Friday, September 29, 2023

Arden Theatre Company presents Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s Assassins by Cameron Kelsall

The Arden Theatre Company considers Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins through a chilling contemporary lens. Cameron Kelsall reviews.

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 12:32PM
Thursday, September 28, 2023

Philly Fringe 2023: Ella-Gabriel Mason’s Sex Werque and Kaytlin Bailey’s Whore’s Eye View by Melissa Strong

Cannonball Festival presented two solo shows about sex workers: Ella-Gabriel Mason’s Sex Werque: Notes from the Field and Kaytlin Bailey’s Whore’s Eye View. Melissa Strong reviews.

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 01:00PM
Wednesday, September 27, 2023

The BSR Weekly Arts and Culture Roundup, September 28-October 4, 2023 by Kyle V. Hiller

Opening October with an environmentally-conscious flea market, a retelling of Odyssey, a play for science nerds, family-friendly activities at Please Touch, and a D&D festival. Kyle V. H…

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 04:39PM

The BSR October 2023 repertory movie roundup by Stephen Silver

October movies include Halloween classics, more entries from the Sight and Sound 100 collection, and Coen Brothers seminars. Stephen Silver previews.

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 04:29PM
Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Delaware Theatre Company presents Michael Frayn’s Noises Off by Gail Obenreder

Delaware Theatre Company opens the season with a bang of eight doors in the ever-popular, ever-challenging backstage farce Noises Off. Gail Obenreder reviews.

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 07:01PM

A closer look at depictions of domestic violence in Gunnar Montana’s BLACK WOOD by Alaina Johns

BLACK WOOD, the latest from Gunnar Montana Productions, is an immersive, creepy, atmospheric experience perfect for spooky season. But we shouldn’t view it without talking about the violen…

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 03:16PM

The Resident Ensemble Players presents Eileen Atkins’s Vita & Virginia by Gail Obenreder

Delaware’s Resident Ensemble Players open its 15th season with Vita & Virginia, a chamber production exploring a historic intellectual and romantic affair in an era of letters. Gail Ob…

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 01:40PM

Philly Fringe 2023: Toni Cannon’s ReFlection and Mae West’s $7 Girl by Melissa Strong

Cannonball Festival presents two solo shows at the intersection of trans identity and circus arts, Toni Cannon’s ReFlection and Mae West’s $7 Girl. Melissa Strong reviews.

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 12:52PM
Monday, September 25, 2023

Opera Philadelphia presents Rene Orth and Hannah Moscovitch’s 10 Days in a Madhouse by Alaina Johns

Festival O23’s world-premiere production of composer Rene Orth and librettist Hannah Moscovitch’s 10 Days in a Madhouse is fresh, urgent, and relevant. Alaina Johns reviews.

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 08:32PM

Festival O23: Opera Philadelphia presents Karim Sulayman’s Unholy Wars by Gail Obenreder

Opera Philadelphia’s Festival O23 features the Philly premiere of Grammy-winning Lebanese American tenor Karim Sulayman’s Unholy Wars, with artistic triumph in every detail. Gail Obenred…

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 04:51PM

Festival O23: Opera Philadelphia presents Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra by Linda Holt

For its Festival O23, Opera Philadelphia presents a standout production of Verdi’s tragic opera, Simon Boccanegra. Linda Holt reviews.

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 03:44PM

Philly Fringe 2023: Alex Marcus presents Waiting for Ganol by Crystal Sparrow

Waiting for Ganol, a Cannonball Festival show that took us into the backyard of a gender-reveal party with mounting problems, allowed us to make our own approach to the thoughtful story. Cry…

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 02:04PM
Thursday, September 21, 2023

Quintessence Theatre Group presents George Bernard Shaw’s Major Barbara by Cameron Kelsall

Directorial bells and whistles impede the socialist message of George Bernard Shaw's Major Barbara at Quintessence Theatre Group. Cameron Kelsall reviews.

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 11:50AM
Wednesday, September 20, 2023

The BSR Weekly Arts and Culture Roundup, September 21-27, 2023 by Kyle V. Hiller

Rounding up the coming week with festivals and exhibitions to kick off the official start of fall. Kyle V. Hiller previews.

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 03:33PM

The BSR Podcast, season 7, episode 11: Paper Doll Ensemble presents The Pecking Order by Darnelle Radford

We continue our coverage of the 2023 Philly Fringe Festival with Paper Doll Ensemble cofounder Amanda Jensen in conversation with Darnelle Radford about The Pecking Order, a new look at Roe …

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 11:10AM
Tuesday, September 19, 2023

The Crossing presents Crickets in Our Backyard by Gail Obenreder

The Crossing choir opens its new season with Crickets in Our Backyard, featuring world premieres by Tania León and Ayanna Woods, and an “indoor premiere” by Wang Lu. Gail Obenreder revi…

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 07:13PM

Philly Fringe 2023: Spanking Macbeth and Macbeth in a Bar by Kiran Pandey

The 2023 Philly Fringe takes on Macbeth in two different shows: Spanking Macbeth, an original play, and Macbeth in a Bar, a restaging at Lilly’s Ferry. Kiran Pandey reviews.

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 05:12PM

Philly Fringe 2023: Urban Arts Movement presents Vincent Johnson’s Stank Upon a Time: A Story About Funk by Camille Bacon-Smith

A transgressively absurdist exploration of the culture of Black music from blues to funk as the soundtrack of revolution, and its survival and commodification in the present. Camille Bacon-S…

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 02:33PM

McCarter Theatre Center and Berkeley Repertory Theatre present Eisa Davis’s Bulrusher by Jeannine A. Cook

A new production of Eisa Davis’s Bulrusher at McCarter Theatre Center delivers on the playwright’s vision: welcoming, submerging, and transforming us. Jeannine Cook reviews.

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 11:10AM
Monday, September 18, 2023

Lantern Theater Company presents Molière’s Tartuffe by Jillian Ashley Blair Ivey

The Lantern Theater takes Richard Wilbur’s definitive 1963 translation of Molière’s 1664 play, Tartuffe, sets it in the Belle Époque, and sets a high bar for the 2023–2024 theater se…

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 04:20PM

Philly Fringe 2023: Susan Marshall and Mimi Lien present Rhythm Bath by Eileen B. Fisher

An inclusive dance installation presented in partnership with Temple’s Institute on Disabilities offers interdisciplinary delights at Christ Church Neighborhood House in this year’s Frin…

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 03:07PM

Philly Fringe 2023: Rough & Tumble Productions presents Magic Trash Day by Helen Walsh

Through creative storytelling, contemporary dance, and clowning, Magic Trash Day tells the story of one kid’s fantastical emotional journey down into the dumps. Helen Walsh reviews.

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 02:04PM
Sunday, September 17, 2023

Philly Fringe 2023: Ben Grinberg and Hazem Header in Fix Me by Eileen B. Fisher

An arresting backstory grounds this able mix of contemporary dance, acrobatics, and theater from Ben Grinberg and Hazem Header in this year’s Fringe. Eileen Fisher reviews.

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 01:45PM
Saturday, September 16, 2023

Philly Fringe 2023: James Haro presents Go Ahead by Crystal Sparrow

James Haro joins this year’s Cannonball Festival with Go Ahead, an interactive solo show incorporating poetry and live pop-punk on heartbreak, love, and belonging. Crystal Sparrow reviews.

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 01:10PM
Friday, September 15, 2023

Philly Fringe 2023: Humble Materials presents The Yellow Wallpaper by Jillian Ashley Blair Ivey

Humble Materials takes on Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s classic feminist short story with theater, dance, and impressive makeup in this year’s Fringe. Jill Ivey reviews.

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 07:13PM

Philly Fringe 2023: Joseph Ahmed presents Half Magic by Krista Mar

Solo performer Joseph Ahmed teams up with director Cat Ramirez for Half Magic, a Cannonball Festival show on grief and mixed-race identity through theater, circus, and storytelling. Krista M…

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 06:29PM

Philly Fringe 2023: IKantKoan Play/s presents Tea Party at the End of the World by Emily Esten

How would you like to spend the end of the world—or maybe just your own end? This immersive Fringe experience offers big questions with a warm cup of tea. Emily Esten reviews.

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 04:40PM
Wednesday, September 13, 2023

The BSR Weekly Arts and Culture Roundup, September 14-20, 2023 by Kyle V. Hiller

A 12-foot puppet takes to the parkway, Ugandan classical music comes to West Philly, and the Wildest Dreams open at Magic Gardens. Kyle V. Hiller rounds up the week.

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 03:19PM

Philly Fringe 2023: Denise Stephenson presents Finding Melania by Kiran Pandey

Denise Stephenson invokes the specter of our former First Lady in Finding Melania, a one-woman show at the Philly Fringe that offers a surreal portrait of complicity and alienation. Kiran Pa…

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 01:35PM
Tuesday, September 12, 2023

Philly Fringe 2023: Philadelphia Artists’ Collective presents Citrus Andronicus by Cameron Kelsall

The fruit juice flies in Citrus Andronicus, Philadelphia Artists’ Collective’s creative retelling of the Shakespearean revenge tragedy in this year’s Fringe Festival. Cameron Kelsall r…

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 10:57AM
Monday, September 11, 2023

Philly Fringe 2023: Gunnar Montana Productions presents Black Wood by Camille Bacon-Smith

Gunnar Montana’s immersive Black Wood is a dark and bloody exploration of women’s power through sorcery and sexuality. Camille Bacon-Smith reviews.

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 08:30PM