Cape May Stage: Time Stands Still Play by Donald Margulies. Closes 10/13. Robert Shackleton Playhouse, Bank & Lafayette Sts., Cape May; 609-884-1341. $35; $30 seniors; $15 students.
Childe Byron An ill Ada Byron Lovelace engages in a revelatory imagined conversation with her dead father, Lord Byron. Closes 10/13. Allens Lane Art Center, 601 W. Allens Ln.; Box Office: 215-248-0546. $18 advance; $20 day of show.
Cooking With The Calamari Sisters: Mangia Italiano! 'Live broadcast' of a cable channel cooking show hosted by 2 colorful Italian sisters. Closes 11/4. Society Hill Playhouse, 507 S. 8th St.; Reservations required: 215-923-0210. www.thecalamarisisters.com/cooking.html. $45.
East Lynne Theater Company: It Pays to Advertise Madcap comedy about advertising. Closes 10/13. First Presbyterian Church of Cape May, 500 Hughes St., Cape May; 609-884-5898. www.eastlynnetheater.org. $30; $25 seniors; $15 students.
Gore Vidal's The Best Man Actors' NET of Bucks County presents biting political comedy. Closes 10/7. Morrisville Heritage Center, 635 N. Delmorr Ave., Morrisville; Reservations required: 215-295-3694. www.actorsnetbucks.org. $20; $17 seniors; $10 under 12.
Gutenberg! The Musical 2 aspiring playwrights try to get backers for their new work, a musical about printing press inventor Johann Gutenberg. Closes 10/6. Montgomery Theater, 124 N. Main St., Souderton; 215-723-9984. $25-$37.
Hairspray A teenager wins a spot on a TV dance program, then launches a campaign for social justice. Closes 11/4. Media Theatre for the Performing Arts, 104 E. State St., Media; 610-891-0100. $49; $44 seniors; $27 children.
Leading Men Don't Dance Musical revue featuring John D. Smitherman. Closes 9/29. Hedgerow Theatre, 64 Rose Valley Rd., Media; 610-565-4211. $32.
Love Story The tale of the romance between a man & a woman from different worlds. Closes 10/21. Walnut Street Theatre, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550. $10-$95.
Luv Comedy about life, friendship & neuroses. Closes 10/6. Ritz Theatre Company, 915 White Horse Pike, Oaklyn; 856-858-5230. $25-$35.
Miss Minnie Mae's Goin Home Party Presented by Expressions Performing Arts Company. Closes 9/29. SS Neumann-Goretti High School, 1736 S. 10th St. $20.
New Jerusalem - The Interrogation of Baruch de Spinoza at Talmud Torah Congregation: Amsterdam, July 27, 1656 A small Jewish community living in Amsterdam comes into conflict with various political forces. Closes 9/30. Lantern Theater at St. Stephen's Theater, 10th & Ludlow Sts.; 215-829-0395. www.lanterntheater.org. $30-$38.
Next to Normal Pulitzer-winning drama about a family in crisis. Closes 11/4. Arden Theatre, 40 N. 2d St.; 215-922-1122.
Oleanna David Mamet drama about a college professor who finds himself accused of sexual harrassment. Closes 10/14. Bristol Riverside Theatre, 120 Radcliffe St., Bristol; 215-785-0100.
Seven Guitars Several friends get together at an apartment complex after the untimely death of an acquaintance. Closes 10/7. People's Light & Theatre Company, 39 Conestoga Rd., Malvern; 610-644-3500. $25-$45; $25 children 17 and under.
Sex and Violence A sword fighting & burlesque show. Closes 10/5. Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Pl. www.gdpproductions.com. $10.
Sherlock Holmes & the Crucifer of Blood A missing soldier's past harbors a mysterious secret in this stage adaptation of 'The Sign of the Four.' Closes 11/25. Hedgerow Theatre, 64 Rose Valley Rd., Media; 610-565-4211. $20; $10 students and children.
Steel Magnolias The story of the close friendship of 6 very different Southern women. Closes 10/7. Surflight Theatre, Beach & Engleside Ave., Harvey Cedars, NJ; 609-492-9477. $36-$54; $18-$27 children 12 and under.
The Assassination of Jesse James Part of the American Vaudeville Festival. Presented by EgoPo. Closes 10/28 Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Pl.; Reservations required: 215-735-0630 or 1-800-595-4849. $20-$50.
The Berserker Residents: The Giant Squid Comedic take on a science 'lecture' that takes viewers into the depths of the ocean. Closes 9/29. Annenberg Center - Harold Prince Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215-898-3900. berserkerresidents.com. $20 and up.
The Edge of Our Bodies A young woman's intimate journey. Closes 9/30. Theatre Exile - Studio X, 1340 S. 13th St.; 215-218-4022. www.theatreexile.org. $20-$22.
The Mystery of Edwin Drood Musical mystery based on the unfinished Charles Dickens book. Closes 10/7. Broadway Theatre of Pitman, 43 S. Broadway, Pitman; Box Office: 856-384-8381. $25.
Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike Comic twist on a Chekhov story. Closes 10/7. Princeton University - McCarter Theatre, 91 University Pl., Princeton; 609-258-2787. $20-$75.
Bread & Puppet Theater: The Circus of the Possibilitarians Activist theater company's family-friendly production. Closes 9/30. Bryn Mawr College - Thomas Great Hall, Merion Ave., Bryn Mawr. Free. 'Allo 'Allo Set in France during World War II, this zany comedy proves you can never have too much of a good thing. Closes 10/6. Playcrafters Theatre, 2011 Store Rd., Skippack; Reservations recommended: 610-584-4005. $15.
Act I Theatre: Arsenic & Old Lace A man discovers his aunts have taken to poisoning elderly male visitors. Closes 10/7. DeSales University, 2755 Station Ave., Center Valley; Labuda Box Office: 610-282-3192. $21-$25; $19-$23 students and seniors.
Brighton Beach Memoirs Coming-of-age story set in New York during the Great Depression. Closes 9/29. Players Club of Swarthmore, 614 Fairview Rd., Swarthmore; TheaterMania: 866-811-4111. $15; $8 children 18 and under.
Design for Murder Classic thriller, presented by Crowded Kitchen Players. Closes 10/7. McCoole's Arts & Events Place, 10 S. Main St., Quakertown; 610-395-7176. www.ckplayers.com. $18; $14 seniors; $10 students.
How I Learned to Drive Pulitzer-winning play by Paula Vogel. Closes 10/7. Villanova University - Vasey Hall, 800 E. Lancaster Ave., Villanova; 610-519-7474. $23-$25; $21-$23 seniors.
J.B. A millionaire plagued by a series of misfortunes may get the chance to confront the higher powers that were observing him. Closes 10/6. Ursinus College - Kaleidoscope Performing Arts Center, 601 Main St., Collegeville; 610-409-3795. $5; $2 students and seniors.
Lost in Yonkers Neil Simon's coming-of-age tale of 2 teenage boys in 1942. Closes 9/30. Stagecrafters Theater, 8130 Germantown Ave.; 215-247-8881. www.thestagecrafters.org. $17 advance; $20 day of show.
Picasso at the Lapin Agile Steve Martin comedy. Closes 9/29. Haddonfield Plays & Players, 957 E. Atlantic Ave., Haddonfield; 856-429-8139. $15.
Shakespeare in Hollywood Ken Ludwig's comic romp. Closes 10/6. Colonial Playhouse, Ridley Ave., Clifton Heights; Box Office: 610-622-5773. colonialplayhouse.net. $11-$12; $5 under 12.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Musical adaptation of the Washington Irving story. Closes 10/7. Washington Crossing State Park - Open Air Theatre, 355 Washington Crossing-Pennington Rd., Titusville, NJ; 267-885-9857. $15; $12 seniors; $10 children 12 and under.
The Taming of the Shrew One of Shakespeare's funniest plays is the timeless tale of tempestuous Katherine & her persistent suitor Petruchio. Closes 9/30. Old Academy Players, 3540-3544 Indian Queen Ln.; Box Office: 215-843-1109. www.oldacademyplayers.org. $15.
Let's Host a Murder A murder-themed party gets out of hand, turning all the guests into suspects. Ongoing. Bistro Romano, 120 Lombard St.; Mystery Dinner Theatre Box Office: 215-238-1313. $45.95.
Classical Music
Astral Artists: 20th Anniversary Gala Concert Astral Artists of the past & present perform works by Mozart, Mendelssohn, Stravinsky & more. Kimmel Center, Broad & Spruce Sts.; 215-893-1999. astralartists.org. $35; $30 seniors. 9/29. 7:30 pm.
Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia: Dirk Brosse, Conductor Concert of works by Haydn & Beethoven, w/Lorenzo Gatto featured on violin. Kimmel Center, Broad & Spruce Sts.; 215-545-1739. www.chamberorchestra.org. 9/30, 10/1.
Handbells for Hope Handbell concert by Joybells benefits Phoenixville Area Community Services. St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 355 St. John's Circle, Phoenixville. Donations accepted. 9/30. 4 pm.
Kennett Symphony: Opening Night Concert Works by Prokofiev, Brahms & Corigliano with piano soloist Igor Resnianski. West Chester University - Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre, University Ave., West Chester; 610-444-6363. www.kennettsymphony.org. $35 advance; $40 day of show; $5 students. 9/29. 8 pm.
Liebesfreud Philadelphia ensemble devoted primarily to great literature of the string quartet. Philadelphia Art Alliance, 251 S. 18th St.; 215-545-4302. www.liebesfreud.org. Free. 9/28. 5:30 pm.
Peter Stumpf, Cellist Principal cellist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Glencairn Museum, 1001 Cathedral Rd., Bryn Athyn. $20; $15 students. 9/29. 1-4 pm.
SpectiCast: Europa Konzert From Napoli Screening of a filmed performance by the Berliner Philharmoniker. Medford Leas Community Center, 1 Medford Leas Way, Medford. www.specticast.com. $10. 9/28. 2 pm.
Stretched Strings Fingerstyle guitarists perform. Puck, 85 Printers Alley, Doylestown; 215-348-9000. $10. 9/30. 5 pm.
Takacs Quartet Acclaimed Colorado quartet originally founded in Budapest in the '70s. Princeton University - Richardson Auditorium, Nassau St. & University Pl., Princeton; 609-258-5000. $20-$40; $5-$10 students. 10/4. 8 pm.
Temple University Symphony Orchestra: Luis Biava, Conductor Concert of works by Rossini, Weber & Beethoven, w/soloists to include clarinetist Gi Lee. Temple University - Temple Performing Arts Center, 1837 N Broad St.; Liacouras Center Box Office: 1-800-298-4200. Free. 9/28. 7:30 pm.
Temple University Wind Symphony: Emily Threinen, Conductor Temple students perform. Temple University - Temple Performing Arts Center, 1837 N Broad St.; Liacouras Center Box Office: 800-298-4200. Free. 10/3.
The Wister Quartet Grammy-nominated string quartet. German Society of Pennsylvania, 611 Spring Garden St. $20. 9/30. 3 pm.
Amici Opera: A Taste of Italy Arias, songs & duets from Italy. St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 409 White Horse Pike, Oaklyn. 9/28. 7:15 pm.
Amici Opera: La Forza del Destino Amici performs Verdi's opera. St. Nicholas Hall, 910 Pierce St. $22 advance, $25 day of show; $22 seniors; $15 students; $10 children 12 and under. 9/30. 3 pm.
Choral Arts Philadelphia The award-winning 100-voice symphonic chorus has performed nearly 200 works by more than 100 composers. Cathedral Basilica of SS Peter & Paul, 18th St. www.choralarts.com. $30; $20 seniors; $10 students. 9/29. 8 pm.
Opera Company of Philadelphia: La Boheme Romantic opera by Puccini. Academy of Music, Broad & Locust Sts.; Box Office: 215-893-1999. www.operaphilly.com. $5-$225. 9/28, 9/30, 10/3.
Dance
Ballet Folklorico de Mexico Award-winning folk dance troupe featuring choreography steeped in Mexican cultural influences. Princeton University - McCarter Theatre, 91 University Pl., Princeton; 609-258-2787.
www.balletamalia.com. $20-$52. 9/28. 8 pm.
Hawaiian Luau Live island-style entertainment w/food available for purchase. Benefits the A.C. Aquarium & the Prof. Chefs Assoc., SJ Chapter. Gardner's Basin, 800 N. New Hampshire Ave., Atlantic City. Free. 9/29. 11 am-5 pm.
Israeli Dancing Easy & intermediate level session. Germantown Jewish Centre, 400 W. Ellet St.; 215-844-1507. $5. 9/30.
NIA: The Joy of Movement for People Impacted by Cancer Dance, martial arts & healing arts combine in NIA. Cancer Support Community of Philadelphia (formerly the Wellness Community of Philadelphia), 4100 Chamounix Dr.; Reservations required: 215-879-7733. Free. 10/2.
Royal Drummers and Dancers of Burundi Troupe has been touring the world since the 1960s. The vibrant power and precision of its performances were traditionally a part of ceremonies such as births, funerals and the enthronements of kings. In Burundi, the music is considered sacred and represents, along with the king, the powers of fertility and regeneration. But the heart-stopping rhythms have crossed social and cultural barriers worldwide, with complex and compelling sounds and dance. Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St.; 215-898-3900. $20-$55. 10/3. 7:30 pm.
Traditional Irish Music Session Features local set & step dancers & musicians. Those who play instruments are welcome to join in. Plough & The Stars, 123 Chestnut St.; 215-733-0300. Free. 9/30.
Other performances
Back to School Night Musical celebrating fall & the start of school. Players Club of Swarthmore, 614 Fairview Rd., Swarthmore; TheaterMania: 866-811-4111. $10. 9/29. 8 pm.
Willem Breuker: 45 Years Composing His World WBK is an 11-piece jazz ensemble from Holland that draws on everything from bebop to Ellington to John Cage, playing with riotous good humor, smarts, and spontaneity. International House of Philadelphia, 3701 Chestnut St.; 215-387-5125. $15. 10/2. 8 pm.
