Coming up in Philly theater: Philly Theatre Week returns, bigger than ever

What do legendary playwrights like William Shakespeare, August Wilson, Clifford Odets, Harold Pinter, and Anton Chekhov have in common with local theater artists like Chris Davis, Kash Goins, Tribe of Fools, and James Ijames? For one thing, all are represented during 2019 Philly Theatre Week, spanning February 7 through 17 at more than 100 participating institutions throughout the region.

The brainchild of Leigh Goldenberg, Theatre Philadelphia’s executive director, Philly Theatre Week offers attendees the chance to experience live performance at all professional levels, and promotes accessibility by making tickets available at various price points.

“The goal of Philly Theatre Week is to celebrate and promote theater,” Goldenberg tells Broad Street Review. “That doesn’t mean professional theater or Barrymore Award–eligible productions only. We want to be inclusive.”

Goldenberg began conceptualizing the event shortly after assuming her position in January 2017. A marketer by trade — she previously headed up departments at Lantern Theater Company and Arden Theatre Company — she took notice of similarly themed local happenings, like Philly Tech Week and Philly Beer Week. Her research showed that cities like Chicago and Washington, D.C, had theater-centric celebrations, so she reached out to planners in those communities for advice. And just like that, an instant tradition was born.

The first Philly Theatre Week kicked off last February — a month chosen, according to Goldenberg, for the “critical mass of simultaneously running shows.” She also notes that deep winter can be a stagnant time for theater attendance, so strategic planning and healthy discounts help to prompt people to leave their homes and head to a show.

Goldenberg set a goal to persuade 30 shows to participate in 2018 Philly Theatre Week. The final tally: 83. This year, that number has increased to triple digits. Involvement is free, which draws participants from all institutional levels. Participating shows are required to offer at least 30 tickets at one of three approved price points: free, $15, or $30.

This year, interested parties can see everything from Shakespeare (Romeo & Juliet at the Wilma, Julius Caesar at Media Theatre) to splashy musicals (Ragtime at Eagle Theatre, The Bridges of Madison County at Philadelphia Theatre Company) to hard-hitting contemporary drama (Sweat at People’s Light, 74 Seconds…to Judgment at Arden Theatre Company). Free events include a family-friendly reading of The Little Mermaid in a new adaptation by local playwright Jacqueline Goldfinger, as well as a performance of George C. Wolfe’s The Colored Museum from Theatre in the X at the African American Museum of Philadelphia.

Goldenberg sees Philly Theatre Week as a way to build a sense of community and to make audiences aware of the breadth and depth of work created by local artists.

“Last year, people came up to me and said things like, ‘I never noticed Theatre Week before,’” she says. “That’s because it wasn’t a thing before. But people sensed that it already was a tradition.”

2019 Philly Theatre Weeks runs from February 7 through 17 at various locations in and around Philadelphia. A full list of participating companies and productions can be found here.