5 Questions with The 7 Fingers’ Shana Carroll
Circus Family Penn Live Arts Debuts
Making its Penn Live Arts debut,
The 7 Fingers performs Duel Reality on Apr 5, an acrobatic tour-de-force inspired by Romeo and Juliet. Ahead of this daredevil showdown, we spoke with Shana Carroll, co-founding artistic director of the Canadian circus company and director of Duel Reality, about her trajectory in the artform and what guides the creative process for a 7 Fingers' show.
Read more...Exploring Street Dance with Rennie Harris
Dance World Premieres
“When I say ‘street dance,’ it’s a euphemism – it means community, not that we were literally in the streets,” choreographer Rennie Harris told a crowd one Friday afternoon this February. Framing community and collaboration as pillars of the many American varieties of street dance is at the center of
American Street Dancer, Rennie Harris Puremovement’s new work that had its world premiere on March 14 as part of the company’s three-year residency. In events across the city this winter, audiences got a window into the creative process that drives Harris and his company as well as an off-the-cuff education in the history and techniques of these urban American dance forms.
Read more...5 Questions with the Kronos Quartet’s David Harrington
New Music
An early Penn Live Arts favorite,
Kronos Quartet “has broken the boundaries of what string quartets do.” (The New York Times) This renowned new music ensemble celebrates composer and longtime collaborator Terry Riley’s upcoming 90th birthday with its Mar 30 performance. Ahead of the show, we spoke with lead violinist and founder David Harrington about the focus of the group’s work and its longstanding relationship with Riley.
Read more...Program Spotlight: Accelerator Program
Accelerator Program U.S. Premiere World Premieres
Our Accelerator Program, which formalizes a significant investment in our artists and their future, began formally in the 22/23 season as an outgrowth of our longstanding commitment to new work. Since opening our doors in 1971, our programming has always filled an important niche, and we have played an instrumental role in bringing eclectic works to our stages.
Read more...My Wicked Life
Theatre
I was what you might call an early adapter to
Wicked. I’m an American theater historian with a particular interest in musicals. In fact, it’s the topic I’ve taught most often in my 34 years at Penn. So of course, I follow trends and what’s coming.
Beyond that, though, I was fascinated by the idea of Wicked Read more...
Education & Engagement with the Negro Ensemble Company
Accelerator Program Theatre World Premieres
The Negro Ensemble Company returned to Penn Live Arts the first week in February with a revival of
Day of Absence, a biting work of satire by Douglas Turner Ward, one of the company’s founders.
Day of Absence imagines a day in a southern U.S. town in which all the Black residents disappear, launching a panic predicated on invisible labor, dependence, and the boundaries of white identity.
Read more...Celebrate Valentine's Day with the Extraordinary RUBBERBAND
Dance
Are you ready for an adventuresome Valentine’s Day? If so, you won’t want to miss RUBBERBAND, one of Quebec’s foremost contemporary dance troupes performing the Philadelphia premiere of
Reckless Underdog, Feb 14-15.
Founded in 2002 by Artistic Director Victor Quijada, a 2024 Guggenheim Fellow, RUBBERBAND stretches and blurs the boundaries of breakdancing, ballet, contemporary and dance theatre Read more...
5 Questions with Mali Obomsawin
Jazz Music
Making their Philadelphia debut Jan 26, bassist and singer/songwriter Mali Obomsawin is truly on the cutting edge of jazz. Infused with American roots, indie rock and jazz, Obomsawin’s internationally acclaimed album,
Sweet Tooth, was named in “best of 2023” lists by Grammy.com, The Guardian, NPR and
JazzTimes. In today’s 5 Questions feature, we chat with Obomsawin about the communities and traditions that influenced their musical upbringing, as well as the autonomy that jazz can allow.
Read more...Contemporary Dance Meets Virtual Reality
Dance
We are excited to offer you a rare opportunity January 24-26 with
Koros – VR Experience from Agora de la danse. Instead of filing into one of our theatres, get an on-stage seat powered by virtual reality’s innovative blend of dance and digital art.
The VR headset pushes the creative boundaries of what it means to watch a performance. Read more...
Happy holidays
Holiday
Wishing you peace and joy this holiday season and throughout the New Year.
