Kimmel Center's Girls Night - The Musical, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, thru 5/13

This naughty funny 'tell-it-like-it-is' musical takes audiences on a voyage into the lives of a group of female friends night out on the town "killing" popular hit songs of the 80s and 90s.

Prudish or easily offended theater patron need not attend! The show's unassuming, fun, talented, audacious women on stage had the audience on their feet, clapping, singing, and dancing in their seats as they re-live their past, dish about their present, and contemplate the future. You may even recognize a bit of yourself in one of them!

Originally written by Louis Roche in the UK, Girls Night became an Off Broadway hit and went on to tour in North America and is described as "Desperate Housewives" meets "Mamma Mia" (Applause Magazine), "A boisterous, bust-out, bawdy musical revue" (Wisconsin State Journal).

The bony thin plot centers on Sharon (Tina Mallon), who died when she fell off a moped when the rest of the characters were teenagers. She now invisibly narrates the show as a white- winged mod angel over her daughter's engagement party. The women have been friends for twenty-some years: Anita (Maya Tepler, who can act as well as belt out a song), Kate (Regina Ann Duke), Liza (Jenna Paige Garliardo, a booty -shaking attention grabbing talent), and Carol (Carrie Bonnell). Jam packed with a ton of raw honesty and offensiveness and even a bit of tenderness, the show finds a way to win you over.

The "girls" who came to see Girls Night were every age, shape, size, race, and color. There were even a few guys in the audience who were playfully pointed out as "suckers" by the cast.  

The storyline sets the stage for 15 hit songs - all predictable, all irresistible: "I Will Survive," "It's Raining Men," "Lady Marmalade," "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun," "I Am What I Am", "Man I Feel Like A Woman ", We Are Family" and more!

Girls Night-The Musical plays at the Kimmel Center's Innovation Studio, Philadelphia Pa., through  May 13. For tickets and information: visit www.kimmelcenter.org or call 215.893.1999.

Pati has been involved in various aspects of theater for about 25 years; from writing reviews and interviews for the past 10 years to producing theater events. Pati also runs PB Entertainment Agency working with several Broadway and Regional performers booking workshops/Master classes, concerts and theater programs for high schools, colleges and theater groups. She also works raising funds for non profit organizations. www.pbentertainmentinc.com

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