Lantern Theater Company
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
The Lantern Theater Company is an intimate venue known for its high-quality, thought-provoking theatrical productions, particularly strong Shakespearean performances and powerful dramas. While critically acclaimed for its artistic merit and acting, parents with children, especially those with special needs, should be aware of potential challenges regarding staff's understanding and accommodation.
Key Highlights
- ✓Intimate theater setting, described as 'small and intimate'.
- ✓Exceptional acting and cast performances (e.g., 'amazing job', 'impressive actors handling Shakespearean dialogue beautifully', 'Phillip Brown was so powerful and real').
- ✓High-quality productions of classic plays like Shakespeare ('Much Ado About Nothing') and powerful contemporary dramas ('American Moor').
- ✓Artistic Director Charles McMahon is highly regarded, especially for directing Shakespeare.
- ✓Considered a 'Philadelphia gem' and 'the best theater company in the Greater Philadelphia region' for its stellar and thought-provoking play selection.
Standout Features
- ⭐Intimate theater experience allowing for close engagement with performances.
- ⭐Award-worthy acting and direction, recognized as a regional leader.
- ⭐Diverse and thought-provoking selection of plays season after season.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Parents considering bringing a child, especially one with special needs or sensory sensitivities, should contact the theater *well in advance* to discuss specific accommodations and staff training.
- →Inquire about the specific play's content and potential loud moments before booking tickets for children or sensitive individuals.
- →Be prepared that staff may not be equipped to handle special needs with understanding or appropriate solutions, potentially suggesting isolation over inclusion.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Significant lack of staff understanding and appropriate accommodation for children with special needs (specifically Autism) as reported by one parent. Staff suggested isolation (balcony alone) rather than supportive solutions.
- ⚠Potentially loud moments in plays that might scare sensitive children ('scare due to the loud moments in the play').
- ⚠Content of plays like 'American Moor' described as 'raw' and 'powerful', with a comment 'this play would be banned in Florida... for sure', indicating mature themes potentially unsuitable for younger children.
- ⚠The primary experience with a child was negative due to staff interaction, despite the child enjoying the show.
Price & Value
Pricing is not mentioned in the reviews, so no assessment can be made on value for money or hidden costs.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •Significant concern regarding accessibility for individuals with Autism or other special needs due to staff's reported lack of understanding and inappropriate suggestions (isolating a child in the balcony).
- •Plays may include 'loud moments' which could be challenging for sensory-sensitive individuals.
- •No specific positive accommodations or features for special needs are mentioned, only a negative interaction.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •No information available regarding food and drink policies.
🚗Parking Info
- •No information available regarding parking.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Described as 'small and intimate theater', suggesting it may not experience large, overwhelming crowds often associated with bigger venues.
🛡️Safety Features
- •No specific safety features are mentioned in the reviews.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Families with young children (under 12-14 years old) looking for child-specific entertainment, as the plays appear geared towards mature audiences.
- • Parents of children with Autism or other special needs without first confirming robust and understanding accessibility protocols directly with management, as staff response to an Autistic child was very poor.
- • Individuals highly sensitive to loud noises without prior inquiry about specific production elements.
Pricing/Package/Events
Pricing & Packages
4-Pass Flex Package
$180 (originally $212)Duration: 2025/26 Season
Four FlexPasses to use in any combination throughout the 2025/26 season, which includes The Real Thing, Macbeth, Blues for an Alabama Sky, and Franklinland.
Includes:
- •Unlimited FREE ticket exchanges within your same series up to 24 hours before showtime
- •Dining discounts at select neighborhood restaurants
- •Special discounts on guest tickets
- •No fees when ordered by October 31, 2025
Pick 3 NOW Package (Previews)
$96Duration: 2025/26 Season (for 3 specific plays)
Subscription for Macbeth, Blues for an Alabama Sky, and Franklinland during Preview Week performances (excluding opening night).
Includes:
- •Ticket exchange privileges
- •Dining discounts
- •Special discounts on guest tickets
- •No fees when ordered by October 31, 2025
Pick 3 NOW Package (Week 1)
$123Duration: 2025/26 Season (for 3 specific plays)
Subscription for Macbeth, Blues for an Alabama Sky, and Franklinland during Week 1 performances (excluding opening night).
Includes:
- •Ticket exchange privileges
- •Dining discounts
- •Special discounts on guest tickets
- •No fees when ordered by October 31, 2025
Love Gone Wrong Package (Previews)
$64Duration: Offer ends October 5, 2025 (for 2 specific plays)
Subscription for Tom Stoppard's The Real Thing and William Shakespeare's Macbeth during Preview performances.
Includes:
- •Ticket exchange privileges
- •Dining discounts
- •Special discounts on guest tickets
- •No handling fees
Love Gone Wrong Package (Post-Opening)
$82Duration: Offer ends October 5, 2025 (for 2 specific plays)
Subscription for Tom Stoppard's The Real Thing and William Shakespeare's Macbeth during Post-Opening performances.
Includes:
- •Ticket exchange privileges
- •Dining discounts
- •Special discounts on guest tickets
- •No handling fees
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
CHARLES DICKENS' A CHRISTMAS CAROL
December 13 - 28, 2025
$40 Adults, $32 Ages 9-17, $32 Subscribers (plus $4 handling fee)
An original adaptation by Anthony Lawton, presented in a virtuoso solo performance. Approximately 95 minutes (no intermission). Best enjoyed by ages 10-100.
2025/26 Season Kickoff Event (Artists in Conversation for The Real Thing)
September 6, 2025
Not specified
Discussion with Director Peter DeLaurier and Resident Dramaturg Meghan Winch about 'The Real Thing'.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • THE REAL THING contains a very brief scene with fog (not dry ice).
📅Booking Policy
- • A $4 per ticket handling fee will be added to most orders.
- • Subscribers receive FREE and unlimited ticket exchanges within their same series up to 24 hours before showtime (price difference may apply if exchanging into a more expensive performance).
🚗Parking Information
- • Closest parking garage: The Philadelphia Parking Authority's Autopark at Jefferson at 14 S. 10th Street.
- • SpotHero: Jefferson Garage at 107 S 10th Street (between Sansom and Chestnut Streets) available for advance booking with up to 50% off drive-up rates.
- • Travel advisory: Ongoing City of Philadelphia Streets Department project on Vine Street (between Broad and 8th Street) from August 18, 2025, to June 2026. Major traffic delays expected weekdays 7AM-4PM until mid-January. Recommend using the 8th Street exit of I-676. Approach theater from 10th Street (left-turn from Market Street to 10th Street is prohibited).
Recent Reviews
Erica Albino
a month agoVery nice, small and intimate theater. The cast did an amazing job. Went on a trip with a school and I was one on one with a student with Autism. The student did have moments of showing his excitement by rubbing his hands together and making light noises. During intermission an employee came over and asked "is there a reason he is making noises and the movements he is making?" I let the employee know that the student is Autistic and he is showing signs of both excitement and at some points scared. The staff instead of understanding and apologizing for asking such a stupid question he asked if there is anything that can be done to help keep the student from making these distractions. I advise the staff member that I am doing my best to keep the student calm but he is just excited and at times would get scare due to the loud moments in the play. Another teacher did suggest that the student and myself sit closer to an end seat just in case I may need to escort the student out. The employee instead suggested that we sit up in the balcony alone and away from the rest of out group. The student was not at all much of a distraction but very much laughing along with and enjoying the show just as much as as his peer. Other than the ignorance from the employee the rest of the cast members were great and we enjoyed the show very much.
Norman McClave
a month agoVery intimate theater, with a wonderful production of Much Ado About Nothing, with about 7 actors playing 12 roles. Impressive actors handling Shakespearean dialogue beautifully. Eager to retire to see another show.
Darrell Jones
4 months agoPhillip Brown was so powerful and real , I felt it in my bones and it's very familiar to me because I am a black man. I never saw a performance so raw... this play would be banned in Florida... for sure
Bruce Burgess
4 months agoPhillip Brown lives in his character in American Moor. If ever I’ve seen a performance in Philadelphia that deserves a Barrymore award, Phillip Brown’s performance is the one, an actor at the height of his powers in a powerful play. Stunning!
A B
8 months agoThe best theater company in the Greater Philadelphia region. The Lantern is a Philadelphia gem. Artistic Director Charles McMahon is brilliant. The selection of plays season after season is stellar and thought-provoking. McMahon directs their yearly Shakespeare play, which is the best this side of the Atlantic.