By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Little Shop of Horrors
Gold is always good – as long as you’re not talking about bibles, sneakers or cologne.
People’s Light (39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, www.peopleslight.org) has been celebrating its Golden Anniversary season for the last 10 months.
The theater, which has been a cherished Chester County attraction for 50 years, is closing its landmark season with a heavy hitter – the cult musical “Little Shop of Horrors.”
The show was a smash hit both as a Broadway production and a movie.
“Little Shop of Horrors” is a horror comedy rock musical featuring music by Alan Menken and lyrics and a book by Howard Ashman. It tells the story of a hapless florist shop worker who grows a plant that feeds on human blood and flesh.
The musical, which traces its roots to a low-budget 1960 black comedy film, “The Little Shop of Horrors,” premiered off-off-Broadway in 1982 before moving to the Orpheum Theatre off-Broadway, where it had a five-year run. It later became a Broadway production.
An owner of a florist shop on Skid Row, Gravis Mushnick has two employees — Audrey and Seymour. When Seymour fouls up a floral arrangement for a dentist customer, Mushnick fires him.
Hoping to change his boss’ mind, Seymour talks about a plant he has grown from seeds that he got over on Central Avenue. Seymour has also unwittingly cultivated a singing botanical menace. To the delight of Audrey, he names the plant “Audrey II.”
Mushnick is unimpressed and gives Seymour one week to revive the plant. The usual plant food does not nourish it, but when Seymour accidentally pricks his finger, he discovers that the plant craves blood.
Fed on Seymour’s blood, Audrey II begins to grow. Audrey II continues to grow and that means more blood. The plot continues to get darker from that point.
The celebratory “50 Years of People’s Light,” has Zak Berkman as Producing Artistic Director and Shonali Burke as Managing Director. “Little Shop of Horrors” is directed by Molly Rosa Houlahan.
With “Little Shop of Horrors,” Berkman has not tried to compete with ever-popular movie or the stage production (which is a favorite of high school drama teachers).
“A lot of folks love musicals but at the beginning, musicals were not our thing,” said Berkman, a graduate of Oberlin College. “I took this position in 2022, and we got a new artistic team that loved musicals.
“With this show, we’re asking some deep important questions – such as what sacrifices are we willing to make to achieve what we want in this world — and then wrapping them in a fun, hilarious way.
“Molly (Rosa Houlahan) had a really great idea for it. She knew how to make this fresh. Even if you’ve seen ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ 20 times, you’ll want to see this.
“We’ve done a lot of Panto productions here and they have a lot of outrageousness. This show is very Panto-like. It is also outrageous.
“We also wanted to focus on the degree in which gender plays into what we think we all want. By having a non-binary actor play Seymour, he plays it like a man.”
When Audrey II attracts a lot of attention from the news and from customers, Seymour becomes a focus.
“Seymour is not attractive until he becomes famous,” said Berkman. “He becomes attractive – but he’s afraid of what will happen if he is no longer famous.
“We also have a female actress playing Mushnik as a man and Audrey II, who is on stage a lot, is played by a woman. Molly wanted to put the plant on stage.”
Seymour is played by Anna Faye Lieberman. Mushnik is played by Mary Elizabeth Scallen and Chabrelle Williams plays Audrey II.
Berman has been with the theater in Malvern for almost a decade-and-a-half.
He has more than 30 years of experience producing theatre and developing new plays and musicals.
“I came to People’s Light in 2011,” said Berkman. “I started as Associate Artistic Director and became Producing Director in 2013. I was promoted to Producing Artistic Director in 2022. I was first introduced to People’s Light through Margo Lion.”
Prior to People’s Light, Berkman was Associate to Broadway producer Margo Lion, and the Founding Executive Director of Artistic Programming with Epic Theatre Ensemble, a multi-award winning Off-Broadway theatre company.
Highlights include the World and U.S. Premieres of Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole by Colman Domingo and Patricia McGregor, Mud Row by Dominique Morisseau, Project Dawn by Karen Hartman, Barcelona by Bess Wohl, No Child… by Nilaja Sun, Palace of The End by Judith Thompson, and Hannah and Martin by Kate Fodor, as well as the New York Premiere of Sarah Ruhl’s Passion Play and multiple Barrymore Award winning revival of Paul Osborne’s Morning’s At Seven.
Berkman is a multifaceted artist — writer, composer, director, and dramaturg. His plays include The Harassment of Iris Malloy, Beauty on the Vine, and A Breath Short of Breathing.
He was the adaptor/composer for a new music-filled version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol that People’s Light produced in 2021 and 2023, as well as the co-author/composer of Such Things As Vampires, which received a Barrymore Award for original music.
A former soap writer for NBC’s Days of Our Lives, Berkman also wrote two episodes of People’s Light’s Covid-era digital series America 2am.
“One of my primary roles here at People’s Light is selecting plays with the artistic team – deciding which new works we’re commissioning. We have three to five commissions a year.”
People’s Light’s 51st season will begin with “The Unexpected 3rd,” which opens on September 17 and runs through October 19.
People’s Light also has special events known as “Flight Nights.” The final one of the 50th season will be “Vegas Night” on July 16.
“‘Flight Nights – Vegas’ has three flights of whiskey, three palates and three eight-to-10-minute mini-plays,” said Berkman. “After each mini-play, we give a question, and each table discusses the question.”
“Flight Nights – Vegas” will start a 7 p.m. on July 16. Tickets are $35.
The cast for “Little Shop of Horrors” also includes Madeleine Garcia (Chiffon), Jessica Johnson (Crystal), Taylor J. Mitchell (Ronette), Jessica Money (Audrey), Andrew Kane (Orrin) and Connor McAndrews (Bernstein, Luce, Snip, everyone else).
“Little Shop of Horrors” is running now through August 3. Tickets are $57 — $52 for youth.
Other special events this month at People’s Light are “Comedy Night” on July 18 and “Swing Night” on July 19.
Steve Forbert, a singer-songwriter whose career started almost 50 years ago, has developed a very strong area fan base over that time.
He has played a plethora of venues in the Delaware Valley – from the Main Point and Tin Angel to Ardmore Cabaret and Kennett Flash. He played the club in Kennett as recently as April this year.
On July 12, Steve Forbert & The New Renditions will headline a Bryn Mawr Twilight Series show at the Bryn Mawr Gazebo (9 South Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bryn Mawr, www.brynmawrtwilightconcerts.com).
Steve Forbert
When Forbert returns to the Philly suburbs, he’s bringing a new album with him.
Forbert released his 21st album, “Daylight Savings Time,” in November on Blue Rose Music. It was his fourth album in the last six years on the label.
“We released the album last fall,” said Forbert, during a phone interview from his home in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
“We recorded the album last year here in Asbury Park. It was produced by Steve Greenwell, and we used his studio. I did the last two albums before this there.
“The songs are all recent. Before it was recorded, I hadn’t performed any of them live.
“My current set has songs from ‘Daylight Savings Time’ and songs from previous albums. The rest is what people want to hear – songs like ‘What Kinda Guy,’ ‘Romeo’s Tune’ and ‘Going Down to Laurel.’”
In 1984, Forbert had a disagreement with his record company Nemperor and contractual issues prevented him from recording for a number of years afterwards.
His 1988 album, “Streets of This Town,” and the 1992 follow-up, “The American in Me,” were released by Geffen Records and both received significant airplay.
Over the next two decades, Forbert released 11 albums on seven labels before settling down with Blue Rose Music.
“We recorded 10 songs for the new album,” said Forbert. “The last one, ‘Dixie Miles,’ I wrote as we were finishing the album.”
Written as he approached his 70th birthday, “Daylight Savings Time” contemplates and celebrates the proverbial “extra hour of daylight” that comes with the time change.
“The links between the songs – a lot of nature appreciation,” said Forbert.
“Daylight Savings Time is that extra hour of daylight. It’s similar to late middle age.”
On the album’s first single, “Sound Existence,” Forbert sings, “Yeah to chirping crickets and to daylight savings time! The best ain’t yet to come, but you could still get by just fine.”
Over the years, Forbert has been involved in political activism and that spirit is still alive.
“I just finished a brand-new single called “Ebeneezer’s Back in Town,’,” said Forbert.
“Writing is something I do all the time. I always go on inspiration. I don’t want to take a break. It’s always there. It’s my job.
“What I do is more about songs. I just do what I’ve always done. Lyrics — and topics — move with me through life. I don’t pay attention to fads.”
Video link for Steve Forbert – https://youtu.be/wTze13syk7s.
The show at the Bryn Mawr Gazebo on July 12, which has Tom Hampton as the opening act, will start at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $18.
Another show at the Gazebo is scheduled for July 13 — Trout Fishing in America.
On July 11, Elkton Music Hall (107 North Street, Elkton, Maryland, www.elktonmusichall.com) will host a twin-bill featuring a pair of Delmarva/Tri-State favorites.
It will start with an album release show by the Alicia Maxwell Project followed by a set by lower case blues (a.k.a. LCB).
Over the past 15 years, lower case blues — Jake Banaszak (guitar), B.J. Muntz (vocals and bass), and Paul Weik (drums) — has established a loyal following…especially at the shore resorts.
Among LCB’s many accolades is its 2009 rating of “Best Band in Delaware” by Delaware Today Magazine, its 2012 induction into the DE Blues Hall of Fame, and its placement in in the semi-finals of the 31st International Blues Challenge in Memphis.
In comparison, the Alicia Maxwell Project has been building its fanbase for just the last six years.
Formed in the summer of 2019, the Alicia Maxwell Project is a four-piece band hailing from the Delmarva area. Since coming together, the band has performed steadily at clubs and festivals and has opened up for national acts such as Danielle Nicole Band and Popa Chubby.
“I met Jake when we were teenagers at open mics,” said Maxwell, during a phone interview from Delaware on Tuesday evening.
“I started to meet people – other musicians – at open mics. Later, Jake would get me up onstage to sing with lower case blues. That was 20 years ago.”
The Alicia Maxwell Project consists of Alicia Maxwell (vocals), Joe Casamento (guitar/vocals), Joe Geiger (bass) and Bill Dube (drums/vocals).
“In 2019, I was with another band – Tommy Alderson Group – with Joe Geiger and Bill Dube. Joe Geiger knew Joe Casamento.
“We had a practice with Joe Casamento, and it clicked. It just meshed really well. I had bands before, and they’d break up. With Alicia Maxwell Project, we have a great connection.
“We get along. We like to play with each other. We had our first show on September 1, 2019 at the Union Hotel in Port Deposit and we’re still going.”
The show on July 11 at Elkton Music Hall will be doubly special for Maxwell. It will be the release party for the band’s sophomore album, “Get Lifted,” and will also be Maxwell’s birthday.
“It took us a while to record ‘Get Lifted’ because we have day jobs and families,” said Maxwell, who graduated from Widener Law School and now works as a paralegal. “We recorded it at Mid-South Audio in Milton, Delaware.
“We started before Christmas – actually the first day was in October 2024. It took us several months. It was self-produced along with Frank Marchand. He really knew his sounds.
“The album has nine songs – all originals. Our songwriting varies. I’ll come up with a lyric or idea and take it to Joe Casamento – or Joe will send me a guitar lick. We’re constantly writing.”
In 2022, the band released its self-titled album featuring eight original tracks.
Like many musicians, Maxwell started in music when she was young.
“My grandmother played organ in church,” said Maxwell, who graduated from Dickinson High School in Wilmington.
“I sang in high school. I had a solo in one of the concerts at Dickinson.”
When asked to describe AMP’s music, Maxwell said, “We’re poly-jamorous – a bluesy, funky, soulful jam band. We’re all over the place wit hour covers and our originals.”
Video link for the Alicia Maxwell Project — https://youtu.be/w79Wu33x57Y.
The show at Elkton Music Hall on July 11 will start at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $20.
On July 10, Jamey’s House of Music (32 South Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, www.jameyshouseofmusic.com) will host “Kate Gaffney’s Corner” with special guest Cowmuddy.
According to Jamey’s website:
“This immensely talented and rave reviewed singer-songwriter invites you into her “living room” for some musical conversation over dinner and drinks.
As a regular monthly “Second Thursday” event, some nights will feature a full performance by Kate, some will start off with Kate followed by an open-mic, and others will feature guest artists.
“The musical theme will focus on what is currently called Americana, which is a melange term embodying folk, blues, country, singer-songwriter, roots and some low-key electric fare.
Kate is an incisive and engaging artist and has a large and loyal national following. Her music is heard worldwide, and we are so happy to offer her a regular platform to connect with her fans. Please join us!”
The project has taken off. From now on, the second Thursday of the month belongs to Gaffney.
“Jamey called me and asked me if I wanted to host and curate an Americana/Folk/Roots night,” said Gaffney during a phone interview from her home on Montgomery County.
Gaffney agreed but had something in mind more than just an evening of her playing acoustic American music.
“The show will be loose in format,” said Gaffney. “He (venue owner/manager Jamey Reilly) has given me carte blanche to plan the evening. I thought it would be nice to feature some artists who are either just getting started or don’t play out solo very much.”
Gaffney is a singer/songwriter/guitarist who was born in Lansdale and then moved west. Now, she has returned to this area – from Pacifica, California to Schwenksville.
“I have a lot of experience,” said Gaffney. “Now, I’m devoting my life to focusing on my own music. And I want to help others.”
That’s exactly what she does on the stage at Jamey’s.
Video link for Kate Gaffney — https://youtu.be/EObnXPx4-ts.
The show on July 10 at Jamey’s will start at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $25.
On July 11, Jamey’s will host Amanda Fish while the Paul Waltz Band will headline the venue on July 12.
The Girke-Davis Project will perform at the Sunday Blues Brunch & Jam on July 13.
This event features many of the top regional and national players every week and welcomes amateurs and weekend warriors to join on stage to celebrate the beautiful heritage of the blues.
The open mic jam runs from 1-3 p.m. with the featured band playing a set from noon-1 p.m.
Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295, http://www.kennettflash.org) will present Songs, Stories, & Art: Lessons from Strangers by John John Brown on July 11, Riot Act on July 12 and The Legendary Kennett Flash Open Mic Night hosted by Strays & Misfits.
Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center (226 North High Street, West Chester, www.uptownwestchester.org) is hosting KVNB Jazz on July 10 and Takin’ It To The Streets on July 12.
After being closed for several months for renovations, the Candlelight Theatre (2208 Millers Road, Arden, Delaware, 302- 475-2313, www.candlelighttheatredelaware.org) is reopening this weekend with
Openinig Night scheduled for July 12.
The show is the musical hit “Escape to Margaritaville.”
Featuring Jimmy Buffett classics with book by Greg Garcia and Mike O’Malley, “Escape to Margaritaville” tells the story of Tully, a smooth-talking singer/bartender whose laidback, no-strings-attached lifestyle is turned upside down when he falls for Rachel, an environmental scientist visiting the island.
The show will run from July 12-August 24.
Presented and produced by Rising Sun Presents!, the 2025 Concerts Under the Stars series will again take place at the scenic Upper Merion Township Building Park (175 West Valley Forge Road, King of Prussia, www.concertsunderthestarskop.com).
The 2025 Concerts Under the Stars series July schedule will feature: 10; Legendary Wailers and Jeffrey Gaines, 11; Trevor Hall, 19; The California Honeydrops, 20; The High Kings, 23; Grace Potter, 24; Tom Hamilton, 25; “Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew: Remain in Light,” 23; and Rachel & Vilray, 30.
The Rose Tree Summer Festival (Rose Tree Park, Route 252, Media, www.delcopa.gov/departments/parks) is a summer-long series of free outdoor shows now through August 10 at the scenic park just north of Media.
The following is the season schedule for Delaware County’s 50th Annual Rose Tree Concert Series:
JULY: 3, The Plants; 5, Tupelo Honey; 6, Blackbird Society Orchestra; 10, Triple Rail Turn; 11, FuseBox; 12, Upper Darby Summer Stage; 13, Jersey Beach Boys; 16, Eco del Sur; 17, The Rockdale Boys; 18, Live Wire; 19, PA Symphonic Winds; 20, The Beat Tells; 23, Jamison Celtic Rock; 24, Merion Concert Band; 25, Barry Harris; 26, Van Halen Nation; 27, The Discoteks; 30, Lolly Hopwood & Friends; and 31, Mysterious Ways U2 Tribute.
