Weekly Entertainment Guide – The Poetry of Nature

Enjoy a mystery, take in an art exhibit, music for St. Patrick’s Day and more! Robin Bloom shares 18 picks for this week.

Art Appreciation

Pop Réal at Locks Gallery

Pop Réal, a group exhibition that examines the intersection of two influential art movements of the twentieth century – Pop Art in America and Nouveau Réalisme in Europe – is on display at Locks Gallery. Featuring works in a variety of media, forms, and content by more than twenty internationally acclaimed artists from both continents (such as Alex Katz, Jasper Johns, Claes Oldenberg, Thomas Chimes, Robert Morris, George Segal, Noel Mahaffey, and Donald Baechler) to represent a clash of culture, consumption, and political protest, through April 16, 600 Washington Square South, Philadelphia. Pictured: Roy Lichtenstein, Crying Girl, 1963, offset lithograph printed in colors, unnumbered edition, 17 3/8 x 23 1/4 inches.

“Nature Décor” at Bridgette Mayer Gallery

Los Angeles based painter Kaoru Mansour’s solo exhibition at Bridgette Mayer Gallery, Nature Décor, draws from her childhood experiences in the mountainous natural environment of her hometown in a small village in Japan. Mansour has exhibited internationally and her works are included in private, corporate and hospitality collections worldwide. Recent pieces feature layered mixed media with crackled surfaces mimicking the exterior texture of traditional Japanese pottery raku ware, on display through April 30, 709 Walnut Street, 1st Floor, Philadelphia. Pictured: Kaoru Mansour, Blackbird and Chandelier 101, 2015, Mixed media, 48 x 42 inches.

For the Love of Mosaics Mural Tour

The City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program and Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens have teamed up for a special event. For the Love of Mosaics Mural Tour includes the Love Letter Train Tour, featuring over 50 murals created by Steve Powers, followed by a visit to Isaiah Zagar’s Philadelphia Magic Gardens, Saturday, March 19, 10:30am-12pm, beginning at PAFA, 128 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia and ending at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, 1020 South Street, Philadelphia. Advanced reservations recommended.

“The Poetry of Nature” at Brandywine River Museum of Art

An exhibit of over 40 paintings from the New-York Historical Society’s collection opens at the Brandywine River Museum of Art, March 19 through June 12. The Poetry of Nature: A Golden Age of American Landscape Painting puts a spotlight on a renowned group of Hudson River School artists, including Thomas Cole, Asher Durand, Albert Bierstadt, Jasper Cropsey, John F. Kensett, and William T. Richards, who painted the expansive landscapes of the Hudson River Valley. Works on view – many for the first time – were painted between 1818 and 1886, organized by the New-York Historical Society, which features one of the most distinguished collections of Hudson River School paintings, Route 1, Chadds Ford, PA. Pictured: Louisa Davis Minot (1788-1858) Niagara Falls, 1818 Oil on canvas, 30 x 40 5/8 Collection of the New-York Historical Society, Gift of Mrs. Waldron Phoenix Belknap, Sr., to the Waldron Phoenix Belknap, Jr. Collection, 1956.3

Egyptomania! at Penn Museum

Make it a day at the Penn Museum with activities for all. Consider 5000 years of history and culture with Egyptomania! Saturday, March 19, 11am-4pm. Take part in mummification workshops, hieroglyph classes, tours, games, presentations by curators and archaeologists, Egyptian belly dancing, and more family friendly activities that explore one of the world’s oldest civilizations. Set throughout the museum’s world-renowned ancient Egyptian galleries. Included with museum admission, 3260 South Street on Penn’s Campus (across from Franklin Field), Philadelphia. Photo courtesy of Penn Museum.

Onstage

“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” at the Academy of Music

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical arrives in Philadelphia March 22 to April 3. The Tony Award-winning jukebox musical tells the inspiring true story of the songwriter’s remarkable rise to stardom, from her start as a hit songwriting team with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history, writing a soundtrack to a generation, Academy of Music, 240 South Broad Street, Philadelphia. Related events include an ASL performance on March 25 and an audio described performance on March 27. Photo by Joan Marcus.

“Dogfight: The Musical” at Media Theatre

Dogfight: The Musical, the adaptation of the 1991 film, is onstage at Media Theatre. Three marines, about to be deployed in 1963, gather for a final night of revelry, when Eddie (Zack Krajnyak) meets Rose (Victoria Mayo) and everything changes. The production first premiered Off-Broadway in 2012 with music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and a book by Peter Duchan. Directed by Media’s Artistic Director Jesse Cline through March 27 at 104 East State Street, Media, PA. Produced by Media Music Theatre Company. Photo courtesy of Media Theatre.

Mysteries

“The Mousetrap” at McCarter Theatre Center

You don’t have to go all the way to the West End of London to catch Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, the world’s longest running play. McCarter Theatre Center promises a performance that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Directed by Adam Immerwahr with an ensemble cast including Jessica Bedford (pictured), Richard Gallagher, Adam Green, Graeme Malcolm, Andy Phelan, Thom Sesma, Sandra Shipley, and Emily Young, the new production is onstage through March 27 at 91 University Place, Princeton, NJ. Look for “Inside Story” talks led by the artistic staff, 45 minutes before performances, Pride Night on March 17, and post-show discussions on March 20 and 24. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.

Sherlock Holmes Weekend

It’s the annual spring edition of Sherlock Holmes Weekend in Cape May, New Jersey, March 18-20. Visitors can try and solve this year’s mystery, “Sherlock Holmes and the Case of Melpomene’s Mask” and win a variety of prizes. The weekend includes a “Search for Clues Tour” on Saturday that traverses the inns of Victorian Cape May in a hunt for clues. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts and Humanities. Photo courtesy of MAC.

East Lynne Theater Company’s “Holmes and Carter Mysteries”

Also in Cape May, step back in time for two different “who-dun-its” presented as radio-style broadcasts, complete with live sound effects and commercials with the Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company’s Holmes and Carter Mysteries. “The Red-Headed League” is adapted from the original Sir Arthur Conan Doyle story by Gayle Stahlhuth. Aired on April 18, 1943, “The Voice of Crime” is the original script for the 2nd Carter radio show, written by Walter Gibson and Edward Gruskin, March 18-19 at 8pm at The First Presbyterian Church, 500 Hughes Street. Photo courtesy of East Lynne Theater Company.

“The Mysterious Affair at Styles” at Hedgerow Theatre

Agatha Christie’s The Mysterious Affair at Styles takes to the stage March 17 at Hedgerow Theatre. The famed English writer’s first published novel (1920) introduced the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot to the world and this world premiere adaptation by Artistic Director Jared Reed marks the first time the show is being produced by “America’s first repertory theatre,” through May 8, 64 Rose Valley Road, Rose Valley, PA. Pictured: Zoran Kovcic as Poirot. Photo by Rick Prieur.

“Deathtrap” at Steel River Playhouse

Broadway’s longest running comic thriller Deathtrap is onstage at Steel River Playhouse through Sunday, March 20. The clever play within a play about a once famous writer of mysteries who is having trouble writing after a series of flops is directed by Leena Devlin, Managing Artistic Director at SRP, starring Philip Seader, Zachary Clark, Lauren Flanagan, Andrea Frassoni, and Don Green, 245 E. High Street, Pottstown, PA. Not suitable for younger audiences. Photo courtesy of John Daggett.

Music

Wilmington Winter Bluegrass Festival

The Wilmington Winter Bluegrass Festival kicks off this weekend, Friday, March 18 through Sunday, March 20, with two stages, jamming, and workshops, gospel Sunday, and children’s activities. Bands include Volume Five, Gold Heart Sisters (pictured), Cindy G., Blue Mafia, the Feinberg Brothers, with host Cold Chocolate, Crowne Plaza Hotel, 630 Naamans Road, Claymont, DE. Photo courtesy of the Gold Heart Sisters.

Mummers’ Delight: Birds, Beasts, and Battles with Piffaro

Piffaro, The Renaissance Band, takes on the ancient art of “mummery” with Mummers’ Delight: Birds, Beasts, and Battles, a family-oriented program, Friday, March 18, 7:30pm, Trinity Center for Urban Life, 2212 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, Saturday, March 19, 7:30pm, the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, 8855 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, and Sunday, March 20, 3pm, Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew, Wilmington. Hearkening back to the troupes of players that entertained crowds in town squares and great halls throughout Renaissance Europe, the performances feature special guests Mark Jaster and Sabrina Mandell (pictured), artistic directors of Washington D.C.’s Happenstance Theatre, a professional company committed to devising, producing and touring original, performer-created visual, poetic theater. Photo by Mukul Ranjan.

St. Patrick’s Day Weekend Events

Barleyjuice at World Café Live

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the band Barleyjuice, performing traditional Irish and Scottish songs in a pop/rock style with bagpipes, fiddle, accordion, mandolin, bouzouki, whistle, piano, harmonica, bass and drums, Thursday, March 17, 8pm (doors open at 7pm), World Café Live Philadelphia Upstairs, 3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia. Photo courtesy of Barleyjuice.

John Francis at the Tin Angel

Head to the Tin Angel for John Francis. The folk, soul, and country artist is joined by special guest Hurricane Hoss and other Irish American friends for the best of the Van Morrison catalogue as well as traditional Irish folk songs and originals, Thursday, March 17, 7:30pm, 20 S. 2nd Street, Philadelphia. Photo by Lisa Schaffer Photography.

Galway Girls at Bucks County Playhouse

The Galway Girls return to the Bucks County Playhouse, Saturday, March 19, 4pm and 8pm, with authentic Irish music celebrating the songs of the Emerald Isle. Listen for classics like Four Green Fields, Whiskey in the Jar, Danny Boy & more featuring Meredith Beck, Kendra Jo Brook and Janice Landry with special guest singer Michael O’Brien, 70 South Main Street, New Hope, PA.

Celtic Crossings at Upper Darby Performing Arts Center

Phil Coulter and Andy Cooney, two legends of Irish music, perform Celtic Crossings, an evening of Celtic music and melodies, Saturday, March 19, 7:30pm, Upper Darby Performing Arts Center. Coulter, known as Ireland’s “Musical Ambassador,” the mastermind and original songwriter behind “Celtic Thunder,” joins with Cooney, one of the acclaimed “NY Tenors,” with special guests Geraldine Branagan and the Irish Pops Ensemble, 601 N. Lansdowne Avenue, Drexel Hill, PA. Photo courtesy of the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center.

 

 

 

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.