PCMS presents the Musical Fund Society of Philadelphia’s 200th Anniversary Concert

Still vibrant at 202 (and counting)

The Musical Fund Society of Philadelphia marked its bicentennial in 2020, and was finally able to celebrate with four commissioned Philly-inspired premieres by world-class contemporary composers. Margaret Darby reviews.

Margaret Darby

May 03, 2022 · Reviews · 4 minute read

The Philadelphia Orchestra presents Gil Shaham playing Vivaldi's Four Seasons

Seasons of love

The Philadelphia Orchestra’s string players took the spotlight in a performance anchored by Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, with guest soloist Gil Shaham. Cameron Kelsall reviews.

Cameron Kelsall

May 02, 2022 · Reviews · 3 minute read

The African American Museum in Philadelphia presents Derrick Adams: Sanctuary

Know before you go

Derrick Adams: Sanctuary, now on view at AAMP, is inspired by the Green Book travel guide that helped Black motorists plan their trips in the Jim Crow era. Pamela J. Forsythe reviews.

Pamela J. Forsythe

Apr 27, 2022 · Reviews · 4 minute read

The Wilma Theater presents Dmitry Krymov’s adaption of Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard

The sign of a good show

The Wilma gives Chekhov’s classic a chaotic, colorful modern update—complete with a sentient train station departure sign. Jill Ivey reviews.

Jillian Ashley Blair Ivey

Apr 26, 2022 · Reviews · 3 minute read

Resident Ensemble Players presents Theresa Rebeck’s Yeah Baby

Paging Pirandello

Expectation and reality collide in Theresa Rebeck’s Yeah Baby, an absurdist comedy that is the playwright’s fourth Resident Ensemble Players premiere. Gail Obenreder reviews.

Gail Obenreder

Apr 26, 2022 · Reviews · 4 minute read

PHILADANCO! presents RE (RE-vived and Archived, RE-visited and RE-constructed)

Reliving the repertoire

On the night founder Joan Myers Brown received the Avenue of the Arts Visionary Award, PHILADANCO! gave us a taste of that vision to open its 52nd year. Camille Bacon-Smith reviews.

Camille Bacon-Smith

Apr 25, 2022 · Reviews · 4 minute read

Philadelphia Theatre Company presents Madeline Sayet’s Where We Belong

Flying between worlds

In Where We Belong, a compelling but uneven solo work at Philadelphia Theatre Company, Madeline Sayet explores what it means to study Shakespeare from an Indigenous perspective. Cameron Kelsall reviews.

Cameron Kelsall

Apr 25, 2022 · Reviews · 3 minute read

The Education of a Journalist, by Dan Rottenberg

The power of public discussion

As his readers already know, BSR founding editor Dan Rottenberg loves a good debate, a quest he affirms in his journalistic memoir. Longtime colleague Rob Laymon reviews.

Rob Laymon

Apr 18, 2022 · Reviews · 5 minute read

Leonard Pearlstein Gallery presents Lastgaspism: Art and Survival in the Age of Pandemic

Our long breathless moment

Lastgaspism, a new exhibition at Drexel’s Pearlstein gallery, explores breath and life in a time full of new fears for both. Pamela J. Forsythe reviews.

Pamela J. Forsythe

Apr 18, 2022 · Reviews · 5 minute read

Project Moshen presents Woman

Girl power in dance

Project Moshen, Philadelphia’s all-female jazz dance company, presents Woman, a reimagining of its 2018 work examining a range of gender issues and some good old girl power nostalgia. Melissa Strong reviews.

Melissa Strong

Apr 12, 2022 · Reviews · 4 minute read