Monday, December 4, 2023

The Wilma Theater presents James Ijames’s Fat Ham by Hanae Mason

Fat Ham comes home in this new production at the Wilma, onstage as it was meant to be, after the company debuted a filmed version in 2021. Everyone is welcome to the cookout. Hanae Mason rev…

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 03:42PM

Quintessence Theatre Group Presents The Fantasticks by C.m. Crockford

In Quintessence Theatre Group’s December production of The Fantasticks, complex poetries meet deceptively simple story and design, honoring both youthful sparks and older gratitude. C.M. C…

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 11:48AM
Wednesday, November 29, 2023

The BSR Weekly Arts and Culture Roundup, November 30-December 6, 2023 by Kyle V. Hiller

Rounding up this week with classic shows from Quintessence and 1812 Productions, a pair of events happening in the spirit of World AIDS Day, and a decades-old zine fest. Kyle V. Hiller previ…

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 06:52PM

The BSR December 2023 movie repertory roundup by Stephen Silver

Holiday classics abound, a milestone anniversary for Spielberg, and wrapping up the Sight and Sound top 100 films of all-time. Stephen Silver previews.

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 08:52AM
Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Has Philly lost touch with the true musical roots of tap dance? by Pamela Hetherington

The true art of tap, including historic Philly dancers, has its roots in collaboration and improvisation, not recorded music or memorized choreography. Philly tap dance leader Pamela Hetheri…

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 11:30AM

Menstruation is a part of life, but pain doesn’t have to be by Isabel Soisson

Despite studies that show women experience pain more acutely, we wait longer for diagnosis and pain relief than men do—if we get relief at all. Isabel Soisson considers.

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 10:39AM
Monday, November 27, 2023

The boy on the bike is back, but now he’s not me: my kingdom is in the weeds by Kile Smith

As a boy, Kile Smith knew there was no freedom like riding your own bike on your own time. But now, as he watches the world go by from his garden, a whole new kingdom opens up.

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 11:42AM
Tuesday, November 21, 2023

The Delaware Art Museum presents The Rossettis by Gail Obenreder

The Delaware Art Museum has the biggest collection of British Pre-Raphaelite artworks outside the UK, and this exhibition, which opened at Tate Britain and now lands stateside, honors the ra…

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 05:28PM

BSR Behind the Scenes: Why do we need arts criticism? by Alaina Johns

In our experience, some people opine that the critics are just dragging the cultural scene down—especially when a review is mixed or negative. But is that true? Not at all. Alaina Johns ex…

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 04:11PM

Remembering Stan and Jan Berenstain, the Philly artists who created the Berenstain Bears by Emily R. Zarevich

Stanley Melvin Berenstain met Janice Marian Grant when they were both studying art in Philadelphia—ostensibly to join the army, but their career took a very different turn. Emily Zarevich …

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 01:42PM
Monday, November 20, 2023

The Lantern Theater presents Lynn Nottage’s Crumbs from the Table of Joy by Krista Mar

Crumbs from the Table of Joy, a lesser-known early work by Lynn Nottage, one of America’s most popular playwrights, still feels relevant in this Lantern Theater production. Krista Mar revi…

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 04:20PM
Wednesday, November 15, 2023

BSR Classical Interludes November 2023, part 2 by Gail Obenreder

Another serving of November classical music offerings popping up in the Greater Philadelphia area. Gail Obenreder previews.

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 08:35PM

The BSR Weekly Arts and Culture Roundup, November 16-22, 2023 by Kyle V. Hiller

A short film festival from cinéSPEAK, music at the Weitzman and Bartram’s Garden, new play Shoptalk, and more highlight the week. Kyle V. Hiller rounds up.

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 08:20PM
Tuesday, November 14, 2023

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts presents Determined to Be: The Sculpture of John Rhoden by Pamela J. Forsythe

In 2017, PAFA became the preserver and promoter of globetrotting 20th-century American sculptor John Rhoden’s artistic legacy. Now, PAFA mounts the artist’s first comprehensive retrospec…

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 06:20PM

The Delaware Symphony Orchestra presents ¡Música Bravo! by Gail Obenreder

The Delaware Symphony Orchestra continues its 2023-24 season with guest conductor Michelle Di Russo, who programmed her ideal concert with Joaquín Rodrigo, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, and more…

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 12:36PM
Monday, November 13, 2023

BSR Behind the Scenes: what does public relations have to do with arts journalism? by Alaina Johns

What does arts journalism have to do with PR? As arts writers and editors, we often work closely with PR people. How do we collaborate? And what are the boundaries between our roles? Alaina …

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 04:10PM

Rinse, by Elaine Terranova by Anndee Hochman

Philly writer Elaine Terranova’s eighth book, Rinse, shows the author’s poetic sensibilities, with lyrical language that captures emotional tones and thrumming silences. Anndee Hochman r…

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 02:47PM

The Philadelphia Jewish Film + Media Fall Fest presents Remembering Gene Wilder by Stephen Silver

The 2023 Philadelphia Jewish Film + Media Fall Fest opened with the local premiere of director Ron Frank’s Remembering Gene Wilder: a hugely enjoyable walk through the legendary actor’s …

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 01:49PM

Inis Nua Theatre Company presents Rosa Hesmondhalgh’s Madame Ovary by Jillian Ashley Blair Ivey

Based on the lived experience of playwright Rosa Hesmondhalgh’s cancer diagnosis, Inis Nua’s Madame Ovary is equal parts funny and tragic. Jill Ivey reviews.

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 11:53AM
Wednesday, November 8, 2023

The BSR Weekly Arts and Culture Roundup, November 9-15, 2023 by Kyle V. Hiller

Exploring the "Earth" with People's Light and Academy of Natural Sciences, a legendary dancing legacy on display at Fabric Workshop and Museum, and more from PHonk!Philly, CraftNOW, and TIMB…

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 03:29PM

Koresh Dance Company presents Ronen Koresh’s Aftershock by Camille Bacon-Smith

Koresh Dance Company reflects on choreographer Ronen Koresh’s emotional journey as an Israeli immigrant and an artist in Aftershock. Camille Bacon-Smith previews.

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 03:19PM
Tuesday, November 7, 2023

As we close out 2023, BSR is taking you behind the scenes of our arts journalism by Alaina Johns

When we ask for your support, we want to be sure we’re stepping up to explain our work. But whether or not you can donate, if you’re a BSR reader, we bet you’ll enjoy this window on ho…

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 03:57PM

Resident Ensemble Players presents John Ball’s In the Heat of the Night by Gail Obenreder

Resident Ensemble Players at the University of Delaware continues its season with In the Heat of the Night, a world-class whodunit that doesn’t shy away from its story’s disturbing roots…

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 02:13PM

Azuka Theatre presents Priyanka Shetty’s The Elephant in the Room by Krista Mar

Priyanka Shetty’s The Elephant in the Room, a solo autobiographical show about an Indian software engineer turned theater artist, is proving the creator’s performance chops in its Philly…

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 10:46AM
Monday, November 6, 2023

Philadelphia Theatre Company presents Whitney White’s Macbeth in Stride by C.m. Crockford

Macbeth in Stride, a new adaptation of the Shakespeare classic now onstage at Philadelphia Theatre Company, rocks but doesn’t dig its daggers deep enough. C.M. Crockford reviews.

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 03:33PM

Theatre Exile presents Bess Wohl’s Camp Siegfried by Wendy Rosenfield

Then and now, fascism feels like an easy fix for any psychic fissure. With Camp Seigfried, Theatre Exile takes us to a Nazi summer-camp in 1938 New York. Wendy Rosenfield reviews.

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 02:19PM

Arden Theatre Company presents Heidi Schreck’s What the Constitution Means to Me by Kiran Pandey

Arden Theatre Company presents Heidi Schreck’s What the Constitution Means to Me, a play that is as alternately illuminating and frustrating as our founding document. Kiran Pandey reviews.

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 01:40PM

InterAct Theatre Company presents Sylvia Khoury’s Selling Kabul by Cameron Kelsall

Selling Kabul, a Pulitzer Prize finalist at InterAct Theatre Company, wrestles with the human cost of occupation and war. Cameron Kelsall reviews.

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 12:20PM

Kimmel Cultural Campus and Shubert Organization present the national tour of Wicked by Cameron Kelsall

The national tour of Wicked returns to Philadelphia for the first time in six years. How’s it holding up? Cameron Kelsall reviews.

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 11:53AM
Wednesday, November 1, 2023

The BSR Weekly Arts and Culture Roundup, November 2-8, 2023 by Kyle V. Hiller

Performances hit the stage at the Arden, Theatre Horizon, and the Drake, and more start November. Kyle V. Hiller rounds up.

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 05:26PM

The BSR November 2023 repertory movie roundup by Stephen Silver

November is a month for a lot of cinema classics, from the best filmmakers, at theaters around the Philadelphia area. Stephen Silver previews.

SOURCE: Broad Street Review at 05:12PM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater