PIFA Preview Celebration Week

KIMMEL CENTER ANNOUNCES

PIFA PREVIEW CELEBRATION WEEK

WITH COMMUNITY ART PROJECT AT DILWORTH

PARK

THE PEOPLE’S TOWER

MAY 30--JUNE 4, 2017

Community Invited to Help Construct and Tear Down 8-Story Cardboard Tower

The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts has announced a PIFA preview celebration week taking place May 30 through June 4, 2017.  The week of activities will celebrate the 2018 Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA) through free, interactive experiences, a star-studded public art panel, and a spirit of community. Details about the upcoming Festival will be announced at a press conference to be held on June 3 at Dilworth Park.  Serving as the centerpiece of the weekend’s activities, the public is invited to help build The People’s Tower –an 88-foot cardboard structure designed by French artist Olivier Grossetête and inspired by the architecture of Philadelphia’s Independence Hall.  This will be the American Premiere of Grossetête’s work, presented in partnership with European artist network In Sutu. Free workshops will be held May 30 – June 2 to create the 1,400 building blocks of cardboard (registration required) and the weekend will conclude with the ceremonial topping of the tower on Sunday, June 4 at 7:00 p.m.

BUILDING BLOCKS WORKSHOP (Registration Required)

Wilma Theatre- June 3- any time between 9:30 am. -  6:00 p.m. The public will help- build the epic, temporary People’s Tower, and watch it soar over Dilworth Park. The People’s Tower will stand overnight and be demolished at 7:00 p.m. the following evening.

ART IN PUBLIC PLACES PANEL DISCUSSION

Kimmel Center’s Hamilton Garden- June 4,   2:00 p.m. A panel of star-studded public artists, place-makers and arts administrators will discuss what it means to discuss art within public spaces. Learn how public art is different from art presented in a traditional theatre.

TOPPLE THE TOWER

Dilworth Park, June 4, 7:00 p.m.  Community is invited to come and topple the tower that was created the previous day.

Witness For The Prosecution

Keith Baker &
Eleanor Handley

Bristol Riverside Theatre, located at 120 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, Pa, is presenting Agatha Christie’s crime drama Witness For the Prosecution through May 28. This classic work features an ensemble of professional actors alongside Bucks County community members, several of whom have appeared on stage at BRT previously. Kudos to Jason Simms for a mesmerizing scenic design. The chambers of Sir Wilfrid Robarts, Q.C in London are magnificent, befitting a knighted barrister. Even more impressive is the set’s turn-around to become a paneled courtroom. Veteran actor Keith Baker is excellent in his role as Sir Wilfred Roberts, Q.C. Many witnesses appear on the stand. The most outstanding by far is Sharon Alexander, portraying Janet Mackenzie, the housekeeper. To enhance the illusion of a real trial, a sound track is added in the background with voices murmuring after each witness testifies. Eleanor Handley plays a very convincing role as Romaine Vole, the defendant’s wife. Matt Leisy plays Leonard Vole, the prosecuted husband. Watch out for the twists at the end.  There is more than one surprise ending!  This is Agatha Christie at her best and a delightful performance to watch. For more information or tickets, call 215-785-0100 or visit online at brtstage.org. 

Happy Birthday

Greg Wood & Jennifer Childs

1812 Productions, Philadelphia’s All-Comedy Theatre Company, is presenting Happy Birthday through May 21 at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Place in Center City. Because the troupe produces only comedic works, the audience can expect to find any given performance humorous. Because both Jennifer Childs  and Scott Greer are in the cast, expectations might  be raised even higher. What no one would ever imagine is that 20 years of hilarious comedy could be surpassed by the presentation of one uproarious  British farce. Perhaps  the success lies in the wit of the material written by Marc Camoletti and adapted by Beverly Cross. Possibly it lies in the spot-on direction of Trev Lyford. Conceivably the director and the five actors, who are  married in reality, bring a certain magic to the stage. The cause is of no import. The end result is a smashing success. This is a marvelous  production, certainly one of 1812's best.  You will laugh until you cry as the characters try to sort out cases of mistaken identities and loyalties. Avoid the last minute rush and get your tickets now at (215) 592-9560 or online at www.1812productions.org. 

Free Organ Programs

FREE DAY OF ORGAN PROGRAMS

FOR ALL AGES IN

KIMMEL CENTER’S VERIZON HALL

SATURDAY, JUNE 10 FROM 11:00AM - 5:00 PM

Premiere Performance of Works from New Fred J. Cooper Organ Book

The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, in association with the Philadelphia Chapter of the America Guild of Organists  (AGO) presents the 7^th Annual Organ Day, a six-hour marathon of FREE organ music performed on The Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ Day taking place on Saturday, June 10, from 11 a.m.  to 5 p.m. Audiences are invited to see “Fred”, the largest mechanical pipe organ in a concert venue in the United States for any or all portions of the day. This year’s Organ Day will include a special celebration as the premiere  performance of the Fred J. Cooper Organ Book. Under the guidance of Philadelphia’s AGO chapter Dean, David Furniss, five notable Philadelphia area composers were selected to each contribute a brief solo organ piece. There will be various recitals, a performance by Opera Philadelphia, brass and organ pieces, an excerpt from a silent film accompanied by the organ and an opportunity for audience members to lay on the stage and feel the organ’s powerful vibrations.

June Events at the Kimmel

Two-time Tony® Award winner and Broadway legend Chita Rivera will perform at the Merriam Theater  on June 3, 2017 at 8:00 p.m. Hosted by Sirius XM RadioStar Seth Rudetsky, Broadway Up Close welcomes Broadway stars to deliver  an evening of song as well as share some of their “behind the scenes” stories. Chita has not only received two Tony® Awards, but eight additional nominations as well. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2009.  She received the Kennedy Center Honor in 2002, becoming the first Hispanic to receive the award. In 2015 PBS aired a retrospective special on her life on Great Performances entitled Chita Rivera: A Lot of Living’ To Do.  In November of 2016 Chita headlined at Carnegie Hall. Her current solo CD is entitled And Now I Swing.

Presented in partnership with BRE  Presents, Grammy® Award-winning Tedeschi Trucks Bank (TTB) led by virtuoso guitarist Derek Trucks and guitarist-singer Susan Tedeschi will play a three-night run at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts’ Merriam Theater Thursday, June 8 through Saturday June 10, 2017. Formed in 2010 after Trucks and Tedeschi recorded and performed for years as solo artists, this 12 piece ensemble is a true collective with every musician featured nightly.  The tour follows the recent release of Live from the Fox Oakland.

The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and WHYY will host a special live recording of Fresh Air with Terry Gross on Friday, June 9, 2017 at 8:30 p.m. at the Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall. Fresh Air’s longtime host will sit down with comedian and namesake host of Late Night With Seth Meyers for an interview that will be broadcast nationally on Fresh Air the following week.  The evening serves as a special celebration of Fresh Air’s 30^th Anniversary and will include a question and answer session with the audience. Terry began her affiliation with Fresh Air in 1975 when the show was only broadcast in Philadelphia. Since May 11, 1987, NPR has carried a daily one-hour national edition of Fresh Air with Terry Gross. Terry was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame and most recently was awarded the National Humanities Medal from President Barack Obama. Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased by calling (215) 893-1999, visiting online at kimmelcenter.org  or at the Kimmel Center Box Office. Group sales for 10 for more can be purchased at (215) 790-5883.

The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts announces a partnership with Guggenheim Fellow and PEW Fellowship recipient Raphael Xavier to present Here & Now Hip Hop Forum, a full day of free programming on Saturday June 10 from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. in the SEI Innovation Studio June 10, 2017. The day includes three workshops taught by renowned hip hop instructors and performers, a panel discussion bringing together scholars, artists, choreographers and organizational leaders to discuss the future of the art form and an open jam session. The schedule for the day follows: 

10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Street Dance Composition Class- Instructor Teena Marie Custer   12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Funkamentals Class Instructor D. Sabela Grimes  5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. The Long Game: Optimizing Opportunities for Dancers and Artists Alike  Panel Discussion Moderation Raphael Xavier   8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. DJ Blaak The Ninth Man  Open jam session open for all in attendance.  Advance registration  is recommended as classes will fill up quickly and will be limited to 25 per class. For reservations, call (215) 893- 1993, visit online at kimmelcenter.org, or at the Kimmel Center Box Office.   

 The Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia (JOP) returns to the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts for its second program of the 2016-17 season entitled  A Night in Havana. The performance will take place in the Perelman Theater on Saturday June 10, 2017 at 8:00 p.m. and will feature music of jazz legends including Dizzy  Gillespie. Special guests will include trumpeter Jon Faddis and pianist  Elio VillaFranca. The Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia is a non-profit organization affiliated with Culture Trust Greater Philadelphia. It is dedicated to presenting the highest quality of jazz to the greatest number of people. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling (215) 893-1999, visiting online at kimmelcenter.org or at the Kimmel Center Box Office.

Broadway Philadelphia, in collaboration with The Kimmel Center For the Performing Arts and the Shubert Organization  presents the 2015 Tony-Award®-winning Best Musical Fun Home at the Forrest Theatre June 13-18, 2017. Robert Petkoff will play Bruce; Susan Moniz will play Helen and Kate Shindle will play Alison. Fun Home  won   five  Tony Awards ® in 2015 and made history as the first show written exclusively by women to  win the theater’s highest awards.   Tony Award®-winning director Sam Gold staged both the Off-Broadway and the Broadway productions of Fun Home, and restaged the national tour. The Grammy nominated Original Broadway Cast Recording of Fun Home is now available on PS Classics, www.psclassicsa.com. Tickets are available online at www. telecharge.com, by phone at 800-447-7400 or at the Forrest Theatre Box Office (1114 Walnut Street) Groups of 15 or more are available  online at www.broadwayinbound.com  or by phone at 866-302-0995.   

Grammy® Award-winning jazz pianist and world renowned singer, Diana Krall,  returns to the Kimmel Center’s Academy of Music on Friday, June 23, 2017 at 8:00 p.m. for the first time since 2013 Krall will be performing standards as well as songs from her new album Turn Up the Quiet, where she collaborated with Tommy LiPuma, the late Grammy® Award-winning producer. Her latest album combines the Great American Songbook and her jazz roots. Krall has released a combined 19 gold, platinum and multi-platinum records, earning eight Juno® Awards and five Grammy® Awards. 

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM EXTENDED

Arden Theatre Company Announces

One-Week Extension for

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

Show now runs through April 15, 2017

The Arden Theatre Company will extend the run of William Shakespeare’s A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM through April 15, 2017.  The show was originally scheduled to close on Sunday, April 9^th. Three 10:00 a.m. student performances and four public performances have been added.  A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM is  Shakespeare’s most beloved comedy, with an enchanted forest and fairies, humans and amateur actors putting on a play. Additional performances  include Tuesday, April 11 – 10 a.m, Wednesday, April 12 – 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., Thursday April 13-10 a.m., Friday April 14 – 8 p.m., Saturday April 15 – 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. For tickets, call 215-922-1122, visit www.ardentheatre.org, or walk up at the box office at 40 N. 2^nd Street in Old City, Philadelphia.

Jesus Christ Superstar

A fantastic rock opera like no other, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is being performed at the Bristol Riverside Theatre, 120 Radcliffe Street, through April 16, 2017, Told from Judas’s perspective, this 1971 Broadway hit, which has been updated with selfie sticks and remarkable projections, is truly a delight. The amazing stairway, on which cast members, sing, dance and climb up and down, is periodically transformed into clouds, ocean waves, a small fire, and frequently series of words to describe the action or locale The multi-member ensemble is incredible. Bursting with energy, their dance routines are  full of pizazz and their singing, often in the form of repetitive choral chanting has beautiful harmonies and is very effective in moving the story along. Adam Kemmerer (Judas) has a very strong voice as do Darren Ritchie (Pontius Pilate) Steve Steiner (Caiaphas), Robert Farruggia (Annas) and Danny Rutigliano (King Herod)), all of whom have many shows to their credit. Ciji Prosser (Mary Magdalene) has a voice that is so rich it seems to have been heaven sent. It is no exaggeration to say that that the superstar of the show is Patrick H. Dunn who portrays Jesus of Nazareth. His voice is astounding and  his acting is awe-inspiring. For more information or tickets, call 215-785-0100, visit online at brtstage.org or visit the box office at 120 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, Pa.