Three performers look on with surprise, concern at another performer, who is talking towards the audience.

The BSR Weekly Arts and Culture Roundup, April 24-30, 2025

Earth Day, Satellite Sound Jazz Series, and falling down a Rabbit Hole
Earth Day offerings in the city, a new jazz series from Painted Bride, theater in Chestnut Hill, and more this week. Kyle V. Hiller rounds up.
Kyle V. Hiller

Kyle V. Hiller

Previews 3 minute read
In front of a huge vintage European map, Hulom, Gliko & Pierce look intently toward Rishard, who’s explaining something.

The Wilma Theater presents Rajiv Joseph’s Archduke

Three boys enter a train car
Blanka Zizka returns to the Wilma for the regional premiere of Rajiv Joseph’s Archduke, a fast-moving, boldly designed meditation on an eerily relevant history and the choices we make to engage or resist violence. Josh Herren reviews.
Josh Herren

Josh Herren

Reviews 3 minute read
Orange, blue & yellow collage of a Black woman with long, fine locs wrapped in an elegant twist along the top of her head.

The TILT Institute presents Of Black Wombhood

An antidote to the erasure of Black bodies
A two-part exhibition, now getting its first installment at TILT, “explores the interiority of Black womb-bearing people” with a brilliant mix of photos and collage that are part of a larger oral history project. An Nichols reviews.
An Nichols

An Nichols

Reviews 5 minute read
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Frey by a camera mounted on a tripod, wearing headphones, a scene being talked over in front of the camera

Homegrown filmmakers at the international 19th annual West Chester Film Festival

Lights, camera, local
The West Chester Film Festival screens films from all over the world, and Dara McBride speaks with three local filmmakers to preview the fest.

Dara McBride

Previews 3 minute read
Fabiyi, a Black actor with an afro, wearing earthy yellow clothes, sits on a stool and speaks to Lally, who wears a blue robe

Arden Theatre Company presents J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, adapted by Greg Banks

Small stage, epic journey
Arden Children’s Theatre welcomes youngsters and families to The Hobbit, an ingenious ensemble show that proves we can do great things no matter how small we are—a message we all sorely need. Josh Herren reviews.
Josh Herren

Josh Herren

Reviews 2 minute read
Robinson & Rudd, two white men outside in jackets, look at a mushroom that Rudd is holding.

PFS SpringFest 2025 presents Friendship and The Threesome

Comedy cringe comes to SpringFest
The 2025 PFS SpringFest included screenings of I Think You Should Leave star Tim Robinson’s Friendship, which also stars Paul Rudd in his best performance in years. The fest continues through April 24. Stephen Silver reviews.
Stephen Silver

Stephen Silver

Reviews 6 minute read
The four Black musicians, each wearing a blue or black suit, sit on chairs and play their instruments onstage.

The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society presents The Principal Brothers concert series

Celebrating Black excellence in classical music
Four notable wind players joined a PCMS program featuring a world premiere by James Lee III. Lowry Yankwich reviews.
Lowry Yankwich

Lowry Yankwich

Reviews 4 minute read
View from the back of a small bare classroom with rows of empty desks facing a blank green chalkboard.

Can you pass this quiz on the first 100 days of Trump’s second term?

See how your knowledge stacks up before education is banned in the US
Essayist Anndee Hochman challenges those of us who may need a break from the news with this quiz about our current federal government.
Anndee Hochman

Anndee Hochman

Essays 5 minute read
Scammell, in a head bandage and orange jumpsuit, menaces McLenigan, in a plaid shirt, holding knuckles to his head like a gun

InterAct Theatre Company presents Gabriel Jason Dean’s Rift: or White Lies

Brothers, inside and out
Philly actors Jered McLenigan and Matteo Scammell trade off roles in Rift: or White Lies, now getting its rolling world premiere at InterAct, about two brothers with very different lives struggling to find common ground. Alaina Johns reviews.
Alaina Johns

Alaina Johns

Reviews 4 minute read
The three women sing in lavish sequined purple gowns that have capes lined with huge crinoline boas.

The Walnut Street Theatre presents Tom Eyen and Henry Krieger’s Dreamgirls

Glitter, glam, and heart
A new production of Dreamgirls at the Walnut brings powerful vocals to a show that will offer fresh insights even for longtime fans of the story. Maya Arthur reviews.
Maya Arthur

Maya Arthur

Reviews 3 minute read
6 actors in contemporary clothes on a set like a suburban kitchen make a toast to Lamm at center, wearing a blue jumper

People’s Light presents Noah Haidle’s Birthday Candles

Celebration of life
Superbly produced by People’s Light, Noah Haidle’s Birthday Candles sensitively balances the sentimental and the profound as it follows one extraordinary, ordinary woman through her long life. Cameron Kelsall reviews.
Cameron Kelsall

Cameron Kelsall

Reviews 3 minute read
Logo for the 2025 PVLA Arts Affair on May 15, with a Justice is Blind statue.

The Broad Street Review Podcast: Talking the 2025 PVLA Arts Affair

You're invited as Philly's "cool lawyers" party with artists and supporters on May 15
Darnelle Radford sits down with leaders of PVLA to talk about this year's Arts Affair (coming up on May 15 at REC Philly) and the legal and political concerns local artists are tackling with the help of volunteer lawyers.
Darnelle Radford

Darnelle Radford

Podcast 1 minute read
View over a crowd of thousands of protesters holding a sea of signs on a drizzly gray afternoon.

People criticizing “Hands Off” rallies are ignoring disabled protestors

Disabled people are powerful activists. Do not discount us in the streets.
Criticism or dismissals of the "Hands Off" protests sweeping the US this April aren't just coming from the right. Some left-wing voices are discounting the protest as well. Both sides are ignoring disabled people's courage. Alaina Johns considers.
Alaina Johns

Alaina Johns

Editorials 6 minute read

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Also on BSR

Portrait of a Black man in a blue strap top; jewelry beads and fruit on table in front of him. A red curtain behind him

The BSR Weekly Arts and Culture Roundup, April 17-23, 2025

SpringFest, In the soft light, Banners of Liberty, and more
New exhibitions at the Museum of the American Revolution, DelArt, and InLiquid, with comedy at FringeArts and the return of SpringFest at PFS. Kyle V. Hiller rounds up.
Kyle V. Hiller

Kyle V. Hiller

Previews 4 minute read
Four dancers in tutus in different colors, designs, pose for a group photo, one dancer in a split in front of other three

Roger Lee Dance Company presents Bloom

Dancing with the flowers
Roger Lee Dance Company presents Bloom, a two-night production featuring dances inspired by spring flowers. Camille Bacon-Smith previews.
Camille Bacon-Smith

Camille Bacon-Smith

Previews 3 minute read
Amado in a black formal jacket, head down, lifting a conductor baton in one hand, in a music hall.

BSR Classical Interludes, more in April 2025

Closing the Opera Philadelphia season, music at Longwood Gardens, and Cupid’s Bow
Rounding up the second half of April with classical music performances in the Greater Philadelphia area. Gail Obenreder previews.
Gail Obenreder

Gail Obenreder

Previews 3 minute read
In contemporary clothes in different styles, the singers sit sideways in a row on chairs, gesturing up with their left hands.

Curtis Opera Theatre presents Leonard Bernstein’s Candide

Cultivating our own gardens at the Forrest
Curtis Opera Theatre took to the Forrest Theatre stage for a high-energy production of Leonard Bernstein’s Candide, featuring jaw-dropping voices from the next generation of opera artists. Linda Holt reviews.
Linda Holt

Linda Holt

Reviews 4 minute read
Seven dancers in mid-movement, mostly synced except for the three dancers in the middle who are rising up.

The BSR Weekly Arts and Culture Roundup, April 10-16, 2025

Stompin’ at the Savoy, Boom: Art and Design in the 1940s, printPHILLY! and more
A new exhibition at the PMA, swing dance at DTC, offerings from Theatre By Development, Resident Ensemble Players, and the Wilma, and the third annual printPHILLY! highlight the week. Kyle V. Hiller rounds up.
Kyle V. Hiller

Kyle V. Hiller

Previews 3 minute read
View from the audience in the church pews of six musicians playing period instruments on the chancel.

Tempesta di Mare presents Bach’s Trio Sonatas

Rearranging the Organ Sonatas—just like Bach used to do
Tempesta di Mare reimagined Bach’s Trio Sonatas, originally written for keyboards and often played on the organ, for chamber forces including recorder, violin, lute, harpsichord, and a surprise instrument. Gail Obenreder reviews.
Gail Obenreder

Gail Obenreder

Reviews 4 minute read
A medium close up portrait of Lynch, with blonde/gray hair, a black jacket, in front of a mic, smiling or laughing

PhilaMOCA to celebrate 35 years of Twin Peaks with screenings and Michael Horse

A damn fine cup of coffee
David Lynch will be celebrated and honored by events at PhilaMOCA this month, including a visit from Michael Horse of Twin Peaks fame. Stephen Silver previews.
Stephen Silver

Stephen Silver

Previews 7 minute read
Two performers on a tall pole on stage in mid-movement. One in blue, the other red. Other performers in red and blue look on

The 7 Fingers and Penn Live Arts present Duel Reality

Taking Romeo and Juliet to new heights
The 7 Fingers offers a thrilling acrobatic take on a classic tragedy. Melissa Strong reviews.
Melissa Strong

Melissa Strong

Reviews 4 minute read
A woman nurse with pale skin and brown hair, wearing blue scrubs, looks calmly outward from a thicket of red spring branches

The Mütter Museum presents Trusted Messengers: Community, Confidence, and COVID-19

Five years later: remembering pandemic heroes
A new special exhibition at the Mütter Museum marks five years since the first Covid shutdowns, honoring the healthcare workers, researchers, and truth-tellers who saved millions of lives. Erin Dohony reviews.
Erin Dohony

Erin Dohony

Reviews 4 minute read
Three PDP dancers, each on one leg in the middle of a dynamic tilting move, perform in a venue with an old gym floor.

Philadelphia Dance Projects presents Dance Up Close: Seeds and Sounds and Jumper Cables

Choreographic collaborations
Philadelphia Dance Projects’ Dance Up Close 2025 series kicked off with Jumper Cables and Seeds and Sounds, showcasing interdisciplinary collaborations at Christ Church Neighborhood House. Camille Bacon-Smith reviews.
Camille Bacon-Smith

Camille Bacon-Smith

Reviews 3 minute read