Weekly Entertainment Guide – Straight Outta Philly

Robin Bloom on what’s going on this week in the Philadelphia region.

What’s Happening

“The Legend of Georgia McBride” at Arden Theatre Company

Arden Theatre Company celebrates finding your voice and singing your own song with the music-filled comedy The Legend of Georgia McBride by Matthew Lopez. Dito van Reigersberg – best known for his drag alter ego, Martha Graham Cracker – tackles the role of drag queen Miss Tracy Mills (pictured). Other cast members include Matteo Scammell, Mikeah Ernest Jennings, Stephanee Martin and Damien Wallace. Directed by Emmanuelle Delpech, extended through December 4 on the Arcadia Stage, 40 N. 2nd Street, Philadelphia. Related programs and events include a post-show discussion on November 20 and open captioned and audio described performances on November 18-19. Photo by Mark Garvin.

“Found” at Philadelphia Theatre Company

Found, a new musical comedy based on Davy Rothbart’s popular Found Magazine, takes to the stage at Philadelphia Theatre Company. The play explores human connection and friendship through the various items that have been collected by people all around the world, with additional material created in collaboration with Story Pirates. The production had its world premiere Off-Broadway at Atlantic Theater Company in 2014 and features a book by Hunter Bell and Lee Overtree and music and lyrics by Eli Bolin. Overtree directs an accomplished ensemble cast of TV, Broadway and Off-Broadway veterans including Christina Anthony, Andrew Call, Alysha Deslorieux, F. Michael Haynie, Erika Henningsen, Juwan Crawley, Orville Mendoza, Molly Pope, Sandy Rustin, and Graham Stevens through December 11, Suzanne Roberts Theatre, Broad and Lombard Streets, Philadelphia. Related programs and events include Meet-the-Artists talk backs, American Playwrights in Context, and a backstage tour. Photo by Mark Garvin.

“An Iliad” at Lantern Theater Company

The Philadelphia premiere of An Iliad is onstage at Lantern Theater Company. Written by Lisa Peterson and Tony Award-winning actor Denis O’Hare and based on Robert Fagles’ acclaimed translation of Homer’s Iliad, the production is an intimate and powerful condensing the classic tale of war. Directed by M. Craig Getting and starring Barrymore Award-winners Peter DeLaurier and Liz Filios, who also serves as co-composer, having created an original music score, through December 11, St. Stephen’s Theater, 10th and Ludlow Streets, Philadelphia. Related programs and events include Lantern Pub Night, Friday, November 18 and 25 and Artists in Conversation, November 20, 23, 27 and 30. Photo by Mark Garvin.

BalletX’s “Sunset, o639 Hours”

BalletX remounts the popular Sunset, o639 Hours, November 16-20. Co-created and choreographed by BalletX co-founder Matthew Neenan with compositions by musician Rosie Langabeer, the unique collaboration features 10 dancers and four musicians and is inspired by the true story of Captain Edwin Musick, an American pilot who completed the first airmail service between the U.S. and New Zealand in 1938 and died tragically. The Wilma Theater’s resident ballet company reimagines the long forgotten story through innovative choreography and an original score played on invented instruments. The critically acclaimed full-length ballet debuted in Philadelphia in the summer of 2014 and has since traveled the country. Go behind the scenes with the X-Process, interactive lectures and events, conversations with the artists, and more including the inaugural Family Day, November 19, 265 South Broad Street, Philadelphia. Photo by Alexander Iziliaev.

Latin Roots Live!

WXPN’s Latin Roots Live! Concert Series offers free, all-ages performances that explore the variety of music from Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries. Mexican-American singer Edna Vazquez and Peruvian singer/songwriter duo Alejandro y Maria Laura (pictured) take to the stage Thursday, November 17, 8pm (doors open at 7pm), Upstairs at World Café Live, 3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia. Free admission but RSVP required. Photo by Maria Paz Mujica.

Straight Outta Philly

Straight Outta Philly is a unique collaboration between two of the city’s renowned dance institutions, Philadanco and Rennie Harris Puremovement, that fuses hip-hop and modern dance, November 18-20. The innovative interpretation of African American traditions through movement tells the story of the “City of Brotherly Love” and its residents in four performances, Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Broad Street, Philadelphia. Photo by Creative Outfit.

An American in Paris

An American in Paris opens the Kimmel Center’s Broadway Philadelphia season, November 22-27. The Tony Award-winning new musical arrives in Philadelphia on its first national tour at the Academy of Music. Directed and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, the production is inspired by the Academy Award-winning film of the same name about an American soldier who stays in Paris to rebuild his life after World War II and meets a mysterious French girl. Featuring classic songs by George and Ira Gershwin like “I Got Rhythm,” “But Not For Me,” and the title song with a book by Craig Lucas, Broad Street, Philadelphia. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

Dilworth Park’s Wintergarden

Dilworth Park’s Wintergarden is now open with America’s Garden Capital Maze, a new large-scale winter attraction. Center City District (CCD) partnered with Greater Philadelphia Gardens to celebrate the region’s horticultural heritage and its distinction as America’s Garden Capital (with more than 30 gardens within 30 miles of Philadelphia). Twinkling lights and colorful plantings adorn willow-branch archways, evergreens, trees, perennials, shrubs, and topiary sculptures from 32 area gardens, along with a gazebo, west side of Philadelphia’s City Hall, 1 S. 15th Street. Open through February 26 with 12 weeks of free garden programs. Photo by Rob Cardillo.

Bruce Springsteen: A Photographic Journey

An exhibit revisiting “The Boss’s” career as a songwriter and performer opens at Morven Museum and Garden Friday, November 18. Bruce Springsteen: A Photographic Journey travels from the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles to what was once the home of Declaration of Independence signer Richard Stockton, with forty photographs of the rock legend and video interviews with five of the six photographers including Danny Clinch, Ed Gallucci, Eric Meola, Barry Schneier, Pamela Springsteen, and Frank Stefanko, through May 21, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, New Jersey. Opening reception is Thursday, November 17, 5:30pm, free. Pictured: Bruce on the Highway, Pamela Springsteen.

Delaware Symphony Orchestra’s Family Concert

Delaware Symphony Orchestra offers an interactive family concert on Sunday, November 20, 12:30pm and 3pm. Music director David Amado conducts a program of music from the silver screen, ranging from Leonard Bernstein’s classic score from “West Side Story” to John Williams’ theme for “Star Wars” with guest artist, violin soloist Jinjoo Cho (pictured), at the Cab Calloway School of the Arts Auditorium, 100 North DuPont Road, Wilmington, Delaware. Photo by Woo Ryong Chae.

Garden State Watercolor Society’s 47th annual Juried Show

The Garden State Watercolor Society’s 47th annual Juried Show opens Saturday, November 19 showcasing 65 artists from across the region, juried by Joel Popadics. Related events include Gallery Talks, a Round Robin painting demo, Third Thursday Members Meet Members, and Artist Demo with watercolorist Dorrie Rifkin. An opening reception takes place on November 19, 6pm. The exhibit can be seen through January 15 at Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie Mansion, Cadwalader Park, Trenton, New Jersey. Pictured: James Toogood, “Under the Accademia.”

Philadelphia Arts Connection exhibit at MCCC

The artwork of the Philadelphia Arts Connection is on display at Montgomery County Community College’s Fine Art Center Gallery. PAC was established in 2010 by a group of Korean émigré artists from the greater Philadelphia-New York region whose artistic interests draw from both Korean and Western art traditions and cultures and incorporate their life experiences and exposures to contemporary arts in America. Participating artists include Kyungja O. Kim, Sung H. Ham, Yeonmi Ahn, Clara Soyoun Kim, and more in a variety of media, including oil, watercolor, acrylics and mixed media, on display through December 16, Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. Free and open to the public. A meet the artists opening reception takes place on Wednesday, November 30, 5pm-7pm. Pictured: “Croatia” by participating artist Alice K. Chung.

 

 

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.