Weekly Entertainment Guide – Urban Scuba

Robin Bloom offers 25 suggestions for what to do this week!

What’s Happening

Urban Scuba: Retro Dive

Brian Sanders’ JUNK turns Philadelphia’s unwanted debris into treasure with Urban Scuba: Retro Dive, a fantastical celebration of dumpster diving. The critically acclaimed company’s inventive style puts traditional forms of acrobatics, athleticism, and dance theater into a new context with five performances, June 1-5, 8pm each night at JUNK’s studio, 2040 Christian Street, Philadelphia. Recommended for ages 12 and up. Photo courtesy of Brian Sanders’ JUNK.

Philadelphia International Children’s Festival

The annual Philadelphia International Children’s Festival returns to Annenberg Center Live, June 2-4, with accessible and affordable performances for all ages. Highlights include Playing By Air, Flip FabriQue (pictured), Teen Voices of the City Ensemble (T-VOCE), Theatre Lovett, stories and songs with Charlotte Blake Alston, and the FUN ZONE, interactive performances and activities open 9am-3pm, 3680 Walnut Street, Philadelphia. Photo by Michelle Bates.

Art for the Cash Poor

The annual Art for the Cash Poor takes place this weekend, June 3-5, 12pm-6pm, a chance to meet the over 100 exhibiting artists and to purchase artwork at bargain prices, with a vast array of media all for under $199, plus block-party style entertainment including live music, food, and more, Crane Arts Building, 1400 N. American Street, Philadelphia. A Friday night ticketed preview party and meet & greet is June 3. Presented by InLiquid. Pictured: “Praise,” by Jasmine Johnson, participating artist.

Philly Fests

The Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Show once again “Circles the Square” June 3-5, 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, 18th & Walnut Streets, Philadelphia. Hours: Friday and Saturday, June 3-4, 11am-7pm, Sunday, June 5, 11am-5pm. Pictured: “Dog Days of Summer” by Stephen Brehm, one of the artists featured in the Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Show.Philly Beer Week kicks off Friday, June 3 through Sunday, June 12, 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, food pairings, tours, and meet-the-brewer nights at area bars, restaurants and other locations throughout Greater Philadelphia.Fairmount Arts Crawl is back Saturday, June 4, 12pm-4pm, as Fairmount restaurants and businesses open their doors and highlight the work of a wide variety of artists (over 40!) and their media, along with outdoor musical performances, family activities, and more, centered around 22nd & Fairmount Avenue in Philadelphia.East Passyunk celebrates Italian National Day Festival, Sunday, June 5 starting at 11am. The Filitalia La Festa della Repubblica offers fun for the whole family, with a spaghetti eating contest, music, children’s activities, food, and more, East Passyunk Avenue between Broad and Moore streets, Philadelphia. Rain or shine.The annual Irish American Festival takes place Sunday, June 5, 1pm-8pm, Great Plaza, Penn’s Landing, Philadelphia, celebrating Ireland with live music, dancing, traditional foods, crafts and more as part of the PECO Multicultural Festival Series.

Free Library of Philadelphia

The Free Library of Philadelphia hosts the 12th Annual Joint Mini Conference and Mini World Language Book Fair: “Librarians to the Mission: Preserving Cultural Heritage and World Traditions throughout Generations,” Friday, June 3, beginning at 10am at the Parkway Central Library, bringing together librarians and community leaders that are responding to the need of preserving not only the world languages but the cultural and world traditions of ethnic, multilingual and multicultural groups in the United States. While there, check out the exhibit Fur and Feathers: A Cautious Pairing of Cats and Birds, featuring prints, drawings, and photographs by Audubon, Dali, Muybridge, and other artists, on view in the Print and Picture Collection Hallway Gallery, 2nd Floor, 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia. Pictured: “Cat,” woodcut, by Jacques Hnizdovsky, 1968.

Totally Turtles Weekend

Come out of your shell and meet a giant tortoise at Totally Turtles Weekend, June 4-5, at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, with special crafts, demonstrations, touchable specimens, shows, education stations, story time, and more, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia. Photo by Mike Servedio/ANS.

 

Fete Day at Elfreth’s Alley

Tour the private historic homes on Elfreth’s Alley with the annual Fete Day Open House on Saturday, June 4, from 1-5pm, with colonial refreshments, music, storytelling, scavenger hunts, games, and 18th century family photos on the oldest residential street in the country, on 2nd Street between Race & Arch Streets, Old City, Philadelphia. Photo courtesy of Elfreth’s Alley.

The Princeton Festival

The Princeton Festival returns June 4-26 with performances in a variety of musical genres including opera, musical theatre, chamber music, piano, vocal concerts, and more as well as a jazz performance by Cécile McLorin Salvant (pictured), a conducting master class, organ recital, Festival Baroque Orchestra, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and “Six by Sondheim” movie, at various locations in the Princeton, NJ area. Photo courtesy of Cécile McLorin Salvant.

Strawberry Festival at Linvilla Orchards

Linvilla Orchards’ annual Strawberry Festival is Saturday, June 4 beginning at 8am. Pick your own, learn how to prepare homemade jam, enjoy family activities like story time, Makin’ Music, games, and the region’s largest Strawberry shortcake, 137 W. Knowlton Road Media, PA. Photo courtesy of Linvilla Orchards.

 

Philadelphia Folklore Project’s annual Birthday Bash

Philadelphia Folklore Project’s annual Birthday Bash takes place Saturday, June 4, 6pm-9pm, celebrating 29 years of cultivating folk arts and social change. This year’s award recipient is BlackStar Film Festival and Tibetan ritual specialist Thupten Chonyi. Catch performances by the Kùlú Mèlé African Dance & Drum Ensemble, plus a premiere of select documentary footage about the artists in the Liberian Women’s Chorus for Change, food and more, Venice Island Performing Arts and Recreation Center, 7 Lock Street, Philadelphia. Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Folklore Project.

Music

Marcus King Band

The Marcus King Band comes to World Café Live, bringing their psychedelic Southern rock, blues, jazz, and funk sound. King will play songs from his debut album Soul Insight, fresh from performing with George Clinton at SXSW and festivals around the country, Thursday, June 2, upstairs, 8pm (doors open at 7pm), 3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia. Photo courtesy of the Marcus King Band.

NEPA Bluegrass Festival

The NEPA Bluegrass Festival takes place June 2-5, with live traditional and progressive bluegrass music on two stages from Marty Raybon (pictured), Spinney Brothers, Driftwood, Hillbilly Gypsies, Nothin Fancy.  Expect activities for the whole family including craft vendors, a jam tent, workshops, food, Sunday Gospel sing and jam, and free camping, Lazy Brook Park, Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania.

Dr. John

The legendary performer Dr. John comes to Valley Forge Music Fair with his band the Nite Trippers, Friday, June 3, 8pm, Valley Forge Casino Resort, King of Prussia, PA. Photo by Jerry Campbell.

 

 

Crawfish Fest

The 27th annual Michael Arnone’s Crawfish Fest offers a taste of New Orleans, June 3-5, with Big Sam’s Funky Nation (pictured), Bonerama, Papa Mali, funky Meters, and more, along with camping, crafts, and food, Sussex County Fairgrounds, Augusta, New Jersey. Photo courtesy of Michael Arnone’s Crawfish Fest.

Capital Jazz Fest

The 24th annual Capital Jazz Fest is June 3-5 with nearly 30 acts on two big stages including New Edition, En Vogue, Will Downing, Brian Culbertson, the Isley Brothers, Lalah Hathaway, David Sanborn, Toni Braxton, Brand New Heavies (pictured) and more at the Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, Maryland. Photo courtesy of Capital Jazz Fest.

The Roots Picnic

The 9th annual Roots Picnic brings the Roots back home to Philadelphia, Saturday, June 4, noon (doors open at 11am), with headliners such as Future, Usher, Leon Bridges and more including the Roots, Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing, Columbus Boulevard and Spring Garden Streets, Philadelphia. Rain or shine. Photo courtesy of the Roots Picnic.

Appel Farm Music and Wine Festival

Appel Farm Music and Wine Festival takes place Saturday, June 4, 12pm-6pm. Listen to the sounds of Ginger Coyle (pictured), Nancy Micciulla, No Good Sister, Joe Divita, and Steppin’ Razor, while tasting specialty vintage wines from 16 mid-Atlantic wineries, plus food, children’s activities, a crafts fair, and more, 457 Shirley Road, Elmer, NJ. Photo courtesy of Ginger Coyle.

The annual Chester County Blues Barbeque

The annual Chester County Blues Barbeque returns on Saturday, June 4, 2-7pm, with The Nighthawks (pictured), Georgie Bonds, and Deb Callahan, Wyndsor Farm, 2550 Ridge Road, Elverson, PA.

 

Onstage

Bucks County Playhouse’s “Steel Magnolias”

Don’t miss Bucks County Playhouse’s Steel Magnolias, Robert Harling’s funny portrayal of love, loss and enduring friendship. The revival of the saucy Southern comedy about six distinctly different women who forge a unique bond of sisterhood in Louisiana features a star-studded cast including Clea Alsip, Lucy DeVito, Elaine Hendrix, Patricia Richardson, Susan Sullivan, and Jessica Walter, directed by four-time Oscar nominee Marsha Mason and Gabe Weissman, through June 18, 70 South Main Street, New Hope, PA. See the show Friday, June 3 and catch the Friday Fireworks in New Hope! Photo by Joan Marcus.

“Hillary and Clinton” at Philadelphia Theatre Company

Onstage at Philadelphia Theatre Company is the East Coast premiere of Hillary and Clinton, Lucas Knath’s primary election fantasy exploring gender, politics, and marriage. The show imagines an alternative universe, very much like our own, where a woman named Hillary – whose husband is Bill and used to be president – is trying to become the president of the United States of America. Directed by Ken Rus Schmoll and featuring an ensemble cast including Todd Cerveris, Alice M. Gatling, John Procaccino, and Lindsay Smiling, through June 26, Suzanne Roberts Theatre, Broad and Lombard Streets, Philadelphia. Related programs and events include Meet-the-Artists talk back on June 5 and 16 and a backstage tour on June 11. Photo by Paola Nogueras.

Irish Heritage Theatre’s “The Plough and the Stars”

The Irish Heritage Theatre presents Sean O’Casey’s dark comedy The Plough and the Stars, the third in the playwright’s “Dublin Trilogy.” The production explores the Easter Uprising, one of the most important moments in Irish history, and is directed by Peggy Mecham and features Michelle Pauls, Victoria Bonito, Harry Watermeier, John Schultz, John Cannon, Kevin Rodden, Mary Pat Walsh, Jimmy Guckin, Ian Agnew, Barbaraluz Orlanda, Dexter Anderson, Adam Hammet, Kyra Baker, Cris Welti, Mark Knight, David Kuong and Carlos Forbes, through June 11 at Plays and Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Place, Philadelphia. Photo by Jim Guckin.

 

 

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.