Dear BSR Subscriber,

Here comes a pair of pods and a celebration of freedom

Name: Cotter Interactive
Price range: $

Juneteenth is coming up next week, and this week's roundup has a few picks of upcoming events happening in Philly celebrating the holiday. There are festivities happening as early as this weekend, so be sure to check it out!

We've also got a double serving of pods for you—episode 7 talks with Once on this Island assistant director Mariah Ghant and actor Jessica Johnson, which is now playing at the Arden through the end of next week. Opera fans can rejoice out loud as episode 8 sits with librettist Kate Scelsa who stars in Hilma, an exciting new opera at the Wilma.

Be safe, Philly!

Kyle V. Hiller
BSR associate editor

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Author Samuel R. Delany will be at the Free Library this week. (Photo by Alex Lozupone, retrieved via Wikimedia Commons.)

Celebrating Juneteenth, Blood Baby, and A Love Jawn

Kyle V. Hiller

Picks for Juneteenth, a new queer dance project continues, cataloging Japan right off Broad Street, and repping all identities with A Love Jawn. Kyle V. Hiller rounds up.

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The orchestra and ensemble members of the Wilma's 'Hilma.' (Photo by Johanna Austin.)

Hilma librettist Kate Scelsa reveals the backstory of this striking new opera

Darnelle Radford

BSR Podcast host Darnelle Radford sits down with Hilma librettist Kate Scelsa to find out how this new contemporary opera made its way to the Wilma.

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Nadia Ra’Shaun and Ethan B. Walker in the Arden's 'Once on This Island.' (Photo by Ashley Smith of Wide Eyed Studios.)

Talking with Once on This Island assistant director Mariah Ghant and actor Jessica Johnson

Darnelle Radford

BSR Podcast host Darnelle Radford sits down with two of the artists behind the Arden's hit production of Once on This Island, running through June 23.

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In case you missed it

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Because of UArts, Philly will always be part of me.

Wenlu Bao

When Shanghai native Wenlu Bao wanted to continue her arts education, she came to UArts, which led her to museums throughout our region. She was shocked to see the news about its closing. She remembers her time there.

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University of the Arts students, alumni, faculty, staff, and supporters rally on the steps of Hamilton Hall on June 7, 2024. (Photo by Alaina Johns.)

Students and faculty pledge to keep creating despite their school’s "unconscionable" demise

Elise Juska

Philly novelist Elise Juska founded the creative writing program at UArts, where she taught for 24 years. She brings us inside her last days at the university, alongside her irrepressible students.

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In honor of BSR Book Week, find out if your favorite BSR writer is an author, too.

Alaina Johns

BSR writers are also memoirists, poets, novelists, scholars, and so much more! Discover their books and order a copy to add to your shelves.

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