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Fabiyi, a Black actor with an afro, wearing earthy yellow clothes, sits on a stool and speaks to Lally, who wears a blue robe

Arden Theatre Company presents J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, adapted by Greg Banks

Small stage, epic journey

Arden Children’s Theatre welcomes youngsters and families to The Hobbit, an ingenious ensemble show that proves we can do great things no matter how small we are—a message we all sorely need. Josh Herren reviews.

Josh Herren

Apr 21, 2025 Reviews 2 minute read

Scammell, in a head bandage and orange jumpsuit, menaces McLenigan, in a plaid shirt, holding knuckles to his head like a gun

InterAct Theatre Company presents Gabriel Jason Dean’s Rift: or White Lies

Brothers, inside and out

Philly actors Jered McLenigan and Matteo Scammell trade off roles in Rift: or White Lies, now getting its rolling world premiere at InterAct, about two brothers with very different lives struggling to find common ground. Alaina Johns reviews.

Alaina Johns

Apr 15, 2025 Reviews 4 minute read

In contemporary clothes in different styles, the singers sit sideways in a row on chairs, gesturing up with their left hands.

Curtis Opera Theatre presents Leonard Bernstein’s Candide

Cultivating our own gardens at the Forrest

Curtis Opera Theatre took to the Forrest Theatre stage for a high-energy production of Leonard Bernstein’s Candide, featuring jaw-dropping voices from the next generation of opera artists. Linda Holt reviews.

Linda Holt

Apr 14, 2025 Reviews 4 minute read

6 actors in contemporary clothes on a set like a suburban kitchen make a toast to Lamm at center, wearing a blue jumper

People’s Light presents Noah Haidle’s Birthday Candles

Celebration of life

Superbly produced by People’s Light, Noah Haidle’s Birthday Candles sensitively balances the sentimental and the profound as it follows one extraordinary, ordinary woman through her long life. Cameron Kelsall reviews.

Cameron Kelsall

Apr 14, 2025 Reviews 3 minute read

View from the audience in the church pews of six musicians playing period instruments on the chancel.

Tempesta di Mare presents Bach’s Trio Sonatas

Rearranging the Organ Sonatas—just like Bach used to do

Tempesta di Mare reimagined Bach’s Trio Sonatas, originally written for keyboards and often played on the organ, for chamber forces including recorder, violin, lute, harpsichord, and a surprise instrument. Gail Obenreder reviews.

Gail Obenreder

Apr 08, 2025 Reviews 4 minute read

The three women sing in lavish sequined purple gowns that have capes lined with huge crinoline boas.

The Walnut Street Theatre presents Tom Eyen and Henry Krieger’s Dreamgirls

Glitter, glam, and heart

A new production of Dreamgirls at the Walnut brings powerful vocals to a show that will offer fresh insights even for longtime fans of the story. Maya Arthur reviews.

Maya Arthur

Apr 08, 2025 Reviews 3 minute read

Two performers on a tall pole on stage in mid-movement. One in blue, the other red. Other performers in red and blue look on

The 7 Fingers and Penn Live Arts present Duel Reality

Taking Romeo and Juliet to new heights

The 7 Fingers offers a thrilling acrobatic take on a classic tragedy. Melissa Strong reviews.

Melissa Strong

Apr 08, 2025 Reviews 4 minute read

A woman nurse with pale skin and brown hair, wearing blue scrubs, looks calmly outward from a thicket of red spring branches

The Mütter Museum presents Trusted Messengers: Community, Confidence, and COVID-19

Five years later: remembering pandemic heroes

A new special exhibition at the Mütter Museum marks five years since the first Covid shutdowns, honoring the healthcare workers, researchers, and truth-tellers who saved millions of lives. Erin Dohony reviews.

Erin Dohony

Apr 07, 2025 Reviews 4 minute read

Three PDP dancers, each on one leg in the middle of a dynamic tilting move, perform in a venue with an old gym floor.

Philadelphia Dance Projects presents Dance Up Close: Seeds and Sounds and Jumper Cables

Choreographic collaborations

Philadelphia Dance Projects’ Dance Up Close 2025 series kicked off with Jumper Cables and Seeds and Sounds, showcasing interdisciplinary collaborations at Christ Church Neighborhood House. Camille Bacon-Smith reviews.

Camille Bacon-Smith

Apr 07, 2025 Reviews 3 minute read

Kang, an Asian woman wearing a sleeveless patterned dress, plays the violin alongside the orchestra and conductor.

The Philadelphia Orchestra presents Stravinsky’s The Firebird

Welcoming spring with Stravinsky, Bartók, and Assiginaak

Whether or not it was intended, a spring program including Stravinsky, Bartók, and contemporary Canadian composer Barbara Assiginaak was a welcome reflection on musicians who have faced or presaged tyranny. Linda Holt reviews.