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‘Stronger Together,’ ‘The Winter’s Tale,’ Black Spatial Relics, and more this weekend and beyond
Kyle V. Hiller
There’s a storm coming, apparently. Not that we were going out anyway, but hey, there’s plenty to sink your teeth into as you wrap up in blankets and drink all the tea (metaphorically and realistically). The Manic Monologues look to dispel myths and stigmas around mental health while the Delaware Art Museum the Museum of the American Revolution, Scribe Video Center, and Black Spatial Relics have plenty of offerings for Black History and Black futures. Phoenix Theatre reinterprets a classic, and Arts Access TV debuts this week.
McCarter Theatre Center, Princeton University Health Services, the 24 Hour Plays, and Innovations in Socially Distant Performance are launching The Manic Monologues this weekend. Starting on Thursday, February 18, viewers can join in an interactive series of 21 monologues about the stigmas surrounding mental health. The monologues can be accessed at your own pace, and the project comes with links for support, books, research, articles, and the script.
Black Femininity through dance
Delaware Art Museum is hosting an Art Chat with dance resident Dara Meredith. The virtual residency explores art by modern artist Eldzier Cortor, and the chat will kick off a series of talks and workshops that will culminate into a dance Meredith will choreograph later in the year. See what they have in store as the chat opens on Thursday, February 18 at 12pm.
Phoenix Theatre is serving up a retelling of the classic William Shakespeare joint. Running Friday, February 19 through February 21, this rendition looks to “put the women of the story more in the forefront,” and is helmed by Phoenix Theatre’s virtual artist in residence Katrina Hall. Tickets are available online and are pay-what-you-wish.
The Office of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy is launching Arts Access TV, a weekly curation of performances and programs by local cultural organizations and artists. The program airs each week on the free local channel 64 on Wednesdays and Fridays at 6pm. Channels may vary depending on your TV provider.
On Saturday, February 20 at 11am, the Curtis Institute of Music will present Stronger Together, an interactive Zoom program where families can learn about the unique features of violins, violas, and cellos and how they work together. The event, as part of their Family Concerts series, is free.
The Museum of the American Revolution is holding a virtual forum, It Begins with Each of Us: Fostering Racial Understanding, on Saturday, February 20 at 1pm. The virtual event will facilitate conversation on systemic racism, police brutality, and the role of bias. Admission is free, but you’ll have to RSVP ahead of time.
Black Spatial Relics has been supporting Black artists, funding performances yearly since 2016. They’re hosting their second annual convening, showcasing their 2020 artists-in-residence, some of which are from Philadelphia. The virtual convening begins on Tuesday, February 23 through February 27. View the schedule and roster of appearances online.
Scribe Video Center is screening W.E.B. Du Bois — A Biography in Four Voices on Tuesday, February 23 at 7pm. The film explores Du Bois’ pioneering work with the help of four writers—Wesley Brown, Thulani Davis, Toni Cade Bambara, and Amiri Baraka—narrating the successful periods of his life. The screening is the first local public screening of the documentary since its release 25 years ago. Additionally, the presentation will be preceded by Nadine Patterson’s short film We Are Free Because of Harriet Tubman and will close out with a post-film discussion with Louis Massiah. Register your virtual seat online.
Image Description: A black and white portrait photo of W.E.B. Du Bois. He's dressed in a suit, wearing a black bowtie.
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