Weekly Entertainment Guide – Remembering Tony Auth

Fall festivals, concerts, theater shows, art exhibits, and much more to choose from this week!

What’s Happening

Peace Day Philly

Philadelphia takes part in the United Nations International Day of Peace with Peace Day Philly, a variety of events related to peace education, global citizenship and awareness, spiritual engagement, social justice, cultural storytelling, and more throughout the city and the surrounding region. A sampling of activities now through Sunday, September 21 includes Footprints of Peace at Penn Museum, Philadelphia United Jazz Festival, International Peace Day Concert, Brundibar and The Children of Theresienstadt, Sing Along for Peace, and more. For a complete list of events, visit the website.

Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll

The second Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll of the season returns Thursday, September 18, 5:30pm-8:30pm, an outdoor street festival with participating businesses offering $1 specials along with live music, street performances, and more, Baltimore Avenue from 42nd to 50th Streets, University City. Rain or shine.

Street Fare: Sip, Savor, Stroll in Mt. Airy

Street Fare: Sip, Savor, Stroll features live music, craft vendors, children’s activities, craft brews, and gourmet offerings from over 50 food trucks on Thursday, September 18, 6pm-10:30pm in Mt. Airy. Akil Dasan, Deb Callahan Band, Johnny Showcase, Papo Gely and the Gin Canaries perform on two stages with a family activity zone and more along Germantown Avenue between Sedgwick and W. Mt. Airy Avenue.

Tangle’s “Loop”

Tangle Movement Arts, the all-female circus arts company, employs dance, theater, and live music in their new full-length Fringe Festival circus-theater show, Loop. Trapeze, aerial rope maneuvers, and partner acrobatics are used to tell the stories of several women. The complex movements through rope, net, and air represent the connections with others that may empower or constrain while making a difficult choice, as the performers are supported, raised up, held back, or left hanging. Staged in a set by artist Julia Wilson with four performances, Thursday, September 18, 8pm, Friday, September 19, 8pm, and Saturday, September 20, 3pm and 8pm at Philadelphia Soundstages, 1600 N. 15th Street, Philadelphia.

Park(ing) Day Philadelphia

Go green and convert a metered parking space into a temporary park in this year’s Park(ing) Day Philadelphia, Friday, September 19. Philadelphia joins with cities all over the world in an effort to raise awareness for the need for more green and pedestrian-friendly urban open spaces. See dozens of interactive parks on the city streets from approximately 9am-5pm. Visit the website to sign up for your own parking space and for a printable Google map.

The Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Fall Show

The Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Fall Show once again “Circles the Square” September 19-21, featuring a diverse range of art for purchase. Originating as a “Clothesline Show” in 1932, it is now regarded as one of the most respected and active outdoor art shows in the country and has expanded to twice a year, 18th & Walnut Streets, Philadelphia. Hours: Friday, September 19, 11am-7pm, Saturday, September 20, 11am-6pm, and Sunday, September 21, 11am-5pm. Art “Walk & Talk” on Saturday, September 20.

PHS Fall Festival

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society hosts their Fall Festival, Saturday, September 20, 10am-5pm, at the Philadelphia Navy Yard parade grounds on Broad Street with a day of food, music, Harvest Market, Kids Zone, and more. New this year, the Franklin Flea, a curated collection of more than 50 vendors selling vintage furnishings, upcycled objects, handmade items and gourmet food. Free admission and parking.

Scarecrow Festival at Peddler’s Village

Celebrate Fall’s arrival with the annual Scarecrow Festival at Peddler’s Village, Saturday, September 20 and Sunday, September 21, 10am-6pm both days with pumpkin painting, pumpkin pie eating contests, live music, and a scarecrow-making workshop, Routes 202 and 263, Lahaska, Bucks County, PA. Free admission and parking, $30 to make a scarecrow (reservations recommended).

Fall Fling & Folk Faire

Appel Farm and the Philadelphia Folksong Society partner together to present the annual Fall Fling & Folk Faire, Saturday, September 20, 1pm-6pm, with performances by Trout Fishing in America (pictured) and more, along with crafts, food, and children’s activities. Make a weekend out of it September 19-21 with song circles, jam sessions, open mic, crafts, workshops, and camping in Elmer, NJ.

FLOW Festival

Fairmount Water Works hosts the first FLOW Festival, Sunday, September 21, 1pm-8pm. The free celebration of water offers performances, art installations, family activities including Drip Drums, Sonic State of the Schuylkill, a Splash Organ, a Fishway, River Net, Flood Stories, and a dramatic lighting show illuminating the Water Works exterior, 640 Waterworks Drive Philadelphia.

Philly Fests

Spruce Street Harbor Park hosts a Fall Fest, September 19-21, as the pop-up park transitions to autumn-themed regional craft beers, food trucks, daily live music and children’s activities, Columbus Boulevard at Spruce Street, Penn’s Landing.  Since 1970, the Clark Park Music and Arts Festival has been a neighborhood tradition at 43rd and Chester Avenue in West Philly. Scheduled on the Saturday closest to the fall equinox, join the fun on September 20, 12pm until sundown. The day offers live music, vendors, food trucks, and children’s activities.  The 6th annual Oktoberfest Street Festival takes place at Brauhaus Schmitz, Saturday, September 20, 12pm-8pm with 10 German beers available on draught, German food, live music, face painting, German dancers and more within the bierhall and outside on South Street, rain or shine, 718 South Street, Philadelphia.  Celebrate Latino culture and music at the 30th Annual Feria del Barrio (pictured), the Centro de Oro neighborhood festival offering food, art, crafts, children’s activities, and live entertainment this Sunday, September 21, 12pm-5pm, 5th Street between Lehigh and Cambria Avenues, Philadelphia.  Brazilian Day Philadelphia is Sunday, September 21, 1pm-7pm, celebrating the culture and traditions of Brazil and its Independence Day, Great Plaza, Penn’s Landing.

Regional Festivals

The Wildwood Irish Fall Festival (pictured) returns September 18-21 (called the largest Irish festival on the East Coast) celebrating Irish heritage with music, dancing, food, and crafts, 8am-8pm daily. Events conclude with a parade on Surf Avenue from 20th to Spruce and Olde New Jersey Avenues, North Wildwood, NJ.  Bring a picnic to Rockwood Park and enjoy a Faerie Fest, Sunday, September 21, 11am-4pm, along with crafts, outdoor games, a bubble blowing station, storytime and more, and with the opportunity to take pictures with the Faerie Queen, Tooth Fairy, Gnome and more on the South Lawn, 4651 Washington Street Extension, Wilmington, DE.  The Jenkintown Festival of the Arts takes place Sunday, September 21, 12:30pm-6pm, with over 60 juried artisans, food, live music, performances, beer tents and more, Greenwood Avenue, Jenkintown, PA.

Art Appreciation

Front Lines: Treasures from the Tony Auth Archive

Honor Tony Auth‘s memory with a visit to the Philadelphia Foundation to see Front Lines: Treasures from the Tony Auth Archive, a new exhibit that gathers more than 100 of the Pulitzer prize winning editorial cartoonist’s work, including drawings, paintings and sketches. A fund has been opened to support the acquisition of his archive by Temple University in an effort to keep the Auth Archive in Philadelphia. Tax deductible donations can be made to “The Tony Auth Fund.” The display can be seen through January 23 at the Philadelphia Foundation’s Community Art Gallery, 1234 Market Street, Suite 1800, Philadelphia. Free and open to the public Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm.

Schofield: International Impressionist at Woodmere Art Museum

Woodmere Art Museum brings together more than 60 paintings for Schofield: International Impressionist, a major retrospective of the Impressionist painter Walter Elmer Schofield (1866-1944). The acclaimed Philadelphia-born, PAFA trained artist painted beautiful landscapes locally in the Wissahickon Valley Park, as well as national and internationally. The wide ranging exhibition offers some works that are rarely-seen and lent by institutions including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Carnegie Museum of Art, the Philadelphia School District, the Smithsonian, and from the Woodmere’s permanent collection. Accompanied by a catalogue and on view September 18 through January 25, 9201 Germantown Avenue, Chestnut Hill. Related programs and events include Hiking the Wissahickon, talks with art historians and the artist’s great-grandson James Church, and an open house Saturday, September 27, 1pm-4pm. While there, play, climb and explore the straw maze Bales of Cornwall!

Onstage

The Disappearing Quarterback at Plays & Players

Just in time for football season, Plays & Players revisits the hot button concussion controversy with The Disappearing Quarterback, Mike Boryla’s one-man show about his life. The starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1974-1976, Boryla tells the story of walking away from the sport and the teammates he loved. A play for football fanatics and novices alike, with anecdotes of notable sports figures, September 20-27 at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Place, Philadelphia. The play is the first of “One,” a season of one person shows.

“Antony and Cleopatra” at McCarter Theatre

McCarter Theatre Center takes on Shakespeare’s romantic and powerful tragedy Antony and Cleopatra, the intricate story of power and passion amidst the Roman civil war. Adapted by Artistic director Emily Mann (celebrating her 25th year with McCarter Theatre), the tale unfolds in intimate scenes with the backdrop of political upheaval, intriguing audiences as it has for centuries. Starring a cast of 12 with Nicole Ari Parker and Esau Pritchett in the title roles, and live percussion by Mark Katsaounis, through October 5 in the Berlind Theatre, 91 University Place, Princeton, NJ. Special events include Pride Night, September 18, post-show discussion, September 21, Open Captioned performance, September 27, Audio Described performance, October 1, and ASL Interpreted performance, October 4.

“Fences” at People’s Light & Theatre

The highly acclaimed Fences opens People’s Light & Theatre’s 40th anniversary season. One of the most beloved plays in August Wilson’s ten-play cycle, chronicling the African-American experience of the 20th century, the Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning drama tells the gripping story of a father and son and the hopes and dreams which they desperately cling to in rapidly changing mid-century America. Directed by Kamilah Forbes, Producing Artistic Director of Hi-ARTS in New York City, with Michael Genet making his People’s Light debut as Troy Maxson. Also starring Brian Anthony Wilson, Melanye Finister, Wendell Franklin, G. Alvarez Reid, Ruffin Prentiss, and Cameron Hicks, through October 5 at 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, PA. Special events include Talkbacks, “Scoop on Wednesdays,” and Open Captioned performances. Head there on Sunday, September 21 for the First Annual Family Fun Day, 12pm-5pm.

Music

Bucks County Playhouse’s Jazz Fest

Bucks County Playhouse launches the Bridge Street Concert Series: Jazz Fest 2014. Featured acts include the Dirty Bourbon River Show (pictured), Thursday, September 18, 8pm, Eric Mintel Quartet, Friday, September 19, 8pm, Lea DeLaria, Saturday, September 20, 8pm, and Livingston Taylor, Sunday, September 21, 3pm. Then, it’s the first ever Oscar Hammerstein Festival, September 26-28, featuring special events devoted to musical theatre including a performance with the original Tony-nominated stars of Broadway’s Cinderella, Saturday, September 27, 70 South Main Street, New Hope, PA.

Greensky Bluegrass at the TLA

Enjoy Greensky Bluegrass at the TLA this Saturday, September 20, 8pm. Doors open at 7pm, 334 South Street, Philadelphia.

 

 

Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers at World Café Live

Catch the soulful Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers this Sunday, September 21, 8pm at World Café Live. Doors open at 7pm at 3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia. All ages. The Mother Hips opens.

 

 

Christine Kelley contributed reporting to this week’s Guide.

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