SliCE Pizza Giveaway

SliCE –Free Pizza Giveaway

SliCE celebrates its 10^th Anniversary with a free pizza giveaway on Friday, February 24.  During lunch from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. SliCE will give away free pizza  slices at all locations (Rittenhouse, Italian Market, Fishtown and Washington Township.) Each location will have a rotating selection of pies during the two hours. There is no purchase required and there will be a limit of one slice per person. On Saturday February 25 and Sunday February 26 every location will offer large pizzas  for only $10 for dine-in or take-out including every signature variety on the menu. For a full menu of signature pies, listed by locations, visit www.slicepa.com.   

April Events at the Kimmel

April Events at the Kimmel

Pianist Aaron Diehl, one of today’s most sought-after jazz virtuosos, will perform with his trio at the SEI Innovation Studio on Saturday, April 1, 2017 at 8:00 p.m. Diehl fell in love with jazz at an early age but  was classically trained at Julliard. In 2013 Diehl’s debut album The Bespoke Man’s Narrative reached No.1 on the Jazz Week Jazz Chart. His 2014-15 career highlights include; serving as Music Director for the Jazz at Lincoln Center New Orleans Songbook concert series, performing in the New York premiere of Phillip Glass’ complete Études at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and touring the U.S. and Europe with Grammy-nominated jazz singer Cécile McLorin Salvant. Diehl’s latest album is Space, Time, Continuum, establishing the jazz language as a continuum uniting artists.

Cabaret will make its Philadelphia Premiere at the Kimmel Center’s Academy of Music April 4-9, 2017, as part of the 2016-17 Broadway Philadelphia season presented collaboratively by The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and the Shubert Organization. Jon Peterson, a veteran of Cabaret on Broadway will be starring in the role as the Emcee while Leigh Ann Larkin, known for her roles on Broadway in Gypsy and A Little Night Music will be making her Cabaret debut as Sally Bowles. Roundabout Theatre Company’s tour of Cabaret features original Broadway direction by Sam Mendes and original co-direction & choreography by Rob Marshall. Roundabout Theatre Company’s acclaimed production of Cabaret first opened on Broadway in 1998 and won four Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a musical. 

Actress Carol Burnett spends An Evening of Laughter and Reflection Where the Audience Asks the Questions at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts’ Academy of Music on Tuesday, April 11, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. Throughout the performance, Burnett will take questions from the audience and show video clips from her show. Named in 2007 by TIME magazine as one of the “100 Best Television Shows of All Time,” The Carol Burnett Show ran for 11 years and received 25 Emmy Awards, making it one of the most honored shows in television history.

The Cyrus Chestnut Trio, led by acclaimed pianist Cyrus Chestnut, comes to the SEI Innovation Studio on April 13, 2017 at 8:00 p.m. for a blues-infused jazz performance. .Anne Ewers, President and CEO of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts states, “Cyrus Chestnut defines what it means to be a versatile musician, combining gospel, pop, blues, and transforming them into unmistakable jazz.” Chestnut enjoys mixing styles and resists being typecast in any niche.

In a one-night-only event, Inuit throat singer Tanya Tagaq will combine her voice with other musical talents, silent film and organ improvisation for a mesmerizing effect. Controversial silent film Nanook of the North will be projected on screen in the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts’ Verizon Hall as Tagaq provides an improvisational soundscape alongside organist Dr. Aaron David Miller, revealing the film’s original score in a new contemporary light. The performance will take place Thursday, April 13, 2017 at 8:00 p.m. The 1922 documentary Nanook of the North paved the way for the modern documentary but also drew controversy for its sometimes fictional images. Channeling ancient rituals, Tagaq’s improvised performance include haunting chants, screams, and growls into a sometimes unnerving journey to a completely new sound world.

The Kimmel Center Resident Dance Company PHILADANCO will perform its Spring program at the Perelman Theater, featuring a selection of fast-moving, breath-taking works by founder Joan Myers Brown’s favorite choreographers. The program, taking place April 13-15, 2017, will feature a combination of revivals and new works from Talley Beatty, Gene Hill Sagan, Dawn Marie Bazemore, and Christopher L. Higgins. The program will comprise revivals of two classic works by choreographer Talley Beatty set to music by Prince and Earth, Wind and Fire as well as a piece by choreographer Gene Hill Sagan set to sounds of Teddy Pendergrass. The program will also feature new works by choreographers Dawn Marie Bazemore and Christopher L. Huggins.

International music sensation Celtic Woman will appear at the Academy of Music April 14, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. Featuring songs from their latest album, Voices of Angels, the newly Grammy nominated group showcases the voices of Susan KcFadden, Mairéad Carline, Eabha McMahon and new Celtic violinist Tara McNeill, accompanied by a full ensemble of musicians and dancers. Celtic Woman formed in 2004 featuring classically and traditionally trained Irish female musicians. Over the past 12 years,  they have achieved great success with nine public television specials, appearances  for three different U.S. Presidents and  over four million fans across 23 countries.

Brit Floyd brings the “World’s Greatest Pink Floyd Tribute Show” to the Academy of Music on April 15, 2017. With a spectacular new million dollar light show and state-of-the-art video design, this highly-anticipated rock event will feature fan favorites from The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, The Division Bell, and a special tribute  to the Animals album in its 40^th anniversary year. Formed in 2011 in Liverpool, Brit Floyd was the brainchild of Damian Darlington, musical director, guitarist, and singer with The Australian Pink Floyd Show. The group’s live shows emulate and recreate the sound and musical components  of Pink Floyd’s live shows.Tickets for the above shows are on sale now and can be purchased by calling (215) 893-1999, visiting www.kimmelcenter.org or at the Kimmel Center Box Office. Group sales are available for groups of 10 or more and can be purchased by calling (215)790-5883.

Broadway Philadelphia, in collaboration with the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and the Shubert Organization presents the national tour of Hedwig and Angry Inch which will play at the Forrest Theatre   from April 18-23, 2017. The genre-bending musical sensation tells the story of Hedwig Robinson who is out to set the record straight about her life, her loves and the botched operation that left her with that “angry inch.” Directed by Tony Award-winner Michael Mayer and winner of four 2014 Tony Awards, Hedwig and the Angry Inch played to sell-out crowds on Broadway. Individual tickets are available online at www.telecharge.com, by phone at 800-447-7400 or at the Forrest Theatre Box Office (114 Walnut Street) Group sales for groups  of 15 or  more are available at www.broadwayinbound.com or by phone at 866-302-0995. 

The Bodyguard

Deborah Cox

Two gunshots ring out as the house lights go out and the audience gasps…and so begins Broadway Philadelphia’s presentation of the hit musical The Bodyguard, presented by The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and The Shubert Organization. From this dramatic opening to the fabulous dance party after the curtain call, there is never a static moment. Well-known television star Judson Mills portrays the Bodyguard, Frank Farmer, who is hired to protect Rachael from a stalker. Much-acclaimed recording star and actress Deborah Cox wows the audience as Rachael Marron, a celebrity preparing for her Academy Award appearance. Jasmin Richardson portrays Rachael’s sister Nicki. Nicki lives in her sister’s shadow but her remarkable voice certainly does not.  Not only is the score memorable and sung phenomenally by both Ms Cox and  Ms.Richardson, the staging throughout the production is magnificent. The creative team has many awards to their credit and The Bodyguard is the beneficiary of all of them. The sound effects are startling; the projections shown on the screen allow for a magical costume change as Deborah Cox disappears for a few seconds while singing;  and lighting on intermittent sections of the set give the effect of 3-D arches with changing colors. Perhaps the most stunning visual effect of all is Rachael’s appearance at the Academy Awards Ceremony where she seems to be singing between golden columns in front of a huge replica of an Oscar. It is not only the principal players that make this production extraordinary. The high energy ensemble is a treat for toe-tappiing feet. Rachael’s son, Fletcher, is double-cast because of his age. I saw Douglas Baldeo who already has several shows to his credit and certainly will add many more. This young man is athletic; can sing, dance and act! This show is a non-stop wonder, an incredible production. Run; don’t walk to the box office at the Kimmel Center or visit online at www.kimmelcenter.org.  to see if there are tickets available for the remaining performances.  The show will be performed at the Academy of Music through Sunday, February 26, with two performances on Saturday and Sunday.