Comedy, dance, skating, and more: Thanksgiving weekend in Philly

Heading to the mall at the crack of dawn (or earlier) on Black Friday? That’s your choice, but don’t say we didn’t tell you that there are plenty of great things to check out around town if the holiday retail frenzy isn’t your scene.

Thirty-eight hours of comedy. (Really.)

Things kick off early on Friday with the start of Philly Improv Theater’s (PHIT) second annual Black Friday Comedy Marathon (BFCM), hosted by local comedy group Hey, We’re Cool. A continuous 38-hour slate of improv and comedy performances begins at the Adrienne’s Second Stage (2030 Sansom Street) at 10am on November 27. The laughs don’t stop until 11:59pm on Saturday, November 28.

BFCM is covering all the bases: stand-up, the best of Philly’s improv teams, “experimental performances,” and “musical comedians.” And if the antics onstage just aren’t enough, there will also be an online livestream of the greenroom for the duration. BFCM is also planning to record a podcast for the length of the event, hosted in turn by a variety of performers and guests. All in all, the post-turkey comedy extravaganza will have almost 100 acts.

A single $10 ticket gets you access to as much of the show as you can handle — or, in PHIT’s effort to bolster local businesses, show your receipt from a Center City retail business purchase between November 23 and November 28, and your BFCM pass is free.

And for all truly intrepid BSR fans, our own editor-in-chief Judy Weightman will be performing with her improv team, Time Bandits, at 8:30am on Saturday.

Civil rights through dance

For dance fans, award-winning local choreographer Lauren Putty White is presenting the world premiere of iStand, which uses a range of original dance pieces and music (thanks to her husband and collaborator, composer and trombone-player Brent White) to examine America’s current civil unrest. A Baltimore native, Putty White was powerfully affected by the violence there after Freddie Gray’s death, and she uses her newest work to explore modern racial tensions in the criminal justice system.

According to the Putty Dance Project, “Through dance, music, and meaningful conversation, iStand relates stories about civil struggle and self-preservation. It suggests one’s personal well-being hinges upon the wellness of the whole society.”

Participating artists include former Alvin Ailey and Philadanco member Roxanne Lyst and current Philadanco member Joe Gonzalez, and the voice of Alexis Joi. The evening also includes a short documentary film “exploring translations of ‘Liberty and Justice for All,’” plus a post-show Q&A moderated by Putty White.

iStand is coming to the Community Education Center at 3500 Lancaster Avenue, Philadelphia, on Saturday, November 28 at 8pm and Sunday, November 29 at 3pm. Tickets are $18.50 in advance and $20 at the door.

Waterfront Winterfest is back

Friday also marks the grand opening of this year’s Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest (101 S. Columbus Boulevard), for those who want to skate off their stuffing — or just refuel around the fire pits with s’mores, cocktails, and specialty Franklin Fountain ice cream on Belgian waffles.

November 27 launches the fest, with free family activities through Sunday. Opening day has a Star Wars theme, and activities include ice sculptures and crafts with Arden Theater Company in honor of its production of Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates (Arden ticket-holders can get a discount at the ice rink, and skaters can snag discount tickets to the play). There will also be screen-printing, LEGO-building, a chance to try circus acts with the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts (on Friday from 2-4pm), face-painting, balloon art, and liquid nitrogen ice cream. (Here’s the full opening weekend schedule.)

Entrance to Winterfest is free, with food and drink available for purchase, along with ice rink passes and skate rentals.

So get out of the house before anybody starts with those leftover turkey sandwiches, and see what Philly has to offer as the holiday season is undeniably underway.

At right: Keeping cozy at Winterfest. Image courtesy of the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation.