Editorials

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An outdoor brick wall with a messy metal rectangle where signage used to be. The sky is blue and snow is on the ground.

MAGA orders Philly exhibits on slavery torn down. We at BSR are not afraid of our history.

History at the President’s House can be taken from the walls, but not from our minds.
Members of the BSR community were shocked when the exhibit documenting slavery at George Washington’s Philly house was dismantled last week. We'll keep standing up for Black history at BSR.
Alaina Johns

Alaina Johns

Editorials 4 minute read
Crowd of protestors seen from behind, including a sign quoting the Declaration about the king's officers harassing people

Locals pack a No ICE Philly meetup at the Friends Center on January 21

Proof that Philly wants to protect our neighbors
Anti-ICE activists in Philly are organizing to protect our neighbors from unconstitutional abuses and pressure Governor Shapiro into action. Alaina Johns was at their January 21 meeting in Center City.
Alaina Johns

Alaina Johns

Editorials 8 minute read
View from the podium of a diverse crowd of about 60 people in an artful venue.

Thank you for making BSR's 20th anniversary party a huge success!

Missed our Party with the Critics? Catch the program here.
On Thursday, January 15, the BSR community gathered for our biggest event yet, our Party with the Critics, in honor of our 20th anniversary. Here's a recap.
Alaina Johns

Alaina Johns

Editorials 3 minute read
View of an October NO KINGS protest at City Hall shows a man with a handwritten sign: Anti-fascist, anti-racist, proud of it

Without strong leadership, Philadelphians must turn to each other in 2026

Mayor Parker, we can’t sit back until the fight is at our doorstep
This will be a tumultuous year in Philly, with elections, global sports events, and the eyes of the world on America’s 250th birthday. But we must brace for even bigger challenges. Alaina Johns looks ahead.
Alaina Johns

Alaina Johns

Editorials 6 minute read
Close-up on many hands of diverse people in a huddle, in different stages of reaching out and grasping each other.

Philly arts and culture PR is suffering. Here’s why that matters to audiences.

It’s getting harder for us to work with the arts institutions we cover.
With nearly 20 years as a journalist on Philly’s arts and culture scene, Alaina Johns has a clear eye on its trends, including a worrying situation with arts PR that affects everyone, including audiences.
Alaina Johns

Alaina Johns

Editorials 6 minute read
View from partway down the museum’s famous steps, looking up at the brown columned façade, with groups of people sitting.

New PMA CEO Sasha Suda fired in a wild week at Philly’s premier museum

Are we good with the griffin?
Hot takes are flying on the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s rebrand and sudden firing of CEO Sasha Suda. Alaina Johns breaks it down.
Alaina Johns

Alaina Johns

Editorials 7 minute read
View of a huge protest crowd on a sunny day, centered on a giant sign that says MAKE AMERICA A DEMOCRACY AGAIN

BSR writers speak up about Philadelphia’s October 18 No Kings protests

A creative spirit shines at Philly’s pro-democracy rallies
Philly turned out for the second nationwide No Kings Day, with rallies throughout the region that showcased our creative flair and our refusal to show fear in the face of fascism. BSR was there.
Alaina Johns

Alaina Johns

Editorials 7 minute read
12 colorful playbills from different shows laid out together on a wooden table.

Four big takeaways from the 2025 Philadelphia Fringe Festival

Theater attendance is on the rise. Here’s why it matters.
After managing coverage for dozens of Fringe shows, Alaina Johns is proud of the BSR team’s work, proud of Philly artists, and ready to share her top takeaways from this year’s festival.
Alaina Johns

Alaina Johns

Editorials 5 minute read
Looking serious in dour brown suits and mustaches, the actors pose together against a brown background.

The BSR editor’s picks for the 2025 Philadelphia Fringe Festival

Need help navigating the fest? BSR is here!
If you want to get your butt to some art during this year’s Fringe but don’t know where to start, we’re here for you. Editor-in-chief Alaina Johns shares some of her top picks for 2025.
Alaina Johns

Alaina Johns

Editorials 7 minute read
Logos for the shows Falling and I Found That The Sun Will Rise, featuring the disabled actors.

A radical act: 2025 Philly Fringe artists tackle illness and disability

Healthcare is a human right for artists, too
A worsened healthcare crisis is about to hit Philadelphia. Artists are disproportionately affected, and they’re speaking up on behalf of all of us in this year’s Fringe. Alaina Johns helps you find their shows.
Alaina Johns

Alaina Johns

Editorials 5 minute read