5 Questions with Niladri Kumaar
Penn Live Arts Debuts Philadelphia Premieres World Music
On Nov 1, sitar maestro Niladri Kumaar makes his Penn Live Arts debut with
The Space Between the Notes. This musical concert journey weaves centuries-old tradition with creative innovation, all based on the documentary film recording of his last performance with the late tabla icon Zakir Hussain. In today’s 5 Questions feature, we chat with Kumaar about his beginnings and his outlook on the power of music.
Read more...A Philadelphia Theatre Summer
Two Penn anthropology students walk into Philadelphia theatres…no, it’s not the setup to a bad joke. It’s the start of two rewarding summer 2026 internships for Penn juniors Isa Prado and Hannah Nieuwveld, who worked, respectively, at FringeArts in Philadelphia and Theatre Horizon in Norristown.
Read more...Arts of India Festival Community Day
Dance Free Music
Our Arts of India Festival gets under way this week with a sold-out performance by Carnatic vocalist TM Krishna and an accompanying symposium on sound and music in South India. In the weeks that follow, audiences will enjoy a wide range of music and dance artists who showcase the diversity and innovation of Indian performance traditions. For those looking for a sample-size introduction, or for families in search of an accessible way to participate, we’re presenting a free Community Day with our partner, Sruti, on Nov 1 from 1–4 PM, featuring performance demonstrations and education, arts activities, refreshments and more.
Read more...Platt House 20th Anniversary
Posted September 29, 2026
“Creating a Permanent Home for Student Performing Arts at Penn.” That is the title of a
2005 article in the University of Pennsylvania Almanac, introducing the wider community to what would become Platt Student Performing Arts House. Twenty years later, we look upon this space and our students, alumni and friends with gratitude, awe and excitement.
Join us Sat, Nov 14 at 2 PM in the Platt House lobby for our 20th anniversary to celebrate our past, reflect on our growth and catch a glimpse of our future!
Read more...A rare mix of artistry and magic
Posted September 17, 2026
Dance Philadelphia Debuts Philadelphia Premieres
A San Franscico treasure, Alonzo King LINES Ballet makes its Philadelphia debut, Sep 25-26, launching our 26/27 season. The program features two powerhouse contemporary ballets choreographed by its artistic director Alonzo King, acclaimed for his “astonishing originality” (
The New York Times). In
LEGACY (2026), King collaborates with five-time Grammy® Award-winning bassist, singer and composer esperanza spalding.
Ode to Alice Coltrane (2024) was created as part of “The Year of Alice,” a national tribute to the music legend that captivated audiences in the U.S. and Europe.
Read more...Opening Our Doors: Recent Guest Events Highlights
Posted September 10, 2026
There is a particular kind of joy that comes from watching our spaces come alive with people, performances, celebrations and causes that matter. Whether young performers take the stage, families gather to celebrate a graduate, or a non-profit organization brings people together around its mission, there is an energy that fills the room and makes each event feel special. That is the joy of hosting guest events, and this spring gave us more of it than we could have hoped for.
While our presenting season fills our stages with world-class artists, our guest events calendar fills them with something just as vital: our own community. Read more...
2026 Summer Hiatus
Thank you to the incredible artists, dedicated patrons and generous supporters who joined us in our 25/26 season, America Unfinished, reflecting on this pivotal moment in our country's legacy. Read more...
Spring 2026 Highlights
America Unfinished Penn Live Arts Commission World Premieres
We couldn’t be more pleased with how the second half of our 25/26 season unfolded. Closing out 2025, we were honored to be named
WHYY’s favorite venue. Multimedia journalist Tonya Pendleton shared, “The staff is lovely, the seats are comfy and the acoustics are great.” Pendleton also selected drummer Justin Faulkner as her favorite musician of the year, and he was most recently seen on our stage in the fall with the Branford Marsalis Quartet.
Stepping into 2026, we continued the celebration of our country’s 250th anniversary Read more...
Making Losing My Religion
Accelerator Program Dance Penn Live Arts Commission World Premieres
We are proud to have been an incubator for Rennie Harris’ impactful work over the past three years and look forward to continuing this great partnership in the future. In this video, we reflect on the residency and take a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of
Losing My Religion.
WATCH NOW
Summer 2026 Internships and Funding Awards
Now that Penn students have swept their dorms, dragged suitcases to the curb and waved goodbye to campus, many are preparing for a big milestone: summer internships. We are pleased to announce that nine students received internship support from Penn Live Arts through our Arts & Entertainment Career Connections program with internships offered in partnership with alumni employers or through funding awards made to those who had already secured opportunities.
This summer’s cohort of interns is our largest since the program began in 2022, and also the most academically diverse. Read more...
