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Platt House 20th Anniversary

“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

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

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...

Toll the Bell: 2026

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 public schools, in workplaces and at gatherings meant for celebration. Though our home ranks among the top twenty cities nationally with the highest gun homicide rates, gun violence isn't exclusive to Philadelphia; within the United States, tens of thousands of people die of gun-related injuries every year.

Though these are troubling realities, there are real signs of hope. Read more...

Amplifying the Arts in America 250 Celebrations

Dance Penn Live Arts Commission World Premieres

Kathy Sachs, founder and chair of ArtPhilly, wanted to amplify the arts in the city’s semiquincentennial celebration this summer . As plans took shape for the organization’s inaugural What Now: 2026 Festival, Sachs turned to us at Penn Live Arts, where she sits on the Board of Advisors. Read more...

The Tricia & Jason Pantzer Family Box Office

We are thrilled to share that a $1 million gift will name the Tricia & Jason Pantzer Family Box Office at the Annenberg Center. The Pantzer family’s gift stands among the early leadership support of our capital campaign and reflects their strong belief in efforts to renovate and expand the facilities that support performance and cultural life on campus. Read more...