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‘Cycles of My Being’, ‘The Laramie Project’, ‘Radical Remedies’ and more this weekend
Kyle V. Hiller
As we prepare for round two of shutdowns, there is a handful of picks for the weekend to get your virtual hang-out on. Temple Theaters, Opera Philadelphia, and Scribe Video Center take sobering looks at social inequalities, Philly Sketchfest goes digital, and Motivos teams up with Taller Puertorriqueno to build youth voices in Latinx communities.
Be safe, everyone!
Scribe Video Center has teamed up with Detroit Narrative Agency to launch a video initiative called Radical Remedies: Philly Rapid Response Video Initiative. The video project addresses state-sanctioned racial violence and COVID-19, asking what “resilience, joy, grief, and collective care look like during this time.” Scribe is screening the Detroit works on Thursday, November 19, at 7pm, featuring works created by Black, Latinx, and Indigenous people in the Detroit region. Scribe is also launching a call for Philly-based works beginning this weekend.
Find out more about the screening and works submission online. Tickets are a suggested contribution of $5.
Temple Theaters presents a performance exploring the homophobic hate crime resulting in the murder of a young gay man, Matthew Shepard, in his hometown of Laramie, Wyoming, in 1998. The project was deeply researched, with more than 200 interviews conducted to create the play. Tickets are free, and the show runs Thursday, November 19, and Friday, November 20, at 7:30pm.
Opera Philadelphia premiered Cycles of My Being, by composer and multi-instrumentalist Tyshawn Sorey with lyrics by poet Terrance Hayes and tenor Lawrence Brownlee, back in 2018. After garnering critical acclaim and being performed all over the world, the opera returns home this weekend. Tune in on Friday, November 20, on the Opera Philadelphia Channel for the moving song cycle that explores the realities of life as a Black man in America. The performance is unlimited on-demand, and season pass holders can view it through May 31, 2020.
If you’re in need of some good laughs this weekend, Philly Sketchfest has you covered. The fest is going online this year, showcasing sketch videos from local and national comedians. The free fest premieres on Facebook on Friday, November 20, at 8pm.
If you’ve got younger ones (or are a younger one yourself), Taller Puertorriqueño is hosting La Revista Motivos, an annual event that invites youths to connect with other youths from Motivos magazine. The bilingual youth publication presents opportunities for finding and crafting voices, community engagement, college and career opportunities, and more. Motivos reaches 42 states as well as areas in Puerto Rico, Colombia, and Costa Rica. Check out the free event online on Saturday, November 21, at 3pm.
Image Description: A man in black, with an afro and a mask, stands in front of a conductor's podium, almost a full silhouette. A light shines from above, the rest of the room dimmed out.
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