POTTSTOWN  – The U.S. premiere of "Peter Pan, A Musical Adventure" opens Thursday June 2 and runs Thursdays through Sundays through June 19.
This new version, based on the J.M. Barrie original play,is reborn as a spectacular musical by Britain’s Stiles & Drewe (Broadway’s "Mary Poppins")
Tickets for adults range from $19 to $23;students and seniors, $17 to $21; and children 12 & under, $13 to  $15. For more information go to
www.tripac.org or call 610-970-1199.

READING – Genesius Theatre presents "Bat Boy, The Musical,” the story of Edgar is a deformed cast-away who is discovered in a West Virginia cave,
"Bat Boy, The Musical,” runs June 3 – 12 at Genesius Thatre, 153 North 10th St. in Reading. For ifomation, got to www.GenesiusTheatre.org or call (610) 371-8151
There is parking next to the theater.

HATBORO – The Village Players of Hatboto, 401 Jefferson Ave., Hatboro present "I Hate Hamlet" June 10-25.
After coming to New York to play Hamlet, unemployed TV star Andrew Rally soon gets an offer to return to the small screen. TV or not TV? The ghost of John Barrymore appears and why has he returned to this “mortal coil?” To convince our hero to take on the role, of course!
Tickets are $10-12. Call 215-675-6774 for tickets or more information.

READING – Reading Community Players FEATURES "A Little Princess" June 17-26 in the Playhouse at 403 North 11th St. in Reading.
Since the first Sunday performance of "A Little Princess," a 3 p.m. matinee, falls on Fathers’ Day,  a special father/daughter ticket offer of $20, 3 dollars off the regular ticket price. For more information or to purchase tickets got to www.rcptheatre.com  or call the box office at 610-374-0777.

Theater short takes
• "Next to Normal" – June 21-26 at the Academy of Music, 1420 Locust St., Philadelphia (215-893-1999)
• Interact Theatre Company presents "In a Daughter's Eyes" – May 27 through June 19 at The Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St., Philadelphia (215-563-4330)
• Madhouse Theater Company presents "Playing Leni" – May 27 through June 11 at The Adrienne Skybox, 2030 Sansom St., Philadelphia (215-571-9623)
• "The Flea and the Professor" – through June 12 at the Arden Theatre Company, 40 N. Second St., Philadelphia (215-922-1122)
• Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival presents "Sleeping Beauty" – June 3 through Aug. 6 – "South Pacific" – June 15 through July 3 and "The Comedy of Errors" – June 22 through July 17 at DeSales University, Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, 2755 Station Ave., Center Valley (610-282-3192) 

• "Lost in Yonkers" – June 2-11 at Ephrata Performing Arts Center's Sharadin-Bigler Theater,  Cocalico Street, Ephrata (717-733-7966)

• Harrisburg Shakespeare Company presents "All's Well That Ends Well" – 7:30 p.m. June 8-12 and June 15-18 at the Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts, 100 Concert Drive, Reservoir Park, Harrisburg (717-233-3608)
  
• Crowded Kitchen Players present "The 39 Steps"  – June 3-19 at McCoole's Arts & Events Place, 10 S. Main St., Quakertown (215-538-1776)
  
• Center Theatre presents "The Sound of Music" – June 3-26 at the Montgomery County Cultural Center, 208 DeKalb St., Norristown (610-279-1013) 
   
• "Dividing the Estate" – through June 5 and "Hatchetman" – June 15 through July 10 at People's Light and Theatre Company, 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern (610-644-3500)
  
• "Symphony of Dreams"  –  June 17-19 at Reading Area Community College, Miller Center for the Arts, 4 N. Second St., Reading (610-607-6205) 
   
• Broadway on Sixth Street presents "Disney's Beauty and the Beast" – 2 p.m. June 12 at the Sovereign Performing Arts Center, 136 N. Sixth St. (1-800-745-3000)
  
• Philadelphia Theatre Company presents "Ruined" – through June 12 and Colin Quinn in "Long Story Short" – June 28 through July 10 at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St., Philadelphia (215-985-0420)
  
• "Godspell — A Musical Based Upon the Gospel According to St. Matthew" – 7:30 p.m. June 18-19 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 108 S. Robeson St., Robesonia (610-693-6062)  
  
  
• "Miss Saigon" – through July 17 and Walnut Street Theatre for Kids presents "Click, Clack, Moo" – 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. June 4 at Walnut Street Theatre, 825 Walnut St., Philadelphia (215-413-1318)
  

• "My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra" – through June 28 at Walnut Street Theatre, Independence Studio on 3, 825 Walnut St., Philadelphia (215-574-3550) 
   
  
• "My Wonderful Day" – through June 19 at the Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad St., Philadelphia (215-546-7824)
  

“Nunsense,” the hilarious musical comedy about nuns putting on a talent show as a fundraiser, runs Through May 15 at the Tr-County Performing Arts Center, 245 E. High St. in Pottstown. For more information see the review I this blog, or go to www.tripac.org or call 610-970-1199. Family Stages presents “Cinderella” on May 15 at Augustus Lutheran Church, 717 W. Main St. in Trappe. This is a zany version of the timeless classic with just two actors playing all the characters. This opening performance will begin at 2 p.m. Additional performances of “Cinderella” are slated at 10:30 a.m. on June 30 and Aug. 18. Tickets are $9 and can be reserved by calling 215-886-9341 or e-mailing familystages@gmail.com. Thirty songs from the unmatched Rodgers and Hammerstein songbook will be heard when the curtain rises on a Methacton Community Theater production of “Some Enchanted Evening: The Songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein” at the Shannondell Performing Arts Theater, 1000 Shannondell Blvd. in Audubon. From the love songs of “South Pacific” to the upbeat energy of “Oklahoma,” from the stirring melodies of “The Sound of Music” to the dynamic sounds of “The King of I,” the local production will spotlight some of the most familiar songs of American music theater and a few of the lesser known ones as well. Friday and Saturday performances will continue May 14, 20 and 21. Curtain time is 7 p.m. Matinees are slated at 2 p.m. on May 15 and 22. Information, reservations and tickets are available at www.methactoncommunitytheater.org or by calling 610-489-6449. Parking is available at Giant supermarket directly across from the Shannondell entrance on Egypt Road. Free shuttle service is provided directly to and from the theater. “The Adventures of Harold and the Purple Crayon” continues at the Prince Music Theater, Philadelphia, through May 22. For information visit www.enchantmenttheatre.org or call 215-893-1999. KIMBERTON — The senior class of Kimberton Waldorf School, 410 W. Seven Stars Road, will present “Our Town” and “Laramie Project” at 7 p.m. May 19 to 21. Visit www.kimberton.org for ticket information.   "Madagascar Live" -- May 13-15 at the Academy of Music, 1420 Locust St., Philadelphia (215-893-1999) Interact Theatre Company presents "In a Daugher's Eyes"; May 27 through June 19 at The Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St., Philadelphia (215-563-4330) Flashpoint Theatre Company presents "26 Miles" through May 28 atThe Adrienne, Second Stage, 2030 Sansom St., Philadelphia (215-563-4330) Alpha Teens & Tweens present "The Me Nobody Knows" 8 p.m. May 13-14 and 3 p.m. May 15 at the Alpha/Omega Performing Arts Center, 301 E. First St., Birdsboro (610-404-4844) Ephrata Performing Arts Center's Sharadin-Bigler Theater, Cocalico Street, Ephrata presents “Into the Woods” through May 14. (717-733-7966) , Sixth Annual Young Playwrights Festival, 7 p.m. May 21 at Lehigh University, Zoellner Arts Center, 420 E. Packer Ave., Bethlehem (610-758-2787) People's Light and Theatre Company, 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern presents "Dividing the Estat through June 5. (610-644-3500) Philadelphia Theatre Company presents "Ruined" May 20 through June 12 at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St., Philadelphia (215-985-0420) Walnut Street Theatre, 825 Walnut St., Philadelphia (215-413-1318) presents "Miss Saigon" May 17 through July 17. JUNE 2011 Village Productions presents "Peter Pan" June 2-19 at the Tri-County Performing Arts Center, 245 E. High St., Pottstown (610-970-1199.

By Cheryl Thornburg

As the opening number in “Nunsense” says, “Nunsense is Habit Forming” and this is one habit you won't want to kick. I can attest to that – I've seen this show in various incarnations at least four times and it always makes me laugh and leave the theater in a great mood.

Tri-PAC's production features a talented cast who bring to life the zany nuns of the Little Sisters of Hoboken nunnery.

The premise is outrageous – and hilarious. The nunnery cook, Sister Julia, Child of God, has accidentally killed off the majority of the sisters at the convent with a tainted vichyssoise and the remaining nuns have run out of funds to bury them all – they've stored four of them in the convent freezer as they try to raise the money for their burial.

In order to do that, they're putting on a talent show featuring five of the sisters who present some of the funniest and “punniest” routines in the history of musical comedy.

You don't have to be Catholic to understand and enjoy the broad, sometimes bordering on bawdy, humor of this show.

Donna Dougherty as Sister Mary Regina, the Mother Superior of the nunnery, has mastered that stern accusatory look that has stopped students and wayward parishioners in their tracks. Her comedic skills are first rate and her vocal talent is showcased in “Turn Up the Spotlight” and a duet, “Just a Coupl'a Sisters,” with Sister Mary Hubert.

Alicia Huppman delivers an over-the-top Sister Mary Hubert with a gleem in her eye and a powerful voice that is featured in some of the show's most memorable numbers including “The Biggest Ain't the Best” and the rollicking, hand-clapping “Holier Than Thou” in the second act. The latter is the number that may stick in your head when you leave the theater.

Raina Frey Murdock seems to have been born to play Sister Robert Anne, the street-wise, wise-cracking born-in Brooklyn nun, who has a passion for the stage. Murdock stays in character every second as she interacts with the audience before and during the show. Her enthusiasm is infectious and her delivery of “I Just Want to Be a Star,” is spot on.

Rebecca Shoemaker also seems perfect for her role as Sister Mary Amnesia, the wide-eyed, naïve nun who can't remember who she is because of an accident when a crucifix fell on her head. Shoemaker demonstrates considerable comedic skill throughout, but shines in the skit “the Quiz.” She gets to show off her vocal talent in “I Could've Gone to Nashville” in the second act.

Rounding out the cast is a novice, Jordan Shoemaker, a sophomore at Pottsgrove High School, who plays Sister Mary Leo, a novice at the convent who loves to dance. She gets to show off her dancing skills in several numbers, but is memorable as “The Dying Nun,” that also showcases her flair for comedy. She;s also a singing nun, as she shows in “Benedicte” and “The Biggest Ain't the Best”

Put all five together and you get great harmony, comedy and a laugh-filled night out.

Be forewarned – you may not be able to sit back and enjoy this show – you might become a part of it – as the nuns chat with and sometimes chastise the audience. It's all in good fun and will probably be one of your favorite nights at the theater.

The show is directed by Christine Cieplinski. Julie Eurillo is musical director.

“Nunsense” continues Thursdays through Sundays through May 15 at the Tr-County Performing Arts Center, 245 E. High St. in Pottstown. Tickets
ADULT: Thurs $15; Fri, Sat & Sun $17
STUDENT/SENIOR(65+): Thurs $13; Fri, Sat, Sun $15
CHILD (12 & under): Thurs $11; Fri, Sat & Sun $13
For more information go to www.tripac.org or call 610-970-1199.