The BSR Weekly Arts and Culture Roundup, April 23-29, 2026
The First Salute, short films at West Chester, Expanding Sanctuary, and more
New exhibitions open the Weitzman and the Print Center in the spirit of America 250, an international film festival celebrates 20 years, and Kristal Sotomayor’s documentary screens at Bartram’s Garden.
Previews
4 minute read
Philadelphia Theatre Company presents James Ijames’s Wilderness Generation
Avoiding the weight of generational trauma
Philadelphia Theatre Company presents the world premiere of James Ijames’s Wilderness Generation, a family homecoming that falters in its broad, bland depiction of trauma. Kiran Pandey reviews.
Reviews
4 minute read
The Clay Studio presents American Crib: What’s Happening
Roberto Lugo kicks off a citywide Radical Americana celebration
Philly artist, ceramicist, activist, poet, and educator Roberto Lugo joins our 250th celebrations with American Crib: What’s Happening, an exhibition of brilliantly imaginative work at The Clay Studio. Gail Obenreder reviews.
Reviews
5 minute read
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Arden Children’s Theatre presents The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, adapted by John Glore
A beloved 1990s kids’ book gets a staging worthy of its weirdness
The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales has been delighting readers of all ages for more than 30 years. Now it hits the Arden stage in a zany adaptation by John Glore. Alaina Johns reviews.
Reviews
4 minute read
PFS SpringFest 2025 presents Mile End Kicks, These Are My Friends!, and Hokum
A local filmmaker joins Damian McCarthy’s new horror at PFS East
Drexel alum and New Jersey high-school teacher by Aaron Bartuska’s new film These Are My Friends! joined Mile End Kicks (out April 24) and Hokum (out May 1) at opening night of the 9th
annual PSF SpringFest. Stephen Silver reviews.
annual PSF SpringFest. Stephen Silver reviews.
Reviews
5 minute read
APS Museum presents These Truths: The Declarations of Independence
The Declaration may not be the document you think it is.
The American Philosophical Society celebrates America’s 250th with the largest display of early copies of the Declarations ever assembled, but some of the show’s lesser-known artifacts are just as exciting. Alaina Johns visits.
Editorials
7 minute read
Delaware Theatre Company presents The Chequerboard Watch
Brotherhood on the high seas
Delaware Theatre Company stages the rousing world premiere of The Chequerboard Watch, developed by several artists spanning the Atlantic over five years, about an intrepid mixed-race crew on a 19th-century sea voyage. Gail Obenreder reviews.
Reviews
5 minute read
The BSR Podcast: All about Everything I Know with Mandy Gonzalez
Broadway icon Mandy Gonzalez sits down with Darnelle Radford ahead of her April 25 Philly appearance
Star of stage, film, and TV, Mandy Gonzalez, joins Darnelle Radford in the virtual studio for an in-depth conversation ahead of her April 25 concert of Lin-Manuel Miranda songs at Marian Anderson Hall.
Podcast
1 minute read
Huge changes to the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts will impact the Philly cultural scene
Local artists are fighting for the power to tell their stories
An overhaul to the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts will have a major impact on Philly’s creative sector, cutting diversity programs, operating dollars, and funding for apprenticeships and small companies. Camille Bacon-Smith looks closer.
Features
7 minute read
Koresh Dance Company presents Never/Mind
Making a case in motion
Koresh has been drawing full houses for more than three decades. The company’s clarity of vision and uniquely grounded, dynamic movement was on display at Never/Mind, a new work by artistic director Ronen Koresh. Lauren Berlin reviews.
Reviews
4 minute read
On the record with Aaron Pond and the People's Music Supply Recording Company
An instrumental movement
Multi-instrumentalist Aaron Pond’s record label is helping encourage and educate people of all levels who are interested in playing music. John Morrison profiles.
Profiles
3 minute read
The 2026 Philly Theatre Week and Miniball pack Philly stages this April
Pay-what-you-can theater fills the city with a pair of spring festivals
This April, Philly Theatre Week and Miniball 2026 offer an exciting citywide roster of affordable shows, from Moliere to James Ijames, with memoir, comedy, clowning, historic drama, musicals, and more. Cameron Kelsall previews.
Previews
4 minute read
Asian Arts Initiative and partners present No Arena: Making A Movement
Celebrating the power of the people
A new exhibition at Asian Arts Initiative explores the recent fight over the basketball arena proposed on the edge of Philly’s Chinatown, celebrating the power of ordinary people who activated to save the neighborhood. Krista Mar visits.
Features
4 minute read
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The BSR Weekly Arts and Culture Roundup, April 16-22, 2026
Never/Mind, Printmaking by the People, Philly Black Pride, and more this week
New work from James Ijames, printmaking for America in the past and the future, and more decorate this week. Kyle V. Hiller rounds up.
Previews
5 minute read
Brewce Longo showcases underground cinema at BloodSick Film Festival
Oh, bloody hell
Brewce Longo talks failed early attempts to feature films, friendships and festivals. Emily Kaldenbaugh profiles.
Profiles
3 minute read
PHILADANCO! is Explosive! in its spring series
Exploring identity and community through dance
Camille Bacon-Smith previews PHILADANCO!’s spring series Explosive!, a program with new works from Nicole Clarke-Springer and Roderick George, and revisiting a piece from Thang Dao.
Previews
3 minute read
BSR Classical Interludes, more in April 2026
Music for Earth Day, two dozen string basses, and celebrating 250
Network for New Music honors Earth Day, concerts play for America’s 250th, and more to close out April. Gail Obenreder previews.
Previews
4 minute read
The BSR Podcast: Talking with Alaina Johns and Kyle V. Hiller
What 20 years of arts journalism mean to us and the community
Editor-in-chief Alaina Johns and associate editor Kyle V. Hiller join Darnelle Radford in the virtual studio for a chat about the importance of arts journalism, how BSR has overcome adversity many times over, and what to look forward to this spring.
Podcast
1 minute read
The BSR Podcast: Catching up with James Ijames
Darnelle Radford talks with James Ijames about life post-Fat Ham
James Ijames joins the BSR Podcast to talk about how to bring a play to the stage, the formula for a Pulitzer Prize-winning piece, and life after Fat Ham.
Podcast
1 minute read
Pier Players Theatre Company presents Peter Fenton’s I Think We’re Lost
A new take on Peter Pan isn’t quite ready to fly
Pier Players Theatre Company continues its mission for new work with the world premiere of I Think We’re Lost, but great actors and design can’t save a script not ready for the stage. Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer reviews.
Reviews
4 minute read
Curio Theatre Company presents John Bellomo’s Sacco & Vanzetti: A Tragedia Dell’Arte
The true story of two immigrants on trial in the 1920s echoes America today
Curio mounts the world premiere of local playwright John Bellomo’s Sacco & Vanzetti: A Tragedia Dell’Arte, restaging a famous 20th-century trial with a 16th-century flair that still feels fresh. Walt Maguire reviews.
Reviews
3 minute read
Philadelphia Artists’ Collective presents Royall Tyler’s The Contrast
Love at first laugh
Philadelphia Artists’ Collective presents The Contrast, a late-18th-century comedy of manners that holds the title of America’s first comedy. Kiran Pandey previews.
Previews
2 minute read
The BSR Weekly Arts and Culture Roundup, April 9-15, 2026
Tea Party at the End of the World, Healing Verse, and 4DSOUND this week
How to find play in the end of times, poetry illustrates Germantown, and an immersive sound experience from Amsterdam collabs with Philly artists. Kyle V. Hiller rounds up.
Previews
4 minute read