Features

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On a red-lit stage, four Black men crawl menacingly toward a Black boy.

Does new leadership (finally) mean a new era for Philly-area theaters?

Stages of change

In and around Philadelphia, several theater companies are expanding or re-envisioning their artistic leadership models as they prepare to resume in-person performances. Cameron Kelsall speaks with them.
Cameron Kelsall

Cameron Kelsall

Features 6 minute read
A graceful, rust-colored outdoor sculpture with undulating, overlapping lines sits among greenery, with the sunset behind it

At The Bower, Philadelphia sculptors take the Pennsylvania landscape to heart

The nature of art

The Bower, a new sculpture park and public garden outside Harrisburg, features sculptures from Philadelphia artists in a unique and immersive dialogue with the landscape around them. Helen Walsh visits.
Helen Walsh

Helen Walsh

Features 6 minute read
Promise and betrayal in early America: ‘Portrait of Lapowinsa’ and ‘Portrait of Tishcohan,’ next to Lenape beadwork. See below for full caption info. (Photo by Joseph Hu.)

Exploring the new early American galleries at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

The stories we told ourselves in Philadelphia

The new Robert L. McNeil Jr. Galleries, showcasing art and objects from 1650 to 1850 with a focus on Philadelphia, tell a story many of us still need to hear. Camille Bacon-Smith visits.
Camille Bacon-Smith

Camille Bacon-Smith

Features 7 minute read
Protest co-organizer Garrick Morgan speaks to the crowd outside the Walnut on June 18. (Photo by Matthew Wright.)

Protect the Artist protestors make their demands outside the Walnut Street Theatre

Philly artists march to “crack the Nut”

On June 18, the activists of a newly formed Philly coalition, Protect the Artist, took their message to the streets with a protest outside the Walnut Street Theatre. An Nichols and Alaina Johns were there.
An Nichols Alaina Johns

An Nicholsand Alaina Johns

Features 6 minute read
David Kim, Juliette Kang, and Yannick Nézet-Séguin perform in an Our City, Your Orchestra concert. (Photo by Jeff Fusco.)

The Philadelphia Orchestra presents Our City, Your Orchestra at William Way

Celebrating Pride with the orchestra

Just in time for Pride, the Philadelphia Orchestra concludes the first season of its Our City, Your Orchestra series at the William Way LGBT Community Center. Cameron Kelsall talks with concertmaster David Kim and composer Jennifer Higdon about classical music in the community.
Cameron Kelsall

Cameron Kelsall

Features 4 minute read
Jenna Pinchbeck has questions for the Walnut Street Theatre. (Image courtesy of Jenna Pinchbeck.)

The Walnut says cease and desist, but Philly theater artists keep speaking up

“They are afraid of me”

After questioning the Walnut Street Theatre on Facebook, Philly performing artist Jenna Pinchbeck received a cease and desist letter on behalf of the Walnut and its artistic director, Bernard Havard. Pinchbeck talks with Alaina Johns about what’s next.
Alaina Johns

Alaina Johns

Features 6 minute read

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Langhorne Slim's latest album was inspired by growing up in "The Mansion." (Image courtesy of the artist.)

Langhorne Slim's latest album honors Philly's Strawberry Mansion neighborhood

Creating paradise

Following the recent release of Langhorne Slim's album 'Strawberry Mansion,' Gabi Mendick and Mira Kaplan speak with Slim and community leader Tonetta Graham about the neighborhood, its history, and the intersection of its Black and Jewish residents.
Gabi Mendick Mira Kaplan

Gabi Mendickand Mira Kaplan

Features 5 minute read
Will the lights be up on our stages as soon as this summer or fall? EgoPo’s ‘Nocturne’ is coming to a parking lot in the meantime. (Image courtesy of EgoPo.)

One year later: Philly theater artists ask what reopening means

Will the lights be back on soon?

In parts 1 and 2 of our One Year Later series about the pandemic and Philly theater, Cameron Kelsall explored the first closures and productions in lockdown. Now, the community prepares for reopening—but what will that look like?
Cameron Kelsall

Cameron Kelsall

Features 6 minute read
When Minor Figures blanketed Philly street art with oat milk ads, including on this South Broad Street mural, Philly artists quickly reclaimed the space. (Photo by Praise Dobler.)

When a UK-based oat milk company pasted over Philly street art, our artists answered

Street (sm)arts

When Minor Figures Oat Milk pasted ads over street art across the city, many Philadelphians responded in force. Who belongs in this space, and why did this ad campaign feel so personal to so many? Mina Reinckens talks with four Philadelphia artists.
Mina Reinckens

Mina Reinckens

Features 5 minute read
Getting existential before the ultimate existential crisis: IRC artistic director Tina Brock appears with Carlos Forbes in a January 2020 production of ‘The Bald Soprano.’ (Photo by Johanna Austin.)

One year later: What Philly theater artists dreamed up when stages shut down

What happened when the lights stayed out?

In part 1 of our One Year Later series, Cameron Kelsall spoke with Philly artists about the moment shutdowns began. Now, he looks at what emerged as the shutdowns lasted for the next 12 months.
Cameron Kelsall

Cameron Kelsall

Features 7 minute read