Reviews

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Two vitrines full of documents from the era in front of a wall with more framed documents and a large image from 1976 protest

UPenn’s Van Pelt Library presents Celebrate or Demonstrate: Philadelphia and Bicentennial Discontent

Protests during America’s 200th birthday mirror our divisions in 2026
A small, free-to-visit exhibition in Penn’s Van Pelt Library reminds us that protests during America’s 250th birthday resemble those that rocked Philly in 1976. Walt Maguire reviews.

Walt Maguire

Reviews 3 minute read
Five actors of different genders in modern clothes, three white & two Black, gather around boxes of antique photos and papers

InterAct Theatre Company presents Phaedra Michelle Scott’s Plantation Black

A family grappling with the past
Plantation Black, a new play at Interact with an unusual structure, examines the complex, uncomfortable history of an American family with roots in slavery. Melissa Strong reviews.
Melissa Strong

Melissa Strong

Reviews 3 minute read
Against dramatic mist, Scammel leans forward on a staircase while Hernandez, below, holds his torso as if balancing him.

Philadelphia Theatre Company presents Shakespeare’s Caesar, adapted by Tyler Dobrowsky

Our favorite Shakespearean political canvas
Philadelphia Theatre Company presents William Shakespeare’s Caesar, an adaptation that truncates the original text and moves the action to an underdeveloped modern setting. Kiran Pandey reviews.
Kiran Pandey

Kiran Pandey

Reviews 4 minute read
McGill, a Black woman in gray 19th-century costume, speaks onstage with a projection of enslaved people behind her.

Curio Theatre presents Richard Lamont Pierce’s Sojourner

Looking back helps us move forward
Richard Lamont Pierce’s one-woman show about famous abolitionist Sojourner Truth has toured for more than 20 years, starring Zuhairah McGill. Catch it at Curio for Black History Month 2026. An Nichols reviews.
An Nichols

An Nichols

Reviews 4 minute read
Vintage black & white photo of Ray Didinger and Tommy McDonald smiling next to a black statue of a man.

Boys to Fame and The Philly Special are two new must-watch documentaries for Eagles fans

New films tackle top moments of the Eagles’ legacy
Two new documentaries featuring legendary sportswriter Ray Didinger and The Philly Special won’t have many surprises for Eagles fans, but they’re still hugely enjoyable. Stephen Silver reviews.
Stephen Silver

Stephen Silver

Reviews 5 minute read

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Six people around a festive table with mismatched chairs on a realistic set that looks like a 1970s South Philly backyard.

EgoPo Classic Theatre presents Albert Innaurato’s Gemini

A South Philly birthday bash for the ages
EgoPo captures the pulse of the neighborhood with Gemini, set in a South Philly backyard in the summer of 1976, with plenty of resonance for our Semiquincentennial. Josh Herren reviews.
Josh Herren

Josh Herren

Reviews 3 minute read
Bond, a white woman wearing a white sheath and large sunglasses, poses glamorously on a satin-draped lounge chair.

Opera Philadelphia presents Michael R. Jackson’s Complications in Sue

One opera, 10 composers
With Complications in Sue, a groundbreaking world premiere with a libretto by Michael R. Jackson and music from 10 world-class composers, Opera Philadelphia chronicles one woman’s usual unusual life. Gail Obenreder reviews.
Gail Obenreder

Gail Obenreder

Reviews 6 minute read
Large rectangular mosaic, mostly blue with highlights of red, depicts seven people in a compelling abstract style.

Philadelphia Magic Gardens presents Face to Face: Isaiah Zagar’s Mosaicked Portraits

Piecing together an artist’s inspirations
A new show at Philadelphia Magic Gardens shines an often-mysterious spotlight on the people who have influenced iconic Philly mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar. Pamela J. Forsythe reviews.

Pamela J. Forsythe

Reviews 4 minute read
In a spotless, affluent modern kitchen with a large island, the actors cuddle at center, smiling, on wooden stools.

Arden Theatre Company presents James Ijames’s Good Bones

A haunting debate in the shadow of the Sixers arena
The Philadelphia premiere of James Ijames’s Good Bones, onstage at the Arden, has unmistakable resonance for Philly in the aftermath of the Sixers stadium debacle. Josh Herren reviews.
Josh Herren

Josh Herren

Reviews 4 minute read
View of musicians on the chancel in a beautifully lit sanctuary space with classical and art deco vibes, and a full audience.

Filament presents Consorts Reframed

Beautiful music from a broken consort
The period instrument trio, Filament, invited three guest artists to form a broken consort, featuring music from 16th- and 17th-century England with a premiere from a modern Philly composer. Peter Burwasser reviews.

Peter Burwasser

Reviews 3 minute read