013 x32 or e-mail mpinto@ccls.org . Phoenixville Public Library is located at 183 Second Avenue, Phoenixville, PA.

The Theatre Organ Society of the Delaware Valley presents its Holiday Extravaganza. This program includes Laurel and Hardy’s comedy “Big Business,” with Wayne Zimmerman providing live accompaniment on the TOSDV Wurlitzer Opus 585, 3-manual, 24 rank theatre pipe organ. A concert by guest organist Joe Pantano, and music to celebrate the season (Late Fall/Winter, Christmas, Chanukah, New Years, etc.) will complete the program. This fun afternoon, quickly becoming a highly anticipated annual event, will take place Sunday, December 9, 2012, 3 PM, at the Colonial Theatre , 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville, PA. Tickets, $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under, will be available at the door. Note that the Colonial assesses a $1.50 fee on all tickets. Come and join us for our last theatre pipe organ program for the 2011-12 season and ring out the old year (a little early), TOSDV-style.

It’s not often that area residents have the opportunity to see a live musical on the historic stage of the Colonial Theatre , but this weekend offers just that chance! This is the second year that The Firebird Theatre has teamed up with the Colonial Theatre for its summer productions, which this year are The Wizard of Oz and The Trouble in Oz. Both productions feature children and teens from many schools in the area who have spent the last few months learning about staging a musical, from blocking to costuming to orchestration. Janet Hoehl, founder and president of the non-profit Firebird explains, “Community theatre is a great venue for children to learn how to stand up in front of a group, make eye contact and speak out! Theatre offers many intangible benefits for children: it teaches self-confidence, public speaking, the value of commitment and dedication, the opportunity to practice working in groups, to name a few.” She has dedicated the better part of her summer to produci...

Camphill Village Kimberton Hills presents Noah and the Flood and Everyman , two musical productions on one stage, from March 24-25, 2012. The musical Noah and the Flood was written by Eugene Schwartz with music by Lawrence Rosenthal. Schwartz wrote the play for his third grade class. When a third grade teacher in California started to work with it, Lawrence Rosenthal, who had a child in that class, was inspired to write music to it.

The Forge Theatre , at 241 First Avenue, Phoenixville, presents a special benefit performance of On Golden Pond for the Phoenixville Area Time Bank in partnership with The Christian Community of Devon on Sunday, March 4th, at 2 pm. The $15 admission fee provides an opportunity to share the fun of live local theater while supporting two area organizations. Phoenixville Area Time Bank is a local non-profit organization that is helping to grow community through the exchange of services between members. The Christian Community is a movement for religious renewal that strives to cultivate an environment of free inquiry in harmony with deep devotion. During intermission the audience will be able to enjoy homemade snacks and desserts. Tickets for this performance can be purchased online . For more information, call 610-608-9281, or e-mail timedollar@verizon.net .

Valley Forge Christian College's Curtain Call drama club will be presenting If The Apron Fits at 7pm on November 4th, 5th and 6th. The production, which will be held at VFCC's Krempels Theater, 1401 Charlestown Road, is described as: Hilarity ensues when one particular father, husband and head of house, decides to take on the role of house wife while his wife is away. What could possibly be simpler, right? Unfortunately for this father, everything that could go wrong, does go wrong!!! Tickets are $5 for general admission and $3 for students, seniors and children.

Neill Hartley is Ichabod Crane in his one-man, interactive adaptation of Washington Irving’s classic horror tale, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”, on Thursday, October 6 at 7:00 PM at Phoenixville Public Library. See Ichabod dancing with his students, leading the congregation in song, and dancing with his love. Then follow him on his fateful journey home as he meets the Headless Horseman and disappears forever! The performance is suitable for ages 6 and up, and is free and open to the public. The Fall Speakers & Events Series is sponsored in part by the Friends of the Phoenixville Public Library. Reservations are required. For more information or to reserve a seat, e-mail mpinto@ccls.org or call 610-933-3013 x32. Phoenixville Public Library is located at 183 Second Avenue, Phoenixville, PA.

Looking for something fun to do with the kids this summer? See a live musical production, right here in Phoenixville. The brand-new Firebird Children’s Theatre is proud to present its premiere live Broadway musical series on July 29th and 30th at Phoenixville’s Colonial Theatre ! Adults and children of all ages are invited to purchase tickets to the double feature of “Bugsy Malone,” and “America’s Tallest Tales.” The Friday, July 29th show is at 7:00 pm, while the Saturday matinee is at 2:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased through the Colonial Theatre’s box office at www.thecolonialtheatre.com . Firebird Children’s Theatre’s Firefly group features actors ages 9-12 in “America's Tallest Tales.” Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, and many of your favorite American Folk tale heroes take the audience on a wild ride across the country in search of Babe the Blue Ox. Meet Johnny Appleseed, Bess Call, John Henry and many more hilarious characters who set out to solve this musical mystery. L...

Forge Theatre in Phoenixville, will close its 49th Season with the Rodgers and Hammerstein family classic, The Sound of Music . First produced in 1959, this beloved piece is one of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein’s best known works. The book was written by the popular playwrights, Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, and the original production starred Theodore Bikel as the Captain, and Mary Martin as Maria von Trapp, on whose memoir the play is based. Many of the play’s songs have gone on to become standards over the last 52 years, including Do-Re-Mi, Climb Ev’ry Mountain, My Favorite Things, Edelweiss, and the title song, The Sound of Music. The film version of play, released in 1965 and starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, enjoys enormous popularity today, including theatrical “sing-alongs” across the country. Forge’s production features veteran local actor Lew Osterhoudt as the Captain, and Janine Herd as Maria, with Beverly Albertus as the Mother Abbess. Playi...

Beginning this evening, Valley Forge Christian College will be presenting William Nicholson's Shadowland . The play, based on the life of C.S. Lewis, will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday night beginning at 7pm each of the next two weekends. General admission tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students, seniors and children. For more information, visit the event page at vfcc.edu .

Beginning April 15th, the Forge Theatre will be presenting A LITTLE MURDER NEVER HURT ANYBODY , a mystery-comedy by Ron Bernas. About the show: Julia and Matthew seem to have it all. But Matthew wants more — so he resolves to murder Julia by New Year’s end, and tells her so. She vows to stay alive, and tells him so. And so the game begins — a hilariously farcical match of wits and the witless. Show dates as follows: April 15, 16, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30 at 8:00 PM; April 17 at 2:00 PM For more information, visit forgetheatre.org .

Forge Theatre opens David Lindsay-Abaire drama, RABBIT HOLE, on February 25 Becca and Howie had the perfect life – a great marriage, a beautiful house, and a lovely son. But a tragic accident forces them to move beyond their personal grief and explore a range of emotions as they try to find new meaning in the life that remains. Heartbreaking and improbably funny, this drama of a family in crisis won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize in Drama for playwright David Lindsay-Abaire, who has adapted his script for the recently-released film version starring Oscar-nominee Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart. Forge Theatre in Phoenixville is proud to present RABBIT HOLE. Directed by Aaron Gould, the play features Heather Reese, Eric Jarrell, DeeDee Mann, Kevin Fennell, and Deb Braak. On Sunday, March 6, immediately following the 2:00 matinee performance, audience members are invited to join the cast and crew for a post-show discussion exploring the issues and emotions that the play addresses. The...

CVKH Orchestra 1/25/11: Showtime for Friday's show has changed. Camphill Village Kimberton Hills presents The Prince and the Pauper, a musical comedy by Lewis Hardee, February 18-20, 2011. Directed by Veronika Roemer, The Prince and the Pauper is based on the story by Mark Twain. Prince Edward, son of King Henry XIII, and a poor boy of the slums of London have a chance encounter. They discover that they look very much alike and decided to change clothes “for an hour or two.” The exchange lasts much longer and both boys, as well as everyone around them, discover many new things about life and each other. The musical is freely based on Twain’s story, making even more fun of stiff royalty and showing the audience that poverty of goods does not mean poverty of heart. The music is a delightful mix of modern show tunes and Elizabethan era songs, with many catchy tunes. This is the sixth show produced by Roemer, who lives and works in Camphill Kimberton, an intentional c...

Phoenixville Public Library presents a one man show, “Sherlock Holmes and the Speckled Band”, starring Neill Hartley, on Monday, November 15 at 7:00 PM. Neill Hartley is Sherlock Holmes in a thrilling version of the short story by Arthur Conan Doyle. See Sherlock Holmes in his study working out the mystery with Dr. Watson. Then follow him to an old mansion where he must stop a killer from committing another horrible crime. This event is free and open to the public. Reservations are required. For more information or to reserve a seat, call 610-933-3013, Ext. 32 or e-mail mpinto@ccls.org . Phoenixville Public Library is located at 183 Second Avenue in Phoenixville, PA.

On Thursday, July 22nd, Kimberton Village Business Association & Theatre Horizon present Shakespeare in the Park featuring Much Ado About Nothing: ~ Shakespeare in the Park ~ Kimberton Village Business Association & Theatre Horizon present Much Ado About Nothing Shakespeare’s sparkling comedy of dueling wits, Daring betrayal and love both lost and found. Tickets: $10 / Seniors: $5 / Kids free Dinner/show packages available at The Station Bistro (610) 933-1147 $20 dinner + Ticket Price Reservations Please Take-Out meals available too Blankets & chairs welcome – Food & beverages available at the park Tickets: Kimberton Whole Foods; the Station Bistro; Kimberton Inn and East Pikeland Township Sponsored by: Kimberton Village Business Association • Coldstream Crossing Retirement Community Kimberton Whole Foods • C. Raymond Davis & Sons • J.F. Gayl, Inc. Real Estate & Development www.theatrehorizon.org Kimberton Park (near the tennis courts) ...

Beginning June 4th, Forge Theatre , 241 First Avenue, will be presenting Company : You’re a 35-year-old bachelor with three girlfriends, and all your married friends are pressuring you to get married. What do you do? Forge Theatre in Phoenixville is proud to present Company -- Stephen Sondheim’s Tony-award-winning musical comedy. Company is a series of quirky, touching and hilarious vignettes about Bobby, his friends, his girlfriends, and his fear of commitment. This bittersweet, clever musical explores love, fear and longing, and the simple joy of being alive. As one of musical theater’s most noted composers/lyricists, Sondheim’s work is featured in musicals including Sweeney Todd , West Side Story , Sunday in the Park with George and A Little Night Music . Company , which has earned 17 Tony Awards. includes some of Sondheim’s most brilliant songs, including "Getting Married Today", "The Ladies Who Lunch" and "Being Alive." Forge Theatre is at...

Curtain Call, the drama community at Valley Forge Christian College , is presenting Moliere’s comedy Tartuffe. The show will be held at Kremples Theater located on the campus of Valley Forge Christian College. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for Seniors and Children. Show dates and times: Friday & Saturday April 9, 10, 16, 17 @ 7:30PM Sunday April 11, 18 @ 3:00PM

Christopher Latzke (left) as Algernon, and Kristin Krikorian (right) as Cecily in Forge Theatre’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” Beginning February 26th, the Forge Theatre will be presenting Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest". What happens when two pretty young girls both fall in love with men they believe to be named Ernest? Will they learn that a rose by any other name still smells as sweet? Forge Theatre in Phoenixville presents "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde. This delightfully witty, light-hearted romp through high society follows the antics of two bachelors trying to win their ladies’ hearts by earnestly pretending to be Ernest. Performances of this frothy comedy are February 26 and 27 at 8pm; March 7 at 2pm; March 5 ,6, 11, 12 and 13 at 8pm at Forge Theater, 241 First Avenue, Phoenixville. Tickets are $12 (ages 18 and under, $10). For reservations, call 610-935-1920. Further information: http://ForgeTheatre.org/...

Lord Edgar takes a new wife after his first wife meets her untimely demise in the jaws of a werewolf. But ... is his first wife really dead? What’s the secret known only to the one-legged butler? And who is Irma Vep anyway? The Mystery of Irma Vep by Charles Ludlam, a deliciously funny tribute to Gothic melodrama, opens January 8 at Forge Theatre in Phoenixville. The script bristles with horror-movie themes and boasts a large cast of quirky characters. But here's the twist: all the characters are played by two actors, who race through a breathtaking stampede of costume changes to bring the story to life. Performances are January 8, 9, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23 at 8pm; January 17 at 2pm; at Forge Theater, 241 First Avenue, Phoenixville. Tickets are $12; ages 18 and under, $10. For reservations, call 610-935-1920. For more information, http://forgetheatre.org/ .