What To Do: It’s Spring — get out there

Celebrate the blooming of a new season in a national park

By Danny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times

Here are some important things to know.

National Park Week is April 16-24 this year. There are more than 400 National Parks in America. Quite a few of the nation’s most interesting National Parks are located in the Delaware Valley.

National Parks include seashores, battlefields, historic homes, archaeological sites, and spectacular natural area. Now that a park has been added in Delaware, there is at least one National Park in every state.
In celebration of National Park Week, all of the National Parks across the United States will be waiving all entrance fees for the nine days of the “week.”

On National Junior Ranger Day, which is April 16, parks will invite young visitors to explore, learn and protect the parks. Kids can take part in fun programs and earn a junior ranger badge or become a Centennial Junior Ranger.

Three other events are part of National Park Week Earth Day on April 22, “National Park Instameet” on April 23 and “Park Rx Day” on April 24.
Two special events are schedule for Valley Forge National Historic Park this week.

On April 17, the park near King of Prussia will host the Valley Forge Revolutionary 5-Mile Run with activities from 8 a.m.-noon.
The 10th annual USATF sanctioned race is the only race that directly supports Valley Forge National Park. The event also includes a 3-mile walk and 1.776 km youth fun run. For more information on the Valley Forge Revolutionary 5-Mile Run, contact Kirsten Tallman at 610-783-1031 or tallman@valleyforge.org

On April 23 from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., the park in Valley Forge will celebrate National Junior Ranger Day. During National Park Week, national parks across the country will honor and welcome new Junior Rangers. Youngsters can spend the day in the park taking part in hands-on activities and games and earn their Junior Ranger badge.

Other nearby National Parks are Independence National Park in Philadelphia, First State National Park in Delaware and Hopewell Furnace National Park, which is located in Elverson.

The Morris Arboretum (100 East Northwestern Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-247-5777, http://www.business-services.upenn.edu/arboretum/index.shtml) is presenting its Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival on April 16. The arboretum staff expects cherries, such as the Okame, Higan and Yoshino to be in bloom by mid-April.

The Pennsylvania Bonsai Society will be displaying trees and doing demonstrations of bonsai maintenance from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. There will be a “Cherry Walk” at 10:15 a.m. and again at 12:15 p.m.

The Kyo Daiko Drumming Crew will perform at 10:30 a.m. and noon and there will be an Origami Workshops at 1 p.m. and again at 2 p.m. Other activities include Kimono Dressing Demonstration at 11 a.m., Traditional Japanese Tea Demonstration at 1 p.m., Samurai Arts Group at 12:30 and 2 p.m. and a Japanese Elements Tour from 2-3 p.m.
Admission is $17 for adults, $15 for seniors and $9 for students and youth (ages 3-17).

Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, 610-388-1000, www.longwoodgardens.org) has “Spring Blooms” running through June 3. Visitors can enjoy hundreds of lush acres featuring burgeoning gardens of daffodils, tulips, magnolias, azaleas, flowering cherries and more than 240,000 flowering bulbs.

The featured blooms this week are Virginia Bluebells.

In the indoor part of “Spring Blooms”, lilies, delphiniums, hydrangeas and other spring blossoms fill the conservatory with color. Also featured are Longwood’s grand treehouses, whimsical Topiary Garden, and colorful Idea Garden.

Daily visitor programs, including gardening demonstrations, behind-the-scenes tours, and talks add to Longwood’s charms. Children will enjoy the many activities in the outdoor Children’s Area, and the imaginative fun of the Indoor Children’s Garden.

Admission to Longwood Gardens is $20 for adults, $17 for seniors and $10 for students.

If you attend this weekend’s Reading Craft Beer Festival, you’ll forever be able to claim that you were there when it all started. The Second Annual Reading Craft Beer Festival is scheduled for April 16 from 1-5 p.m. at the Santander Arena (700 Penn Street, Reading, http://www.readingbeerfest.com, 800-745-3000).

More than 100 beers featuring an amazing array of types, flavors and colors, will be available for unlimited tastings. There will be concessions and vendors on the concourse and arena floor.

Tickets are $45 and include a commemorative sampling glass. All attendees must be at least 21with no exceptions.VIP tickets, which include exclusive hors d’oeuvres and beer pairings in the skybox as well as special events like breakout sessions, are $65.

Tickets for designated drivers are $20 and include admission to the designated driver lounge with games, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. If you buy four or more VIP tickets, your designated driver is free.

The annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. has been tourist destination for decades — an eagerly-anticipated event that celebrated the arrival of spring and the beauty of the cherry tree in bloom.

The chilly weather has been unkind to early blooming plants and trees bit the worst seems to have passed.

Now, if you want to see hundreds of lovely trees showing off their pink blossoms, you can find what you want at the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival (http://subarucherryblossom.org), which is known in Japanese as Sakura Matsuri. The event is running through April 16 at a variety of locations around the Philadelphia area.

For centuries, Japan has been celebrating the beauty of the elegant pink cherry blossom with picnics under the trees and traditional music and dance performances. The Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival offers visitors the opportunity to explore the best of Japanese culture including delicious cuisine, delicate craft displays, intriguing performances and demonstrations of traditional customs.

“Japanese Culture Week” is being held now through April 15 at lunchtime at the Liberty Place Rotunda. Visitors will be able to participate in our daily events and learn more about Japanese traditions and culture.

“Dine Out Japan” with special three-course menus at discounted prices will run through April 17 at Fuji Mountain Japanese Restaurant, 2030 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, 215-751-0939).

“Sushi Making Classes” with Philadelphia’s Queen of Sushi, Madame Saito are scheduled for April 15 and 16 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The cost is $50 per person and includes complimentary admission to Sakura Sunday at the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival on April 17 to attend the Sushi Samurai of the Year Competition 2016.

The centerpiece event is Sakura Sunday, a day-long outdoor celebration of all things Japanese. It will be held on April 17 from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. at Fairmount Park’s Horticulture Center (100 North Horticulture Drive, Philadelphia). Tickets are $10 for adults with children (12 and under) admitted free.

Sakura Sunday features live music and dance performances, martial arts, cultural demonstrations, arts & crafts, karaoke, and much more. Some of the featured attractions are Little Akiba Anime & Cosplay Area, Subaru Sushi Samurai of the Year, Prettiest Pet in Pink Parade, Harajuku Fashion Show and Shofuso Tours.

This is the time of year that the schedule of special events and family activities begins to get larger from week to week — with outdoor activities on the upswing

It is also the time of year when the vagaries of the weather can wreak havoc on well-planned schedules — especially when the plans involve outdoor activities. A weekend day right about now could be a 70-degree sunny day or a very cold day in the low-30s with steady snow.

However, there are options for fun activities that are not affected by climatic conditions. One of the best of these options is attending a live theater performance.

Fortunately, there are quite a few good theatrical productions taking place right now.

The Playhouse on Rodney Square (1007 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-888-0200, http://www.duponttheatre.com) is hosting the national tour of “42nd Street” from April 19-24.

The musical “42nd Street” has it all — good book, unforgettable songs, lively dialogue and dance production numbers you would never want to “unsee.”

It all began with the film “42nd Street,” which was a hit in theaters across the country back in 1933. From the source material of that movie — along with other 1930s classics such as “Gold Diggers of 1933,” “Dames” and “Gold Diggers of 1935” — a stage musical was developed.

Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble wrote the book (based on the novel by Bradford Ropes). Harry Warren wrote the music. Al Dubin wrote the lyrics. Then, “42nd Street” had its Broadway debut in 1980 and ran for over eight years. The show, which is still in the Top 10 list of longest running shows on Broadway, won the Tony Award for “Best Musical.”

When the 2000s arrived, “42nd Street” resurfaced on Broadway and was a hit all over again. The show won the 2001 Tony Award, 2001 Drama Desk Award and 2001 Outer Critics Circle Award for “Best Musical Revival.” Now, the show has been out on a national tour for over six months — a tour that brings it to Wilmington for a six-day run.

The show has two primary lead roles — Peggy Sawyer, a nervous rookie dancer from Allentown, and Dorothy Brock, a prima donna who is past her time. Lawrence plays the role of Dorothy Brock.

“Auditioning took place almost a year ago,” said Lawrence, who also played Mama Cass in the national tour of “California Dreaming. “I got introduced to the casting director in Memphis. She called me in for Dorothy. My audition was only about four hours. I was lucky. I got along well with director Mark Bramble, who is also the co-author.

“I had seen the show onstage only once before — back when I was in college. When I saw it, I really thought I would plat Dorothy sometime — but when I was much older. This role is a singing role and I just love singing so much. It was a role I wanted.”

It is also a role portraying an aging actress who looks down on people and acts nasty — a role portraying a bitch.

“This character is very different,” said Lawrence. “She’s the quintessential diva. It was difficult for me to act like that. Even though she’s a bitch, she’s really good at what she does. She’s aware of what’s going on because of her sugar daddy.

“It was the Depression and it was make-or-break. With Dorothy, the more she gets challenged — she stands up taller. At the end, you see the real side of Dorothy — the soft side.”

“42nd Street” is also a spectacle of music and dance. Another reason for the enduring success of “42nd Street” is its songs — timeless classics such as “Lullaby of Broadway,” “We’re In The Money,” “I Only Have Eyes For You,” “Shuffle Off To Buffalo” and, of course, “42nd Street.”

“When you’re an actor in this show, you can’t compete with the dancing,” said Lawrence, who graduated from the University of Florida with a BFA in theater. “I’m there to support them. It’s a spectacle.

“Audiences keep coming back to see ‘42nd Street’ over and over again because of the dancing and the music. And, because it’s a story of hope — of dreams come true. It will continue to withstand the test of time because it’s such a spectacular show.”

Video link for “42nd Street” — https://youtu.be/T3jk3MGjQpQ

The show at the Playhouse on Rodney Square” will run from April 19-24. Ticket prices range from $40-$90.

Another stage show option is the Philadelphia Theatre Company’s production of “Sex With Strangers” by Laura Eason. The show is running now through May 8 at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets, Philadelphia, 215- 985-0420, PhiladelphiaTheatreCompany.org).
“Sex With Strangers” is the story of an affair between Ethan, a brash, young blogger-turned-best-selling writer who shares his sexual exploits with the world, and Olivia, a reserved teacher whose would-be writing career stalled after one book published years earlier. In the show, it does not take long for opposites to attract and chemistry to ignite.

Directed by David Saint, the production features Kyle Coffman as the young, brash writer Ethan Kane and JoAnna Rhinehart as novelist and teacher Olivia Lago.

“The world premiere of the show was at Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago in 2011,” said Eason, during a recent phone interview from her home in Brooklyn. “I did significant rewriting for the production in Sydney, Australia in 2012 and some more rewriting for New York in 2014.”

The New York production at the Second Stage Theatre was directed by David Schwimmer.

“We’re old friends — going back to our days at the Lookingglass Theatre Company,” said Eason, who is now in her fourth season as producer of the Emmy award-winning Netflix show “House of Cards.” “He was an actor in the very first play I wrote. We’ve worked together and directed each other. But, this was the first time he directed one of my plays.

“I wrote ‘Sex With Strangers’ shortly after I moved to New York. I was living in a fifth-floor walk-in shoebox in Brooklyn Heights. I decided I wanted to focus on my writing when I came to New York. I didn’t know if my work would ever get noticed. But, I was never discouraged in New York — and I always had Chicago.”

The show really focuses on the emotional plight of Olivia.

“One thing about Olivia — she’s confident in her ability but feels she’s misunderstood,” said Eason, who is the author of more than 20 full-length plays — original and adaptations — and a musical book writer. “Olivia is not insecure. And, she’s not a technophobe. She’s just choosing not to engage.”

Show times for “Sex With Strangers” are 8 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. on Saturdays and 3 p.m. on Sundays. Ticket prices range from $15-$62.

This weekend is the next-to-last weekend in the run of “Secret Garden” at the Candlelight Theater (2208 Millers Road, Arden, Delaware, 302- 475-2313, www.nctstage.org).

The show, which retells Frances Hodgson Burnett’s beloved Victorian classic, won three Tony Awards in 1991 — including “Best Musical.” It is running now through April 24. “The Secret Garden” features book and lyrics by Marsha Norman and music by Lucy Simon. Most of the action takes place at Misselthwaite Manor in North Yorkshire, England.

Orphaned in India, 11-year-old Mary Lennox is sent to Yorkshire to live with her embittered, reclusive uncle and his invalid son. Misselthwaite Manor, a cold and bleak estate haunted by spirits and secrets of the past, is far from a comfortable place for a little girl to live.

Mary has a brave heart and a strong will — and is too spirited to let the circumstances defeat her. She finds spiritual comfort in a locked-up, hidden garden, and shows hope that love can bloom in even the darkest places. Mary discovers renewed purposes for herself, bringing her sickly cousin, her uncle, and a long-forgotten secret garden back to life.

As always, the production at Candlelight features a stellar cast of actors — young and old. The role of Colin, the sickly boy, is shared by Luke Plunkett and Scott Angelides. The role of Mary Lennox is shared by two very talented young actresses — Katelyn Gallo and Samantha Deutsch.
Tickets, which include a tasty buffet dinner, are $59 for adults and $33 for children (ages 4-12).

Now through May 28, Rainbow’s Comedy Playhouse (3065 Lincoln Highway East, Paradise, 800-292-4301, http://rainbowcomedy.com) is presenting “Catch Me If You Van” — the play that was the basis for the TV series “Columbo.”

Matinee performances are every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and selected Saturdays with an 11:30 a.m. lunch and a 1 p.m. curtain. Evening performances are every Friday, Saturday and selected Thursdays with dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the show following at 8 p.m.

There will also be “Twilight Performances” on selected Sundays with dinner at 2:30 p.m. and the show at 4 p.m. Ticket prices range from $30-$55.

The Kimmel Center is presenting a huge cultural event called the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA) now through April 23 at a variety of venues in downtown Philadelphia. Shows range in price from free to $140 for an all-access pass.

Some of the featured events are dance company performances by Philadanco from April 15-17 at Kimmel Center (Broad and Spruce streets, Philadelphia, 215-731-3333, www.kimmelcenter.org); “Paper Planet,” an interactive forest of paper trees in the Kimmel Center’s Hamilton Garden; “The Wong Street Journal, ” a solo theater work on April 15 and 16 at Kimmel Center’s SEI Innovation Studio.

Other highlights are “Concerto in Sea Major,” a performance piece by French group Aquacoustique using three fountains in Philadelphia as the stages for the first concert to be performed in the water from April 15-17 at The Magnolia Garden, Rodin Museum Fountain and Penn Museum’s Stoner Courtyard Fountain; and “My Soul’s Shadow,” which features six projectors, five puppeteers, two screens, live chamber music and dozens of handmade paper shadow puppets from April 15-17 at the Barnes Foundation.

The Liacouras Center (1776 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, 215.204.2400, www.liacourascenter.com) will present “Sesame Street Live: Let’s Dance!” now through April 17.

Hosted by two live performers, Sesame Street Live “Let’s Dance!” offers an up-close, interactive experience that includes dance parties. Elmo uses his imagination to “Do the Robot” and Cookie teaches all ‘feets’ to dance.
Abby leads a rhyming game, and Ernie shares the fun of dance with the Sesame Street favorite “Shake Your Head One Time.” Favorite Sesame Street characters will join the audience on the floor – dancing with their fans rather than dancing just for them.

Ticket prices are: Sunny Seat, $85; Gold Circle, $45; Lower Level, $32; Upper Level, $15.

On April 17, there will be an event focusing on one of the world’s oldest cultures when the city celebrates one of the most important days in Greece’s history with the annual Greek Independence Day Parade (Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, www.hellenicfed.org).

195 years ago, on March 25th, 1821, the Greek Revolutionary Forces raised the standard of the cross and declared that Greece would be free from the Ottoman rule. 400 years of agony, suffering, and enslavement under the yoke of a brutal conqueror had come to an end.

The celebration on April 17 will begin at 10:30 a.m. with “The Official Great Doxology” at the Cathedral of St. George (256 South Eighth Street). The parade will start at 2 p.m. at 19th Street at Logan Circle.

Greek social groups, churches and schools will march up the Parkway toward the Art Museum accompanied by floats, banners and flags. A special attraction this year will be the participation by the Greek Presidential Guard Evzones.

On April 16, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania (300 Gap Road, Strasburg, 717-687-8628, www.rrmuseumpa.org) is presenting a special event called “Rails and Ales,” a craft beer tasting event that will take place among the museum’s amazing historic trains.

Participants are invited to enjoy an evening of responsible adult fun, featuring breweries, food trucks and live music by the Lawmen Band and the SereneGreen Band.

Some of the participating breweries at this year’s “Rails and Ales” are Downingtown’s Victory Brewing, Howling Henry’s Brewery, Snitz Creek Brewery and the aptly-named Boxcar Brewing Company and Rusty Rail Brewing Company.

“Rails and Ales” will run from 7-10 p.m. Tickets are $40 ($15 for designated driver) and must be purchased online before 5 p.m. on April 16.

Another special event on April 16 will be the Lancaster Barnstormers’ “Fan Fest.” Activities will get underway at noon at Clipper Magazine Stadium (650 North Prince Street, Lancaster, 717-509-HITS, http://www.lancasterbarnstormers.com).

Gates for “Fan Fest,” which is free and open to the public, will open at noon with the Barnstormers taking the field at 1 p.m. for a game against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, the defending Freedom Division Champion

“Fan Fest” provides the team’s fans with the opportunity to meet the 12th edition of the ballclub in uniform when the Barnstormers’ players sign autographs before the game. Families and friends will also be able to enjoy pregame of catch on the field thanks to Fruit Shoot as well.

Ballpark food is a big part of attending a baseball game and this day has an added incentive.  All combo meals will be half-price, and there will be free samples of Pepsi products and Turkey Hill ice cream and iced tea.

“Fan Fest” will feature arts-and-crafts stations for the kids, face painters, balloon artists and more. One lucky fan will be selected to throw out the honorary first pitch for Saturday’s game.