
The BSR Weekly Arts and Culture Roundup, December 7-13, 2023
SVADBA, West Philly Holiday Fest, Concert for Coats, and Books & Wires
An award-winning opera film streams, Multiverse hosts a sci-fi-inspired soundscape, holiday events off the beaten path, and writing about everyday moments. Kyle V. Hiller rounds up.

Previews
3 minute read

Celebrating 125 years of Deutsche Grammophon with Philadelphia Orchestra
An anniversary soirée at the Orchestra
The music recording label opens a global celebration of 125 years, and the only soirée of its kind happening in the US is right on Broad Street. Cameron Kelsall previews.
Previews
3 minute read

PHILADANCO! presents Intangible Influences
Reflections through dance
PHILADANCO! opens the stage with a program featuring the works of new and familiar choreographers, touching on intimate stories and reflections. Camille Bacon-Smith previews.

Previews
3 minute read

BSR Classical Interludes, December 2023
Singing into the holiday spirit
Holiday cheer, community carols, and the return of the “Silent Night” Sing-in highlight the month. Gail Obenreder previews.

Previews
3 minute read

First ever tour brings Dorrance Dance’s Nutcracker Suite to Penn Live Arts
Tapping into Black vernacular tradition in the snow
The New York City tap dance company pays a visit to Philly this weekend with a unique take on the winter classic. Eileen B. Fisher previews.

Previews
2 minute read

BSR Behind the Scenes: An inside look at our editorial process
Going backstage at BSR: how do we publish so many writers?
Did you know that BSR is Philly's top destination for professional arts journalism...and that we're a small, independent nonprofit made up entirely of remote-working part-timers? Here's how we do it.

Editorials
4 minute read

The Wilma Theater presents James Ijames’s Fat Ham
High on the hog
Fat Ham comes home in this new production at the Wilma, onstage as it was meant to be, after the company debuted a filmed version in 2021. Everyone is welcome to the cookout. Hanae Mason reviews.

Reviews
6 minute read

1812 Productions presents This Is the Week That Is
Satire wanted
A Philly tradition since 2006, This Is the Week That Is attempts to wring mirth from the news, but this year’s iteration ranges from offensive to baffling. Emily Schilling reviews.

Reviews
3 minute read

The Kimmel Cultural Campus and the Shubert Organization present the national tour of Company
Still in good company with Sondheim
Sondheim still abounds, despite his recent passing, and the new tour of Company takes a gender swap to the 1970 story, with uneven results that nevertheless keep the joy of the show alive. Kiran Pandey reviews.

Reviews
4 minute read
Quintessence Theatre Group Presents The Fantasticks
Try to remember
In Quintessence Theatre Group’s December production of The Fantasticks, complex poetries meet deceptively simple story and design, honoring both youthful sparks and older gratitude. C.M. Crockford reviews.

Reviews
3 minute read
Netflix presents Bradley Cooper’s Maestro
A powerful realization of Leonard Bernstein’s life and loves
Star, director, co-writer, and co-producer Bradley Cooper’s Maestro, the new Netflix biopic on Leonard Bernstein, has important connections to Philadelphia’s creative life and music. Victor L. Schermer reviews.

Reviews
3 minute read

The freedom on the bike, and the freedom in the weeds
Making magic in the ragweed
As a boy, Kile Smith knew there was no freedom like riding your own bike on your own time. But now, as he watches the world go by from his garden, a whole new kingdom opens up.

Essays
5 minute read
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Also on BSR

The BSR Weekly Arts and Culture Roundup, November 30-December 6, 2023
World AIDS Day, Philly Zine Fest, This Is The Week That Is and more
Rounding up this week with classic shows from Quintessence and 1812 Productions, a pair of events happening in the spirit of World AIDS Day, and a decades-old zine fest. Kyle V. Hiller previews.

Previews
2 minute read

The BSR December 2023 movie repertory roundup
Schindler’s List, It’s a Wonderful Life, and the five best films of all time
Holiday classics abound, a milestone anniversary for Spielberg, and wrapping up the Sight and Sound top 100 films of all-time. Stephen Silver previews.

Previews
5 minute read

Has Philly lost touch with the true musical roots of tap dance?
Tap dance is much more than learning the steps
The true art of tap, including historic Philly dancers, has its roots in collaboration and improvisation, not recorded music or memorized choreography. Philly tap dance leader Pamela Hetherington explains.

Essays
5 minute read

Menstruation is a part of life, but pain doesn’t have to be
Why don’t we take women’s pain seriously?
Despite studies that show women experience pain more acutely, we wait longer for diagnosis and pain relief than men do—if we get relief at all. Isabel Soisson considers.

Essays
5 minute read

The Delaware Art Museum presents The Rossettis
A new look at some old radicals
The Delaware Art Museum has the biggest collection of British Pre-Raphaelite artworks outside the UK, and this exhibition, which opened at Tate Britain and now lands stateside, honors the radical Rossettis. Gail Obenreder reviews.

Reviews
5 minute read

BSR Behind the Scenes: Why do we need arts criticism?
Going backstage at BSR: The truth about reviewing
In our experience, some people opine that the critics are just dragging the cultural scene down—especially when a review is mixed or negative. But is that true? Not at all. Alaina Johns explains in this BSR Behind the Scenes editorial.

Editorials
6 minute read

Remembering Stan and Jan Berenstain, the Philly artists who created the Berenstain Bears
The makers of America’s favorite bear family
Stanley Melvin Berenstain met Janice Marian Grant when they were both studying art in Philadelphia—ostensibly to join the army, but their career took a very different turn. Emily Zarevich considers.
Essays
3 minute read

The Lantern Theater presents Lynn Nottage’s Crumbs from the Table of Joy
Feasting on Crumbs
Crumbs from the Table of Joy, a lesser-known early work by Lynn Nottage, one of America’s most popular playwrights, still feels relevant in this Lantern Theater production. Krista Mar reviews.

Reviews
3 minute read

BSR Classical Interludes November 2023, part 2
Market Street Music, Wister and More, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, and more
Another serving of November classical music offerings popping up in the Greater Philadelphia area. Gail Obenreder previews.

Previews
3 minute read

The BSR Weekly Arts and Culture Roundup, November 16-22, 2023
Table Sessions, local Philly films, and music with Ruth Naomi Floyd
A short film festival from cinéSPEAK, music at the Weitzman and Bartram’s Garden, new play Shoptalk, and more highlight the week. Kyle V. Hiller rounds up.

Previews
3 minute read