Weekly Entertainment Guide — Wine and tradition; Center City Jazz Fest; Cape May Spring Fest

WHYY’s Arts Calendar curator Robin Bloom sorts through hundreds of listings each week to find out what’s happening in the Delaware Valley. Here are her picks and listings.

Uncorked! at Winterthur

Opening this weekend at Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library is “Uncorked! Wine, Objects & Tradition,” an exhibit exploring and celebrating the range of items associated with the history of wine drinking, particularly in Britain and America, including more than 300 objects. The exhibit is on view from April 28 through January 6, 2013, with related programming including lectures, wine tastings, and more. Winterthur, Del. Tickets: $18 Adult, $16 Seniors and students with valid ID, $5 children (2-11)

 

Center City Jazz Festival

The Center City Jazz Festival, the first of its kind, gives Philadelphia’s jazz scene a boost and closes out the city’s Jazz Appreciation Month with a full day of performances on Saturday, April 28, at four venues from 1-8 p.m. Launched by visionary trombonist Ernest Stuart, the Festival offers more than 50 musicians, including headliner Sean Jones, former lead trumpeter of Wynton Marsalis’ Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, bassist Mike Boone, vocalist Denise King, George Burton, Venissa Santi and Jaleel Shaw, with sounds ranging from hard-bop to groove, sultry to Latin jazz. Venues: Chris’ Jazz Café, 1421 Samson Street, Philadelphia, Fergie’s Pub, 1214 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, Milk Boy Philadelphia, 1100 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, and Time Restaurant, 1315 Sansom Street, Philadelphia. General admission: $25 all-day access pass purchased online anytime or at the Box Office at Café Loftus, 136 S. 15th Street, Philadelphia, on Saturday, April 28, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

 

Cape May Spring Festival

The Cape May Spring Festival kicks off this weekend, April 27 through May 6, with a variety of tours, food and wine tastings, a craft and antiques show, flower festival and more, including the opening of the exhibit “Cape May’s 20th Century Renaissance: From the Pages of ‘The First Resort’ Exhibit,” adapted by the book’s author Ben Miller, with rare photographs, video and artifacts showcasing the years immediately before and after the city’s Urban Renewal movement, on display through November 4, Carriage House Gallery at the Physick Estate, 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, N.J. Co-sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities and the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cape May.

 

Communiversity Festival of the Arts in Princeton

Communiversity Festival of the Arts, a “town-gown” event presented by the Arts Council of Princeton and the students of Princeton University, returns this Saturday, April 28, noon-5 p.m., rain or shine, with more than 200 artists, crafters and merchants with activities for all ages. Events include live entertainment on five stages, children’s activities and games, food from around the world and wide representations of the communities and organizations that help the Princeton community thrive, in downtown Princeton, Nassau and Witherspoon Streets, Palmer’s Square (on the Green), and throughout Princeton University’s campus.

 

Philadelphia International Children’s Festival

The 28th annual Philadelphia International Children’s Festival returns to the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts with family friendly music, theatre and dance along with crafts, face painting, jugglers and more in the outdoor Fun Zone, May 3-5, 3680 Walnut Street, Philadelphia. Individual tickets $10, Children’s Festival Fun Pass $25, includes three shows, the Fun Zone and lunch.

 

Fairmount Arts Crawl

The Fairmount Arts Crawl is this Sunday, April 29, from 2-6 p.m., as Fairmount restaurants and businesses open their doors and highlight the work of a wide variety of artists and their mediums, along with outdoor musical performances, family activities, and more, centered around 22nd & Fairmount Avenues in Philadelphia.

 

Brandywine Ballet’s Beauty and the Beast

Brandywine Ballet presents Nancy Page’s Beauty and the Beast, Friday, April 27, 10 a.m., Saturday, April 28, 4 p.m., and Sunday, April 29, 2 p.m., Emilie Asplundh Concert Hall, 700 S. High Street, West Chester, Pa. Tickets $25-$40 

 

The Night of the Iguana

South Camden Theatre Company wraps up their yearlong celebration of playwright Tennessee Williams’ 100th birthday with “The Night of the Iguana,” directed by Randall McCann, through May 6 at Waterfront South Theatre, 400 Jasper Street, Camden, N.J. General admission $15 

 

New Jersey Folk Festival

The annual New Jersey Folk Festival is this Saturday, April 28, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., rain or shine, celebrating the culture of Bulgaria with music stages, artists & crafters, and more all part of Rutgers Day at the Eagleton Institute Grounds on the Douglass Campus of Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J. Free

 

West Chester Film Festival

The 8th Annual West Chester Film Festival kicks off this Friday, April 27-29, with screenings of short films up to 30 minutes in length submitted by independent filmmakers from around the world, along with workshops, special events and more, in downtown West Chester, Pa. 

 

Soundpath

Philadelphia saxophonist and bandleader Bobby Zankel’s big band, the Warriors of the Wonderful Sound, premieres a new piece, “Soundpath,” written exclusively for the ensemble by legendary pianist and composer Muhal Richard Abrams, Saturday, April 28, 8 p.m., at Montgomery County Community College, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell, Pa.

 

Wildflower Celebration

The 8th Annual Wildflower Celebration is this Sunday, April 29, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., with live music, learning stations, children’s activities and more, Mt. Cuba Center, 3120 Barley Mill Road near Hockessin, Del. Free 

 

 

Listings:

Philadelphia Film Society presents Jason Starr’s “Of Love, Death and Beyond,” a documentary film exploring Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection,” with Neeme Jarvi, conductor and Thomas Hampson, narrator, featuring musicians from the Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera, Detroit and New Jersey Symphonies, Sunday, April 29, 5:15 p.m., Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Prince Theater, 37th & Walnut Streets, Philadelphia.

The Choristers, a 65 voice concert choir, performs its spring concert featuring the music of Ralph Vaughan Williams, “Dona Nobis Pacem,” a prayer for peace dedicated to Army Specialist David Hickman who died in the Iraq War, Saturday, April 28, 7:30 p.m. Program also includes “Serenade to Music, Five Mystical Songs” with soprano Maureen Francis, at Upper Dublin Lutheran Church, Ambler, Pa. Tickets $10-$25

Choral Arts Philadelphia presents “Entertainments Sacred and Profrane,” two of Giacomo Carissimi’s masterpieces, “Jephte,” and “Jonas,” in concert with the story Judas Maccabeus in David Ludwig’s contemporary take on the oratorio, the “Hanukkah Cantata,” commissioned by Choral Arts in 2006, with Leslie Johnson, soprano, Steven Bradshaw, tenor, members of the Philadelphia Bach Collegium and Matthew Glandorf conducting, Saturday, April 28, 8 p.m., Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1625 Locust Street, Philadelphia. Tickets $10-$30

The North Star Bar hosts concerts and events: Black Horse Motel/Linus the Moon/Sweet Eureka/Christopher Paul Stelling, Saturday, April 28, 9 p.m.; Elisha Kane/The Science Project, Monday, April 30, 8 p.m.; 20 Minute Tango/Yoya/The Mendles/High Olives, Tuesday, May 1, 8 p.m.; The Quick & Easy Boys/Rebecca Way/Kettle Pot Black, Wednesday, May 2, 8 p.m.; Wives (ex Person L)/Snake Road/Ape!/The Breaks, Thursday, May 3, 8 p.m.; Loe Cut Connie/California Wives, Friday, May 4, 9 p.m.; Old Man Cactus/Aaron & the Spell/Joanna Pacitti, Saturday, May 5, 9 p.m.; 2639 Poplar Street, Philadelphia. Tickets: $0-$17

The first PA Spring Music Explosion is Saturday, April 28, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday, April 29, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., with over a hundred vendors from around the world buying, selling and trading rock & roll collectibles along with celebrity guests and more at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, 100 Station Avenue, Oaks, Pa. Free

The Brandywine Valley Chorale presents “Love & Revolution,” The Music of Paul McCartney, Saturday, April 28, 7:30 p.m., led by Artistic Director Jason Throne and joined by the Kennett Symphony Children’s Chorus, featuring the music of the Beatles and marking the Philadelphia premiere of Sir Paul’s classical work Ecce Cor Meum, Calvary Lutheran Church, 730 South New Street, West Chester, Pa. Tickets: $15 adults, $10 students

Philabundance hosts the 2nd annual Cupcake Smash at The Piazza at Schmidt’s Saturday, April 28, 1-5 p.m., as professional and amateur bakers vie for the tastiest PYT themed cupcake to be deemed #1 by celebrity judges and the “People’s Choice,” 1050 N. Hancock St, Philadelphia. $20 in advance, $25 at the door. All proceeds go to Philabundance.

Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia continues its season with RITUALS: East/West Sunday, April 29, 4 p.m., featuring the Fauré Requiem and a world premiere by Andrea Clearfield, along with the Pennsylvania Girlchoir, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, and members of the Tibetan community, at the Church of the Holy Trinity, 1904 Walnut Street, Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia. Tickets $28 online/$30 at the door

City Theater Company closes their 18th season with the regional premiere of “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson,” the daring rock musical with music and lyrics by Michael Friedman and book by Alex Timbers with a historically inaccurate reinvention of Old Hickory as a rock god, April 27 through May 12, OPERADELAWARE Studios, 4 South Poplar Street, Wilmington, Del. General admission $25

Opening this weekend at Chapel Street Players is Wendy Wasserstein’s “Isn’t it Romantic,” directed by Nancy Storch, through May 5, 27 North Chapel Street, Newark, Del.

“Offering of the Angels: Treasures of the Uffizi,” an extraordinary exhibit of works from the world-renowned Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy, has arrived at the James A. Michener Art Museum, the only northeast United States museum to host the display, curated by its director, Antonio Natali. The selection of over 40 paintings and tapestries, which until this tour have never left Europe, depict biblical scenes by legendary Italian Renaissance artists such as Botticelli, Titian, Liberi, Tiarini, and Parmigianino, created between the 15th & 17th centuries. On view through August 10 at 138 S. Pine Street, Doylestown, Pa. Hours 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Timed entry admission: adults $15; seniors $13; college students w/ ID $11, youth 6-18 $7.50; members and children under 6, free.

The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) at the University of Pennsylvania offers a unique glimpse into the mind of designer Stefan Sagmeister with the exhibit “The Happy Show,” showcasing his 10-year exploration into the meaning of happiness through different maxims of typography, film, print, sculpture and interactive installations. Known for his outstanding blends of art, design and typography and for creating album covers for the likes of Talking Heads, Lou Reed and The Rolling Stones, the exhibit showcases a variety of the artist’s intriguing works, some of which have been custom-made for this exhibition. On view now through August 12 at 118 S. 36th Street, Philadelphia, “The Happy Show” is Sagmeister’s first museum show in the U.S. Hours are 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on Wednesday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free.

The second annual Philadelphia Science Festival, a city-wide celebration of science by schools, universities, cultural institutions and research centers is going on through April 29, featuring lectures, debates, activities, exhibitions and other science education experiences for all ages.

Onstage at the Opera Company of Philadelphia is Giacomo Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut,” through April 29, with soprano Michelle Johnson making her OCP debut, sung in Italian with English translations, Academy of Music, Broad Street, Philadelphia.

Act II Playhouse presents the classic Broadway musical “My Fair Lady,” directed by Producing Artistic Director Bud Martin and starring Tony Braithwaite as Henry Higgins and Eileen Cella as Eliza Doolittle, through June 3 at 56 E. Butler Avenue, Ambler, Pa. Tickets $27-$41

The Resident Ensemble Players present “The Skin of Our Teeth,” by Thornton Wilder, directed by Sanford Robbins, through May 5, Thompson Theatre, Roselle Center for the Arts, Newark, Del.

Onstage at Eagle Theatre is Collaborative Stage Productions’ “Pippin” starring Liz Filios and directed and choreographed by Dann Dunn, through May 5 at 208 Vine Street, Hammonton, N.J. Tickets $22

The Renegade Company presents Heiner Muller’s Hamletmachine and Medeaplays, directed by Michael Durkin, through May 5, Underground Arts, 1200 Callowhill Street, Philadelphia. Tickets $15-$20

Mainstage Center for the Arts presents Neil Simon’s “Brighton Beach Memoirs,” April 27-28, 8 p.m., Dennis Flyer Theater, Camden County College, Blackwood, N.J. Tickets $21, adults, $15 students under 12

The Philadelphia Dramatists Center Residency at Plays & Players presents the Philadelphia Playwright Showcase, including playwrights Jeff Stanley, Jeremy Gable, and Brian Grace-Duff, through April 28, 7 p.m., 3rd Floor Skinner Studio, 1714 Delancey Place, Philadelphia. Tickets $10 in advance, $12 at door

Stagecrafters Theater presents the psychological thriller “The Deadly Game,’ adapted by James Yaffe from a novella by Swiss author Friedrich Duerrenmatt, through April 29 at 8130 Germantown Avenue, Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia. Tickets $20 at door, $16 online, Thursday evening performances 2 for $24, $13 students w/valid ID.

Philadelphia Black Gay Pride Inc. marks the 13th annual Black Pride celebration, through April 29, with a Spoken World & Poetry Slam, Evolution Ball, workshops, parties and more, Crowne Plaza Philadelphia West, 4010 City Avenue, Philadelphia.

People’s Light & Theatre presents “A Wrinkle in Time,” adapted by John Glore from the Newberry Medal Award-winning book by Madeleine L’Engle, through May 20 on the Main Stage, 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, PA. Tickets $35 adults, $25 youths under 18, Community Night tickets $25, PNC Access Night tickets half priced.

Triumph Brewing Company presents concerts and events: Ph Factor/Blue Boy Productions/Outlet, Saturday, April 28, 10 p.m.; F.L.O.W., a spoken word presentation, Sunday, April 29, 9 p.m.; Mike Lorenz Jazz Trio, Wednesday, May 2, 7 p.m.; Elliott Levin Jazz Group, Thursday, May 3, 6:30 p.m. & DAPP, 10 p.m.; The Day Life/Modern Inventors/The Workmen, Friday, May 4, 10 p.m.; Cinco De Mayo Party with Abstract Verses, Divine Rhymes, Josh Hey, 10 p.m.; 117 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. $5

The F. Harold Comedy Festival comes to the Walnut Street Theatre’s Studio 5 through Sunday, April 29, with stand-up, sketch, and improv, 6 p.m. each night, Walnut Street, Philadelphia. Tickets $10 for one night or $25 for all six nights.

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