Historic Holiday Nights at Old City

HISTORIC HOLIDAY NIGHTS

FROM DECEMBER 1^ST TO DECEMBER 22^ND

WITH SPECIAL HOLIDAY BITES AND SIPS

EXTENDED SHOPPING HOURS, SALES

AND SPECIAL MENUS AT 45+ LOCATIONS

Historic Holiday Nights debuts at 45 restaurants and retailers in Old City every Thursday 12/1 -22.  Get all of your shopping done in one square mile and enjoy some seasonal dishes and sips in Old City. More than 45 participating boutiques, shops, art galleries, museums, restaurants and cafes around the neighborhood will treat visitors to special sales, discounts, promotions and menu items every Thursday in December from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. through December 22^nd. Festivities kick off this Thursday December 1^st with carolers, historic re-enactors and a live ice sculpture. More than a dozen restaurants in and around Old City will treat visitors to $5 holiday inspired drinks and offer special menu items. Among the participating restaurants are: Campo’s Deli, Capofitto, Common Wealth Old City, Continental, High Street on Market, ICI Marconi & Café, La Peg Brasserie @ Fringe Arts, Nick’s Bar  & Grille, Old City Coffee, Panorama, Pinot Boutique, Positano Coast, Sassafras, Silence Dogwood’s Tavern. Spasso Italian Grill, Tartes, The Little Lion, and The Victoria Freehouse. There are over 15 shops with discounts as well. Visit Philadelphia® is the region’s official tourism marketing agency

Late Night At The Logan

KIMMEL CENTER AND THE LOGAN,

PHILADELPHIA’S HOTEL

ANNOUNCE NEW PARTNERSHIP FOR

LATE NIGHT AT THE LOGAN SERIES

Kimmel Center Broadway Philadelphia Attendees Invited to

         Exclusive Cast Parties at The Logan Hotel

The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in partnership with The Logan Hotel is presenting a new season-long series of post-show events following Broadway Philadelphia performances with themed-food and cocktails specific to each show.  Late Night at the Logan will consist of free after-parties during which ticket buyers for that show will have a chance to mingle with the cast of the performance they have just seen. The series will launch with the first party taking place on November 23, following a performance of An American in Paris .More information about the 2016—17 Broadway Philadelphia series can be found at kimmelcenter.org/logan. Dates for the upcoming Late Night at the Logan events can be found as follows:

An American in Paris, November 23, 2016

Mamma Mia, December 27, 2016

Cirque Eloize Saloon, January 13, 2017

The Bodyguard, February 21, 2017

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night, March 3, 2017

The King and I, March 14, 2017

Cabaret, April 5, 2017

Hedwig & The Angry Inch, April 18, 2017

Dirty Dancing, May 16, 2017

Motown The Musical,  May 30, 2017

Fun Home, June 14, 2017

Wicked, July 24, 2017

The Jones Family Singers

THE JONES FAMILY SINGERS

TAKES GOSPEL TO A NEW LEVEL

AT FREE PERFORMANCES IN

SEI INNOVATION STUDIO

                JANUARY 15-16, 2017

Bishop Fred Jones and his powerhouse family line-up, The Jones Family Singers, are taking Gospel to a new level at the SEI Innovation Studio with free performances on Sunday, January 15 and Monday, January 16 at 7:00 p.m.  Bishop Fred Jones, along with his five daughters and two sons, infuses   vintage soul, funk, and R&B in high-energy gospel performances that have the audience clapping their hands and stomping their feet.  The group is taking the world by storm with appearances at New York City’s Lincoln Center and New York City’s globalFEST in addition to a critically acclaimed documentary, The Jones Family Singers Will Make A Way. The ensemble, which brings together three generations of talent, has been exploding in churches and festivals for over two decades. In addition to their joyful live performances, their recent studio album, The Spirit Speaks, displays the depth of their musical gifts. Tickets are free and are available to the public now. (fees apply) Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, or by visiting online at kimmelcenter.org.  or the Kimmel Center Box Office.  More information is available at kimmelcenter.org. 

Sleeping Beauty: A Musical Panto

People’s Light, located at 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, Pa., is presenting the World Premiere of Sleeping Beauty: A Musical Panto through Jan 15, 2017. Peter Pryor, Samantha Reading, and Lyricist Alex Bechtel have put a contemporary spin on this age-old fairy tale. Aurora (Ariana Sepúlveda) doesn’t know she is a princess and wants nothing more than exploring the stars. Her only human contemporary, Boy (Luke Bradt), is a free spirit. Can true love really be found at age 16 in modern times? The 12 member ensemble cast is high spirited and the energy they produce on stage and up and down the aisles is contagious. There is quite a bit of audience participation and the audience loves it! There are unusual twists: the royal family lives in a hovel near a swamp and the sun gets tired of shining because the moon has fallen out of the sky with a shooting star and there is no longer any night; True love’s kiss delivered to awaken Princess Aurora is perhaps the biggest surprise of all.  For tickets to this original and fun-filled production, call 610-644-3500 or visit peopleslight.org. 

Found: A New Musical Comedy

Davy Rothbart’s popular Found magazine is the basis for the musical Found, being produced by Philadelphia Theatre Company through December 11 at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, Broad and Lombard Streets. The nine-member ensemble cast, many of whom starred in the original production of Found Off-Broadway, exudes high-power energy throughout the performance.  Although Davy (F. Michael Haynie) narrates the tale and performs in a third of the musical numbers, every member of the ensemble is given a chance to shine with at least one solo. After a note is accidently left on his car, Davy persuades his friends to help discover other notes that people have written and discarded.  As each note is read or sung aloud, a picture of it is projected onto the back wall that enables the audience to follow along. Some are short.  The one-liners are quick quips which relate to the action on the stage. These usually elicit a chuckle. Some of the longer notes require an entire song and dance. Many of these are laugh-out loud funny. Intermingled is a 5 minute skit with audience participation about Johnny Tremaine. This sketch is fall-out-your-seat hysterical. For songs that you’ll never go home singing but will enjoy every moment that you hear them on stage and 100 minutes of good fun and laughter, check out Found. To purchase tickets, call the PTC Box Office at 215-985-0420 or visit www.PhiladelphiaTheatreCompany.org. 

"Hairspray Live!" Viewing Party

Hairspray Live! Viewing Party

Hosted by NBC10 and The Kimmel Center

NBC will air Hairspray Live! on Wednesday December 7 at 8 p.m.  During the broadcast, Philadelphia will be one of five U.S. markets selected to be featured in a live shot during the program.  The Philadelphia live shot will feature the viewing party at the Kimmel Center’s Perelman Theater. NBC10 and The Kimmel Center will host the viewing party from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. inside the Perelman Theater.  As homage to Philadelphia’s long history of music and dance, the event will feature performances by First Ladies of Rock and Soul, the Upper Darby Summer Stage Shooting Stars and special appearances Bobby Rydell and American Bandstand sweethearts Bunny Gibson and Steve Colanero. Tickets to the party event are limited and will be available through an online sweepstakes through November 27^th at NBC10.com.  For details, visit www.NBC10.com/hairspray. 

January Events at the Kimmel

The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, in association with the Mexican Consulate and the Cultural Center, is having a free celebration of Three Kings Day at Commonwealth Plaza on January 6, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. This celebration, also known as “El Dia de Reyes,” celebrates the height of the Christmas season in Hispanic cultures and will feature an evening of classic Mexican traditions including a reenactment of the Three Wise Men, piñatas, and traditional “Rosca de Reyes” bread – the largest one ever made in Philadelphia. Three Kings Day marks the culmination of the twelve days of Christmas and memorializes The Three Wise men who traveled to present gifts to baby Jesus.

Presented collaboratively by the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and the Shubert Organization, Broadway Philadelphia presents the Philadelphia premiere of Saloon–A Musical Acrobatic Adventure in the Merriam Theater January 13-14, 2017. Saloon mixes country extracts from Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash with more festive, folk inspired compositions.  There are four musicians and singers on stage along with 11 top-level artists set out on an acrobatic adventure. Cirque Éloize has presented over 4,000 performances in more than 500 cities and 50 countries. For more information, visit www.cirque-eloize.com. 

Elephant & Piggie, stars of the children’s book series, come to life on stage in their new interactive production, We are in a Play!  The show is a based on the best-selling Elephant & Piggie book series by Mo Williams. The dancing and singing duo teaches values like manners, and sharing. Audiences can get ready to participate and interact with the characters throughout the performance. We Are in a Play! Is a production of the Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences and is part of the Kimmel Center’s Family Discovery Series. Performances will take place at the Merriam Theater on Saturday, January 21, at 11: a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Radio DJ Jerry Blavat is returning to Verizon Hall on January 28, 2017 for his annual star-studded performance at 8:00 p.m. Invitees are invited to the Commonwealth Plaza for cocktails and dancing before and after the performance. This year’s show, Gospel, Soul and Doo Wop, will feature performers from all three genres including Dee Dee Sharp who started out singing Gospel; The Tokens (“The Lion Sleeps Tonight); Eddie Holman (“Hey There Lonely Girl”); The Chi-lites (“Have You Seen Her); and The Stylistics (“You Make Me Feel Brand New”); plus a tribute to Kenny Vance.

“The Last Waltz 40 Tour: A Celebration of the 40^th Anniversary of The Last Waltz” reproduces the excitement From Blackbird Presents two-night sold-out concert event “Last Waltz New Orleans: A Celebration of the 40^th Anniversary of The Last Waltz" which took place during Jazz Fest 2016. The tour will showcase a number of the artists that were celebrated during the Jazz Fest.. It will be produced in Verizon Hall in The Kimmel Center on Sunday, January 29.

 Tickets for above events can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, visiting www.kimmelcenter.org or at the Kimmel Center Box Office. Group sales for 10 or more can be purchased by calling 215-790-5883.

The Wizard of Oz

Walnut Street Theatre, located at 825 Walnut Street, is presenting an adaptation of The Wizard of Oz that is nothing short of brilliant.  Based on L. Frank Baum’s book and the 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz can be seen on the Walnut’s mainstage through January 8^th.  Both children and adults alike will be captivated by this musical. Children, seeing the tale unfold for perhaps the first time will be mesmerized by its magic.  Adults, well familiar with the story-line, will be enthralled by this exceptional production.  Filled with foreshadowing, such as “Use your brains;” ”Be brave;” and “I feel like my heart has been torn out”, this piece has adults nodding knowingly and children sitting on the edge of their seats. Nothing can prepare you for the pure dulcet tones of Adrienne Eller as Dorothy starts to sing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” The special effects created by the design, sound and lighting creative team are extraordinary; roaring, howling winds, dark clouds and puffs of smoke, flying bicycles, and  a twirling house all help create the illusion of a cyclone on stage as surely as it was created in film in 1939.  Christopher Shin, Christopher Sutton and Nichalas L. Parker, playing Tinman and Hickory, Scarecrow and Hunk and Cowardly Lion and Zeke respectively, sing and dance up a storm as they accompany Dorothy on her journey to the Emerald City.  Laugh lines are sprinkled throughout. When Dorothy asks Scarecrow how he can talk without a brain, he immediately replies, “Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking.” Ensemble members are also outstanding as they alternatively portray poppies, Jitterbugs and Winkies. The costumes are fantastic; the acting is marvelous; the old familiar music as well as a surprise new piece is delightful and the choreography is superb. There will be no performances on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year’s Day so be sure to make plans to see the show before your desired date gets sold out. For more information or tickets call 215-574-3550, 800-982-2787 or visit online at www.walnutstreettheatre.org or ticketmaster. 

Broadway Up Close

Perelman Theater

KIMMEL CENTER ANNOUNCES NEW SEASON

OF BROADWAY UP CLOSE SERIES

HOSTED BY SETH RUDETSKY

   AT THE PERELMAN THEATER

The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts announces the 2016-17 line-up for Broadway Up Close, hosted by Sirius XM Radio Star Seth Rudetsky.  This season will consist of four performances featuring celebrated actors from stage and screen, including Tony Award winners Chita Rivera and Alice Ripley; Tony, Emmy & Golden Globe nominated star of Glee, Matthew Morrison, and Grammy, Tony & Emmy nominated star Vanessa Williams.  Broadway Up Close is presented in association with Mark Cortale Productions. Matthew Morrison has performed in several award winning shows on Broadway and in the Golden Globe Best Television Series Glee. He will perform at the Perelman Theater on December 17, 2016. Vanessa Williams has performed in numerous shows on Broadway and has sold over 25 million records worldwide. On television she starred as Wilhelmina Slater on Ugly Betty. She will be starring in a new series, Satan Sisters on VH1. Her performance will be held in the Perelman Theater on January 21, 2017. Alice Ripley received the Tony and Helen Hayes Award for Best Actress in Next to Normal. She has appeared in numerous other Broadway shows and in national touring companies. She has been featured on television shows and has written and produced several record albums.  Alice will perform on May 6, 2017 in the Perelman Theater. Chita Rivera is a two-time Tony award winner for Best Leading Actress in a Musical. She originated the Broadway roles of Anita in West Side Story, Rosie in Bye Bye Birdie, and Velma in Chicago and appeared in the original casts of many others. Chita was awarded The Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama on August 12, 2009. She received the Kennedy Center Honor in Washington D.C.  in December of 2002, the first Hispanic chosen to receive this award. She will perform at the Merriam Theater on June 3, 2017. Tickets go on sale for email list subscribers on November 15 and to the general public on November 18, Tickets can be purchased by calling (215) 893-1999, visiting online at kimmelcenter.org or at the Kimmel Center Box Office. Group sales are available for groups of 10 or more and may be purchased by calling (215) 790-5883.  

Hairspray Live !

NBC 10 &  THE KIMMEL CENTER HOST

DANCE AUDITIONS FOR “HAIRSPRAY LIVE!” 

VIEWING PARTY

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15

Dancers invited to audition and show off their moves for a chance to be

                        featured on NBC10's broadcast of Hairspray Live!

NBC10/ WCAU, in partnership with the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, will host open call auditions to dancers to participate in the “Hairspray Live!”  viewing party at the Kimmel Center.  Auditions will take place Tuesday, November 15 at 10 a.m. at the S.E.I. Innovation Studio at the Kimmel Center at 300 South Broad Street in Philadelphia. Male and female dancers, ages 18-30, representing all ethnicities, are encouraged to come dressed  in the spirit of the 60’s-era themed Broadway musical “Hairspray”  and perform for Downstage Center Dance Studio choreographer Dani Tucci-Juraga who will select a group of talented individuals to be part of NBC10’s “Hairspray Live!” viewing party in December. NBC10 and the Kimmel Center will host the viewing party on Wednesday, December 7 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. inside the Perelman Theater of The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.   The event will feature performances by the Upper Darby Summer Stage Shooting Stars and special appearances by Bobby Rydell and American Bandstand sweethearts Bunny Gibson and Steve Colanero.  Attendees can also get styled at the 60’s-era Beans Beauty salon station and make a stop at the 60’s vibe photo booth.  NBC will air Hairspray Live! on Wednesday, December 7, at 8 p.m.  During the broadcast, Philadelphia will be one of five US markets selected to be featured in a live shot during the program. The Philadelphia shot will feature the viewing party at the Kimmel Center’s Perelman Theater. Tickets to the party event are limited and will be available through an online sweepstakes from November 14^th to 27^th at NBC10.com.  For details, visit www.NBC10.com/hairspray. 

British Organ Invasion

Fred  J. Cooper Memorial Organ
in Verizon Hall
Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

Fans of vocal music and organ music alike were enthralled with the British Organ Invasion held in Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts on November 3. Alan Morrison wowed the audience with magnificent solos on the Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ. The Keystone State Boychoir comprised of 200 boys between the ages of 8 -18 performed next. A nine-member ensemble performed the first piece. With quick and quiet precision and just a nod from Steven M. Fisher, their conductor, the nine very young men separated themselves from their fellow choir members to move into their own formation in the forefront. As the piece ended, they reestablished themselves in the lineup to join the other high pitched voices in singing the next piece in unison. The third piece, The Lord is My Shepherd,  had the lower  voices join in a beautiful harmony, while their final selection entitled, Oliver Cromwell, was somewhat of a conversation with the organist; after Alan Morrison played a few bars, the boys rapidly responded in kind. Following the boys’ impressive performance, Alan Morrison played a somber then a joyous solo piece on the organ. With a large console strategically placed on the stage, not only was the organist able to see the conductor, but the audience also had an excellent view of Alan Morrison working his magic on the organ. The Mendelssohn Club, one of the oldest and most prestigious choral groups in the country, provided the pièce de resistance. This group of 150 men and women sent waves of undulating sound vibrating throughout Verizon Hall. Several pieces were accompanied, with great affect, by the organ, Others were sung a cappella. In one such piece, Paul Rardin, the conductor, miraculously became a human pitch pipe and hummed the starting pitch before the group began. Most of the music was intricate and the Mendelssohn Club performed with precision. A central part of the program, Rejoice in the Lamb, is music written by one of Britain’s favorites, Benjamin Bretton. It is a 16 minute cantata set to a poem written by Christopher Smart when he was in an insane asylum. As the text states,”All living things give Glory to God” and the voices of the Mendelssohn Club rose in glorious splendor. The program ended with both choirs joining the organ in a grand finale that was truly majestic. The British Organ Invasion was the first segment of a 4-part organ series at the Kimmel. Three innovative and collaborative programs with film and a brass ensemble remain. The concerts will be held on March 29, April 13 and May 20. Choose two or more performances and save 35%. For more information or tickets, call 215-893-1999 or visit online at www.kimmelcenter.org. 

Working

Bristol Riverside Theatre, located at 120 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, Pa., is presenting Tony Award-nominated Working, through November 20. Based on Stud Terkel’s best-selling book which was written after interviewing twenty-six American workers, Working is both down-to-earth and fantasy driven. An extremely talented ensemble cast of Demetria Joyce Bailey, Philip Chaffin, Laura Giknis, Tamar Green, Jenny Lee Stern and Kevin Toniazzo-Naughton sing and dance their way through the life stories and aspirations of multiple people in the workplace, including a waitress, socialite,  a trucker and delivery boy. Under the direction of costume designer Linda Bee Stockton, cast members become entirely new characters with the slightest change by adding boots, changing a jacket, vest, or  top. Music and lyrics were written by six composers, adding to the mosaic intent of the piece. The projections designed by Andrew Deppen and John Hoey are phenomenal; the voices, both belting out solos and blending in rich harmonies are a feast for the ears; the quick costume changes are stunning in their simplicity; in short, everything about Working is working. For more information or tickets, call 215-785-0100 or visit online at brtstage.org. 

Delirium

Delirium, co-produced by EgoPo classic theater and Indiana University of Pennsylvania can be seen at EgoPo’s home, The Latvian Society Theater 531 North 7^th Street through November 13, 2016. A revisiting of The Brothers Karamazov, Delirium is aptly named with the restlessness and incoherence of the characters; the insecurity of the characters is shown in frequent stop-gap movements accompanied by loud noise, loosely interpreted as music. With the addition of puppets, the work has an air of the theatre of the absurd, most of which is in the style of tragicomedy.  It has been said that “nothing is funnier than unhappiness” and as the audience learns of the lives of the Karamazov brothers, this certainly rings true. Aloyosha, (Anthony Crosby) just out of the monastery can find no peace in his godly life; Ivan,(Johnny Smith) the intellectual, is given no respect for his brilliance, and Mitya,(Chris Anthony) the philandering rogue has reached a point of hysteria where even he can no longer tolerate the life he is living. We are given but a brief glimpse of this brilliant work of Dostoyevsky but are immediately spellbound by Enda Walsh’s interpretation of the piece. Loud, wild, raucous, and brash, this is a masterful introduction to EgoPo’s Russian Masters Festival. For more information or tickets, call 276-273-1414 or visit online at www.egopo.org.