Tag Archives: Rachel Landon

Burg Review: Savor a song and a meat pie at Open Stage’s darkly comedic, skillful “Sweeney Todd”

February 24, 2024 | by Gina Napoli

Open Stage’s rendition of the wickedly hysterical tragicomedy, “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” is peppered with darkly comedic spots, infused with intense suspense, and splashed with just a little taste of gristly gore.

Directed by Stuart Landon and Music Director Nicholas Werner, Open Stage adheres to their Season 38 theme, “Out of the Darkness,” to deliver the classic, multiple award-winning, oft-adapted, horror musical featuring victim-cum-villain Sweeney Todd (Brad Barkdoll). The penny dreadful tale is told mostly through operatic song in a dismal, Victorian-era setting, appropriately reminiscent of the inside of a slaughterhouse.

Barkdoll plays Sweeney Todd as a misunderstood murderer, a sort of vulnerable anti-hero ruffian. Singing about his bloodthirsty need for revenge, he takes on his character’s crazy eyes, under a homicidal trance. When he lunged toward the audience and swung his razor, I felt unsafe for an instant, until I remembered that I’m at the theater and it’s all just pretend. But in that moment, I recoiled and wished for a seat just a little farther back. Barkdoll is scary good, with vocals most impressive when he’s singing tongue twisters in “The Barber and His Wife” and “Epiphany,” and in his duets with Mrs. Lovett (Rachel Landon).

As Sweeney Todd’s literal partner in crime, Landon serves up a warm, funny baker with deliciously sinister undertones. Barkdoll and Landon show evident chemistry, especially during the hilarious and rollicking, “A Little Priest,” as the pair drink to their evil arrangement, and while singing to Sweeney Todd’s razor during the creepy ballad, “My Friends.” Landon adds a dash of humor to her solo, “The Worst Pies in London,” and a pinch of nurturing during “Wait.” Extra points to Landon for not missing a beat while handling kitchen props, especially her knife-tossing skills.

Slathering her maternal nature like butter on a crust, Landon sings a beautiful duet with orphan Tobias Ragg (Gabrielle Dina) in “Not While I’m Around.” Playing a cute and plucky boy, Dina’s chirpy voice rings out during the irresistible sales pitch, “Pirelli’s Miracle Elixir.”

Playing Sweeney Todd’s long-lost daughter, Johanna, Jasmine Graham hits those impossibly high notes perched several lines above a five-line staff on sheet music. In Graham’s solo, “Green Finch and Linnet Bird,” when her voice combines with Werner’s piano, it sounds like someone left an old-fashioned music box open on a forgotten dresser. Together with her suitor, Anthony Hope (Tyler Shadle), their voices mesh well together in that pleasant, unjaded, easy-on-the-ears way that young love does, especially during their duet, “Kiss Me.”

Also remarkably hitting and sustaining high notes typically outside the traditional range: TJ Creedon and Josh Dorsheimer. Further, both actors bring to life farcically comical characters (Pirelli and Beadle, respectively) who make the audience laugh out loud.

Marinated in an outpouring of talent, the entire cast blends together solid, skilled vocalists and musicians, with standout songs, “God, That’s Good!” perfectly setting the mood, and “The Ballad of Sweeney Todd” dramatically sandwiching the musical score.

If you and your guests (over 17 years old recommended) happen to visit the snack bar at intermission, be careful what you order. Although there is no audience participation, best to check for missing audience members, just in case. And if you find something tasty, may you enjoy it as much as the ensemble cast shamelessly enjoyed Mrs. Lovett’s succulent meat pies.

“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” will run February 24 through March 16 at Open Stage, 25 Court Street, Harrisburg. For more information, check their website at https://www.openstagehbg.com/show/sweeney.

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Baked to Perfection: Savor a song and a meat pie at Open Stage’s “Sweeney Todd”

January 30, 2024 | by Sammi Leigh Melville

Brad Barkdoll as Sweeney Todd. Photo by Anela Selkowitz.

Sondheim returns to Open Stage this month with a melodramatic musical horror dealing with class structure, a corrupt sense of justice and bloodshed.

Sweeney Todd began as a character in a “penny dreadful” (horror pulp fiction) in the 1800s, and has, delightedly, haunted us ever since.

Stephen Sondheim adapted the musical from a theatrical version of the story in 1979, captivating the musical theater crowd, and a film was adapted by Tim Burton in 2007, further introducing “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” to the masses. It seems the story has never gone out of style.

So, what is “Sweeney Todd” about?

“It’s about murder and revenge and making things equal in the eyes of those who have done wrong,” says Brad Barkdoll, who plays the titular character in Open Stage’s adaptation, directed by Producing Artistic Director Stuart Landon.

And that is about all you really should know going into it, according to Rachel Landon, who plays Mrs. Lovett, Todd’s partner in crime.

“If you’ve never seen the play or the film, I highly recommend going into it blind,” she said.

I’ll quickly add that this musical is not for the faint of heart. Its twists are gruesome, and its turns involve a heck of a lot of blood. As the saying goes, “revenge is a dish best served cold,” but the meat pies that Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett conjure up are best served hot—and to music.

Rachel Landon and Barkdoll have performed in many of the same productions at Open Stage, but never side by side—a key factor that both are excited to experience.

Barkdoll, a tenor who is stretching his vocal cords for a bass/baritone role, is excited to discover such a different character from the roles he’s played previously, and while he doesn’t necessarily feel a common bond with Sweeney Todd—thank goodness—there is something about the play that strikes a chord. Landon agrees.

“The plot has themes that modern society altogether finds too relatable,” she said, from criminal injustice to the seeming inevitability of violence in today’s society.

“Sweeney Todd” runs Feb. 24 to March 17 at Open Stage, 25 N. Court St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.openstagehbg.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS

At Open Stage
www.openstagehbg.com
717-232-6736

Harrisburg Asian American Pacific Islander presents
Lunar New Year
Saturday, Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m.

EFF Live!
A night of naughty fan fic readings
Friday, Feb 23 at 7:30 pm

Black NewsBeat with Dr. Kimeka Campbell
Join the live studio audience!
Wednesday, Feb. 14 & 28 at 7:30 p.m.

“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
The Sondheim musical thriller
Feb. 24 to March 16

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Naughty But Nice: Scrooge & Cindy Lou get unwrapped this month at Open Stage

November 29, 2023 | by Stuart Landon

“A Christmas Carol”

As the Open Stage staff decorates the lobby with garland and puts the finishing touches on the holiday scenery and costume designs, anticipation builds for the return of two cherished productions: “Who’s Holiday!” and “A Christmas Carol.” The two shows have become staples for central Pa. audiences and artists.

Nicholas Hughes has played the role of Ebenezer Scrooge since the professional theatre company first staged “A Christmas Carol” in 2000. Based on the classic story of redemption by Charles Dickens, the show follows Scrooge as he is visited by ghosts on Christmas Eve. Meanwhile, Rachel Landon is taking her fourth turn as Cindy Lou Who in “Who’s Holiday!” an irreverent parody twist on the story of the Grinch.

The artists behind these iconic characters sat down to discuss their holiday shows, playing this month during Open Stage’s 38th season in downtown Harrisburg. The two veteran performers were happy to give a glimpse into the festive worlds the company brings to life each holiday season. Whether you’re in the mood for irreverent comedy or a classic tale of redemption, Open Stage promises a festive month of shows that capture the heart of the season.

Q: It’s been nearly a quarter century of you embodying Ebenezer Scrooge, Nick. Rachel, this is your fourth season as Cindy Lou. How do you approach your roles each year and keep it fresh?

Nick: Well, it sort of provides its own impetus. It doesn’t get repetitive over time. Audience members come voluntarily…

Rachel: Thank goodness.

Nick: They return again and again because they enjoy it. And I do too. It’s a bit like revisiting an old friend. Scrooge is a character with layers, and, each year, I find something new to explore. There’s a depth and richness to his journey that makes it rewarding. Mr. Dickens himself toured and gave recitals of his story time after time for many years. Probably managed to make a different rendition of his wonderful story. I hope to emulate that.

Rachel: Cindy is a lot of fun to play. You have a different audience every night who gets to experience the story. Cindy Lou’s story is a comedy and a tragedy. The funny stuff comes from the bad things that have happened to her. Each year, I find new moments in the script and in her character. It is the same old story, but it’s new for me every single day.

Nick: Cindy Lou has such a catastrophic and deprived existence, but she remains cheerful. Yet, there’s Mr. Scrooge, presumably living with money rolling in, but so grumpy and miserable. What a counterpoint. Whoa!

Q: After 24 productions and countless rehearsals, what keeps you coming back to “A Christmas Carol” each year?

Nick: It’s an honor and a privilege to be part of this annual production with a wonderful cast, many of whom come back to the show year after year. Forging those connections each year—it’s what makes this tradition truly special. Plus, I believe we had the best audiences last year, the highest percentage of seats filled in the theater!

Q: And Rachel, why Cindy Lou again? What keeps you coming back?

Rachel: It’s the massive paycheck that I get.

Nick: Damn right.

Rachel: In all seriousness, I think she’s such a wonderful and unique character. I tell my students [at The Alsedek Theatre School of Open Stage] that what we do should be fun. When you’re on stage, you should be having a good time, even when telling a dramatic story.

Nick: And it is different every time. It’s new every year. Every performance, actually.

Q: What lessons do you take from these stories during the holiday season, Rachel?

Rachel: It’s all about gathering. Both Cindy Lou and Scrooge’s stories share the idea of connecting once again to the outside world after a long time away. Christmas represents being with the ones you love, having a good time, sharing laughter and love.

Q: These shows have become traditions for Open Stage and for the community. Why do you think each show has such a strong following?

Nick: For me and my fellow cast members, this production is Christmas. It dominates three months of our year. For those who attend every year, it’s something familiar, but it’s also exciting and better. Every year, it gets better. The costumes, the adaptation, the choreography, the spectacle and even the themed drinks at the bar!

Rachel: I’ve heard it said about both shows that, “It’s not Christmas until I see ‘Who’s Holiday!’” or “until I see ‘A Christmas Carol!’” This time of year is when families and friends gather, and people want to do something special. Theater is the perfect thing to do together for the holidays!

Q: What do you want people to take away from these shows?

Rachel: Cindy Lou tells us to be kind, to “surround yourself with people who are kind, and if they don’t treat you that way, watch out, beware.” I want audiences to walk away thinking about that. Let’s all choose love, family and kindness.

Nick: We also want to reward people for making the effort to go out and see a live show. It makes life richer and more enjoyable. Everyone should join us downtown for a show.

Rachel: Absolutely, but folks should get their tickets now because both shows sell out. Don’t wait!

Nick: I see people who casually know me; they see that my hair and beard are beginning to grow at this time of year. They say, “Oh yes. Oh you do that thing! You’re Santa Claus” or whatever. And they, say, “Oh well, I really have been meaning to come to that show. I should go.” “Well, look,” I say, “this is year 24, so really, you shouldn’t leave it too long.”

“Who’s Holiday!” and “A Christmas Carol” run through Dec. 23 at Open Stage, 25 N. Court St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.openstagehbg.com.

Stuart Landon is the producing artistic director of Open Stage.

UPCOMING EVENTS

At Gamut Theatre
www.gamuttheatre.org
717-238-4111

Gilbert & Sullivan’s
“H.M.S. Pinafore”
Dec. 1, 2, 3

Popcorn Hat Players
Countdown to Noon
Dec. 31 at 11 a.m.

TMI Improv
Last Laughs of 2023
Dec. 31 at 9 p.m., 10 p.m. & 11 p.m.

At Open Stage
www.openstagehbg.com
717-232-6736

“Who’s Holiday!”
Now to Dec. 22
Cindy Lou is back and funny as ever.

“A Christmas Carol”
Dec. 2 to 23
The 24th annual production

“A Very Court Street Cabaret Christmas!”
Dec. 8 to 22
Late-night shows of holiday tunes

NYC Showtune Drag Queen
Paige Turner: Slay Ride
Sat., Dec. 9 at 7:30pm

Tony Wayne & The Figgy Pudding Band
Sunday, Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Rock & jazz arrangements of Christmas favorites

Black Newsbeat with Dr. Kimeka Campbell
Tuesday, Dec 12 at 7:30 p.m.
Be in the live studio audience of this talk show

EFF Live! Holiday Edition
Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 9:30 p.m.
An evening of naughty (not nice) fan fic

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Burg Review: Sip from a snifter of fastidious fun with Open Stage’s “Poirot Investigates!”

May 26, 2023 | by Gina Napoli

The last two times Open Stage performed plays centered on Agatha Christie’s least favorite character, the fastidious Frenchman Hercule Poirot, I watched his trademark cocked eyebrow and Mr. Potato Head mustache through the lens of a YouTube video.

While this reviewer tries to be careful not to compare plays, even reprisals, being in the theater in person to meet Inspector Poirot was a privilege and a joy—so much better than watching him on video in my slippers while eating pandemically trendy homemade sourdough bread.

Directed by and starring Stuart Landon as the straitlaced Poirot, Open Stage’s live version of the mystery/comedy farce “Poirot Investigates!” brings forth elements that cameras miss, aside from the obvious facial expressions and stage movements. Even an HD camera would have only skimmed the velvety texture of Poirot’s plum-colored blazer, or the detailed patterns of the ugliest neckties in all of England. And without a filter, I got to see just how absurdly shiny that mustache really is.

Open Stage brings us smart theater with “Poirot Investigates!” Much like reading a book, you’ll need to rely on your imagination for the literary elements of props, setting and even some costume elements. The bibliophiles among us, and my mother who grounded me from TV for one long summer, would argue that whatever is going on in your brain is way better than how it would have looked onscreen.

Stuart Landon pulls the pretentious Poirot off the page and shuffles him onstage with his aristocratic air, his quirky idiosyncrasies, and his ability to simultaneously look down both sides of his snoot. He’s perpetually inconvenienced and flustered when interacting with anyone, with a sneer that indicates something more displeasing going on under his nose, other than his mustache. If Poirot smiles, it’s because he’s pleased with himself; it’s not to connect with his audience. He’s far too busy for you.

Poirot’s sidekick Captain Arthur Hastings (Chris Gibson) has an important role, delivering the plot points in Christie’s long-form narrative style, keeping that fourth wall perpetually broken. Gibson’s evident stage presence fuels the onstage momentum as a reliable narrator, a classic straight man archetype who mostly sets up gags for everyone else and still manages to get a few yuks for himself.

The other 12 characters, with mostly goofy and alliterative names, are played by the versatile and talented actors David Richwine and Rachel Landon. Seriously, you need a spreadsheet app and a certain amount of focus to track who’s who and when. There’s some head-hopping and gender-bending, so throw out your rulebook on typecasting characters and just go with it.

To help the audience distinguish the play’s many characters (without using props!), Richwine and Rachel quite skillfully use mannerisms, gestures, body posturing and accents. Some accents are recognizable, and others are muddled accents of dubious origins, adding to the farce.

Rachel’s dexterous use of her body and space enable her to bring more than one character onstage at a time. (It’s a visual, so a long-winded explanation from me won’t do. You’ll have to see the play yourself to truly appreciate her skill.) I laughed hardest when she portrayed an ancient hotel clerk wearing the show’s only prop: a pair of Iris Apfel glasses.

Richwine brings silliness to breakout character mobster Johnny “Two Fingers” Grasso, with running gags just north of goofy. Additionally, he shows real skill in prop-lessly pulling off the farcical element of making two identical characters different enough in a case of mistaken identity.

An unseen and underlying main character is the background music (original score by Nicholas Werner). The music interacts with the actors, animates the many long-running gags, keeps the action moving along, and lays down clues for the audience about onstage antics. The music is clever, conveying the play’s many moods while heightening the slapstick.

I confess, I do like that the play’s action and dialogue moved along swiftly. I’m very American like that. But along with that quicker pacing, some of the awkwardness and stilted elegance that characterize both British and French humor lose themselves along the plot line.

Poirot’s narcissistic nature would have him requiring a few more stage-commanding pauses to drive home the more control-freaky aspects of his character. While Landon does integrate all of Poirot’s priggishness, I think stopping or slowing the action to watch Poirot partake in his mundane rituals, complete with his obnoxiously tedious mannerisms, would have added to fleshing out his character more fully. (I’m well aware that adding this very set of actions would have infuriated other people in the audience. But that’s Poirot for you. One reason Christie grew to hate the very character she created.)

The slapstick humor, absurd wordplay, running gags, light potty humor, and the other silly balderdash all make “Poirot Investigates!” a fun performance worth seeing in person. Even a dead body in the middle of the room can’t bring it down.

“Poirot Investigates!” runs May 27 through June 17 at Open Stage, 25 N. Court St., Harrisburg. For more information and tickets, visit www.openstagehbg.com/show/poirot.

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Look Who’s Back: Cindy Lou throws back another shot of good cheer with “Who’s Holiday!”

November 30, 2022 | by Sammi Leigh Melville

Photo by Marc Faubel

Everyone has heard the story of the Grinch who stole Christmas, but who of us have heard what happens after they all hold hands and sing “Fah Who Foraze?”

Enter Cindy Lou Who—and boy, does she have a story to tell. It’s dark, it’s hilarious, and it’s a little bit risqué. And it is coming up on its third year of performances at Open Stage, starring Rachel Landon as Cindy Lou, all grown up and rough around the edges.

In celebration of this next round of performances, I interviewed Landon to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse.

TheBurg: Prior to “Who’s Holiday!” had you ever done a one-woman show?

Rachel: I had! I had done a musical called “Tell Me On a Sunday,” which is a one-woman musical written by Don Black and Andrew Lloyd Webber. It’s about a woman who moves to New York from England, and she’s trying to find love and a career. It’s a very ‘80s show, but beautiful music and some of the best songs that Webber ever wrote.

TheBurg: How does this experience compare with “Tell Me On a Sunday?”

Rachel: There’s this saying, I think it’s Voltaire, that said, anything too stupid to be said is sung. So, in a musical, it’s really easy to emote and live in the moment and portray your feelings—it’s Shakespearean, because we say what we feel. And interestingly, “Who’s Holiday!” is told very much like a Dr. Seuss book. It’s told in Seussian rhyme, so it does kind of work the same way. I think Cindy is actually surprisingly deep and complicated and layered, something you would not expect from such a silly show. Also, a lot of the humor comes from the bad things that happen to her—and, in most shows, your protagonist triumphs in some way. Really, she’s just a person where her whole life, terrible things have happened to her consistently, [but] she keeps going. And that’s so lovely. You don’t see that from most people. I think she inspires me in that way.

TheBurg: Do you find doing the show for multiple years provides any challenges?

Rachel: Well, what was really cool was that [Chris Gibson] actually took on directing the show, so, I had settled into, you know, a joke is told this way, or this is how this moment lands. But with a new director and new eyes on it, that was really useful to me to find new moments and discoveries about the character. What I’ll say is, I don’t profess to be the best actor in the world—I’ve trained and I’m good enough at it that I can connect with this character and connect with the audience. And I’m feeling it every time—my tears are real tears, and my laughter is real laughter, and my joy is real joy, because I enjoy telling her story every night. And I get to disappear into Cindy.

TheBurg: What is the biggest thing you’ve learned from Cindy?

Rachel: To be able to laugh at ourselves and laugh at the tragedy of our lives, because it’s really easy to get bogged down by the horrors of the world around us. And in the end, just to love people around you, and to love yourself, and find joy—that’s all wrapped up in the idea of Christmas. I’m not a religious person, but how I was raised was like, hey, here’s one day! It’s like Scrooge’s story—let’s just find one day to be kind to each other, if we can do that. I learn that every single night, and we all have our depressions and anxieties about who we are and what’s happening. But my God, we can just sit down and be happy, and—

TheBurg: Have a Christmas party.

Rachel: And drink and be with friends and eat good food and just celebrate life.

“Who’s Holiday!” runs through Dec. 22 at Open Stage, 25 N. Court St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.openstagehbg.com.

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Burg Review: Time and memory, in song, at Open Stage’s emotional “The Mad Ones”

February 13, 2022 | by Gina Napoli

We all have that one friend. Maybe she comes with a warning label, and you have to offer disclaimers before actually introducing her to people.

Your mother probably thinks that same friend is a bad influence on you. Perhaps that same friend reminds your boyfriend that he isn’t good enough for you. But that one friend is wired like no one else you’ve ever known or ever will meet. She says and does odd, shocking things, and she has your heart. She’s one of the mad ones.

Open Stage brings Harrisburg audiences the off-Broadway musical, “The Mad Ones,” by Kait Kerrigan and Bree Lowdermilk. The story, told in mostly flashback sequences through the rearview mirror, is a coming-of-age buddy dramedy about that oh-so sweet spot that is senior year of high school. It’s an exciting time, full of promise. We may reminisce about it as carefree, but it’s a cringe-y era of our existence, if we’re honest. It’s when we ask a freshly hatched adult to make fork-in-the-road decisions that permanently affect the directions of their lives.

That’s the uncertainty that faces our heroine, Sam (Carly Lafferty), who finds her mad one in her best friend, Kelly (Maggie Haynes). Kelly is a supernova, everything Sam wishes she could be herself, and Sam is spinning in Kelly’s infectious orbit. Together, they share a passion for Jack Kerouac’s book, “On the Road,” holding lofty ambitions to rip up their atlases after high school and drive wherever freedom is.

Sam’s ambitious mother Beverly (Rachel Landon) pressures Sam toward an Ivy League school, but Kelly plans for the girls to attend a state school and party in a co-ed dorm. Sam’s boyfriend Adam (Nik Olson) has no higher ambition than to work at his father’s tire store and eat tacos. Sam hasn’t decided exactly what she wants to do after high school, and she struggles with finding the courage to say it out loud. She feels scared, but she must take a risk and move on to her next step.

Then BOOM—a phone call changes everything. It’s like driving through deep mud, yet Sam still must trudge on from here.

“The Mad Ones” soundtrack serves as a poignant vehicle for telling Sam’s story. Songs that gave me the hardest belly laughs: “Sam Failed Her Driver’s Test,” “My Mom is a Statistician,” “Top Ten,” (which outlines a list of Kelly’s most interesting ways to die, unlikely enough to defy a statistician), and “The Proposal,” which contains the chorus “Have sex with me.” (Did I mention the content advisory for children under 14?)

The characters’ sorrows shine through in the actors’ individual singing styles. Like Sam, Lafferty sounds sweet, if not slightly hesitant, unsure, delivering the memorably wistful, “The Girl Who Drove Away.” Haynes belts it out harder, bad-girl Kelly style, with flinty vocals that sound worldlier. She especially showcases her vocal abilities in her solo, “I Didn’t Say Goodbye.” Olson deposits raw emotion into his performance of “Run Away with Me,” even warbling a few times while playing the awkward Adam.

Approaching her character with equal parts intensity and comedy, Rachel Landon brings Sam’s mother Beverly to life as a breakout character, beautifully delivering the moving feminist anthem, “Miles to Go,” and the lamenting ballad, “I Know My Girl.”

Director Stuart Landon said, “The Mad Ones explores time and memory in such thoughtful ways… offering reassurance that each of us should take the wheel of our own life and drive on.”

“The Mad Ones” runs Feb. 12 to March 12 at Open Stage, 25 N. Court St., Harrisburg. For more information and tickets, visit www.openstagehbg.com/show/the-mad-ones. Prior to each show, check the website for specific show dates and times, as well as any late-breaking COVID-19 guidelines and protocols.

Feature Presentation: Midtown Cinema celebrates 20 years as Harrisburg’s indie theater

November 18, 2021 | by Maddie Gittens

Midtown Cinema

For Harrisburg’s neighborhood movie theater, it’s a red carpet occasion.

Midtown Cinema is celebrating its 20^th anniversary on Nov. 28 with film screenings, a ribbon-cutting and a reception.

The cinema reopened to the public this past spring, having only offered private screenings for much of the pandemic.

“It’s been incredible to be open for first run films again,” says Rachel Landon, Midtown Cinema’s new general manager. “Patrons are excited to return and for many it’s their first trip back to see a movie in a theater in over a year and a half. Many patrons have been enjoying movies here since we first opened our doors. It’s truly humbling to know they’ve been with us since the beginning.”

The theater, which opened in 2001, looks a little different these days, having recently undergone renovations to modernize the space.

Midtown Cinema, located at 250 Reily St., was formerly a grocery store before founders Allen Brown and Todd Shill opened the area’s first and only indie art house, according to the cinema. Since then, the theater has continued to show independent, foreign and nostalgic films. Additionally, they’ve held guest appearances, sing-a-longs, outdoor films, movie marathons, community events, film festivals, story slams, drag performances, improv, and red carpet evenings.

At their 20^th anniversary celebration, the cinema will screen the three films that they showed during opening week in 2001. David Lynch’s “Mulholland Drive,” Julian Fellowes and Robert Altman’s “Gosford Park,” and Guillermo del Toro’s “The Devil’s Backbone” will be shown.

At 6 p.m., they will kick off the festivities with a mixer including cake, punch and offerings from Zeroday Brewing Co.’s Outpost bar, located inside the cinema. Their menu includes beer and gourmet hotdogs.

A ribbon-cutting will be held at 6:30 p.m. and the movie screenings will follow at 7 p.m.

This event is free for Midtown Cinema Members and admission is limited. Members have exclusive access until Nov. 22, when tickets will open to the public.

Midtown Cinema is requiring that all patrons either show proof of vaccination or proof of a negative COVID test before entering the theater. Masks are required for everyone, as well.

For more information, or to purchase tickets for Midtown Cinema’s 20^th Anniversary Celebration, visit their website.

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

October News Digest

September 30, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Eric Papenfuse last month announced a write-in campaign for mayor.

Papenfuse Declares for Mayor as Write-In

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse made it official last month, declaring that he is running as a write-in candidate in the November general election.

Papenfuse made the announcement while standing in front of the Hudson Building, recently renamed the Atlas, a structure in Uptown Harrisburg undergoing extensive renovation.

He stated that he decided to run for a third term, despite narrowly losing the Democratic primary in May, based on his track record of fiscal management and rebuilding the capacity of city government, along with a pledge to forge a coalition across the city.

“I plan to lead by decisive outreach in a way that brings in people and has their voices heard in ways that they haven’t been heard before,” he said.

In May’s Democratic primary, Papenfuse lost by 46 votes to City Council President Wanda Williams. Two other candidates, David Schankweiler and Otto Banks, also tallied more than 20% of the vote in the five-person race.

Recently, Papenfuse named Banks as the city’s new economic development director.

“There was no mandate in the primary,” Papenfuse said. “If there was any lesson from the primary, it’s that we have to build a broader coalition. We have to work together, and I’m the candidate for that.”

Write-in campaigns are rarely successful, as the candidate’s name does not appear on the ballot, forcing voters to take an extra step to write in their choice.

Papenfuse said that he believed he could defy the odds, describing his decision to run as a write-in as a “long process.”

“I really took some time over the summer to think about what I wanted to do,” he said. “The way I saw it, I could either give up and watch the city fall apart or I could fight to keep the ship from sinking and keep us on course.”

Ribbon Cut on Herr Street Underpass

Harrisburg has cut the ribbon on a significant road reconstruction, restoring a major connection point between neighborhoods.

Last month, city officials ceremoniously reopened the updated Herr Street underpass, which connects Midtown/downtown and Allison Hill.

The roadway, just off N. 7th Street, dips under the Norfolk Southern railroad and connects to N. Cameron Street.

For years, the entity responsible for maintaining the underpass was under dispute, with the city and Norfolk Southern clashing on the issue, according to Mayor Eric Papenfuse.

In turn, the roadway and sidewalks deteriorated, and the steel underpass was in danger of structural failure, Papenfuse said.

“It was pretty awful,” he said. “Historically, this was something of a no man’s land.”

In the end, the state Department of Transportation worked with the city to repave the street, redo and widen the sidewalks, create new inlets and drainage systems and clean and fortify the steel columns under the railroad. The city also contributed new LED lighting.

Papenfuse also pointed out that the sidewalks are bike-friendly and connect riders to the new bike lanes on N. 7th Street.

In total, the project cost near $2 million, largely from PennDOT funds, with contributions from the city.

Harrisburg Plans New IT System

Decades after it was installed, Harrisburg’s aged mainframe appears headed for the scrap heap, as the city plans a major upgrade of its municipal computer system.

City Council, at a legislative meeting last month, passed a resolution that will start the process of phasing out the city’s existing, outdated mainframe and implementing new, more efficient IT systems.

“It’s about time,” said council vice president Ben Allatt, a sentiment echoed by other members.

The current system is about 35 years old, according to Steve Zimmerman, a former director of information technology for Harrisburg, who will provide consulting to the city on the legacy system. The city will pay Zimmerman up to $135,000 for one year of consulting work as it transitions off the old mainframe.

The city then will use Texas-based Tyler Technologies, a software company that works in the public sector, to complete the upgrade.

Over the next two years, the tech company will introduce an enterprise resource planning system that will manage day-to-day internal activities such as accounting, budgeting, payroll, scheduling and tax billing.

Harrisburg residents may also see some benefit from the upgrade, as it impacts businesses license and dog license registration, building permits access and online payments.

Tyler Technologies also provides contracting for the Harrisburg School District and works with over 100 entities in the state, said Terry Quinn, senior account executive of Tyler.

The initial cost of the conversion is about $651,000 with an annual cost of $331,000, Zimmerman explained. The existing system currently costs the city $504,000 annually, he said.

New Community Relations Director

A key member of the Harrisburg Police Bureau was introduced last month, tasked with creating conversations and enhancing understanding between the bureau and residents.

At a press conference, Mayor Eric Papenfuse announced Harrisburg native Fiordaliza “Ana” White as the bureau’s new director of community relations and engagement.

“She really brings a wealth of knowledge around topics such as community policing, crisis management, public relations, strategic partnership and mental health,” Papenfuse said.

White’s position was previously held by Blake Lynch, who recently left the bureau after three years for a position with the public media organization, WITF.

White, who speaks both English and Spanish, graduated from Harrisburg High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in educational studies and sociology from Denison University. She also serves as the director of programming for Bro2Go, Inc., a youth and adult reentry intervention and prevention program.

In her new role, White oversees the six new community service aides (CSAs) hired by the bureau to build relationships with residents, as well as assist officers with quality-of-life issues. They are:

Vanessa Bowers
Myron Brooks
Rayshawn Brown-Donald
Malachi Holmes
Jeret Spears
Sierra VanSickler

The police bureau is recruiting for a seventh CSA position.

New Plan for MarketPlace

There’s a new plan for a broad swath of Midtown Harrisburg, as the city’s redevelopment agency has selected a developer for dozens of long-empty lots.

In a meeting in late August, the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority chose the city-based development team of Chris and Erica Bryce and Harrisburg Commercial Interiors (HCI) to complete the unfinished MarketPlace development, a project totaling 67 lots sprinkled between Reily Street and the Broad Street Market area.

The unanimous vote gave the developers permission to move ahead with their plan, which includes a mix of single-family townhouses, small apartment buildings and mixed-use commercial space.

“I’m very pleased with this decision,” said Chris Bryce, after the meeting. “I think what happened will be great for the future of Harrisburg.”

Their plan bested a competing proposal by Philadelphia-based Odin Properties and Harrisburg-based RB Development, which likewise was seeking “designated developer” status for the lots.

The authority voted 3-0 for the Bryce/HCI proposal, though members did not state why they made their selection. After the vote, Ryan Sanders of RB Development declined to comment on the authority’s decision.

Both developers are currently active in the Midtown area.

Last year, the authority selected the Bryces/HCI to develop dozens of vacant lots that are part of the unfinished Capitol Heights project just across Reily Street. Earlier in August, RB Development received zoning board approval for Bethel Village, a low-income senior housing development at N. 6th and Herr streets.

In the proposal for MarketPlace, the Bryce/HCI team envisions a total of 104 to 120 housing units, including apartment units and for-sale townhomes. Thirty to 40 will qualify as affordable, bringing the project into compliance with the city’s recently passed affordable housing statute, according to Matt Long of HCI.

Federal Building for Sale

For a bid of at least $3 million, you could be the next owner of one of the most valuable parcels of land in downtown Harrisburg.

A somewhat dated, 246,000-square-foot building conveys with the property.

The federal General Services Administration posted notice last month that it is selling the Ronald Reagan Federal Building at 228 Walnut St. To bid in the online auction, a deposit of $100,000 is needed, with a minimum bid of $3 million.

The 11-story building was built in 1966 and is one of the largest freestanding office buildings in Harrisburg, occupying a full city block at N. 3rd, Walnut and Locust streets. In addition to nearly 250,000 square feet of finished space, it has a 55-space parking area in the basement.

GSA wants to sell the building as it nears completion of the new federal courthouse, a 243,000-square-foot building at N. 6th and Reily streets. GSA expects substantial completion of that project in summer 2022.

The Ronald Reagan Federal Building houses the current courthouse operations, in addition to other federal agencies with Harrisburg-based offices. Some of these offices, such as the U.S. Marshal Service, are slated to move to the new courthouse.

The Reagan building also houses a U.S. post office. GSA has not yet made public its plans for the post office.

Sale of the property had been in the cards for several years. In 2019, the Public Buildings Reform Board listed the property as one of 14 federal properties slated for disposal.

Area Home Prices Rise

Sales declined a bit, but prices increased considerably, as the area’s real estate association released its existing home sales report for August.

In the three-county coverage area, sales dropped to 810 housing units compared to 866 in August 2020, but the median sales price rose by 9.3% to $235,000, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

The Dauphin County market experienced substantial price appreciation, as the median sales price of a house jumped to $216,000 versus $170,600 last August. The number of houses sold dipped to 376, a decline of nine units, GHAR stated.

In Cumberland County, sales fell by 16 units to 380 houses, while the median sales price rose to $265,000 from $240,000 the prior August, according to GHAR.

Perry County had 41 home sales, a decline of two compared to last August, as the median sales price increased to $230,000 from $149,900 last year, GHAR said.

Houses were also selling quickly. According to GHAR data, the “average days on the market” in August was just 17 days, compared to 35 in August 2020.

So Noted

Broad Street Market reached its fundraising goal last month to repair and replace its large, notable sign. A $10,000 donation from the nonprofit, Lighten Up Harrisburg, pushed the campaign over its $40,000 goal, allowing the project to proceed following severe, storm-related damage to the sign.

Friends of Midtown Community Dog Park closed last month, as a three-year stint at a temporary location at N. 7th and Granite streets came to an end. Organizers are now seeking a new location that can serve as a permanent home for a dog park.

Melissa Mann last month was appointed the new director of the PA Historical & Museum Commission’s Bureau of Historic Sites & Museums. In this role, Mann will supervise the commonwealth’s 24 state-owned historic sites and museums, according to PHMC.

Michael Philip O’Brien has been named the new executive producer of Gretna Theatre in Mount Gretna. He replaces Brian Kurtas, who left to become the new associate artistic director of the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia.

Midtown Cinema announced major personnel changes last month, naming Rachel Landon as general manager and Stacey Werner as assistant manager. They replace long-time director of operations Adam Porter and assistant manager Sammi Leigh Melville. Porter left to focus on his business, StartUp Harrisburg, as Melville finishes up her second novel.

Otto Banks last month was named Harrisburg’s new economic development director. Mayor Eric Papenfuse appointed Banks, who opposed him in the Democratic primary for mayor last May, to replace Nona Watson, who left the post several months ago.

Changing Hands

Adrian St., 2422: W. & B. Flagle to SPXT PA LLC, $83,750

Bellevue Rd., 1959: D. Hargrove & D. Surbrena to E. Ford, $62,000

Bellevue Rd., 2101: J. & E. Lewis to C. Dozier & H. Abraham, $324,900

Berryhill St., 1708: C. Zapata to A. Herr, $68,000

Berryhill St., 2310: L. & G. Smith to N. & Y. Reinoso, $105,000

Boas St., 116: J. Crouch to M. Manley & S. Clark, $186,500

Boas St., 265: 265 Boas Associates to SJL Rentals LLC, $562,000

Boas St., 1824: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to M. Freeman, $77,450

Briggs St., 1621: D. Floyd to K. & S. Green, $36,000

Brookwood St., 2440: M. Russell to B. Sium, $90,000

Brookwood St., 2442: D. Lawson & C. Jenkins to Alliance Estates LLC, $84,900

Capitol St., 907: E. Ashenfelder to J. Schmucker & C. Snook, $167,000

Cumberland St., 214: M. Santalucia to C. Anderson, $190,000

Cumberland St., 272: B. Hall & K. Humen to E. Maxson, $169,900

Derry St., 1727: D. Boyle to V. Severino, $30,000

Derry St., 1942: J. Wissler to 946 South 18th LLC, $60,000

Derry St., 2114 & 2116: MRI Properties LLC to P. Singh, $180,000

Derry St., 2405: J. Schwartz to R. Smith, $95,000

Derry St., 2508: B. Bandy to M. & S. Mejia, $85,000

Derry St., 2614: J. & T. Aitken to J. Klinger, $87,000

Emerald St., 519: J. Perkins to C. Aumuller & P. Carcione, $52,000

Fox Ridge Ct., 305: J. Sprajcar to T. Thompson, $165,000

Green St., 706: J. Choi & J. Crumbly to R. Eppley Jr., $207,000

Green St., 1113: M. Labuz to Eastlake Eleven LLC, $167,000

Green St., 1310: A. Johnson to K. & K. Daczka, $179,900

Green St., 1904: R. & A. Gonsar to T. Luckenbaugh, $237,500

Green St., 2046: HAMR Property Services LLC to CWJK Holdings LLC, $161,875

Green St., 2334: Phantom Property Investments LLC to J. Fermin, $120,000

Green St., 3113: M. Jarvis to M. & C. Rinkoff, $228,000

Greenwood St., 2118: MCCJ Properties LLC to SPG Capital LLC, $58,000

Hale Ave., 383: S. Henry to J. Jones, $75,000

Hamilton St., 201: Braxley Renovations LLC to SJL Rentals LLC, $205,000

Herr St., 206: S. Ntzanis to Z. & A. Martin, $161,000

Herr St., 226: V. Wills & R. Moore to D. Hack & B. Blakistone, $209,900

Herr St., 309: N. Kresge to M. Connors, $240,000

Herr St., 1823: M. Murphy, K. Seidel & Murphy Rentals Inc. to H. Toledo Jr., $59,900

Hummel St., 431: Bell Group LLC to Hillside Financial LLC, $120,000

Jefferson St., 2450: B. Koshkarian to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $73,500

Kelker St., 215: M. Novosel to A. & J. Bert, $115,000

Kensington St., 2037 & 2039: J. Echegaray to SNB Real Estate Solutions LLC, $110,000

Kensington St., 2262: R. Eden & PA Housing Finance Agency to D&A Homes LLC, $54,000

Kensington St., 2365: C. Woods to A. Pellegrini, $100,000

Linden St., 125: CR Property Group LLC to S. Tolopilo, $125,100

Mercer St., 2446: F. Beshara & L. Zeller to D. Sherer & M. Cohn, $106,000

Mulberry St., 2000: P. Robinson to J. Hunter, $105,000

Naudain St., 1421: Gary Neff Inc. & City Limits Realty to G. Ajakaye, $47,500

N. 2nd St., 709: KBH Properties to J. & K. Staz, $128,000

N. 2nd St., 1105: HAMR Second Street LLC to CWJK Holdings LLC, $161,400

N. 2nd St., 2315: H. Bower to J. Pulley, $159,900

N. 2nd St., 2333: C. Cullis to L. & J. Casey, $105,750

N. 2nd St., 2515: P. Burke to T. & B. Groce, $257,000

N. 2nd St., 2625: R. Morning to K. Boyer, $280,000

N. 2nd St., 3019: J. Erb to J. Steinbrunner, $180,000

N. 2nd St., 3232: J. Dresslar & W. Cleary to Alkaline Properties LLC, $95,000

N. 3rd St., 2251: M. Erazo to D. Riley, $126,000

N. 3rd St., 2550: N. Mindlin & J. Cutler to A. & I. Hermantin, $279,000

N. 4th St., 3209: M. Schuessler to T. & J. Perla, $88,512

N. 5th St., 1700: N. McWhite to Taylor Made Properties LLC, $61,001

N. 5th St., 1719: R. Cieszynski to Alkaline Properties LLC, $95,000

N. 6th St., 1500: P. Stier to L. Grossberg & J. Maes, $472,500

N. 6th St., 2901: Firetree Ltd. to Loving Handz Early Learning & Development Center Inc., $175,000

N. 6th St., 3105: K. Kissam to C. Penney, $117,900

N. 7th St., 2148: Tang & Perkins Property Management LLC to SPG Capital LLC, $47,500

N. 13th St., 18, 20 & 22 and 13 & 15 Linden St.: M. Lamereaux & S. Brady to E. Rodriguez & M. Taveras, $225,000

N. 14th St., 226: J. Bowen to Fernandez Realty Group LLC, $68,000

N. 14th St., 1203: N. Barber to FRDOCE03 LLC, $55,000

N. 16th St., 1103: RJ Schultz Enterprises Inc. to J. & J. Izurieta, $98,000

N. 18th St., 47: Great Row LLC to T. Paul, $45,900

N. 19th St., 709: J Linc Holdings LLC to Wisechoice USA LLC, $39,000

N. Front St., 1013: B. Rota to J. Charles Realty LLC, $250,000

N. Front St., 3211: 3211 Front Associates LLC & In Touch Holding to Empire Front Street LLC, $3,770,000

Park St., 1630: L. Palmer to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $67,500

Penn St., 1311: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to 1311 Penn Street LLC, $139,900

Penn St., 1612: N. & C. Giustra to M. Bravo, $208,400

Penn St., 2224: K. Lawler to A. Luchansky, $74,900

Penn St., 2313: M. Bekelja to SPG Capital LLC, $67,500

Reel St., 2616: E. Chattah to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $79,300

Regina St., 1819: J. Carmona & K. Contreras to M. Pichardo, $

Reily St., 430 & 432: Dobson Family Partnership to 400 Reily Street LLC, $300,000

Rolleston St., 1042: D. Lispi to R. Kinnard, $200,000

Rumson Dr., 2983: J. Jones to C. Caraballo, $100,500

Schuykill St., 536: E. Chattah & Y. Guhl to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $90,500

Seneca St., 262: CR Property Group LLC to C. Drayton, $59,900

S. 12th St., Neidlinger Enterprises LLC to M. Dalupang, $130,000

S. 14th St., 429: A. & T. Scott to C. Heras & W. Salinas, $53,000

S. 15th St., 17: H. Sostre & M. Gonzalez to F. Contreras, $85,000

S. 18th St., 14: K. Moore & Habitat for Humanity of Greater Harrisburg Area to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $59,000

S. 18th St., 28: RJ Schultz Enterprises Inc. to Moxie Properties LLC, $51,000

S. 21st St., 932: RTD Properties & Management to K. Ferrera, $57,000

S. 23rd St., 647: L. & M. Chen to J. Mears, $100,000

S. 25th St., 602: RDR Property Management LLC to D. Glatfelter, $68,000

S. 27th St., 734: B. McCann to D. Smith, $98,000

State St., 231, Unit 602: LUX 1 LP to R. Murcia, $140,000

State St., 1847: Blue Door Management LLC to Bridger Investments LLC, $40,000

Susquehanna St., 1809: S. Sehar to SPG Capital LLC, $82,500

Susquehanna St., 1839: S. Conover to E. Lindsay, $160,000

Vernon St., 1343: R. & D. Kauffman to J. & C. Glick, $60,000

Washington St., 111: C. Altman to O. Hannah, $170,000

Yale St., 225: L. & L. Napier to J. Camacho, $63,000

Harrisburg property sales for August 2021, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

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Midtown Cinema changing directors, as new manager, assistant manager named

September 14, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda

After years featuring the same lineup, Midtown Cinema is making a major casting change.

Rachel Landon has been named general manager of Harrisburg’s arthouse theater, while Stacey Werner has been hired as assistant manager.

They replace Adam Porter, who has served as director of operations since 2013, and Sammi Leigh Melville, who has been assistant manager since 2014, respectively.

“We are inheriting the responsibility for caring for and cultivating one of Harrisburg’s most important artistic institutions,” Landon said. “It’s daunting, but it’s an honor to be a part of the Cinema.”

Most recently, Landon has served as marketing director for Open Stage, a theater company in downtown Harrisburg where she also performs as an actor. Werner has long served as a manager in Harrisburg-area restaurants.

Porter recently announced his departure to focus full-time on his growing business, StartUp Harrisburg, a co-working space in Midtown. Melville is completing her second novel and will continue to write movie reviews for TheBurg.

Midtown Cinema recently completed a yearlong renovation, with major upgrades to both the interior and exterior of the building, including the location of a Zeroday Brewing Co. “Outpost” inside the lobby area.

Midtown Cinema is known for its independent, first-run films, for its special events and for its nostalgia-driven programming, such as special holiday-themed movie screenings.

“There’s always something going on at 250 Reily Street,” Landon said. “I really can’t wait for people to come here, see the upgrades that have been made to the Cinema, and enjoy seeing a movie on the big screen.”

Midtown Cinema is located at 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit their website.

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Take Your Seats: Harrisburg theaters make plans for a new season—eagerly, carefully

August 31, 2021 | by Gina Napoli

Clockwise, from top, left: James Mitchell, Aneesa Neibauer, Paul Hood & Frank Henley

It’s been almost 18 months since the pandemic extinguished the faint amber glow from the hobnail light fixtures by backstage doors.

Last season, local theater companies offered audiences a socially distant mix of virtual performances, partially opened, sanitized spaces and reduced audience volumes, with some taking advantage of the downtime to regroup.

Now, they’re all set to reopen to live audiences for the 2021-22 season, as the theater companies, like society in general, continue to stutter-step through the protracted pandemic.

Lot of Joy

Gamut Theatre was first to offer COVID-conscious, in-person performances to limited audiences, then later outdoors.

“Re-opening has been so emotional,” said Gamut Theatre’s Executive Director Melissa Nicholson, who feels stress (the good kind) from organizing this season in three months rather than the usual eight.

Last season, Gamut used all core company actors. This year, they’re holding actual auditions and leveraging partnerships to open up to other artists.

A few blocks away, Open Stage, offered videos, with some re-shuffling of lineups to accommodate socially distant filming.

“The impact [of re-opening] didn’t hit me until I was back onstage, with a crowd looking at me,” said Marketing Manager Rachel Landon. “I immediately started crying happy tears. We feel grateful to do what we love in front of an audience again.”

Producing Artistic Director Stuart Landon said that he was “overwhelmed seeing people back in the space.”

“Muscles had atrophied after having been away for 15 months,” he said. “It was a little shock and a heck of a lot of joy.”

Frank Henley, artistic director and founder of Narcisse Theatre Company, described feeling “cautious optimism,” with further uncertainty about the delta variant.

“We’re still in the age of COVID,” he said. “Moving forward, the most important thing is the health and safety of our audience, actors and production crew. We’re responsible to navigate this new environment.”

After last season’s strategic pause, Theatre Harrisburg will stage productions again. Artistic and Production Director Kristi Ondo stressed a commitment to welcoming audiences safely, as well as excitement, in re-opening.

“It’s wonderful to be back in the production center, working, planning, dreaming of what is to come,” she said.

Season Sampler

The shows to come this season will be different from where we dropped our programs in March 2020 and abruptly ushered ourselves out the door. And because we have all lived through this incredibly weird time, we inevitably will view the plays through our own changed perspectives.

In this spirit, each theater will present thoughtful offerings that, taken together, promise to expand upon and round out our thinking.

Open Stage

“As the world was reopening, we were in the midst of planning,” Stuart Landon said. “We didn’t know what the rules of engagement would be.”

This explains Open Stage’s one-person fall shows, with themes of healing, moving forward, reckoning and beckoning.

To quote Monty Python, here’s something completely different: “White Rabbit/Red Rabbit.”

Without any rehearsal or advanced reading, a different actor every night will read the play cold in front of the audience. Curious? Me too. If you need a little guidance on whether you should bring your teenager along, you can find more information on the website. If you do find out any spoilers, please don’t leak. The rest of us want to be surprised.

Less surprising—Open Stage will offer exciting Christmas shows, one of which is the silly and heartwarming “Who’s Holiday.”

“I miss making people laugh and making a fool of myself, so it’s important for me to wear Cindy Lou’s wig,” said Rachel Landon, the star of the show. “She can overcome dark places to find joy, love and life.”

Other offerings this season include “Every Brilliant Thing” in September and “The Mad Ones” in February and March.

Out of all of the plays, the Landons are most excited about “Fairview,” which, in partnership with Sankofa African American Theatre Company, will cap Open Stage’s season in May.

“This is a timely and important piece for Harrisburg,” Rachel Landon said. “It’s about white privilege and the white lens, white fragility, the way we see others, the way our race may play into that.”

Stuart Landon saw “Fairview” in Brooklyn and deemed it “a glorious experience.”

“I came home and I couldn’t stop jibber-jabbering about it,” he said. “It’s easily in the ‘top-three’ theatrical experiences of my life.”

Themes of connectedness will also emerge through their season.

“After the stagnancy thrust upon the theater world, characters will break through the fourth wall to interact with the crowds,” Rachel Landon said. “It’s just as important for the performers as the audience.”

Gamut Theatre

For their mainstage plays, Gamut Theatre’s all-female director lineup worked independently on their own concepts, landing on plays with smaller ensemble casts playing multiple roles.

Director Melissa Nicholson opens the mainstage season in October with Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” In November, she directs local playwright Sean Adams’ clever script for “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass,” full of adult nuances that will sail right over kids’ heads.

“It’s one student surrounded by strange adult characters,” Nicholson said. “We can look at this play through the lens of the pandemic, attacking this bonkers world Lewis Carroll wrote about.”

Notably, in January, Gamut will host the Shakespeare Theatre Association’s annual conference, bringing some of the world’s top theater professionals to Harrisburg.

Like Open Stage, Gamut will partner with Sankofa this season. In February, they will present “Echoes of Voices of the Eighth: Stories from Harrisburg’s Old 8th Ward.” This continues a series begun before the pandemic, which focuses on the largely African American, immigrant and working class neighborhood razed a century ago to expand the Capitol complex.

Later Gamut shows include Virginia Woolf’s “Orlando,” in March and “The Winter’s Tale” in June, which is this year’s selection for the always-popular “Free Shakespeare in the Park.”

Theatre Harrisburg

Four main-stage shows comprise Theatre Harrisburg’s return, with themes of “joy, renewal, choices and laughter,” said Ondo. “We wanted to celebrate with uplifting, heartwarming storytelling everyone can use after the last year.”

Unless you’ve been living in a pineapple under the sea for the last several decades, you’ve heard of SpongeBob. And you may know about The SpongeBob SquarePants musical’s successful run on Broadway. Theatre Harrisburg intends to spark joy in its audiences with this season opener.

“On the script, the author’s notes read, ‘Embrace joy.’ No other notes,” Ondo said.

Much like the cartoon, the play appeals to all ages.

“This show is about the power of optimism, reinforcing that anyone with the right mindset can pull a community together,” Ondo said.

Other highlights include “The Secret Garden” in February and “Now and Then” in April, the only play in their lineup without Tony nominations.

“This is a relatively new and unfamiliar play, a heartfelt romantic comedy about the choices we make,” Ondo said. “I’m excited to see what the director will do with it. I think audiences will like it and be surprised by it.”

Narcisse Theatre

You might find Narcisse’s themes on the other end of the joy spectrum, with promises of difficult or ambiguous endings during this challenging time.

The first performance is “Rashomon,” a hard-boiled psychological thriller set in Japan. Henley described it as a blend of western culture and traditional kabuki and kagura theater, topped with a layer of tribal African art.

Not necessarily for the kiddies is “Wise Old Crow Shadow Puppet Show,” a folk tale to teach the commonality of humanity. As part of Narcisse’s mission, this show will tread on “racial ethnic lines, tearing down the walls that divide us and building bridges that connect the theater scenes in Harrisburg,” Henley said.

Narcisse has engaged local playwrights, performance artists and the Blacklisted Poets of Harrisburg to present original works and expand traditional boundaries.

In partnership with Gamut, Narcisse will present a staged reading of “The African Company: The Mystery of the African Grove” by Paul Hood. The performance will take place during Gamut’s Classics Fest Celebration. The same author will present another original play called “Kill Keller,” a semi-autobiographical work featuring two teen brothers who have moved to Harrisburg with their abusive alcoholic stepfather.

Keeping it local, we can look forward to more original works. Aneesa Neibauer will read dramatic poetry “Black and Unknown Bards.” Local actor and artist James Mitchell will perform an inventive one-man show called “Mi Diego’s Playhouse.”

“We don’t want audiences to walk away with answers,” Henley said. “We want them to feel challenged, uncomfortable, walking away with the types of questions that cause psychological distress.”

For More Info

Whichever plays you see this season, please consider donating to any number of ongoing fundraising efforts. Help that light by the stage door to burn a little brighter.

You can find more information about the local theaters’ individual 2021-22 seasons at these websites:

The Blacklisted Poets of Harrisburg: www.facebook.com/theblacklistedpoetsofharrisburg

Gamut Theatre Group: www.gamuttheatre.org

Narcisse Theatre Co.: www.narcissetheatre.org

Open Stage: www.openstagehbg.com

Sankofa Theatre of Harrisburg: www.sankofatheatrehbg.com

Theatre Harrisburg: www.theatreharrisburg.com

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

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