Our Sensory Friendly Certification in Action
We're excited to enter our fourth year of certification by KultureCity as a
sensory friendly venue! In the past few years, we’ve grown the use of tools and training by our guest services staff as more patrons take advantage of the resources we have available. We also participate in new trainings each year as well as in the Accessible Insights Consortium to stay up to date on how to best support our patrons. After all, this certification was not a one-and-done deal but an ongoing commitment to build access for those with sensory differences.
For some people, the worst thing about coming to an otherwise wonderful show is having to sit still for 60-75 minutes at a time, unable to engage their bodies. We're proud to be able to offer fidgets for people to hold in their hands and weighted lap pads to instill a sense of peace. Additionally, we offer noise-cancelling headphones alongside earplugs to bring comfort at a high-volume event. Our Quiet Area may move around, but it’s always available to anyone who needs to take a step away from a performance and recenter themselves so that they can continue to enjoy their time with us in a way that best suits their needs.
Since partnering with KultureCity, we've had a steady number of sensory bags checked out and used by our patrons. The impact has been most evident at Student Discovery performances, when our theatre is full of school groups, as our staff has the right tools and training to assist our youngest patrons.
Next time you visit Penn Live Arts, we invite you to check out a sensory bag from the Box Office and note the Quiet Area’s location before your performance. You might be surprised Read more...
Mark Morris: A Choreographer’s Take on American Music
Posted September 29, 2025
Dance Philadelphia Premieres
Renowned choreographer Mark Morris brought his acclaimed company to Philadelphia with Dances to American Music, a program celebrating the richness and diversity of American composers. Known for his unmatched musicality and inventive choreography, Morris shared his insights into the creation of the work and his connection to music.
Read more...The music of our 25/26 season
Posted September 11, 2025
Early Music Jazz Music Penn Live Arts Debuts World Music
Our 25/26 season brings an exciting array of acclaimed musical acts that span multiple genres. We’re thrilled to bring audience favorites back to our stage, from jazz greats
Branford Marsalis and
Cécile McLorin Salvant, to world music icons
Soweto Gospel Choir and
DakhaBrakha.
Read more...2025 Summer Hiatus
Thank you to the incredible artists, dedicated patrons and generous supporters who joined us for our 24/25 season, Beyond Boundaries. Throughout the season, we amplified diverse artistry that transcends geographical and cultural boundaries. Read more...
Recent Highlights: Jan–Jun 2025
The second half of our 24/25 season was a veritable feast, replete with dance, music and theatre, and the press was right there with us! Here are some of the highlights.
Read more...Toll the Bell: Observing National Gun Violence Awareness Day
In the Philadelphia area, we hear near-constant news about gun violence. Our fellow citizens are injured or dying with all-too-frequent regularity in shootings
near a public school, in a
workplace, or when
gathering to celebrate the Memorial Day holiday, a recent tragedy that left two dead and nine wounded. Though our home ranks in the
top twenty cities nationally with the highest gun homicide rates, gun violence isn’t exclusive to Philadelphia; within the United States, nearly
47 thousand people died of gun related injuries in 2023. Though these are troubling statistics, things are slowly improving.
Read more...Summer 2025 Internships and Funding Awards
As the campus finishes commencement ceremonies and dorms empty, we’re celebrating a new group of students starting internships in the arts and entertainment fields this summer, supported by our Arts & Entertainment Career Connections (AECC) program.
Read more...Making American Street Dancer
Accelerator Program Dance Hip-Hop World Premieres
"Thrilling, educational and unexpectedly moving. Commissioned as part of [Rennie] Harris’ three-year residency with Penn Live Arts, American Street Dancer celebrates vibrant and varied traditions of community music and dance.” The Philadelphia Inquirer
Take a look behind the scenes at the development of American Street Dancer, the smash success by our artist-in-residence, Rennie Harris, that had its world premiere in March 2025. In this video, Harris and Christopher Gruits, our Executive & Artistic Director, share more about this multi-year residency and ongoing partnership. Plus, hear from Harris and his collaborators as they reflect on the cultural legacy of community dance styles across the country and offer insight into the creative process behind the powerful piece. Read more...
Announcing the 25/26 season
Artists have played a vital role throughout our nation’s history, uplifting the aspirational ideals of democracy, challenging social injustices and inspiring collective action. As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, our
25/26 season centers on the creativity and influence of America’s artists. Through the lens of music, theatre and dance, we examine our journey since the Declaration of Independence, exploring its enduring promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all.
Read more...5 Questions with Lakecia Benjamin
Jazz
Alto saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin impressed Philadelphia audiences with her radiant performances in our 2022 Coltrane Festival. Now,
the Grammy®-nominated rising star returns to our stage on May 9. In today’s 5 Questions feature, we spoke with Benjamin about her musical beginnings and the artists that she admires.
Read more...
