November Events at the Kimmel

Following a hugely successful two-and-a-half year revival on Broadway, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera begins its North American tour with a remarkable new production. It will return to Philadelphia at the Kimmel Center’s Academy of Music for a 12-day engagement beginning Wednesday, November 1 through Sunday, November 12. With newly reinvented staging this new version of Phantom is performed by a cast and orchestra of 52, making this one of the largest productions on tour in North America. The Phantom of the Opera tells the tale of a masked figure who lurks beneath the catacombs of the Paris Opera House and terrorizes all who come in contact with him.  He falls in love with a young soprano and devotes himself to turning her into a star.

Progressive rock icons King Crimson have announced a two-night visit to the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts’ Merriam Theater on November 2 and 3, 2017. King Crimson was officially formed in 1969 in London and came to prominence after supporting the Rolling Stones in Hyde Park. The current 8-piece line-up, the ninth iteration of King Crimson,  has been touring since 2014, honoring the band’s strong reputation with three albums and sold-out shows across the globe.

The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, in association with Live Nation, welcomes back Nick Offerman to the Kimmel Center’s Merriam Theater on Saturday, November 4, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. for his new solo comedy show Full Bush. Nick excels in many areas. He is the star of hit    television series and films, author of New York Times best sellers and a passionate woodworker. He got his start in the Chicago theater community where he was the founding member of the Defiant Theatre. In his spare time, he can be found at his workshop in Los Angeles building hand-crafted items ranging from fine furniture to canoes to ukuleles.

Alton Brown takes recommendations for top Philadelphia eating spots during his “Eat Your Science” tour at the Kimmel Center, November 5, 2017. Television personality, author and Food Network star Alton Brown launched his #ABRoad Eats initiative to discover culinary treasures and connect them with millions of followers while Alton Brown Live: Eat Your Science tours the country, stopping at the Kimmel Center on Sunday November 5, 2017. Fans in Philadelphia can submit recommendations for local coffee houses, breakfast spots, lunch joints and late night spots on his website, Facebook, and Twitter using #ABRoadEatsPhilly. Everyone is encouraged to take to social media to recommend their favorite eatery. Brown will tabulate votes each day and make picks from the submissions. “I do not eat a bite of food that does not come from the hashtag,” he says. After his visit, Alton posts photos or videos and write-ups on his social media platforms. Brown created a new form of entertainment – the live culinary variety show with his “Edible Inevitable Tour. “which played in over 100 cities. The Eat Your Science Tour has  sold    more than 200,000 tickets in over 80 cities.

Former Vice President Joe Biden will appear at the Academy of Music on Wednesday November 15, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. as he embarks on a multi-city tour to promote his new book, Promise Me Dad: A Year of Hope. All Price Level One VIP tickets will include a meet and greet and photo opportunity. Joseph Biden served as the 47th Vice President of the United States alongside President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017. Beginning his career as an attorney and becoming a member of the senate in 1972 he became the sixth youngest senator in U.S. history. He is now a professor at the Penn Biden Center for diplomacy, foreign policy and national security as the Benjamin Franklin Presidential Practice professor at the University of Pennsylvania. His new memoir, Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, available November 14th, focuses on Biden’s life, including his time in office and the recent loss of his son, Beau Biden.

Critically acclaimed electronic violinist Lindsey Stirling is releasing her first ever holiday album entitled Warmer in the Winter. Lindsey will tour in support of her album and will appear at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts’ Academy of Music stage on Thursday, November 16, 2017, at 8:00 p.m. Lindsey Stirling is one of the biggest artist breakthrough stories in recent years.  An acclaimed violinist from Gilbert, Arizona, she has entered a futuristic world of electronic big beats and animation. She has almost 10 million YouTube subscribers, over 1.9 billion views on her YouTube channel, 2 Billboard Music Awards and sold out tours world-wide. She’s created a world where modern classical meets the infectious energy of dance and electronica.  On stage, Stirling moves with the grace of a ballerina then works the crowd into a  frenzy.

The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and Sirius Radio Presents  welcome The Brian Seltzer Orchestra’s  14^th Annual Christmas Rocks! Tour to the Academy of Music, Friday November 17, 2017 at 8:00 p.m. The orchestra will perform seasonal hits from their Christmas-themed albums including Boogie-Woogie Christmas, Dig that Crazy Christmas, and Rockin’ Rudolph. Brian Seltzer’s 19 piece orchestra has sold over 13 million records since 1994. Seltzer received the Orville H. Gibson Lifetime Achievement award for his celebrated career and iconic line of Gretsch guitars. A replica of one of them was donated to the Smithsonian institute’s collection.

The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in association with Live Nation is presenting Mike Birbiglia at the Merriam Theater on Friday, November 17 and Saturday, November 18, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.  Mike Birbiglia is a comedian and storyteller who has performed in front of audiences worldwide, from the Sydney Opera House to Carnegie Hall. His most recent shows, My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend and Thank God for Jokes were both filmed for Netflix.  His book, Sleepwalk With Me and Other Painfully True Stories was a New York Times best seller and a finalist for the Thurber Prize For American Humor. Birbiglia has also appeared in films and on several TV series. 

The new show Brain Candy Live! starring Adam Savage, editor–in-chief of Tested.com and Michael Stevens, creator of the award-winning YouTube channel “Vsauce” will appear at the Academy of Music on Sunday, November 19, 2017, at 8:00 p.m. They will unleash their collective  sense of fun, wonder and curiosity with the audience and deliver an explosive batch of magical Brain Candy to every mind in the audience. They are inviting everyone to join in and get their minds messy.

American rock band Dream Theater will appear at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts’ Merriam Theater on Sunday, November 19, 2017 at 8:00 p.m. as part of their “Images, Words, & Beyond 25 Anniversary Tour.” Music from the album will be played in its entirety as well as a few of Dream Theater’s latest tunes and some of their rare material.

The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts  presents Finding Neverland  at the Academy of Music on Tuesday November 21 through Sunday, November 26, 2017.  The story follows the relationship between playwright J.M. Barrie and the family that inspired Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up  It is packed with mesmerizing visuals, irresistible songs, and plenty of laughs. It is a timeless story about the power of imagination and spectacular proof that you never really have to grow up. It is produced by Weinstein Live Entertainment and NETworks Presentations.

Hillary Rodham Clinton is touring 8 cities this fall to discuss her new memoir, What Happened. She will be in Philadelphia at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts’ Academy of Music on November 30, 2017.  Secretary Clinton will bring a highly personal perspective on what happened during the election and what’s next. What you will see is her story of resilience, how to get back up after a loss and how we can all look ahead. Hillary discusses her experiences as a woman in politics and other topics in a way that she has never done before.