Stay in the Loop
BSR publishes on a weekly schedule, with an email newsletter every Wednesday and Thursday morning. There’s no paywall, and subscribing is always free.
Classic theater shows take the stage, Philly Grit, and QUEERNOIR
The BSR Weekly Arts and Culture Roundup, February 27-March 5, 2025
Kyle V. Hiller
Coming up in Philly this week are a handful of classic shows with familiar names but perhaps fresh coats of paint. King Hedley II, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Antony and Cleopatra, and Our Town are performances you recognize and remember, and they are all coming to various stages this week. We've also got Philly Grit from Theatre Exile, which promises two shows that capture the pulse of the city.
Then, be on the look out for a pair of documentary films at Scribe Video Center—including a short film from a BSR contributor that you've likely read a piece or two by at least. QUEERNOIR returns for its third iteration, a German Karneval party happens in, of course, Germantown, and the Museum of the American Revolution kicks off Women's History Month as we enter March this weekend.
Be safe, Philly!
Philly Grit
February 26-March 15
Theatre Exile, 1340 South 13th Street
Philly Grit is a collection of short plays that looks to capture the pulse of the city. Two performances are set for this program that runs through March 15. There’s Koal, an interactive solo-show that is part climate-catastrophe, part clown show that immerses the audience in the middle of the 2019 Australian bushfires. The performance tells the story through two eyewitnesses to the fires: a baby koala recovering at a wildlife sanctuary and Stevo, a career coal miner trapped in a collapsed mine hundreds of meters underground. Then, there’s Heart Ripped Out Twice And So Can You!, which tells the story of an enthusiastic sales rep who pitches you on existence despite the darker realities of life that keep pushing through her carefully constructed presentation.
King Hedley II
February 27-March 30
Arden Theatre, 40 North 2nd Street
After seven years in prison, King returns to his family and community determined to take control of his life, but his hopes conflict with the stories he’s been telling himself as he insists on planting seeds where nothing can grow. James Ijames directs the August Wilson play, with open captioning, audio descriptions, a Teen Night, post-show talkbacks, and more throughout the run.
A Midsummer Night's Dream and & Antony and Cleopatra
February 27-April 27
Sedgwick Theater, 7137 Germantown Avenue
Four Athenian youths reject their parents' effort to interfere in their romantic lives, and choose to run away instead of facing the love-limiting laws of the land. A spat between the fairy king and queen, the threat on the Earth’s orbit, and royal competitions all ensue in Quintessence Theatre’s presentation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The show is part of Quintessence’s Reckless Romance Repertory, which will showcase a second show, Antony & Cleopatra, on a rotating schedule through April 27.
Antony & Cleopatra poses the question: can passion topple an empire? After the assassination of Julius Caesar, the Roman Empire is now ruled by three men, including the powerful Mark Antony, who summons the Queen of Egypt to demand submission but is instead the one subdued by her beauty, wit, and charm.
QUEERNOIR III
February 28, 7:30pm
Vox Populi, 319 North 11th Street, 3rd floor
This free evening celebrates its third iteration with Black queer music selected from across many genres and scenes within the city of Philadelphia. From hard hitting metallic industrial compositions, to jungle rhythms and indie/soul fusions, there is plenty to check out at this event curated and presented by Black Box Presents and Ishtar Sr.
Patrice: The Movie and How Sweet the Sound
February 28, 7pm
Scribe Video Center, 3908 Lancaster Avenue
Award-winning filmmaker Ted Passon’s 2024 feature documentary romantic comedy Patrice: The Movie, screens this weekend at Scribe. The doc explores the next phase of marriage equality: disability. It follows Patrice, who has found the love of her life Garry, who is also disabled. Getting married or moving in together would be met with the government cutting the benefits they need to survive. Despite that, the couple plans a commitment ceremony that could risk their entire future.
The documentary is preceded by How Sweet the Sound by David Block, a short documentary that focuses on the blind African American street singer John Sutton. We talked about the film earlier this month.
Thornton Wilder’s Our Town
February 28-March 9
OperaDelaware Studios, 4 South Poplar Street, Wilmington
New Light Theatre’s production of the theater classic that challenges us to “realize life while we live it,” focuses on the commonplace and the profound experiences of a village community as they support each other through births, birthdays, addictions, infatuations, new seasons, and grief through young couple Emily and George.
Botanical Elegance Meets Human Tapestry
February 28-April 4
Prism Arts Philadelphia, 1021 Hamilton Street
Artist Kevin Black opens a botanical series that serves as a meditative journey into the heart of New Mexico’s flora, through photographs glided on vellum.
Philly Alaaf! A Karneval TanzParty
Saturday, March 1, 8pm
Ratskeller at the German Society of Pennsylvania, 611 Spring Garden Street
You don’t have to go all the way to Cologne this year for Karneval, as Karneval TanzParty pops up this weekend. Dress in costume, be ready to throw confetti, join the Polnaise line, and tune in for dance music and Karneval sing-along hits.
Revolutionary Women at the MoAR
Sunday, March 2, 9:30am
Museum of the American Revolution, 101 South Third Street
The Museum of the American Revolution hosts a variety of events in celebration of Women’s History Month in March. From a tour highlighting Revolutionary-era women featured in the museum, conversations about Revolutionary-era women in panels and workshops, and a performance featuring the life and experiences of Elizabeth Freeman—also known as Mumbet—a Massachusetts woman who sued for her freedom from enslavement and won.
Sign up for our newsletter
All of the week's new articles, all in one place. Sign up for the free weekly BSR newsletters, and don't miss a conversation.
