10 actors sing in sumptuous costumes, with Jaffe in drag as a voluptuous white cat in furry gown & headdress with pointy ears

People’s Light presents Jennifer Childs and Alex Bechtel’s Alice in Wonderland: A Musical Panto

A land where everything is possible
Alice in Wonderland, the jubilant new holiday panto by Jennifer Childs and Alex Bechtel, engages both our children and our inner child. Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer reviews.
Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer

Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer

Reviews 4 minute read
Above, an unhappy woman kneels with two barely clad children; below, 3 tortured gray starved corpses in a hole in the ground

Woodmere Art Museum presents George Biddle: The Art of American Social Conscience

A mirror on the world
George Biddle, born into wealth and prestige in Philadelphia, made a career of traveling the world and showing it as it really was, from underrepresented figures to the ravages of war. Pamela J. Forsythe reviews.

Pamela J. Forsythe

Reviews 5 minute read
Painting of a man & woman in luxuriously draped garments. The man sits at a table and the woman looks longingly out a window

Delaware Art Museum presents A Marriage of Arts & Crafts: Evelyn and William De Morgan

Rediscovering a Victorian power couple
Sidelined by art history, the works of Evelyn and William De Morgan, a Victorian power couple who integrated their artistic practice with social advocacy, make a stunning debut. Gail Obenreder reviews.
Gail Obenreder

Gail Obenreder

Reviews 4 minute read
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Koh, an Asian woman, in white shirt & orange floral skirt. She holds her violin & smiles against an airy white background

The Philadelphia Orchestra presents Gustav Holst’s The Planets

A trip through the solar system
The Philadelphia Orchestra summoned the majesty of Gustav Holst’s The Planets, while remembering the legacy of a departed friend. Cameron Kelsall reviews.
Cameron Kelsall

Cameron Kelsall

Reviews 3 minute read
Immigration card w/ Bredig’s photo. Name, nationality (German), eye color (Brown), given name (Salomon J.C.) are stamped on

Science and Survival at the Science History Institute

Preserving more than just pioneering science
The outdoor exhibition from the Science History Institute presents the story of Georg and Max Bredig, their scientific accomplishments, and their escape from Nazi Germany. Gary Day previews.
Gary L. Day

Gary L. Day

Previews 2 minute read
Colorful visualizations light up corner walls; plants, bean bags, couch, & carpet populate the space, with 3 people resting

Philadelphia Contemporary and Nicole Pollard present Supine Horizons

The rest of our dreams
With the immersive Supine Horizons, nestled in a Germantown storefront, curator Nicole Pollard and multimedia artist Gralin Hughes Jr. prove that rest is not a luxury. Kyle V. Hiller reviews.
Kyle V. Hiller

Kyle V. Hiller

Reviews 4 minute read
Book cover: title in white above a stark orange & blue illustration of a boy in a hat & girl with a tiny dog in a crosswalk

The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen, by Isaac Blum

An Orthodox teen in a wider world
Philly author Isaac Blum’s debut YA novel, The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen, follows an Orthodox Jewish teen in a new town for a fully up-to-the minute story of conviction and contradiction. Anndee Hochman reviews.
Anndee Hochman

Anndee Hochman

Reviews 4 minute read
Seen from behind, Mattison looks at her large-scale work of lifelike coral ceramic pieces mounted on the wall as if swirling

Brandywine River Museum of Art presents Fragile Earth: The Naturalist Impulse in Contemporary Art

The wilds beyond Pyle and the Wyeths
A new exhibition from four artists at Brandywine River Museum balances artistry and polemics, merging the nature of the artist with the art of nature. Gail Obenreder reviews.
Gail Obenreder

Gail Obenreder

Reviews 4 minute read
Brown, a bald Black man in a white tank and black shorts, takes a wary stance, holding a wooden stool in one hand.

Lantern Theater Company presents Marco Ramirez’s The Royale

An emotional punch
Now onstage at the Lantern, The Royale tells the true story of Jack Johnson, who defied Jim Crow laws with his historic boxing career. Gary Day reviews.
Gary L. Day

Gary L. Day

Reviews 2 minute read
Gabay and Shukrun dance with their arms outstretched, their faces series, against a backdrop of pinpoint lights.

The Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival presents Karaoke, A Radiant Girl, and America

PJFF celebrates 42 years
The 2022 Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival celebrates 42 years with screenings at the Weitzman and other venues November 12 through 19. Stephen Silver reviews three picks.
Stephen Silver

Stephen Silver

Reviews 3 minute read
Scene from the play: Johnson and Nwoko, Black women, smile warily at each other from across a small living room.

Azuka Theatre presents Inda Craig-Galván’s A Hit Dog Will Holler

Activist opposites
The Philly premiere of A Hit Dog Will Holler, onstage at Azuka, contrasts the online and IRL realms of today’s social activists with a special lens on Black women in these spaces. Krista Mar reviews.
Krista Mar

Krista Mar

Reviews 3 minute read
9 musicians, tiny onstage from the back of the house, play in front of a big movie screen with a Parks photo on it.

Penn Live Arts presents Terence Blanchard and Andrew F. Scott’s Gordon Parks: An Empathetic Lens

A vision in sound
Gordon Parks: An Empathetic Lens uses music and images to celebrate a legendary artist. Melissa Strong reviews.
Melissa Strong

Melissa Strong

Reviews 4 minute read
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Smith behind a large gold chest, one arm resting on it. Her other hand open, fingers extended out, fingertips rest on chest

The BSR Weekly Arts and Culture Roundup, November 16-22, 2022

cinéSPEAK, River Devil II, and a Pre-Fost Bloom
Philly-made films, writing with Blue Stoop, a new vast exhibit at the Penn Museum, and a new quartet hits the scene this week. Kyle V. Hiller rounds up.
Kyle V. Hiller

Kyle V. Hiller

Previews 3 minute read
A woman dancer in purple sits on the floor with a male dancer directly behind, mirroring her pose with hands to her ears.

SHARP Dance Company presents Stories

A revival and a premiere
SHARP Dance Company’s 2022 fall series featured both a revival and a highly anticipated premiere from artistic director Diane Sharp-Nachsin, plus intriguing gender subversions from guest choreographer Joe Cotler. Camille Bacon-Smith reviews.
Camille Bacon-Smith

Camille Bacon-Smith

Reviews 4 minute read
A black and white portrait of Jack Johnson, his arms crossed, smiling. He’s topless, wearing a white towel or pair of shorts.

The BSR Weekly Arts and Culture Roundup, November 9-15

Birth Dei, The Royale, the Philly Jewish Film Fest, and a chat with Sarah Podemski
The week features a restorative healing initiative, the longest running film festival in Philadelphia, The Royale from Lantern Theater Company, and a conversation with award-winning actress Sarah Podemski. Kyle V. Hiller rounds up.
Kyle V. Hiller

Kyle V. Hiller

Previews 2 minute read
Usiloquoy BSR 11 9 22

Usiloquy Dance Designs presents Philadholphia

Food for thought and dancing
Usiloquy Dance Designs hosts Philadholphia, a celebration of South Asian music and dance including its performance of Chaat. David Block previews.
David Block

David Block

Previews 2 minute read
Harper wears a black winter coat, wide-brimmed hat. Xavier-Mac wears a light colored suit. Both hold headskulls

Theatre in the X presents Pac and Biggie Are Dead

An exploration of self through hip-hop and theater
The spin-off of Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead centers the late MCs Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G., crafting a story that encourages the audience’s own self-exploration. Daralyse Lyons previews.

Daralyse Lyons

Previews 3 minute read
In profile, Davis, a Black man in striped orange shirt, clinks bottles with Gold, a white woman with a French braid & boots

InterAct Theatre Company presents Will Snider’s Death of a Driver

Five reasons to go to Kenya with this regional premiere
Death of a Driver, now onstage at InterAct, speaks eloquently to our shared global reality in its story about a Kenyan taxi driver and a white American engineer. Jeannine Cook reviews.
Jeannine A. Cook

Jeannine A. Cook

Reviews 5 minute read
Cramer sits by a children's miniature piano in business casual, names on posted notes on the board behind them.

Wilma Theater presents Milo Cramer's School Pictures

Teach the children well
Playwright and performer Milo Cramer offers an endearing portrait of the modern education system in School Pictures at the Wilma Theater. Cameron Kelsall reviews.
Cameron Kelsall

Cameron Kelsall

Reviews 2 minute read
Spotlight focused on Hoffman mid-song. Behind here are other actors in various cabaret style outfits, more dimly lit, posing

Philadelphia Theatre Company presents Erin Courtney and Max Vernon’s The Tattooed Lady

The body as a canvas
Philadelphia Theatre Company launches its 2022–2023 season with new artistic directors and a world premiere musical that shines bright despite a disappointing performance from its celebrity star. Jill Ivey reviews.
Jillian Ashley Blair Ivey

Jillian Ashley Blair Ivey

Reviews 4 minute read
Two women in floral patterned gowns offer a drink in a glass to a man in a pinstriped suit.

Resident Ensemble Players presents Arsenic and Old Lace

A trip back in time
Does the legendary play Arsenic and Old Lace hold up for today's audiences? Gail Obenreder reviews.
Gail Obenreder

Gail Obenreder

Reviews 5 minute read
Hirano perches, listening intently, on the back of a couch. Scammell & Conallen stand to the right, both looking grim.

Theatre Exile presents Hansol Jung’s Wolf Play

Ahead of the pack
Theatre Exile presents Hansol Jung’s Wolf Play, a poetically elliptical exploration of family bonds and casual trauma. Cameron Kelsall reviews.
Cameron Kelsall

Cameron Kelsall

Reviews 3 minute read