For the last week, I've been plotting our 2023 festival coverage: we've got the Philly Fringe (Curated and Independent), the Free Fringe, Cannonball, Opera Philadelphia's O23, and more. It's a lot, even for professional arts journalists. But never fear! We have a raft of stories and reviews coming your way, starting later this week and continuing throughout September, to help you navigate this year's festivals. Look out for your favorite longtime critics, and some exciting new bylines in the mix.
In the meantime, don't miss part two of our summer feature on disability in the arts. One of the things that struck me the most (and rang deeply true) about Wendy Univer's story was what she learned from a local theater leader who began to welcome disability both on and off stage: disabled and/or neurodiverse people are already here, doing the work every day. But we often don't feel safe being open about that part of our lives. Can the industry change that?
That's a big part of our mission at BSR, from the arts journalism side. Thanks for your ongoing engagement with this important and always fascinating topic.
Alaina Johns
BSR editor-in-chief
