It was such a thrill to see Philly artists honored at the Tonys earlier this week, as the leaders of the Wilma took home the 2024 Regional Theatre Tony Award. And of course, we at BSR see this as one more reminder of why our arts scene needs our ongoing support and advocacy.
And in true BSR style, we're still talking about Hilma, the Wilma's season closer. Two of our writers didn't enjoy it, and that's putting it lightly. I wish we were still in a media landscape where an important and ambitious world premiere like this would get several professional reviews (at least) -- which would both document the show from different perspectives and provide the public more opportunities to engage with it -- but as it stands, our review is one of only two or three that I can find. This week, Melissa Strong follows up on Cameron Kelsall's take, exploring how she feels about the show as a major fan of Hilma af Klint, and someone who yearns for better representation of women artists.
You can dive into all of that, plus a podcast interview with Hilma librettist Kate Scelsa. If you think that depth of coverage is what Philly artists deserve, consider supporting us! And a huge thank you to everyone who already does.
We've also got a behind-the-scenes look at Chocolate Ballerina Company's Black Swan, coming up this weekend, plus coverage of the latest from EgoPo and PTC, and a new essay by Anndee Hochman that is perfect to savor for Pride.
Finally, we have another opportunity this week from one of our community partners. Our literary friends over at Blue Stoop have launched an exciting slate of summer classes with writers like Emma Copley Eisenberg, Liz Moore, Carmen Maria Machado, and many more. BSR subscribers get a 10 percent discount with the promo code BSR10. I've taken several Blue Stoop classes myself, and highly recommend them.
Stay cool out there this week!
Alaina Johns
BSR editor-in-chief
