Arts & Entertainment

Act II Playhouse in Ambler Holds 'Summer Flings' Comedy and Music Festival

Local theater presents a three-week festival of comedy, dance, and song in July and August.

Act II Playhouse in Ambler will celebrate their 15th anniversary season by presenting Summer Flings, a three-week festival of comedy, music, and improv that runs from July 18 to Aug. 4.

During each of the three festival weeks, Act II will host a new musical or comedic performance.

“We wanted to produce some light, fun offerings this summer for couples, for folks on ‘stay-cations,’ and for people simply looking for a fun night out,” said Act II artistic director Tony Braithwaite in a media release. “By offering three different shows we can satisfy different tastes or—hopefully—bring people back each week.” 

From July 18-21, Act II will feature Just Wingin’ It, an improv show featuring Philadelphia improv performers. The show is produced and directed by Mary Carpenter of ComedySportz, which is Philadelphia’s longest-running improv group, according to Act II.

Find out what's happening in Lower Gwynedd-Ambler-Whitpainwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

From July 25-28, Act II will feature Heeere’s Tony!, a live talk show that Braithwaite will host, with original comedic monologue and celebrity guests who plunk themselves down on a sofa to laugh it up with Braithwaite and his sidekick Howie Brown. There will be a new guest every performance, including animals from the Elmwood Park Zoo and actor Brian Anthony Wilson from the television show “The Wire.” To see the schedule of guests, click here.

From Aug. 1-4, Act II will feature Broadway on Butler, a musical performance that brings song and dance from Broadway to Ambler’s Butler Avenue.  The performances will feature favorite songs from the 1950s through today.  Broadway on Butler is directed and produced by Sonny Leo, who was the musical director and choreographer Act II’s 2012 My Fair Lady. Leo will also perform in Broadway on Butler, which, according to Leo, will feature a variety of types of dancing, including tap, interspersed with comedy and props. 

Find out what's happening in Lower Gwynedd-Ambler-Whitpainwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to Leo, when he began to work on Broadway on Butler he made a list of all of the fun Broadway numbers that people enjoy, and tried to choose songs that audience members can associate with a specific memory. “Hopefully the audience will have as much of a great time as we do,” he said. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here