Production shot of the three stars, standing in a row wearing 19th-century suits. Green letters behind read Lehman Brothers

Arden Theatre Company Presents Stefano Massini’s The Lehman Trilogy, adapted by Ben Power

When speculation trumps slavery

A well-acted, well-crafted new production of the epic Lehman Trilogy now getting its regional premiere at the Arden can’t overcome this play’s moral bankruptcy. C.M. Crockford reviews.
C.M. Crockford

C.M. Crockford

Reviews 4 minute read
Close-up on the conductor, with gray hair, glasses, and a black tux conducting with a baton, with darkness behind him.

The Philadelphia Orchestra presents Carl Orff’s Carmina burana

Springing ahead with a popular classic

The Philadelphia Orchestra teamed with conductor Fabio Luisi, the Mendelssohn
Chorus of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale, and Philadelphia Girls Choir for a much-anticipated Carmina Burana. Linda Holt reviews.
Linda Holt

Linda Holt

Reviews 4 minute read
In the crowded gallery, Wong, holding papers, looks down smiling at Steinborn, who sits on the floor and looks up.

Meet FRIEDA, where an intergenerational community (re)connects over food, arts, and culture

An antidote to the loneliness epidemic

With its versatile Walnut Street storefront in Old City, FRIEDA has become a magnet for transplants and Philly natives alike. Wendy Univer talks to the founders about this burgeoning cultural hub’s found family and latest exhibition, POMBAA.
Wendy Univer

Wendy Univer

Features 5 minute read
Yorke, a white woman, and DeShields, a Black man, stand in profile back-to-back, with a red light flaring overhead.

Inis Nua Theatre Company presents Sonya Kelly’s Once Upon a Bridge

Acts of violence, acts of kindness

Inis Nua’s Once Upon a Bridge dramatizes a random act of violence with empathy and suspense. Cameron Kelsall reviews.
Cameron Kelsall

Cameron Kelsall

Reviews 3 minute read
Schmit, Charles pose together. Schmit wears all black with a blazer, Charles in a print T and jeans, against a white curtain

Pleasurable sex re-education with DTF: Darryl & Timaree Fun Hour

Getting nerdy and dirty

Collaborators Timaree Schmit and Darryl Charles, hosts of DTF, talk sex, comedy, education, and being kindred souls. Daralyse Lyons profiles.

Daralyse Lyons

Profiles 4 minute read
Close-up of Tom, an elderly white man, with glasses, a tan cap, white goatee, and calm smile.

The man who called me an optimist: Remembering writer Tom Purdom

“This is my editor.”

In January, the BSR community lost one of our founding members: science-fiction and music writer Tom Purdom. Near the end of his career, he never balked at having a youngster for his editor. Alaina Johns remembers a treasured friend and colleague.
Alaina Johns

Alaina Johns

Editorials 7 minute read
Keisha and Doug pose for a portrait style photo against a cream/beige backdrop

The BSR Weekly Arts and Culture Roundup, March 14-20, 2024

Intercultural Journeys, Power/Play, Embracing the Light, and more

Moving through the water with Water Speaks, animation for change, and finding light in dark places in this week’s roundup. Kyle V. Hiller previews.
Kyle V. Hiller

Kyle V. Hiller

Previews 3 minute read
Puno sits in a hexagonal structure, soft with fabrics, pillows, etc., holding a large polygonal shape

The Fabric Workshop presents Risa Puno: Group Hug

The gamification of care work

In her first museum solo exhibition, Risa Puno creates a multimedia installation that gamifies care work while thoughtfully weaving in details about her cultural identity, personal history, and family dynamics. Alicia Link previews.
Alicia Link

Alicia Link

Previews 2 minute read
The Dreams pose with white-gloved arms up, against a luxe gold curtain, wearing silvery formal dresses and white feather boas

McCarter Theatre Center presents Tom Eyen and Henry Krieger’s Dreamgirls

Flashy Dreams

McCarter Theatre Center’s revival of Dreamgirls features an all-star cast, lots of glitz, and dynamic, dazzling hair and costumes. But can it overcome the show’s core flaws? Josh Herren reviews.
Josh Herren

Josh Herren

Reviews 2 minute read
August Wilson's portrait described in the piece. Shades of blue, teal, & flashes of yellow & orange break through the black.

Arthur Ross Gallery presents Barbara Earl Thomas: The Illuminated Body

Carving with light

The layered, kaleidoscopic works of Barbara Earl Thomas, who ingeniously harnesses paper, light, and glass, are now on view at Arthur Ross Gallery. Pamela J. Forsythe reviews.

Pamela J. Forsythe

Reviews 5 minute read
Collage-style portrait Daily Practice #17 described in text below, incorporating paint, photo, threads & many small objects

Philadelphia's Magic Gardens presents Ritual of Self: Isaiah Zagar’s Self-Portraits on Paper

Never the same man twice

Philly’s Isaiah Zagar is famous for his mosaic murals swirling on hundreds of public walls. Now, fans are invited home to Philadelphia's Magic Gardens for a new show selected from thousands of Zagar’s daily self-portraits. Anndee Hochman reviews.
Anndee Hochman

Anndee Hochman

Reviews 5 minute read
Informal black & white daytime photo of Brodovitch walking across dozens of photos laid flat on the office floor.

The Barnes Foundation presents Alexey Brodovitch: Astonish Me

Surprising the eye

Twentieth-century designer and photographer Alexey Brodovitch revolutionized more than one field of visual arts, but he’s best known for his stint as art director at Harper’s Bazaar. His first major US exhibition, now at the Barnes, covers his entire career. Pamela J. Forsythe reviews.

Pamela J. Forsythe

Reviews 5 minute read
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Four players dressed down in mostly all black. Two hold a viola, a cello, and two hold violins

BSR Classical Interludes, March 15-17, 2024

Music from 16th century France and Italy to the Harlem Renaissance

Classical music happening in the Philadelphia area this week, including performances from Piffaro, Artcinia, The Crossing, and Opera Philadelphia. Gail Obenreder previews.
Gail Obenreder

Gail Obenreder

Previews 3 minute read
Each actor, wearing black, smiles and holds a large piece of paper with a single apostrophe on it.

Pier Players Theatre Company presents Jeffrey Barg and David Lee White’s The Angry Grammarian

Love languages

Jeffrey Barg, author of the Inquirer’s popular Angry Grammarian column, debuts a likable musical comedy by the same name in South Philly, about two grammar nerds languishing for language, and each other. Mike Fisher reviews.
Michael Fisher

Michael Fisher

Reviews 5 minute read
Two men in suits stand at the sides of a woman in a suit, all straight-faced at the viewer, purple and pink tones the shot

Inis Nua Theatre presents Sonya Kelly's Once Upon a Bridge

Bridging perspectives, onstage and off

Theater-making couple anchors Inis Nua’s East Coast premier of Once Upon a Bridge. Dara McBride previews.

Dara McBride

Previews 3 minute read
A portrait of a young girl, a floral set in her hair, white top and overalls, looking directly at the viewer

The BSR Weekly Arts and Culture Roundup, March 7-13, 2024

An Unfinished Herstory, CultureFest!, ROSE, and more

A variety of events including celebrations of women artists and performers in Philly this week. Kyle V. Hiller rounds up.
Kyle V. Hiller

Kyle V. Hiller

Previews 3 minute read
Close up details of organ pipes, rustic and with blue and gold, patterns painted on them

BSR Classical Interludes, March 5-23, 2024

A festival for organ music, honoring Marian Anderson, and more

Classical music in March in the Philly area is abundant, with performances from Brandywine Baroque, Curtis Symphony, and an entire festival dedicated to celebrating organ music. Gail Obenreder previews.
Gail Obenreder

Gail Obenreder

Previews 3 minute read
Colorful view with hundreds of tulips, clouds of hanging purple flowers, reflecting water & a trees full of pink blossoms.

PHS presents the 2024 Philadelphia Flower Show: United By Flowers

Your guide to attending the Flower Show on a budget, and supporting Philly gardens year-round

The Flower Show is here through Sunday, March 10! An Nichols has your guide to entry on a budget, plus suggestions for connecting with Philly gardens year-round, and Alaina Johns has a look at this year’s show.
An Nichols Alaina Johns

An Nicholsand Alaina Johns

Features 6 minute read
Scene from the musical: the four actors sit smiling around a simply set wooden table, against a black backdrop.

Ensemble Arts Philly and the Schubert Organization present Conor McPherson and Bob Dylan’s Girl from the North Country

A new kind of jukebox musical

Girl from the North Country, a Bob Dylan jukebox musical set during the Depression by acclaimed Irish playwright Conor McPherson, defies expectations. It stops in Philly on its North American tour. Josh Herren reviews.
Josh Herren

Josh Herren

Reviews 2 minute read
A figure made with black fabrics has four legs, hair, and a tail that gives it a poodle shape, but a human like head

The BSR Weekly Arts and Culture Roundup, February 29-March 6, 2024

Vox Populi, Leap Day writings, Hand Me Downs, and Dolls, Idols, and Ideals

New exhibitions at Fuller Rosen, Vox Populi, and InLiquid highlight the week. Kyle V. Hiller rounds up.
Kyle V. Hiller

Kyle V. Hiller

Previews 2 minute read
Movie still. A woman, mid-age or older, looks on at a man at what looks like a bar area, windows showing the street behind

The March 2024 repertory film roundup

Celebrating Women’s History Month in the cinemas

Agnes, Lady Bird, Foxy Brown, and more light up the screens in March. Stephen Silver previews.
Stephen Silver

Stephen Silver

Previews 4 minute read
Two singers. Dressed in all black, singing on stage towards the audience.

Marian Anderson Museum presents Porgy and Bess

Preserving a legendary Philadelphia institute

The Marian Anderson Historical Society will host a performance of Porgy and Bess and looks to continue the museum’s challenging reconstruction project. An Nichols previews.
An Nichols

An Nichols

Previews 2 minute read