Lewis Whittington

Heath Brothers: Vintage jazz at the Perelman

Good riddance to jazz clubs?

Even in their 80s, the jazz legends Jimmy and Tootie Heath still make terrific sounds together. They differ on just one issue: Does jazz sound best when served in clubs or in concert halls?

Lewis Whittington

Oct 29, 2011 · Articles · 2 minute read

Pennsylvania Ballet's "Messiah' (2nd review)

So much of Robert Weiss’s Messiah rises and falls on the Messiah himself, and the audience couldn’t get enough of principal Sergio Torrado in the role.

Messiah. Ballet by Robert Weiss; music by George Frideric Handel. Pennsylvania Ballet production through March 9, 2008 at Academy of Music, Broad and Locust Sts. (215) 551-7000 or www.paballet.org.

Lewis Whittington

Mar 08, 2008 · Articles · 1 minute read

Shen Wei Dance Arts at Perelman Theater

Shen Wei, founder of China’s first modern dance company, is as much painter and designer as master choreographer. To watch his Map is to see the work of the artist under repressive regimes.

Shen Wei Dance Arts. February 15-17, 2008 at Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center. 215-893-1999 or www.kimmelcenter.org

Lewis Whittington

Mar 01, 2008 · Articles · 2 minute read

Opera Company's "Cyrano' (2nd review)

David DiChiera’s Cyrano is still an operatic work-in-progress. It deserves a future life if only for its lofty ambitions.

Lewis Whittington

Feb 12, 2008 · Articles · 4 minute read

Milanov and Orchestra's Bernstein Festival

Rossen Milanov demonstrated that he’s a specialist in exploring early 20th-Century European musicality.

Philadelphia Orchestra: Bernstein, Barber, Stravinsky. Joshua Bell, violin; Rossen Milanov, conductor. January 31-February 2, 2008 at Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center. (215) 893-1900 or www.philorch.org.

Lewis Whittington

Feb 09, 2008 · Articles · 1 minute read

Paco PeÓ±a at Verizon Hall

People pound the rafters even after two and a half hours of authentic, undistilled, uncommercialized Spanish dance without any decoration.

Paco Peña Flamenco Ensemble. January 27, 2008 at Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center. (215) 893-1999 or www.kimmelcenter.org.

Lewis Whittington

Feb 09, 2008 · Articles · 1 minute read

Pig Iron Theatre's fund-raiser

Pearls dripped before the VIP swine at Pig Iron Theatre’s annual fund-raiser.

The Swining. Pig Iron Theatre fund-raiser, January 25, 2008 at the Trocadero, 1003 Arch St. (215) 627-1883 or www.pigiron.org

Lewis Whittington

Feb 09, 2008 · Articles · 1 minute read

"M. Butterfly's' sword dancers

The sword dancers enlivened a lumbering first act.

M. Butterfly. Drama by David Henry Hwang; directed by Joe Calarco. Philadelphia Theatre Co. production through February 24, 2008 at Suzanne Roberts Theatre, Broad and Lombard Sts. (215) 985-0420 or www.philadelphiatheatrecompany.org.

Lewis Whittington

Feb 09, 2008 · Articles · less than a minute read

nEW Festival's winter installment

The winter installment of nEW Festival’s “Dancehouse” collective of works in development was a frisky, sleeker sampler with concepts and sketches trying to break through to actual performance.

nEW Festival winter festival. Produced by Melanie Stewart Dance Theatre Jan. 18-20, 2008 at UArts Drake Theater, 1512 Spruce St. (215) 359-7775 or www.nEWfestival.net.

Lewis Whittington

Feb 09, 2008 · Articles · 2 minute read

Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company

Choreographic provocateur Bill T. Jones has created new dialogues in dance arts from every physical angle and emotional perspective. But his tepid Chapel/Chapter seems like a complete commercially artsy indulgence.

Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company. January 29-30, 2008 at Zellerbach Theatre, Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St. (215) 898-3900 or www.pennpresents.org.

Lewis Whittington

Feb 02, 2008 · Articles · 3 minute read

Mauckingbird's "The Misanthrope'

This Misanthrope works both as over-the-top gay soufflé and as a dishy Molière comedy that revels in character and literary satire. The nine-man cast conveys the airy tightness of ensemble playing.

The Misanthrope. Comedy by Molière; directed by Peter Reynolds. Mauckingbird Theatre Company production through February 2, 2008 at Adrienne Theatre Second Stage,
2030 Sansom St. (215) 563.4330 or

Lewis Whittington

Jan 27, 2008 · Articles · 3 minute read

Orchestra plays Higdon 'Concerto 4-3'

Could the great Leonard Bernstein possibly be upstaged at the opening night of the Philadelphia Orchestra’s “Bernstein Festival”? Such was the case with Philadelphia composer Jennifer Higdon’s Concerto 4-3, which electrified the almost-sold-out audience at Verizon Hall.

Philadelphia Orchestra. Opening program of the Bernstein Festival: Higdon Concerto 4-3; Tchaikovsky Romeo and Juliet overture; Bernstein West Side Story Dances

Lewis Whittington

Jan 13, 2008 · Articles · 3 minute read

Pennsylvania Ballet's "Nutcracker'

Does the new physical production of Pennsylvania Ballet’s Nutcracker live up to its $850,000 buzz? A resounding yes. With only one noticeable exception, Judanna Lynn’s 85 new costumes were both theatrically vibrant and dance functional. Better sets and costumes seemed to improve the dancing, too.

Pennsylvania Ballet: George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker. Through December 31, 2007 at Academy of Music, Broad and Locust St. (215) 551-7000 or

Lewis Whittington

Dec 18, 2007 · Articles · 3 minute read

José LimÓ³n Dance Company at Annenberg

The Mexican choreographer José Limón died in 1972 but left an artistic bounty that remains a valuable resource when it comes to building the complete modern dancer. His distinctive style came through with joy at the Zellerbach even in an erratically danced program.

José Limón Dance Company. December 6-8, 2007 at Zellerbach Theatre, Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 3680 Walnut St. (215) 898-3900 or

Lewis Whittington

Dec 11, 2007 · Articles · 3 minute read

Orchestra's "Night of the Mayas'

Under the baton of Peruvian conductor Miguel Harth-Bedoya, an epic musical narrative of Mayan civilization became a fabulous tour de force for and by the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Philadelphia Orchestra: Revueltas, Night of the Mayas; Ravel, Rapsodie Espagnole and Markus Groh; Liszt, Piano Concerto No. 1. Miguel Harth-Bedoya conducting; Markus Groh, piano. November 23, 2007 at Verizon Hall, Kimmel center. (215) 893-1900 or

Lewis Whittington

Dec 01, 2007 · Articles · 2 minute read