After the success of its last interactive murder mystery, Pines Dinner Theatre of Allentown is kicking off 2020 with another comedy murder mystery “Mission: Improbable – Super Spy Edition,” designed to keep audiences on their toes.
Everyone in the audience takes a part in the action in this new show written and directed by Pines Dinner Theatre Artistic Director Oliver Blatt. It runs Jan. 18 to March 7.
As guests arrive for the International Man of Mystery Super Spy Society convention, they are greeted and assigned a character to play for the evening. The roles range from being the killer, to participating in a group activity during the performance, and everyone is a suspect in the murder.
At the annual convention of the International Man of Mystery Super Spy Society, every famous detective and spy comes to see and be seen. And rumor has it that the beautiful but elusive Princess Isabella Monaco will be in attendance as well. However the princess’ jewels are stolen, and turn up in the possession of a thief who has been murdered, it’s up to everyone in attendance to help determine who did it.
The cast features Gene Connelly, Mark Ingram, Cheryl Moritz, James Ofalt, Syd Stauffer, Jeremy Thompson, and Alexander Vogelgesang.
The show is recommended for children age 13 or older.
Dinner includes a choice of pan-seared honey Dijon pork loin, balsamic glazed grilled chicken Caprese or striped pangasius, with vegetables and rosemary roasted potatos. Also available are vegetarian options of fettuccine Alfredo with broccoli and butternut squash ravioli in brown butter sauce. Included is salad, fresh baked bread, and family style apple crisp for dessert. Beverages, a la carte menu items, and dessert upgrades are available for an additional charge.
“Mission: Improbable – Super Spy Edition,” 6:30 p.m. dinner, 8 p.m. show, Friday and Saturday; 12:30 p.m. dinner, 2 p.m. show Sunday Jan. 18 through March 7, Pines Dinner Theatre, 448 N. 17th St., Allentown. Tickets: $52; $38, students; $28, ages 2-9. Info: 610-433-2333, pinesdinnertheatre.com.
Local grads have theatrical success
Two local theater graduates are showing they have what it takes to make it on Broadway and in Broadway shows.
2016 Muhlenberg College graduate Jakeim Hart will be one of the cast members of “Sing Street” who will follow the musical from off-Broadway to Broadway when it begin performances March 26 at Broadway’s Lyceum Theatre. Opening night is set for April 19.
Based on John Carney’s 2016 indie film, the new musical explores the power of first love and music against the backdrop of 1980s Dublin. The musical features a new wave score from Carney and Gary Clark, a book by Tony winner Enda Walsh, and choreography by Sonya Tayeh. Tony winner Rebecca Taichman directs.
Hart plays Larry and plays guitar on stage as a member of the band. The show had its world premiere in an extended run at Off-Broadway’s New York Theatre Workshop.
Also reprising their roles from off-Broadway are Brenock O’Connor as Conor, Zara Devlin as Raphina, Max Bartos as Darren, Brendan C. Callahan as Gary, Billy Carter as Robert, Martin Moran as Brother Baxter, Anne L. Nathan as Sandra, Johnny Newcomb as Barry, Gian Perez as Kevin, Sam Poon as Eamon, Skyler Volpe as Anne, Amy Warren as Penny, Ilan Eskenazi and Anthony Genovesi.
The story revolves around a teen starting a band to impress a girl in 1980s Ireland. The film was an international co-production between producers from Ireland, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
“Sing Street” features scenic and costume design by Bob Crowley, sound design by Darron L West, and music supervision and orchestrations by Martin Lowe. Fred Lassen serves as music director and Deborah Hecht serves as dialect coach.
Hart, who now lives in New York, was seen on Muhlenberg’s stage as Billy Flynn in “Chicago” in 2015, and played Benny for Muhlenberg Summer Music Theater’s production of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights.”
Miranda’s other production, which has been selling out Broadway for years, is the show that has given 2019 DeSales University grad her first big break.
Victoria Ann Scovens, also a Freedom High School grad, has been cast as Eliza Hamilton in the San Fransisco production of hit musical “Hamilton.”
Scovens plays one of the Schuyler sisters, who ultimately marries the title character, Alexander Hamilton, one of America’s founding fathers.
With direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, “Hamilton” is based on Ron Chernow’s biography of Alexander Hamilton and features a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B, and Broadway.
Joining Scovens are Julius Thomas III as Hamilton; Akron Watson as Aaron Burr and Harja Harmon as Angelica Schuyler.
Scovens won a Freddy award in 2015 for her performance s Amber Von Tussle in Freedom High’s “Hairspray.”
She also portrayed Mona in “Dames At Sea” and the leading player in “Pippin” at DeSales, and starred in “Crazy for You” at Pennsylvania Playhouse.
She also performed in “Evita,” “Hamlet” and “s You Like It,” among other productions at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, and played Vanessa in “In The Heights” at Northampton Community College Summer Theatre.
Summer Music Theatre marks 40 years
Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre announces its 40th anniversary season with a frothy musical and two original works.
The season kicks off with “Legally Blonde The Musical,” June 11 to 28. The story of Elle Woods, Bel Air’s favorite pink-clad blonde, who sets out to prove she’s more than just a style queen, which will be directed by James Peck.
“Legally Blonde: The Musical” is based on the 2001 hit comedy that starred Reese Witherspoon. The musical, which opened on Broadway in 2007, was nominated for seven Tony Awards and features music by husband and wife team Nell Benjamin and Laurence O’Keefe.
It follows the transformation of Elle and her chihuahua, Bruiser, as they struggle against stereotypes, snobbery and scandal. After Elle’s boyfriend dumps her at graduation, Elle, determined to get him back, uses her charm to get accepted into Harvard Law School. But once there, she discovers she has far more legal savvy than she imagined, and with the help of her friend, Paulette, and teaching assistant Emmett, sets out to prove herself to the world.
A world premiere musical “The Legend of New York” will be presented July 9-26, directed by Charles Richter.
“The Legend of New York,” featuring music by 2002 Muhlenberg graduate Joshua Salzman, is the unknown story of what really happened the night of the 1977 New York City blackout.
It follows Abraham, a cop who is left by his wife and is then visited by an angel. The angel sends him on a quest to find three worthy souls by sunrise or the city will be destroyed. As he ventures through Central Park, Studio 54, Times Square, CBGBs, and the subway, he teams up with his brother Lonny, a bouncer and a Times Square hooker. To win back the woman he loves, Abraham must embrace the city he hates, and learn that even at its worst, New York is still the greatest city in the world.
The book and lyrics are by Ryan Cunningham. Salzman and Cunningham are Jonathan Larson Award winners as well as Drama Desk and MAC Award-nominated writers. Their musicals also include “I Love You Because” and “Next Thing You Know.”
The musical is part of an annual project that pairs a new and developing musical with NYU Steinhardt. The writers collaborate with the creative team and cast throughout the process.
The final show will be “The Comedy of Wizards,” a world-premiere circus musical June 24 to July 25.
The show is the latest creation from Doppelskope, a neo-vaudeville theater company created by Christopher Scheer, a 2007 Muhlenberg graduate. It also features music by Toby Singer, who wrote the music for previous Doppelskope productions at Muhlenberg including “Grimm” and “Growl!”
Kathy Lauer-Williams is a Morning Call contributor.
