Name: Cotter Interactive
Price range: $

Santoro adjusts a student’s posture, three students in leotards in the rehearsal space by a ballet barre.

Jaime Santoro and the magical children of Philadelphia Ballet’s The Nutcracker

Setting the stage for the children

Camille Bacon-Smith sits with faculty member and children’s ballet stager Jaime Santoro on staging The Nutcracker and teaching children how to perform.

Camille Bacon-Smith

Dec 14, 2022 Profiles 3 minute read

'Saturnalia', a novel by Stephanie Feldman reads on the book cover. A woman has plants growing from her hair

Capturing the magic of the real world with Stephanie Feldman and Saturnalia

Casting spells with a witchy woman

Feldman's new speculative novel is a haunting, magical glimpse into the very near future. Michelle Nugent profiles.

Michelle Nugent

Oct 12, 2022 Profiles 3 minute read

A collage of store fronts in rowhomes, a four story stone school building, and a SEPTA trolley, with stylized colors.

Da Vinci Art Alliance presents Reimagining Monoliths

Picturing Philly’s educational and social landscape

Philadelphia native Mike Smaczylo wants to build a different future for education and the city's residents. Christina Anthony profiles.

Christina Anthony

Sep 28, 2022 Profiles 2 minute read

A human-shaped sculpture has a rope connected to it and another sculpture. Illustrations on canvas are behind it on the wall

Da Vinci Art Alliance presents Shwarga Bhattacharjee’s When the Subaltern Speaks

Introspection through the immigrant lens

Shwarga Bhattacharjee’s new exhibition at DVAA explores the immigrant experience through paintings, illustrations, and sculptures. Christina Anthony profiles.

Christina Anthony

Sep 07, 2022 Profiles 2 minute read

Leung stands with two others in front of a paparazzi backdrop, holding an award

Remembering home, history, and culture with Brandon Leung and Baisun

Scents that reconnect

Baisun Candle Company founder Brandon Leung finds inspiration in trips to Philadelphia’s H Mart and memories of Hong Kong summers. Dara McBride profiles.

Dara McBride

Jul 27, 2022 Profiles 3 minute read

Bringing the world to Philadelphia for 50 years with Randy Swartz

Honoring the dance presenter, and dancing with 'Alice'

Dance presenter F. Randolph Swartz retired in 2020, and Penn Live Arts finally gets the chance to honor his work and contributions to the city. Camille Bacon-Smith profiles.

Camille Bacon-Smith

Jun 01, 2022 Profiles 3 minute read

A balcony shot of the orchestra inside a church, wearing all black on a stage. A camera person records between the audience

Tempesta di Mare presents On Tour from Dresden

20 years a tempo and counting

Gail Obenreder looks at Tempesta di Mare as they celebrate their 20th anniversary and debut On Tour from Dresden, a film about their March 2022 Germany tour.

Gail Obenreder

Apr 20, 2022 Profiles 4 minute read

Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and guiding the next generation of dancers

Choreographing mentorship

Choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa talks with Camille Bacon-Smith about returning to the stage as a mentor for this year’s BalletX choreographic fellow Tsai Hsi Hung.

Camille Bacon-Smith

Apr 13, 2022 Profiles 3 minute read

Heifetz stands in front of door outside, magic hour light tints his multicolored button up.

Elliah Heifetz presents First Generation American

Folk music for the modern age

Elliah Heifetz skillfully satirizes what it means to be an American in his modern folk album First Generation American. Blair Krassen previews.

Blair Krassen

Mar 30, 2022 Profiles 4 minute read

Two dance in a dim room, neon lights outside the window. The man is in loungewear, the woman wears a leopard print dress

Lightbox Film Center and the importance of film preservation

Reviving films and preserving their history

The center’s new preservation program kicks off with the premiere of a never-before-seen cut of Wayne Wang’s Life is Cheap…But Toilet Paper Is Expensive. KC Wingert profiles.

KC Wingert

Mar 02, 2022 Profiles 2 minute read