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At the Philadelphia Children’s Festival, world-famous artists meet local kids

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3 minute read
Young members of Rennie Harris RHAW will appear on May 18. (Photo courtesy of the Annenberg Center.)
Young members of Rennie Harris RHAW will appear on May 18. (Photo courtesy of the Annenberg Center.)

Last year, the youngsters of the T-VOCE ensemble impressed me at the annual Philadelphia Children’s Festival at the Annenberg Center — particularly because this song, music, and spoken-word performance came from a group of teenagers who are not selected by auditions, cuts, or income. Everyone is welcome at T-VOCE (Teen Voices of the City Ensemble), a free program, and the work it produces is a testament to valuing everyone’s voice.

The group returns for the 33rd annual Philadelphia Children’s Festival this year, running Thursday, May 17 through Saturday, May 19. T-VOCE appears on the Zellerbach Stage on May 17 at 12:30pm with Hip H’opera, which combines hip-hop, spoken word, dance, and classical arts to “show how our uniqueness makes us a vibrant, collective whole.”

The fest draws a mix of regional and international artists for a wide-ranging mashup of performances, from sleight-of-hand to participatory dance to next-generation poetry.

Performing each day

The Mayhem Poets, a “trio of lyrical virtuosos,” are mixing hip-hop, theater, improv, and comedy to “make poetry cool again.” Their tours have taken them to venues such as Lincoln Center and the Apollo Theatre, plus universities, schools, group homes, and correctional facilities. Cofounder/performer Scott Raven is a Rutgers graduate; performer Mason Granger is a Philly native. Mayhem Poets offers a pair of performances on the Zellerbach stage on Thursday, May 17, and Friday, May 18, at 10am (best for kids ages 5 to 10).

On each day of the festival at 10am, Philly’s Enchantment Theatre Company brings its adaption of Ruth Stiles Gannett’s Newbery Honor book, My Father’s Dragon, to the more intimate Harold Prince Theatre. The performance features puppetry and masks, impressive scenic effects, and original music. (Recommended for age 4 and above.) Other daily performers include members of the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts, with The Give & Take Little Circus (12:30pm on Thursday and Friday and 2pm on Saturday), an all-ages show with aerial acrobats, juggling, and more. Plus, Human Alphabet Workshop with Pilobolus runs throughout the festival.

Dance, music, and outside mania

There’s also Rennie Harris RHAW (Rennie Harris Awe-inspiring Works) with History of Hip Hop, happening on Friday at 12:30pm on the Zellerbach stage. Created by dancer/choreographer Harris (a Philly native), the show spotlights the multicultural roots of hip-hop, including African-American, Afro-Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, and Puerto Rican styles from the mid-20th century up through today. (Ages 5 to 15.)

On the musical side, catch internationally known musician and bilingual singer Sonia de los Santos at the Bruce Montgomery Theatre on Saturday at 11:30am. The Monterrey, Mexico, native has been touring the world with her music for more than 10 years, and besides numerous TV appearances, has played venues including Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. Percussionist Martin Vejarano joins her for songs from her recent album, Mi Viaje: De Nuevo León to the New York Island, celebrating “the power of music to nurture community and cultural understanding.” (Ages 4 to 12.)

You can find the full lineup here. Don’t forget the outdoor PlazaMania, running 10:30am to 1pm on Thursday and Friday and 10am to 3pm on Saturday. It’ll feature a wide roster of partners throughout the fest, including the Arden Theatre, Barnes Foundtion, Clay Studio, Koresh Dance, Fleisher Art Memorial, and many others, plus balloons and face-painting galore, and food trucks on Saturday.

The 33rd annual Philadelphia Children’s Festival is coming to the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (3680 Walnut Street) from Thursday, May 17, through Saturday, May 19.

Above: See musician and singer Sonia de los Santos on Saturday, May 19. (Photo courtesy of the Annenberg Center.)

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