Name: Cotter Interactive
Price range: $

A chronicle of the best public defender office in the country. (Image courtesy of Temple University Press.)

‘The Defender,’ by Edward W. Madeira Jr. and Michael D. Schaffer

If you cannot afford an attorney…

‘The Defender: The Battle to Protect the Rights of the Accused in Philadelphia’ traces the history of Philly’s famous public defender office, and the challenges it still faces. Pamela Forsythe reviews.

Pamela J. Forsythe

Jan 25, 2021 Reviews 5 minute read

Carrying each other through illness and sorrow: Shawn Cusseaux and Skyler Lubin in Manuel Vignoulle’s ‘Heal.’ (Photo by Daniel Madoff.)

BalletX presents Tsai Hsi Hung, Manuel Vignoulle, and Francesca Harper

Dancing in the bubble

BalletX continues its season of world-premiere short dance films, with a third installment featuring choreographers Tsai Hsi Hung, Manuel Vignoulle, and Francesca Harper. Camille Bacon-Smith reviews.

Camille Bacon-Smith

Jan 25, 2021 Reviews 4 minute read

A worthy launch for what promises to be a fruitful relationship for oboist Philippe Tondre and the Philadelphia Orchestra. (Photo by Jeff Fusco.)

The Philadelphia Orchestra presents its solo debut of new principal oboist Philippe Tondre

The most elegant of instruments

In his Philadelphia Orchestra solo debut, new principal oboist Phillipe Tondre offered a sweet and lyrical rendition of Mozart’s most celebrated work for oboe. Linda Holt reviews.

Linda Holt

Jan 18, 2021 Reviews 3 minute read

Intense and expressive: Caroline Clay in ‘Etta and Ella on the Upper West Side.’ (Image courtesy of Round House Theatre.)

Round House Theatre and McCarter present Adrienne Kennedy’s ‘Etta and Ella’

Missing Kennedy’s energy

Round House Theatre and McCarter’s Work of Adrienne Kennedy: Inspiration & Influence festival concludes with the stream of ‘Etta and Ella on the Upper West Side,’ a static production that undermines the playwright’s complex text. Hanae Mason reviews.

Hanae Mason

Jan 11, 2021 Reviews 3 minute read

Playing together with practiced ease: violists Misha Amory and Hsin-Yun Huang. (Image courtesy of PCMS.)

The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society presents a program for violas and piano

Voilà violas

With a program starring violists Hsin-Yun Huang and Misha Armory and pianist Thomas Sauer, the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society spotlighted the alto voice of the string family with an inventive online program. Margaret Darby reviews.

Margaret Darby

Jan 11, 2021 Reviews 3 minute read

Authority and bon vivant: mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton plays Julia Child in Opera Philadelphia’s ‘Bon Appétit!.’ (Image courtesy of Opera Philadelphia.)

Opera Philadelphia presents Lee Hoiby and Mark Shulgasser’s ‘Bon Appétit!’

A musical piece of cake

A benefit performance of the Julia Child-inspired ‘Bon Appétit!’ for Opera Philadelphia highlights the arresting artistry and comic chops of mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton. Cameron Kelsall reviews.

Cameron Kelsall

Jan 11, 2021 Reviews 3 minute read

Dances of the Animals: Bob Wiemken plays “The Goat’s Masque” on the douçaine. (Photo by David Lowe.)

Piffaro presents ‘Music for 12th Night’

Masked for the masque

Piffaro’s ‘Music for 12th Night’ showcased 17th-century mystery, mastery, and music. Gail Obenreder reviews.

Gail Obenreder

Jan 05, 2021 Reviews 5 minute read

Frank discussions on race took on new meaning for these authors. (Image courtesy of Temple University Press.)

‘Do Right By Me,’ by Valerie I. Harrison and Kathryn Peach D’Angelo

Adoption in black and white

Two local educators use their friendship and their expertise to explore the sensitive topic of transracial adoption in ‘Do Right By Me: Learning to Raise Black Children in White Spaces.’ Pamela Forsythe reviews.

Pamela J. Forsythe

Jan 04, 2021 Reviews 4 minute read

Does your job make you? (Image courtesy of Coffee House Press.)

‘Temporary’ by Hilary Leichter

Working identity

‘Temporary’ is the tale of a temporary worker trying to find permanence, a quest that will resonate with American workers, especially in the pandemic. Elisa Shoenberger reviews.