Weekly Entertainment Guide – Painted poetry and public art

 WHYY’s Arts Calendar curator Robin Bloom sorts through hundreds of listings each week to find out what’s happening in the Delaware Valley. Here are her picks and listings.

Painted Poetry at Delaware Art Museum

Delaware Art Museum celebrates its centennial and continues its tradition of highlighting the work of accomplished regional artists with the new exhibit, “Painted Poetry: The Art of Mary Page Evans,” a retrospective exhibition of approximately 50 paintings and drawings created by Evans between the 1960s and 2011. Influenced by French impressionists (Cezanne in particular), post-impressionists, abstract impressionists, dance, music, poetry, her vibrant pieces evoke her inspirations – poetry and nature – gardens in Delaware and France (Giverny – Claude Monet’s garden), a mountain in the Shenandoah Valley, the Florida coast; sites she loves and returns to again and again. Evans has lived in Delaware for 5 decades, married to former Delaware Congressman Tom Evans. Her paintings and drawings are in public, private and corporate collections, including the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the Delaware Art Museum, and the Eleanor D. Wilson Museum at Hollins University. “Painted Poetry” opens this weekend and can be seen through July 15 at 2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, DE. Exhibition programming includes classical music concert, poetry readings, Plein Air studio workshops, figure sketching workshop with the artist. Admission: Adults $12, Seniors (60+) $10, Students (with valid ID) $6, Youth (7–18) $6, and Children (6 and under) free. Admission fees waived on Sunday

Rediscover Public Art

Philadelphia is home to the largest collection of public art in the United States and the Fairmount Park Art Association invites visitors to discover or rediscover them with a month-long celebration of public art, “Site Seeing: Rediscover Public Art This Spring!,” a series of four free programs beginning April 5 with An Evening of Tango at the Swann Memorial Fountain. Additional events include a Public Art Pathway of giant balloons along the Ben Franklin Parkway, Sculpture Flashlight Mob, and Public Art Bike Tours. Participants can also learn more with a multi-platform, interactive audio experience available for free via cell phone, audio download or streaming.

Celebrate Scandinavia with International House

International House hosts a month-long series of themed programs celebrating the people, culture and heritage of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden with “Hej! Scandinavia,” including symposiums, food events, film screenings, and more, April 3-26 at 3701 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.

 

Focus on Scribner’s Magazine at Brandywine River Museum

Before radio and television, illustrated magazines were a popular form of entertainment and Scribner’s magazine, launched in January 1887, is the focus of a new exhibit at the Brandywine River Museum through May 20 on U.S. Route 1 in Chadds Ford, PA. “Scribner’s Magazine: The Early Years in Illustration,” highlights the illustrators who contributed to the magazine’s success including Charles Dana Gibson, Thornton Oakley, Rose O’Neill, Maxfield Parrish, Howard Pyle, Frank Schoonover, N.C. Wyeth and more, and depicts the swift evolution of image printing process at the end of the 19th century. Admission $12 adults, $6 seniors (65+), students and children ages 6-12, children 6 and under free. Museum admission free on Sunday mornings from 9:30am-noon.

Philly’s first all jazz photography exhibition

The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and Jazz Bridge celebrate National Jazz Appreciation Month with the city’s first ever all-jazz photography exhibition, “Philly Jazz: A View through the Lens,” featuring the work of photographers Anthony Dean, L. David Hinton, Ben Johnson, Howard Pitkow, and videographer Jason Fifield, who have been shooting the local jazz scene for years, opening Sunday, April 1-30. Tuesday, April 3, 7:30pm, Wynton Marsalis and members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra perform, Broad Street, Philadelphia.

Outside the Frame: Voices from the Other America

Interact Theatre Company presents the inaugural “Outside the Frame: Voices from the Other America” Festival, a four-week theatre event featuring seven presented works by leading, nationally-known storytellers, solo artists, and monologists including world premieres, Philadelphia premieres, and the co-presentation of the Young Voices Monologue Festival with Philadelphia Young Playwrights, through April 22, The Adrienne, 2030 Sansom Street, Philadelphia. Tickets $25

 

Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation opens a new season with “The Best Our Pretty Farm Affords,” Saturday, March 31, 11am-5pm (last entry at 4pm), a chance to witness a working colonial farm with animals, hearth cooking, woodworking, rifle demonstrations, spinning, weaving, colonial music, candle making, and more including tours at Ridley Creek State Park, Media, PA. Admission $10 adults, $8 children ages 4-12, children under 4 free.

 

 

Burlap and Bean hosts spring concerts: Kate Klim and Blair Bodine, Friday, March 30; Hot Club Philly and Andrea Carlson, Saturday, March 31; Jenny and Tyler with Caleb Spaulding, Friday, April 6; Vilebred with Tony Memmel, Saturday, April 7; Emma Hill and Jonathan Bower, Wednesday, April 11; Sarah Blacker, Suzie Brown, and Hannah Fair, Friday, April 13; Antje Duvekot with Mark Mandeville and Raianne Richards, Saturday, April 14; doors open at 7:30pm, The Shops at Springton Pointe, 203 South Newtown Street Road, Newtown Square, PA. Tickets $5-$15

Astral Artists hosts its “Rising Stars” concert featuring clarinettist Benito Meza, violinist Benjamin Beilman and flutist Angel Hsiao performing Nielsen’s Clarinet Concerto, Bruch’s Violin Concerto and Mozart’s Flute Concerto No. 1, with Rossen Milanov conducting, Monday, April 2, 7:30pm, Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center, Broad Street, Philadelphia. Tickets $30 adults, $25 seniors, $5 students under 30 with ID.

 

 

The German Society of Pennsylvania hosts a concert with Elissa Lee Koljonen, violin, and Natalie Zhu, piano, Sunday, April 1, 3pm, 617 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, with a program of Beethoven, Stravinsky, Bach, Joachim and Brahms. Tickets $20. Reception following concert in the Ratskeller for members.

 

 

Electric Factory hosts spring concerts: Shpongle presents The Masquerade with Eoto and Phutureprimitive, Saturday, March 31, 8:30pm; Heritage Hunter Tour featuring Mastodon and Opeth with special guest Ghost, Monday, April 9, 7:30pm; Figure with Love City DJs, Johnny V, and Mojo Risin, Saturday, April 14, 8pm; 421 North 7th Street, Philadelphia. Tickets $20-$39.

 

 

Other events and listings happening throughout the Delaware Valley:

Rowan University Theater presents “Into the Woods,” by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, directed by Rebecca Rich, Friday, March 30, 8pm, Saturday, March 31, 3pm and 8pm, and Sunday, April 1, 3pm, Pfleeger Concert Hall, Glassboro, NJ. Tickets $10-$15

Opening Wednesday, April 4 at Montgomery Theater is the comedy “Don’t Talk to the Actors,” by Tom Dudzick, through April 28, 124 N. Main Street, Souderton, PA. Tickets $23-$35

“What Lies Underneath: Otis’ Epiphany,” a new drama from Philadelphia playwright Francine D. Miller, brings the struggles of 1970s Harlem to The Rotunda with performances April 1-6, 4014 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, starring Walter DeShields, Zuhairah McGill, and Theodore Ingram. Tickets $15 general admission, $8 students with ID

Temple University Symphony Orchestra and Combined Choirs perform Dona Nobis Pacem by Vaughan Williams and The Rite of Spring by Stravinksy, Sunday, April 1, 4pm, Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center, with Luis Biava and Paul Rardin, conductors, Sarai Johnson, soprano, and Timothy Gonzalez, baritone. Tickets $20-$35, $10 students and seniors

The Peter B. Lewis Center for the Arts presents The Princeton One-Act Opera Project, an evening of three original one-act operas Friday, March 30, 8pm and Saturday, March 31, 8pm at McCarter Theatre Center, Princeton, NJ. The operas are by composer Anthony Davis with playwright Allan Havis, composer and librettist and Princeton University Professor Barbara White. Tickets $10-$15

The Philadelphia Trio performs the final concert of their season at Main Line Unitarian Church Sunday, April 1, 3pm, 816 South Valley Forge Road, Devon, PA with a program of Beethoven, Rebecca Clarke, and Mendelssohn. Tickets $13-$18

The 12th Annual Family Arts Festival “Dance for Life,” is Saturday, March 31, 1-4pm with performances by multicultural dance troupes, hands-on dance workshops, and more including a child health and wellness fair, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ. Free

The annual Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival blooms in Philadelphia through April 21 with a celebration of the cherry tree and many events for all ages.   Produced by the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia, the Festival is designed to encourage a better understanding of the cultural, social, and educational customs of Japan and the United States and benefits the JASGP Community Tree Planting Project which seeks to beautify Philadelphia by annually planting and maintaining cherry trees in its parks.

The Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University, the nation’s oldest natural history museum, celebrates its 200th birthday with “The Academy at 200: The Nature of Discovery,” an exhibit showcasing two centuries of scientific exploration, highlighting the museum’s revolutionary discoveries of past and present and also providing a unique “glimpse into the future.”

Walnut Street Theater presents: the comedy “God of Carnage,” through April 29 on the main stage; John Patrick Shanley’s Tony Award-winning Broadway play “Doubt – A Parable,” opening March 29 through April 15 in Independence Studio on 3; “Miss Nelson is Missing!” Theatre for Kids, March 28 through April 14; Walnut Street, Philadelphia.

EgoPo Classic Theater continues their tradition of producing year-long festivals celebrating a specific genre or playwright with the Festival of Jewish Theater and the world premiere of “The Golem,” through April 15. A unique theatrical event directed by Brenna Geffers and crafted by the ensemble of artists including Ross Beschler, Kevin Chick, David Jadico, Lorna Howley, Genevieve Perrier, Sarah Schol, Griffin Stanton-Ameisen and Josh Totora, the production features puppets by Martina Plag and original live instrumental and vocal music by Andrew Nelson, inspired by Klezmer and Eastern European folk music. Audience invited to Passover seders on April 6 & 7, Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. Show tickets $20-$50; Seder $40 with show ticket & $50 general admission.

Brat Productions continues their season with “Rock and Awe: Let’s Start a War,” a punk rock inspired rock-cabaret scrutinizing politics and class warfare and blending a diverse assortment of musical styles, created by Jess Conda and directed by John Greenbaum, through March 31, 10pm at Ruba Club Studios, 416 Green Street, Philadelphia. Tickets $12

The Rosenbach Museum & Library presents the exhibition “Pen to Publisher: The Life of Three Sendak Picture Books,” on display now through July 15, 2008-2010 Delancey Place, Philadelphia.

On display at The Clay Studio is “…Gently Down the Stream…” by figurative sculptor Andrea Keys Connell. Keys Connell’s work is influenced by Hummel Figurines and examines how an individual’s personal history affects their identity, behaviour and actions, through April 15 at 137-139 North Second Street, Old City, Philadelphia.

On display at the Delaware Center for Contemporary Arts (DCCA) is “Contraption: Devices in Art,” an exhibit featuring wearable, audible, usable, sculptural works by artists Tim Eads, Tracy Featherstone, C. Grant Cox III, Tyler Held, Cynthia Norton, Lauren Ruth, and Joanie Turbek, through June 24 at 200 South Madison Street, Wilmington, DE.

The Main Line Art Center’s Outreach exhibition “A Celebration of Voices,” is on display now through April 4, highlighting the inspiring and colorful work created by participants in the Center’s outreach programs that make art accessible to diverse groups in the community at 746 Panmure Road, Haverford, PA.

ConcertOPERA, Philadelphia (COPA) presents Georges Bizet’s “Carmen,” sung in French with recitatives, accompanied by English supertitles, Saturday, March 31, 8pm, Ethical Society, 1906 Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia. Tickets $25-$30

Onstage at Philadelphia Theatre Company is the East Coast premiere of “The Outgoing Tide,” a new play by acclaimed Philadelphia playwright Bruce Graham, directed by James J. Christy, through April 22, at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, Broad & Lombard Streets, Philadelphia. Tickets starting at $25

Barnstormers Theater presents “An Angel in the Park,” written and directed by R. Bruce Warren, through April 7, corner of Ward and Tome Streets in Ridley Park, PA. Tickets $10 adult, $8 seniors and youth under 18.

Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre presents “Twelfth Night,” directed by Carmen Khan, through May 20 and “Titus Andronicus,” directed by Aaron Cromie, April 11 through May 19 at 2111 Sansom Street, Philadelphia. Tickets $25-35

The Cheltenham Center for the Arts presents their annual Children’s Art Show featuring works of over one hundred local and regional elementary and middle school students, on view through April 20 at 439 Ashbourne Road, Cheltenham, PA. Open to all

The Rodgers & Hammerstein classic “Carousel” takes to the stage at Villanova Theatre through April 22, directed by Valerie Joyce, Vasey Hall (at Lancaster & Ithan Avenue), Villanova, PA. Tickets $21-$25

Bach Festival of Philadelphia hosts the 2012 Festival: Three Leipzig Masterpieces, focusing on J.S. Bach’s Leipzig period with “The Musical Offering,” March 30, 8pm, “Great Eighteen Chorale Preludes,” March 31, 8pm, “The Passion According to St. John,” April 1, 3pm with Choral Arts Philadelphia, performed in their entirety at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1625 Locust Street, Philadelphia. Tickets $10 student, $20 senior, $30 general admission, $45 premium seating (April 1)

Onstage at Clear Space Theatre Company is the classic “My Fair Lady,” through April 1, 20 Baltimore Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE. Tickets $15-$25

The Ritz Theatre Company presents “The Children’s Hour,” by Lillian Hellman, directed by Esther Flaster, through March 31 at 915 White Horse Pike, Haddon Twp, NJ. Tickets $25-$35

The Independence Seaport Museum presents “Home of the Brave: The War of 1812 in Art, Story & Song,” an exhibit exploring the naval aspect of the war through art, material and popular culture, and first-hand accounts of participants and on-lookers, and includes objects from the Museum’s collection, loans from the Dietrich American Foundation and other private collectors. The exhibit also focuses on Philadelphia’s hometown heroes – Stephen Decatur, William Bainbridge and Stephen Girard, along with an interactive cannon battle, a focus on the war inspired poem “The Star-Spangled banner,” and much more, through December 31 on the waterfront at Penn’s Landing, Philadelphia.

Lantern Theater Company continues its 18th season with Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, under the direction of Artistic Director Charles McMahon, through April 8 at St. Stephen’s Theater, 10th & Ludlow Streets, Center City, Philadelphia.

Tickets $20-$36, $10 student rush 10 minutes before curtain with valid ID/cash only.

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