The BSR Weekly Arts and Culture Roundup, April 30-May 6, 2026
Homo Economicus, Docs & Dialogues, and Dance Like It’s 1829
Philadelphia Dance Projects celebrates America 250, the Weitzman kicks off a spring series of documentaries, and rebuilding the economy at the club. Kyle V. Hiller rounds up.
Previews
4 minute read
InterAct Theatre Company presents Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay’s Seng’s Hair Salon
The Philly Cycle continues inside a Lao family’s South Philly salon
InterAct premieres the second play in its Philly Cycle program, this time spotlighting our Southeast Asian refugee community in a script inspired by a real-life salon on Ritner Street. Krista Mar reviews.
Reviews
4 minute read
Your May guide to 250th Anniversary events in Philadelphia
Print your own Declaration, sample historic foods, join Colonial tours, and more
Semiquincentennial events continue to pack the Philly-area calendar, from new art installations to print-your-own Declaration events, a wide variety of tours, new theater, and lots more. Walt Maguire dives in.
Previews
8 minute read
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The BSR Podcast: Talking with Streets Dept founder Conrad Benner
"Philly is not a real place"
Darnelle Radford dives deep with Conrad Benner about his unusual career, his dreams for Philly, the challenge of sustaining indie media, and how Benner's "Philly is not a real place" series is getting more eyes on public art.
Podcast
1 minute read
TILT Institute for the Contemporary Image presents How We Stay Free
This is what democracy looks like
A new exhibition at TILT honors 60 years of Philly protests thanks to the photographers who were there, from ADA rallies to campus activists, labor movements, No Arena, No Kings, and more. Pamela J. Forsythe reviews.
Reviews
6 minute read
The Month in Philly Dance for May 2026
Spring fling with Contemporary West, the Lady Hoofers, and more
Dancing with spring in mind, including performances by Project Moshen, Martha Graham Dance Company, and a pop-up from BalletX. Camille Bacon-Smith previews.
Previews
5 minute read
Philadelphia Theatre Company presents James Ijames’s Wilderness Generation
Avoiding the weight of generational trauma
Philadelphia Theatre Company presents the world premiere of James Ijames’s Wilderness Generation, a family homecoming that falters in its broad, bland depiction of trauma. Kiran Pandey reviews.
Reviews
4 minute read
Arden Children’s Theatre presents The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, adapted by John Glore
A beloved 1990s kids’ book gets a staging worthy of its weirdness
The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales has been delighting readers of all ages for more than 30 years. Now it hits the Arden stage in a zany adaptation by John Glore. Alaina Johns reviews.
Reviews
4 minute read
Ensemble Arts Philly and the Shubert Organization present the National Tour of Shucked
A corny balm for a turbulent spring
The delightful national tour of the modern Broadway musical hit Shucked brings farm life to our city’s Forrest with its Philly stop. Josh Herren reviews.
Reviews
3 minute read
BSR Classical Interludes, May 2026
Tempesta di Mare travels around the city, and season closing performances
Classical music happening in and around the city in May as a few companies close out the season. Gail Obenreder previews.
Previews
3 minute read
Opera Philadelphia presents Gregory Spears’s Sleepers Awake
A fairy tale transforms the mysteries of time and sleep
Opera Philadelphia premieres Sleepers Awake, resonant new work by Gregory Spears, notable for its chorus, that delves deeply into things we take for granted: time and sleep. Gail Obenreder reviews.
Reviews
4 minute read
The Clay Studio presents American Crib: What’s Happening
Roberto Lugo kicks off a citywide Radical Americana celebration
Philly artist, ceramicist, activist, poet, and educator Roberto Lugo joins our 250th celebrations with American Crib: What’s Happening, an exhibition of brilliantly imaginative work at The Clay Studio. Gail Obenreder reviews.
Reviews
5 minute read
The BSR May 2026 repertory movie roundup
Top Gun, Moonstruck, GayBINGO, Airplane, and more
Top Gun turns 40, GayBINGO gets a rare screening, and a pair of 80s comedies come to town. Stephen Silver previews.
Previews
4 minute read
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The BSR Weekly Arts and Culture Roundup, April 23-29, 2026
The First Salute, short films at West Chester, Expanding Sanctuary, and more
New exhibitions open the Weitzman and the Print Center in the spirit of America 250, an international film festival celebrates 20 years, and Kristal Sotomayor’s documentary screens at Bartram’s Garden.
Previews
4 minute read
APS Museum presents These Truths: The Declarations of Independence
The Declaration may not be the document you think it is.
The American Philosophical Society celebrates America’s 250th with the largest display of early copies of the Declarations ever assembled, but some of the show’s lesser-known artifacts are just as exciting. Alaina Johns visits.
Editorials
7 minute read
Koresh Dance Company presents Never/Mind
Making a case in motion
Koresh has been drawing full houses for more than three decades. The company’s clarity of vision and uniquely grounded, dynamic movement was on display at Never/Mind, a new work by artistic director Ronen Koresh. Lauren Berlin reviews.
Reviews
4 minute read
Delaware Theatre Company presents The Chequerboard Watch
Brotherhood on the high seas
Delaware Theatre Company stages the rousing world premiere of The Chequerboard Watch, developed by several artists spanning the Atlantic over five years, about an intrepid mixed-race crew on a 19th-century sea voyage. Gail Obenreder reviews.
Reviews
5 minute read
The BSR Podcast: All about Everything I Know with Mandy Gonzalez
Broadway icon Mandy Gonzalez sits down with Darnelle Radford ahead of her April 25 Philly appearance
Star of stage, film, and TV, Mandy Gonzalez, joins Darnelle Radford in the virtual studio for an in-depth conversation ahead of her April 25 concert of Lin-Manuel Miranda songs at Marian Anderson Hall.
Podcast
1 minute read
PFS SpringFest 2025 presents Mile End Kicks, These Are My Friends!, and Hokum
A local filmmaker joins Damian McCarthy’s new horror at PFS East
Drexel alum and New Jersey high-school teacher by Aaron Bartuska’s new film These Are My Friends! joined Mile End Kicks (out April 24) and Hokum (out May 1) at opening night of the 9th
annual PSF SpringFest. Stephen Silver reviews.
annual PSF SpringFest. Stephen Silver reviews.
Reviews
5 minute read
The BSR Weekly Arts and Culture Roundup, April 16-22, 2026
Never/Mind, Printmaking by the People, Philly Black Pride, and more this week
New work from James Ijames, printmaking for America in the past and the future, and more decorate this week. Kyle V. Hiller rounds up.
Previews
5 minute read
On the record with Aaron Pond and the People's Music Supply Recording Company
An instrumental movement
Multi-instrumentalist Aaron Pond’s record label is helping encourage and educate people of all levels who are interested in playing music. John Morrison profiles.
Profiles
3 minute read
Brewce Longo showcases underground cinema at BloodSick Film Festival
Oh, bloody hell
Brewce Longo talks failed early attempts to feature films, friendships and festivals. Emily Kaldenbaugh profiles.
Profiles
3 minute read
PHILADANCO! is Explosive! in its spring series
Exploring identity and community through dance
Camille Bacon-Smith previews PHILADANCO!’s spring series Explosive!, a program with new works from Nicole Clarke-Springer and Roderick George, and revisiting a piece from Thang Dao.
Previews
3 minute read