Weekly Entertainment Guide – What’s Going On
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The Broadway tour of "Motown the Musical" returns to the Academy of Music through June 11, telling the true story behind the music and lives that transformed America, including Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, the Temptations, and many more legendary artists. Photo by Joan Marcus.
Robin Bloom offers suggestions for what to do this week in the Philadelphia region!
What’s Happening
The Philadelphia Latino Film Festival
The Philadelphia Latino Film Festival returns June 2-4 as the Greater Philadelphia region’s only festival showcasing the extraordinary and innovative work of emerging and established Latin American and Latino filmmakers. Featuring ground-breaking works from all genres, the festival also includes opportunities to meet artists, engage with audiences, and participate in Q&A sessions with filmmakers at several venues in Philadelphia. Pictured: “Olancho,” USA 2016, Christopher Valdes and Ted Griswold, about a farmer Honduras who seeks fame by making music for the region’s drug cartels. When some of his song lyrics get him in trouble, he must decide whether to continue his quest for fame or flee.
Philly Fests
The Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Show once again “Circles the Square” June 2-4, 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 and Walnut Streets, Philadelphia. Hours: Friday and Saturday, June 2-3, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., Sunday, June 4, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Pictured: “Route 220” by Sean Huntington, one of the artists featured in the Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Show. Philly Beer Week kicks off June 1-11, 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. East Passyunk celebrates Italian National Day Festival, Sunday, June 4 starting at 11 a.m. 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 4, 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., 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.
The Roots Picnic
The 10th annual Roots Picnic brings the Roots back home to Philadelphia, Saturday, June 3, noon (doors open at 11 a.m.), with headliners Pharrell, Lil Wayne, Solange, Jeezy, and more including, of course, the Roots, Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing, Columbus Boulevard and Spring Garden Streets, Philadelphia. Rain or shine. Photo courtesy of the Roots Picnic.
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 3, from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., 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.
West Park Arts Fest
The West Park Arts Fest returns this Saturday, June 3, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., celebrating 10 years with entertainment and activities for all ages including children’s activities, live music by the West Philadelphia Orchestra, Badd Kitti (pictured), Ismail Abdus-Salaam, Gretchen Elise, and more, along with a dance stage and artist installations, centered around 4021 Parkside Avenue, Fairmount Park. Photo by Gypsi Life Photography.
Philadelphia International Tango Festival
The 7th Philadelphia International Tango Festival takes place June 1-4, organized and sponsored by the Philadelphia Argentine Tango School, with headliners Nito Garcia and Elba Sottile teaching and performing, along with workshops for tango dancers at every level, late night milongas (tango social dances), classes and more, with all events taking place at the German Society of Pennsylvania, 611 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia. Photo courtesy of Philadelphia International Tango Festival.
The Princeton Festival
The Princeton Festival returns June 3-25 with performances in a variety of musical genres including opera, musical theatre, chamber music, piano, vocal concerts, and more as well as a performance by the Peter Martin Trio, BalletX, “Quartet” movie and performance, and “Man of La Mancha” (pictured), at various locations in the Princeton, New Jersey area. Photo courtesy of the Princeton Festival.
Strawberry Festival at Linvilla Orchards
Linvilla Orchards’ annual Strawberry Festival is Saturday, June 3 beginning at 8 a.m. 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, Pennsylvania. Rain date June 4. Photo courtesy of Linvilla Orchards.
Appel Farm Music and Wine Festival
Appel Farm Music and Wine Festival expands to two days, Saturday, June 3, 3 p.m. – 8 p.m. and Sunday, June 4, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. Sample wine from regional Vintage Atlantic Wineries and listen to the sounds of Hotsy Totsy, Christopher Davis-Shannon, JUTUAN, Swing that Cat, Deidre Finnegan and Dave Cohen, Greg Jones Project, Joe Crookston, David Uosikkinen’s In The Pocket (which features members of The Hooters, The A’s, The Soul Survivors, Smash Palace), Ben Arnold, and Jeffrey Gaines. Plus, enjoy craft beer, food, children’s activities, a crafts fair, and more, 457 Shirley Road, Elmer, New Jersey. Photo by Dallyn Pavey/Dish Public Relations.
Chester County Blues Barbeque
The annual Chester County Blues Barbeque returns on Saturday, June 3, 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., with Clarence Spady, Little Red Rooster, and the Blue Plate Specials, Wyndsor Farm, 2550 Ridge Road, Elverson, Pennsylvania. Photo by Mike Wartell.
Onstage
Motown the Musical
The Broadway tour of Motown the Musical returns to Philadelphia through June 11, telling the true story behind the music and lives that transformed America, including Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, the Temptations, and many more legendary artists, and over 40 classic songs like “My Girl,” “What’s Going On,” “Dancing in the Street,” “I Heard it Through the Grapevine,” and much more, Academy of Music, Broad Street, Philadelphia. Photo by Joan Marcus.
One More River to Cross: A Verbatim Fugue
Experience the lives of former slaves with One More River to Cross: A Verbatim Fugue, by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage. Between 1936 and 1938, the Federal Writers’ Project gathered over 2300 interviews with emancipated slaves in the post war South. Nottage collected and condensed these interviews into a theatrical exploration of the entire history of black slavery in the United States from African capture through the emancipation, bringing their words and stories to life. The world premiere play is directed and produced by James Jackson with Pulley and Buttonhole Theatre Company, a community based theatre in Jenkintown and features Beatrice Alonna, Kareen Carpenter, Kamili Feelings, and Sara Osi Scott as the storytellers, through June 11, The Latvian Society of Philadelphia, 531 N. 7th Street, Philadelphia. Photo by James Jackson – raveneyes.com.
“Brighton Beach Memoirs” at Act II Playhouse
Onstage at Act II Playhouse is Neil Simon’s comedy Brighton Beach Memoirs. The first in a trilogy of coming-of-age stories set in New York during the Great Depression, the play is directed by William Roudebush, with DJ Gleason as Eugene Morris Jerome. Cast also includes Peter Bisgaier, Mary Elizabeth Scallen, Jonathan Silver, Julianna Zinkel, Katie Stahl and Eileen Cella. The popular production features a two-story set designed by Dirk Durossett and has been extended through June 25, 56 E. Butler Avenue, Ambler, Pennsylvania. Photo by Bill D’Agostino.
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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.
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