Weekly Entertainment Guide – ‘Incorruptible,’ ‘Wizard of Oz,’ & Beer!

WHYY’s Robin Bloom offers her suggestions for what to do this week in the Philly region.  Here are her picks:

Festivals, Food & Fun

Philly Beer Week

Philly Beer Week kicks off this Friday, May 30 through Sunday, June 8, a 10-day celebration of the “Best Beer-Drinking City in America,” the largest beer celebration of its kind in the United States, featuring hundreds of events including festivals, dinners, tours, pub crawls, tastings and meet-the-brewer nights at area bars, restaurants and other locations throughout Greater Philadelphia. Be sure to check out Philly Tripel, a Belgian Abbey Tripel brewed with organic acacia honey from Belgium, this year’s official collaboration limited release beer.

Delaware River Waterfront Events

A lot happening this weekend on the waterfront at Penn’s Landing with Wired Fest, Friday, May 30, 7pm, featuring Calvin Harris and Diplo at Festival Pier. The 7th annual Roots Picnic is back with special guests including Snoop Dogg, Janelle Monáe, Action Bronson and more including, of course, The Roots (pictured), Saturday, May 31, noon, Festival Pier. The Walnut2Walnut Regatta, Walk & Scavenger Hunt takes place at the Independence Seaport Museum on Saturday, May 31. The annual Irish American Festival is Sunday, June 1, 1pm-8pm at Great Plaza, Penn’s Landing, Philadelphia.Exit 0 Jazz Festival

Stroll from one concert to the next at the Exit 0 Jazz Festival, May 30-June1, as Cape May hosts over 100 international touring musicians playing jazz, soul, blues and R&B. Performers include Dee Dee Bridgewater, Roy Hargrove Quintet, Phil Wiggins, Red Baraat, Johnny Rawls, and more, along with the special Jazz at the Emlen Physick Estate with Daisy Castro, Vince Giordano, Matuto, and Jon Cleary, and A Night in New Orleans with Kermit Ruffins (pictured) & the Barbecue Swingers, at various venues in Cape May, NJ.

Philadelphia Wicked Dramatic Arts Festival

The first Philadelphia Wicked Dramatic Arts Festival spotlights urban theatrical arts in the city with spoken word artistry, short plays, story readings, and original dramas written and directed by Francine D. Miller, this Friday, May 30, 7pm at Vox Populi’s AUX space, 319 N. 11th Street, 3rd Floor, Philadelphia.

Village Park Day at the Village of Arts and Humanities

Volunteer for a day of greening, mural restoration, music, performances, food and more at Village Park Day, Saturday, May 31, 10am-2pm, at the Village of Arts and Humanities, the arts enclave in North Philly founded by Lily Yeh, 2544 Germantown Avenue. Wear messy clothes and close-toed shoes!

Tangle Movement Arts’ “Passages”

Art imitates life in Tangle Movement Arts’ Passages, an all new, free performance on Saturday, May 31, 2pm and 4pm at the Porch at 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. The West Philly based acrobatic urban circus theater company celebrates the diverse lives of people passing through 30th Street Station and explores the dynamics of daily life in the city as the all-female ensemble of aerial acrobats climbs ropes and swings from trapezes to live music in character as commuters, tourists, people-watchers, and errand-runners. Rain date: June 8.

Sea Isle City Craft Beer & Rock Fest

Don’t miss out on the beer celebration if you’re down the shore – the 2nd annual Sea Isle City Craft Beer and Rock Fest is Saturday, May 31, 3pm-7pm. Offering over 100 brews to sample and live music by LeCompt at the lot next to Kix McNutley’s on 63rd and Landis Avenue, Sea Isle City, NJ.

East Passyunk’s Craft Beer Day & Italian National Day Festival

East Passyunk celebrates Philly Beer Week with two events on Sunday, June 1: Craft Beer Day and Italian National Day Festival. Starting at 11am, Craft Beer Day offers opportunities to meet the brewers of new craft beers and to taste beer and eat beer infused treats. The Filitalia La Festa della Repubblica offers fun for the whole family, with a spaghetti eating contest, live music, children’s activities, and the grand opening of the “History of Italian Immigration Museum,” Italian draft and bottled beer, and much more, East Passyunk Avenue between Broad and Moore streets, Philadelphia. Rain or shine. Free!

Onstage

“Incorruptible” at Arden Theatre Company

Arden Theatre Company asks what happens when faith alone can’t pay the bills in Incorruptible by Philadelphia playwright Michael Hollinger. The dark comedy about a traveling one-eyed con artist who teaches desperate monks at a dilapidated medieval monastery how to pay their debts by selling relics, had its world premiere in the 1990s at Arden and has since been produced at theatres across the country, to critical acclaim. The new production is directed by Matthew Decker and features an all Philadelphia cast including Michael Doherty, Alex Keiper, Mary Martello, Paul L. Nolan, Ian Merrill Peakes, Marcia Saunders, Josh Carpenter, and Sam Sherburne, through June 22 at 40 N. 2nd Street, Old City, Philadelphia. Post show discussions on June 5, 8, 11, 18, and 22.

“The Mountaintop” at Cape May Stage

Cape May Stage imagines the last night of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life with the New Jersey premiere of The Mountaintop by Katori Hall. The powerful drama that won the Olivier Award for Best New Play is a surreal portrayal of the legendary civil rights leader and deals with issues of race and equality that still resonate today. Directed by Gregg T. Daniel (HBO’s True Blood) and starring Los Angeles based actors Ben Cain and Nija Okoro through June 13 at the Robert Shackleton Playhouse, corner of Bank & Lafayette Streets, downtown Cape May, NJ. Pay what you wish night on Friday, June 6.

New Paradise Laboratories’ “27”

New Paradise Laboratories revisits their 2012 Fringe hit 27, a rock-infused, innovative theatrical performance inspired by the so-called “27 Club” of legendary musicians who passed away at the age of 27 including Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse and Jimi Hendrix. Whit MacLaughlin created and directs the experimental ensemble, examining how our culture has linked notions of talent and mortality. Accompanied by live guitar and trigger samples by Alec MacLaughlin of the band Id, Thursday, May 29, 7pm, Friday, May 30, 8pm and 11pm, and Saturday, May 31, 5pm and 8pm, Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine Street, Old City Philadelphia.

The Wizard of Oz at the Academy of Music

The Wizard of Oz stops in Philadelphia on its national tour, June 3-8. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s fresh production offers a bewitching adaptation with vibrant costumes and enchanting stage design. Expect surprises and the favorite classic songs from the original movie score, plus new melodies by Tim Rice and Webber. The celebrated takes to the stage at the Academy of Music, Broad Street, Philadelphia.

Art Appreciation

Funeral for a Home

Temple University’s art gallery, Temple Contemporary, aims to unite the Mantua neighborhood in history and community engagement with Funeral for a Home, Saturday, May 31, 11am-2pm. The “dying” row house at 3711 Melon Street (pictured) will be eulogized by Pastor Harry Moore of Mount Olive Baptist Church, joined by his congregation’s choir. After the service, the home will be demolished and a neighborhood procession will follow its remains in a dumpster to a waste recycling facility along with music and dance performances. The march concludes with a family style catered luncheon at a communal table, the length of the block around 3700 Melon Street, West Philadelphia. The unique event is free and open to the public. Designed by local artists Billy and Steven Dufala in collaboration with numerous civic and community organizations, public historians and residents.

“America’s Road: The Journey of Route 66” at Mercer Museum

Drive on over to see America’s Road: The Journey of Route 66 at Mercer Museum,May 31 through August 24. A historical tour of the iconic American highway from the time it opened in 1926 through today with multi-media displays, period images, roadside signage, artifacts, and interactive stations including a drive-in theater and a period radio show. Also, on display is a photo essay by photographer and author Russell Olsen who researched and photographed 75 classic service stations, motor courts, restaurants and other sites along Route 66. Plus vintage automobiles, including a 1969 Mercedes 600 once owned by Elvis Presley, 84 S. Pine Street, Doylestown, PA. Pictured: Blue Whale attraction in Catoosa, OK.

Frank Lloyd Wright: Architecture of the Interior & The Art of Seating at Reading Public Museum

Frank Lloyd Wright: Architecture of the Interior & The Art of Seating opens Saturday, May 31 at Reading Public Museum. The double exhibit features 19 high quality reproduction drawings, eight photographs and four photographic murals, offering a view into the architect’s creative conception of the interior spaces of his houses. A survey of unique chair designs from the early 19th century to the present day displays more than 50 artful chairs from around the world with designs by Frank Lloyd Wright, Frank Gehry, John Henry Belter, Isamu Noguchi, and many more, through July 27, 500 Museum Road, Reading, PA. In cooperation with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. Opening night reception on Friday, May 30, 5:30pm-7pm, a members only lecture and tour featuring Mark Hall-Patton on Saturday, May 31, 10am. Pictured: Centripetal Spring Arm Chair, c. 1850, designed by Thomas E. Warren.

Music

Venissa Santi at West Laurel Hill Cemetery

The Historic West Laurel Hill Cemetery hosts their first Concert Under the Stars with a night of Cuban American Jazz featuring Venissa Santi and her three piece band, Friday, May 30, 7pm. The event is free and open to the public at the Conservatory, 225 Belmont Avenue, Bala Cynwyd, PA. Bring your own snacks, beverages, chairs or blankets.

Thee Idea Men at the Milkboy

Thee Idea Men perform at the Milkboy on Saturday, May 31, 8:30pm. The local community-driven blues rockers celebrate the release of their new album New Level Shoes with Levee Drivers and OhBree opening, 1100 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.

Relâche at Penn Museum

The music ensemble Relâche performs the final “New Sounds and Cinema” series as part of the University of Pennsylvania’s Year of Sound, Sunday, June 1, 1:30pm and 4pm, live musical accompaniment (Joby Talbott’s 1999 score) to the 1926 Hitchcock silent film The Lodger, a Story of the London Fog. The octet of woodwinds, strings, keyboard, and percussion plays The Penguin by 20th century composer Raymond Scott as an overture. Enjoy the show in the newly renovated Widener Hall, Penn Museum, 3260 South Street, Philadelphia and use your ticket to enter and explore the Museum’s international galleries any time after 3pm.

Zoe Muth & the Lost High Rollers at the Tin Angel

Zoe Muth & the Lost High Rollers stop in Philly on her U.S. tour at the Tin Angel, Wednesday, June 4, 8pm. Called “Seattle’s Emmylou,” the soulful country folk rocker has a new album, World of Strangers, 20 S. 2nd Street, Philadelphia.

Saintseneca at Johnny Brenda’s

Saintseneca brings their Appalachian folk-punk sound to Johnny Brenda’s on Wednesday, June 4. The Columbus, Ohio band is promoting their new album Dark Arc, with Memory Map and Three Man Cannon opening. Doors open at 8pm and show at 9pm, 1201 N. Frankford, Philadelphia.

 

 

To submit an event to be considered for the Weekly Entertainment Guide email Robin Bloom at artscalendar@whyy.org.