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Three people playing wind instruments stand next to each other in an indoor area

Inviting improvisation for everyone, every week at the Rotunda

Medicinal, positive anarchy

Every Wednesday, Philadelphia residents convene at the Rotunda for two hours of musical improvisation, free and open to all, with no leader, no instructions, and no repeating. Thomas Hagen previews.

Thomas Hagen

Apr 24, 2024 Previews 3 minute read

Two performers in all black formal wear cheers with the host also holding a mic at a small table on stage.

Philadelphia Orchestra presents Orchestra After 5: Haydn and Mozart

A Haydn happy hour

The Philadelphia Orchestra experiments with a new, casual concert format in its Orchestra After 5 series. Cameron Kelsall previews their latest event.

Cameron Kelsall

Apr 03, 2024 Previews 3 minute read

Brown and Wolf on stage with a mic in front of a full house audience, blue and purple neon lighting.

Stand-up for everybody with Next in Line Comedy

A laughing matter

Manny Brown talks comedy and community with the collective Next in Line Comedy, now with a new venue at The Coop. Kiran Pandey profiles.

Kiran Pandey

Mar 20, 2024 Profiles 2 minute read

Schmit, Charles pose together. Schmit wears all black with a blazer, Charles in a print T and jeans, against a white curtain

Pleasurable sex re-education with DTF: Darryl & Timaree Fun Hour

Getting nerdy and dirty

Collaborators Timaree Schmit and Darryl Charles, hosts of DTF, talk sex, comedy, education, and being kindred souls. Daralyse Lyons profiles.

Daralyse Lyons

Mar 13, 2024 Profiles 4 minute read

Two singers. Dressed in all black, singing on stage towards the audience.

Marian Anderson Museum presents Porgy and Bess

Preserving a legendary Philadelphia institute

The Marian Anderson Historical Society will host a performance of Porgy and Bess and looks to continue the museum’s challenging reconstruction project. An Nichols previews.

An Nichols

Feb 28, 2024 Previews 2 minute read

Coles, a Black man, sits at an illuminated, colorful soundboard in a dim studio

Capturing the Philadelphia sound with Samori Coles

A Lil’ Drummaboy with big dreams

Coming ahead of his new podcast launch, Lil’ Drummaboy Recordings founder Samori Coles talks about the history behind the studio, his aspirations in expanding the space, and what makes Philly music special. Lowry Yankwich profiles.

Lowry Yankwich

Dec 13, 2023 Profiles 4 minute read

Portrait snapshot of Ongoza, a Black woman, wears matching white floral top and head wrap against a cloth backdrop

Creative menstrual hygiene with Maisha Ongoza and the PASHI project

Sewing together affordable, accessible solutions

Maisha Ongoza of the Pan-African Sisterhood Health Initiative talks about the project and its efforts to provide reusable menstrual pads, carry pouches, masks, and panties to schools and organizations in Africa. Crystal Sparrow profiles.

Crystal Sparrow

Oct 25, 2023 Profiles 3 minute read

Rainey with another dance partner in mid move, holding them up in a rehearsal space.

Performance Garage presents When Yesterday Meets Tomorrow: Being Black in Ballet Today

Dancing into the conversation

Performance Garage presents a free panel discussion on being Black in ballet with 2023-2024 DanceVisions resident artist Meredith Rainey, choreographer Tommie-Waheed Evans, and founder of Memoirs of Blacks in Ballet Theresa Ruth Howard. Melissa Strong previews.

Melissa Strong

Oct 04, 2023 Profiles 4 minute read

Knittel, wearing neon green zebra leggings, tussles with laughing audience members while falling on her back during a show.

Dive into the 2023 Philly Fringe Festival with avant-garde necromancer Sarah Knittel

Philly Fringe 2023: How did we get here?

Sarah Knittel—not a Fringe queen, but certainly a mage or wicked-cool duke—gets us ready for the 2023 fest by sharing her Fringe journey as a self-producing artist.

Sarah Knittel

Aug 24, 2023 Essays 8 minute read

A group of four Black cosplayers in costume poses emphatically, joyfully, in a bright indoor space

Five reasons to attend the East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention

For the geek at heart

An Nichols previews the 2023 East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention and how it works towards cultural awareness, youth literacy, and building safe spaces for geekdom.