Arts & Entertainment: Accomplished Comedian Finds Home in Philadelphia’s Blossoming Comedy Community
A creator, teacher and a comedian, Justin Jain is one of the founding members of The Berserker Residents, a professor at the University of the Arts, and a well-known face in Philadelphia’s theatre community. Like many theatre artists, Jain’s beginnings were early. His career started when he was 4 years old as a ballet dancer. […]
Arts and Entertainment: Five Local Theater Companies You Should Have on Your Radar
With theatrical roots originating in the early 1800s, Philadelphia has flourished into a dynamic hub of live theater production. There are a multitude of theaters around the city offering fantastic performances well beyond the famed Walnut Street Theatre. From the hilarious antics of The 1812 Game Show Spectacular! to Theatre Exile’s hard-hitting drama Lost Girls, the city offers a diverse catalogue of venues […]
LGBTQ: Mauckingbird Theatre Company Presents Classic Plays With a Twist
A recent production by Mauckingbird Theatre Company was set in the 17th century, complete with all the attire, mannerisms and dialogue of the day — and a cell phone. It’s that type of modern twist on classic plays that reflects the origin and mission of the group. “Mauckingbird Theatre Company produces innovative, affordable gay-themed theatre,” said Peter Reynolds, the artistic director of […]
Education: Young Playwrights’ Program Puts Spotlight on Student Voices
Anthony Martinez-Briggs, 25, is a teaching artist at the Philadelphia Young Playwrights. He is a co-founder of the grassroots organization “I Love Living,” which stems from the local hip-hop band Ill Doots. He also teaches classes through the Arden Theatre Company, InterAct Theatre Company, and will soon start teaching for the Wilma Theater. These organizations […]
Germantown: Pushing the Envelope
Nicholas Gillette watched as fellow acrobats from the Almanac Dance Circus Theatre rehearsed complicated maneuvers a few feet behind him. “Steer whole heartedly into that,” he said. The “that” that Gillette is referring to is the love that he and his team have for live performance arts. The five-member ensemble infuses acrobatics, storytelling and physicality into their […]
Waterfront: For Artisans, Manayunk’s Venice Island Delivers In Debut
Years of planning and hard work went into the creation of the newly opened Venice Island Performing Arts and Recreation Center in Manayunk. An outdoor craft market of about 60 start-ups, home businesses and other do-it-yourself ventures, Philly Mart operates on the grounds of the $45 million project. “We look for vendors that are unique and maybe haven’t done […]
Southwest Philly: Spotlight Shines on Drama Company for Over 40 Years
The sounds of a keyboard and drums filled the banquet hall as dancers practiced their moves and actors rehearsed musical numbers. In front of the stage, rows of chairs were lined up behind circular tables covered in pink cloth and set with small artificial bouquets. This is where the audience will sit and dine when Evelyn […]
Mount Airy: Sedgwick Theater
In 2009 the Quintessence Theater Group signed a lease with Betty Ann and David Fellner, the owners of the Sedgwick Theater, to use the front lobby space as its new performance location. The group discovered the Sedgwick Theater, which is located at 7137 Germantown Ave., through Artistic Director Alex Burns, who was born and raised […]