March 8, 2012
Call it “American Idol Meets Opera.”
At 8 p.m. this Saturday, March 10 at the Ethical Society of Philadelphia, Center City Opera Theater (CCOT) will host a one-of-a-kind event where you get to help choose America’s next great opera composer.
In an event called “Art Songs for the 21st Century,” 15 composers will compete for a chance to work with CCOT on the next great American opera.
CCOT has pre-selected a group of 15 composers who, during the competition, will present two contrasting “art songs” — equaling 30 world premiere compositions — that will be performed by CCOT’s Young Artists.
Art songs are stand-alone vocal compositions that are not part of a staged work (such as an opera). Art songs show if a composer can write for the human voice. They also demonstrate that drama, wit, melody and a balance of music and text are part of the composer’s aesthetic.
Towards the end of the challenge, the audience will vote on their favorite composer. At least two composers will be invited to participate in CCOT’s Creative Development Projects, a new works program that puts operas-in-development through a series of workshops, which can possibly lead to production and/or commission on their main stage.
Tickets can be purchased online.
Center City Opera Theater’s Art Songs for the 21st Century
When: Saturday, March 10, 8 p.m.
Where: Ethical Society of Philadelphia, 1906 Rittenhouse Square
Cost: $100 (Supporter); $40 (Chanteur); $20 (Lyricist)
More info: www.centercityoperatheater.com
March 6, 2012
Tony Award-winning Idina Menzel, star of Broadway’s Wicked, the original stage production of Rent, and FOX smash hit Glee, returns to the Mann June 30 to perform with the Philadelphia Orchestra. (Photo courtesy Idina Menzel)
Broadway powerhouse Idina Menzel — the Tony award-winning “Elphaba” from international blockbuster Wicked and Tony-nominated Maureen from Rent – last performed at The Mann Center with The Philadelphia Orchestra in summer 2010.
Now she’s back, June 30, with even more credits under her belt, as Lea Michele’s mother on Fox’s hit Glee and a brand new album released today, “Idina Menzel Live: Barefoot at the Symphony.”
Check out more of Idina’s music here.
Tickets went on sale yesterday; be sure you nab yours quickly before they sell out.
Idina Menzel and the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Mann Center
When: June 30, 8 p.m.
Where: 52nd Street and Parkside Avenue
Cost: Tickets range from $19.50 for Terrace/Lawn to $95
More info: www.manncenter.org
March 5, 2012
Philadelphia is Springsteen central this month with the National Constitution's Center blockbuster exhibition and an appearance by The Boss himself in concert with The E Street Band at the Wells Fargo Center, March 28-29. (Photo courtesy Springsteen)
In case you haven’t heard, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are playing two concerts at the Wells Fargo Center this month, March 28-29.
Tickets have been snatched up quickly, but here’s another option: the band has donated two concert packages to Philabundance, the Delaware Valley’s largest hunger relief organization, to auction off for the March 29 show.
Each package includes two concert tickets and passes to the VUP E Street Lounge, which will give auction winners a chance to relax before the show. Plus, concert seats are located in the loge section within the first five rows.
Concert packages will be auctioned off at www.philabundance.org/BruceAuction from now through March 16 at 11:59 p.m. Packages will be awarded to the highest bidder.
100% of the proceeds from the ticket auctions will go to Philabundance, so it’s a great way to give back to the region that produced such an awesome rock band.
Want more Bruce? Check out the National Constitution’s Center blockbuster exhibition From Asbury Park to the Promised Land: The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen, the first major exhibition about the pioneering American songwriter featuring 150+ items many of which have never before been seen by the public.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band in Philly
When: March 28-29
Where: Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad Street
Cost: Tickets start at $68
More info: www.brucespringsteen.net
From Asbury Park to the Promised Land: The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen
Where: National Constitution Center
When: February 17 to September 3, 2012
Cost: $24.50 for adults, $23 for seniors and students and $12 for children ages 4-12
More info: www.constitutioncenter.org
March 2, 2012
Philadelphia’s creative industry is more robust than ever, with several hundreds of theaters, dance companies, musical ensembles and visual arts organizations actively producing incredible work on a daily basis.
The only thing missing is a cornerstone with which each art discipline can be fused together, encouraging cross-pollination and providing artistic and financial support.
Enter: the Philadelphia Performing Arts Kitchen, a brand new center for artistic development whose mission is to “promote the practice and discourse of devised performance in Philadelphia, primarily through providing project-based support to individual artists across disciplines who are dedicated to a collaborative and exploratory approach to making new performance work.”
Translation? The Philadelphia Performing Arts Kitchen supplies financial backing, creative feedback and professional support in management, development, marketing and production for groups of local artists.
The Kitchen vets projects through a peer review process, with a panel of Artistic Advisors drawn from the four disciplines (theater, dance, music and visual arts). Projects are funded with the Kitchen’s non-profit dollars, matched by funds raised by the artists on a 3:1 basis.
The venture is a bold one, and holds exciting promise for Philadelphia’s creative future. This region has an absolutely incredible pool of talent; the Kitchen will help ensure that the city remains a creative haven and an internationally recognized center for ensemble-created work. Move over, New York.
The Kitchen is holding an official launch event on Monday, March 19 at Di Bruno Bros., where you can enjoy food, drinks and mingling with creative professionals from all avenues around the city. RSVP to cdinucci@performingartskitchen.org.
Philadelphia Performing Arts Kitchen [Official Site]
March 1, 2012
Philadelphia-bred Brian Anthony Wilson of HBO's The Wire and major movies like Limitless will be singing the Great American Songbook standards on April 7. (Photo courtesy Brian Anthony Wilson)
Philadelphia’s own Brian Anthony Wilson, best known for his recurring role as Detective Vernon Holley on the award-winning HBO series The Wire, will be among a bevy of talented singers all paying tribute to the Great American Songbook in “The Five-Minute Follies Presents Swingin’ the Standards” at The Rotunda in West Philly on Saturday, April 7 at 8 p.m.
“The Five-Minute Follies” is a fast-paced tribute to variety shows of the Golden Age, paying homage to programs such as Ed Sullivan’s “Toast of the Town” and Ted Mack’s “Original Amateur Hour.” This particular show will be an all-singing, all-swinging tribute to the Great American Songbook.
Think melodic standards with witty and lovely lyrics by some of America’s greatest composers like Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and the Gershwins, among others.
Many people will recognize Brian Anthony Wilson not only from The Wire, but also major films like Rounders with Ed Norton, Keeping the Faith with Ben Stiller, and Limitless with Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro. Brian has also appeared in local theatre productions such as Superior Donuts and Charlotte’s Web at the Arden Theatre Company.
Also appearing at this family-friendly event will be Greg Myers, winner of the 2011 Sinatra Idol competition in Hoboken, NJ, along with Five Minute Follies favorite Tamara Anderson, and 11-year-old singing sensation Tina Siciliano (aka “the little girl with the big voice”).
Tickets, $10, are available online.
Five-Minute Follies Presents the Great American Songbook
When: Saturday, April 7, 8 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.
Where: The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut Street
Cost: $10
More info: www.fiveminutefollies.com
February 29, 2012
Get up-close-and-personal with Bruce Springsteen's longtime drummer Max Weinberg at the National Museum of American Jewish History. (Photo courtesy NMAJH)
The National Museum of American Jewish History and National Constitution Center have teamed up to bring Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg to the museum for a tell-all night about his personal experiences from playing his first Bar Mitzvah at age 7 to playing professionally with The Boss.
Aside from his affiliation with Bruce, the legendary musician has just formed his own group, the Max Weinberg Big Band, and has performed with “The Max Weinberg 7″ on Late Night with Conan O’Brien.
Nicknamed “Mighty Max” by The Boss himself, Max continues to earn acclaim for his talent and strong work ethic in his 38th year of performing with The E Street Band, which he has called “the attainment of everything a twelve year old drummer from the suburbs of Jersey ever dared to dream.”
Guitarist Steven Van Zandt told Rolling Stone, “There’s no drummer that could replace Max…. [N]ot only is Max a great drummer, Max reads Bruce’s mind. You can’t learn that. That’s impossible to learn. You could spend months rehearsing and you’ll never get that.”
Tickets are on sale now ($18 for NMAJH and NCC Members, Special pre-sale offer: NMAJH Members $15 before March 5th, $25 for general public.)
And tickets to the Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band concert at the Wells Fargo Center the day after Max’s appearance at the Jewish Museum are available as well; more info on that concert here.
Be sure to also check out the Constitution Center’s blockbuster Bruce Springsteen exhibition for a behind-the-scenes peak at the group’s storied past.
Max Weinberg at the National Museum of American Jewish History
When: Tuesday, March 27, 7:30 p.m.
Where: 101 S. Independence Mall East
Cost: $18 for NCC Members, $25 for general public
More info: www.nmajh.org
February 29, 2012
Remember the Mural Arts’ new Roots Mural that is coming later this year to 6th and South Streets? It’s a big deal. Not just for the Mural Arts Program but for The Roots as well. And the group knows as much. In an interview with WHYY, Black Thought, aka Tariq Trotter The Roots frontman, placed the honor above receiving a Grammy: “Grammy-shrammy — I’m not excitable about many things in life. This is something I’m very excited about. I’m a Philadelphian.” Well said, Tariq. We’re pretty excited too. [Newsworks]
February 28, 2012
Catch Questlove DJing at the African American Museum this Friday. (Photo by M. Edlow for GPTMC)
The African American Museum in Philadelphia is celebrating its 36th Anniversary this week and the museum’s Young Friends group is capping the festivities on Friday with the Next Level dance party, featuring Philly’s renaissance man Questlove on the turntables.
Light snacks and cocktails are on the menu and DJ Questlove and Jay O will provide the soundtrack with a healthy dose of old school funk.
Philly 360° Creative Ambassador Florcy Morisset will be displaying art from her Vivant Art Collection as well, adding an exciting visual component to the evening.
Tickets include a one-year membership to the African American Museum and are now on sale for $50. Membership benefits include free yearly admission to the museum, invitations to exhibition openings and special events and much more.
Next Level at the African American Museum
When: Friday, March 2, 9 p.m.
Where: African American Museum in Philadelphia, 7th and Arch Streets
Cost: Tickets are $50 in advance, $60 at the door
More info: www.aampmuseum.org
February 23, 2012
Catch a free concert every Saturday evening in the Kimmel Center Commonwealth Plaza. (Photo courtesy Kimmel Center)
The Kimmel Center expands its popular Free at the Kimmel offerings with a new series: “Live from the Plaza Stage.”
The program offers an opportunity to catch local up and coming performing artists on a weekly basis.
Shows run from 6-7 p.m. every Saturday, and to sweeten the deal, the Kimmel offers happy hour specials of $1 off beers and $2 off wines at its PECO and Annex bars, plus raffles and ticket giveaways to Kimmel Center Presents and Broadway season shows.
The performances continue through June 16, and are a great way to sample emerging artists in the realm of pop, jazz, instrumental, world music and dance. They’re tomorrow’s stars, but you can catch them today, for free.
“Live from the Plaza Stage” Series
Where: Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad Street
When: Saturdays through June 16, 6–7 p.m.
Cost: Free!
More info: www.kimmelcenter.org
February 23, 2012
11th Hour Theatre Company takes you on a raucous journey through rock and roll history — without having to leave your seat. (Photo courtesy 11th Hour)
11th Hour Theatre Company’s “Philly Rocks” concert is back for its seventh year, at World Cafe Live this Monday, February 27.
This year, 11th Hour will take audiences back to the 60s with some of the greatest songs of that decade. Think The Beach Boys, Dion, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Dusty Springfield, Jefferson Airplane, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and many more.
Audiences will also get a sneak peek at 11th Hour’s spring production, The Marvelous Wonderettes.
For the last six years, Philly Rocks has sold out, so don’t miss out!
Quizzo starts at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $25 and $15 for students and industry. Tickets are available online or by phone at (267) 987-9865.
11th Hour Theatre Company’s “Philly Rocks”
When: Monday, February 27, 7 p.m.
Where: World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut Street
Cost: $25; $15 for students and industr
More info: www.11thhourtheatrecompany.org
