Top Shows To See On Valentine's Day Weekend 2013

Grab your sweetheart for some fun on Valentine's weekend in Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs. The unique aspect of a live theater show and performance is that the performers sometimes interact or play off of the audience, and this will mean the performances vary slightly from one another. Plus, theater in the Philadelphia area is a bit less expensive and much easier to get to than Broadway, and you'll get the same great quality. All these theaters are located near restaurants or have their own cafés inside for convenience, and many of the following plays will inspire conversations with your loved one (or potential loved one!).

An Ideal Husband
The Walnut Street Theater
825 Walnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 574-3550
www.walnutstreettheatre.org

Hours: Jan. 15 to March 3 - showtimes vary
Price: $10-$65

Oscar Wilde's "An Ideal Husband" is a comedy which centers on a man in the public eye. He seems to be an "ideal" person, but turns out to have some skeletons in his closet, like so many people. The flawed best friend, who

American Idiot
Merriam Theater
250 S Broad St.
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 893-1999
www.merriam-theater.com

Hours: Feb. 12 to Feb. 17 - showtimes vary
Price: $20 to $100

A little Green Day might be just the thing you need to liven up this Valentine's Day weekend. "American Idiot" is a rock musical based the band's concept album by the same name, and it tells the story of three friends deciding whether to pursue their current dreams or find different ones. As their paths diverge, these young men experience everything from love to war. If you or your valentine enjoys Green Day or punk rock music, this is a must see.

Silent Night
The Academy of Music
240 S Broad St.
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 893-1999
www.academyofmusic.org

Shows: Friday Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. and Sunday Feb. 17 at 2:30 p.m.
Price: varies from $10-$225 for private balcony seating

Composer Kevin Puts got the 2012 Pulitzer prize for this story of enemies becoming friends that's certain to warm hearts. The Philadelphia Opera Company presents "Silent Night," featuring tenor William Burden that tells the World War I tale of a truce on Christmas Eve. Don't let the Christmas theme fool you - this show is applicable all year around, and what better time of year for enemies to become friends than Valentine's Day?

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The Full Monty
Haddonfield Plays and Players
957 E Atlantic Ave.
Haddonfield, NJ 08033
(856) 429-8139
www.haddonfieldplayers.com

Price: $15/ call box office for group rates
Hours: Feb. 15 and 16 - 8 p.m; Sunday Feb.17 - 2 p.m

Haddonfield Plays and Players has been in the business of putting on top-notch productions for over 80 years, and the "The Full Monty" promises to be another good one. The show is a comedy about a group of unemployed men who are frustrated in their lives and decide to become strippers to make some quick cash. As they overcome age, weigh and many other issues, they discover that they are stronger as a group than they are separately. The best part? The show is just 10 minutes from the center of Philadelphia!

Black Journey
The Perlman Theater At The Kimmel Center For Performing Arts
300 S Broad St.
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 790--5800
www.kimmelcenter.org

Price: $16 / $8.95 for groups of 5 or more
Hours: Feb.13 to Feb. 15 - showtimes vary

Interested in history? This show is the perfect thing to see this Valentine's Day weekend. The American Theater Arts for Youth presents "Black Journey," a musical celebrating black history that brings a full plate of heritage and tradition to the table. This musical odyssey entertains as much as it informs and is the perfect way to celebrate both Valentine's Day and Black History Month.

See Related: Former American Idol Star To Perform at Buck's County Playhouse

Christina Dagnelli is a freelance writer in Philadelphia and the author of Little Squares with Colors: A Different way to look at autism. Her work on examiner can be found here Examiner.com.