Weekly Entertainment Guide – Fall Festivals, Fringe & Fine Art

Robin Bloom offers two dozen suggestions for what to do this week.

Art Appreciation

“Wrath of the Gods: Masterpieces by Rubens, Michelangelo, and Titian” at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Philadelphia Museum of Art focuses on one of the finest works by the great Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens, Prometheus Bound, in the new exhibit The Wrath of the Gods: Masterpieces by Rubens, Michelangelo, and Titian, opening September 12. In order to gain a deeper understanding of this significant painting in the Museum’s collection, the large-scale piece is presented alongside works by the Renaissance and Baroque masters who inspired Rubens, including Tityus by Michelangelo (on loan from the British Royal Collection) and Tityus by Titian (on loan from the Museo del Prado). Neither work has ever been displayed together with Prometheus Bound. Works by northern European artists such as Michiel Coxcie and Hendrik Goltzius are also included, through December 6. Accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue, Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia. If you go this weekend, see key paintings by Claude Monet, Édouard Manet, Edgar Degas, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir – many not seen in the U.S. before. Discovering the Impressionists: Paul Durand-Ruel and the New Painting focuses on the early struggles and subsequent rise of the art movement known as Impressionism, closing Sunday, September 13. Pictured: Prometheus Bound, by Peter Paul Rubens (Philadelphia Museum of Art: Purchased with the W. P. Wilstach Fund, W1950-3-1).

“Aftermath: Photographs by Joel Meyerowitz” at Berman Museum of Art

A special exhibit commemorating the 14 anniversary of the 9/11 attacks opens Friday, September 11 at The Philip and Muriel Berman Museum of Art at Ursinus College. Aftermath: Photographs by Joel Meyerowitz features 50 images taken over a nine month period by the only photographer allowed to document the World Trade Center site over the course of its transformation from disaster zone to construction site to memorial, through December 22, with an opening reception on Thursday, September 10, 4pm-7pm, 601 E. Main Street, Collegeville, PA. Pictured: North Bridge and Winter Garden, 2001 by Joel Meyerowitz, collection of the Philip and Muriel Berman Museum of Art, Gift of John Hugh Newman.

Fringe

Andy: A Popera

Catch the world premiere mashup of opera and cabaret with Andy: A Popera, a co-production by Opera Philadelphia and Bearded Ladies Cabaret, bringing the philosophy of Andy Warhol to life, September 10-20. Presented as part of the 2015 Fringe Festival, the production draws from the life and work of the artist who blurred the line between the high and low and asks what happens when a man becomes a brand. With music by Heath Allen and Dan Visconti and libretto by John Jarboe. The diverse group of performers includes Mary Tuomanen as Andrei, Malgorzata Kasprzycka as his mother Julia, Kristen Bailey as socialite Edie Sedgwick, Scott McPheeters as actress Candy Darling, Kate Raines as feminist writer and would-be assassin Valerie Solanas, and Sean Lally as Joe. Accompanied by 12 members of the Opera Philadelphia Chorus under the direction of chorus master Elizabeth Braden. The site specific work takes place in a Kensington warehouse, transformed into a den of pop iconography, performed in English with all performances at 8pm, 1526 North American Street, Philadelphia. Note: this show is almost entirely sold out. Photo by Dominic M. Mercier.

Pantea Productions’ “Soldier Bear”

Pantea Productions combines puppetry, shadow theater, dance and animation in Soldier Bear. Written by Leila Ghaznavi and directed by Candace Cihocki, the World Premiere Fringe Festival production tells the unlikely and unbelievable World War II story of an orphaned Iranian bear cub, found by a Polish soldier stationed in the Middle East during World War II, raised and given a rank position, ultimately fighting the Germans, September 9-19, Plays and Players Theater, 1714 Delancey Place, Philadelphia. Photo courtesy of Pantea Productions.

The Girl’s Guide to Neighborly Conduct

Tangle Movement Arts, the all-female circus arts company, returns to the Fringe Festival with The Girl’s Guide to Neighborly Conduct, exploring how to greet strangers, when to take out the recycling, and what it means to find home. The seven person cast swings from trapezes and cartwheels across the dinner table, merging circus arts, dance and theater, with four performances, September 10-12 at Philadelphia Soundstages, 1600 N. 15th Street, Northern Liberties, Philadelphia. Photo by Michael Ermilio.

What’s Happening

Global Philly 2015

Global Philly 2015 is a 60 day international exposition celebrating and showcasing Philadelphia and its diverse heritage, presented by the Global Philadelphia Association. Focusing on international themes and issues with 150 arts and culture events at venues across the city. This week’s events include an opening ceremony on Thursday, September 10, 5pm-7pm, at WHYY and:

Campus Philly’s CollegeFest

The annual CollegeFest is back this Saturday, September 12, 10am-4pm, geared to welcome new and returning college and graduate students to the Philadelphia area – one of the largest college “towns” in the country – with food trucks, free music and entertainment, free admission to museums and cultural attractions in the area, and more. Check in at the CollegeFest site at Dilworth Park to get a wristband for free museum admission at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and seven other participating museums. Photo by Andre Flewellen.

Philly United Jazz Festival

Odean Pope headlines the 3rd annual Philly United Jazz Festival, Saturday, September 12, 1:30pm-10pm, South Street West between Broad and 16th Streets, Philadelphia. Other performers include Sam Reed, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, the United States Army Jazz Band and more, presented by the Philadelphia Daily News and Lifeline Music Coalition. Free. Photo courtesy of Lifeline Music Coalition.

Philly Festivals

The 6th Annual Philadelphia Honey Festival is back to raise awareness about the importance of bees to our environment, the impact of local honey on our economy, and to promote urban beekeeping and gardening with sweet activities for the whole family including children’s activities, open hive talks, honey tastings, guest authors, home brewing with honey, cooking with honey, honey Happy Hour, vendors, and more. The Festival takes place Friday, September 11, Wagner Free Institute of Science, Saturday, September 12, Wyck Historic House and Garden, Sunday, September 13, Bartram’s Garden, Philadelphia. Free and open to the public, rain or shine.Learn how to live a greener life at the Clean Air Council’s Greenfest Philly, in its 10th Year, Sunday, September 13, 10am-4pm, the largest environmental festival in the Philadelphia area, with over 100 exhibitors and vendors, food, live music, live demonstrations, beer garden, kid-friendly activities, and more, Headhouse Square, between 2nd and South and 2nd and Pine, Philadelphia. Free. Photo by Darragh Dandurand. #SassySaysCelebrate Latino culture and music at the 31st Annual Feria del Barrio, the Centro de Oro neighborhood festival offering food, art, crafts, children’s activities, and live entertainment this Sunday, September 13, 12pm-5pm, North 5th Street between Lehigh and Cambria Avenues, Philadelphia. Part of Global Philly 2015.

Penn’s Landing Activities

Enjoy Pennsylvania Coast Day at Penn’s Landing, Saturday, September 12, 11am-4pm. At Independence Seaport Museum, see the Philadelphia Ship Model Society “Fun Float” – various scale model ships including warships, steamships, sailing ships and submarines from 1-6 feet in length and TEACH FLEET, the world’s largest LEGO ship model collection. Also, knot tying, navigation activities, tours of the historic ships Olympia and Becuna, free boat rides on the RiverLink Ferry and Patriot, and free kayaking and pedal boating, Walnut Plaza, Penn’s Landing, Philadelphia. Photo by the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary.Spruce Street Harbor Park hosts a Fall Fest, September 11-13, as the pop-up park transitions to autumn-themed regional craft beers, food trucks, live music and children’s activities, Columbus Boulevard at Spruce Street, Penn’s Landing.Celebrate Mexico’s Independence with a fiesta this Sunday, September 13, 1pm-7pm, and a day of food, crafts, and music at Penn’s Landing’s Great Plaza. Entertainment includes Diana Reyes, Al-K-traz, Rivales de la Sierra, and more. Presented by the Mexican Cultural Center and the Consulate of Mexico in Philadelphia. Part of the PECO Multicultural Festival Series. Free. Part of Global Philly 2015.

Philly Food Festivals

The inaugural South Philly Sausagefest takes place Saturday, September 12, a local food and craft beer festival with sausage-themed food and live music by local bands including Swift Technique, the Whips, Callowhill, and Taylor Ash, plus children’s activities and more, 12pm-8pm, West Passyunk Avenue at Broad Street, Philadelphia. Presented by the Newbold Community Development Corporation.The Manayunk StrEAT Food Festival is Sunday, September 13, 11am-5pm, as Main Street is lined with over 50 of Philadelphia’s best food trucks, gourmet food vendors and local farmers’ markets, food-centric arts and crafts, beer garden, live music on three stages and more, to kick off the Manayunk Restaurant Week beginning Monday, September 14. Theme is apples, as food trucks compete to create apple menu items. Photo courtesy of Manayunk Development Corporation.

30th Annual Mushroom Festival

Head to the “Mushroom Capital” for the 30th annual Mushroom Festival this weekend. Festivities kick off on Friday, September 11, 5:30pm, with a community parade and dancing in the streets and continues on Saturday, September 12, 10am-7pm and Sunday, September 13, 10am-5pm. Enjoy cooking demonstrations by professional chefs, mushroom delicacies, children’s activities including an old fashioned carnival, nearly 200 vendors, an antique and classic car show, live music, and more, rain or shine off Route 1 in Kennett Square Borough, PA.

Brandywine Festival of the Arts

The annual Brandywine Festival of the Arts is this Saturday, September 12, 10am-6:30pm, and Sunday, September 13, 10am-4pm, featuring hundreds of juried artists exhibiting one-of-a-kind works along with live music, children’s activities, street fair with food and more, at Brandywine Park’s Josephine Gardens, Wilmington, Delaware. Photo courtesy of TCDavis. #SassySays

Regional Music Festivals

The first Rutgers University Camden Big Funky Arts & Music Festival is Saturday, September 12, 2pm-8pm, with live music at 4pm. Bands include Big Sam’s Funky Nation (pictured) and New Sound Brass, plus children’s activities and more, Johnson Park, 2nd and Cooper Streets, Camden, NJ. Free. Photo by Bob Adamek Photography.The 6th annual Phoenixville Blues Festival returns Saturday, September 12, 12pm-10pm, with The Dukes of Destiny, Noah Wotherspoon Band, Billy The Kid and the Regulators, Vanessa Collier, and more. Bring lawn chairs and blankets to Reeves Park, Borough of Phoenixville, PA. Rain or shine.The 24th Doylestown Arts Festival returns to Bucks County Saturday and Sunday, September 12-13, 10am-5pm daily, with over 160 vendors offering clothing, fine art, furniture, glass, jewelry, pottery and more. Also, live music on five stages, food, pro cycling and family activities, rain or shine in Doylestown Borough, PA. #SassySays

Jersey Shore Festivals

Celebrate the Atlantic Ocean at the Atlantic City Seafood Festival, Saturday, September 12, 11am-7pm, and Sunday, September 13, 11am-6pm, with over 50 restaurants and culinary personalities featured. Meet chefs and taste their creations, enjoy children’s activities, cooking demos, live music, art, wine seminars and tastings, paddle board race, and more, Bader Field in Atlantic City New Jersey. Free admission. #SassySaysThe 19th Cape May Food & Wine Celebration kicks off September 11-20. Events include Beer Tasting Dinner, Champagne Jazz Brunch, Brew Cruise, Chocolate Lovers Feast, Fisherman’s Wharf Tour, Flights of Cheese at Seaside Cheese, Gourmet Brunch Walk, Grilling at the Vineyard, Harvest Brew Fest, Self-Guided Wine Trail, and more, presented by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities, Cape May, NJ. Most events for adults only.The 10th annual Ship Bottom Irish Festival takes place Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13 with craft and food vendors, live music by the Ocean County Emerald Society Pipes & Drums, Band of Rogues, Irish Step Dancers and more, rain or shine, 10th Street and Shore Avenue, Long Beach Island, NJ. Children 15 and under free.

“Late Nite Catechism” at Bristol Riverside Theatre

Stay up for Late Nite Catechism at Bristol Riverside Theatre, starring Nonie Newton-Riley, the international one-woman hit interactive comedy by Maripat Donovan and Vicki Quade that is part catechism class and part stand-up comedy, September 9-13, 120 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, PA. Photo courtesy of Bristol Riverside Theatre.

 

Many of Philadelphia’s renowned and historic arts and culture organizations host special events to mark the inaugural visit of Pope Francis. Check out the Pope in Philly Entertainment Guide for more information.

 

 

Look for #SassySays for pet friendly events. Let us know if your event is pet-friendly! Email artscalendar@whyy.org and put #SassySays in the subject line.

 

Each week, the Entertainment Guide spotlights interesting local arts offerings happening now, including music, dance, theater, museums, special exhibitions and other arts events from across the region.

To submit an event to be considered, email Robin Bloom at artscalendar@whyy.org.