Furthering our distinguished history of supporting and presenting new work across dance, music and theatre, our Accelerator Program formalizes this significant investment in our artists and their future. With resources to help finish and bring works to the stage, we foster the creative process and then eagerly present the premieres to Philadelphia audiences before the works go on to tour the world.
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Plays in Progress
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Ephrat Asherie Dance with Arturo O'Farrill
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Rennie Harris Puremovement
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Martha Graham Dance Company
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In 1971, the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts was established on the University of Pennsylvania’s campus as a home for experimentation in the performing arts. In over five decades of innovative artistic programming, we have brought countless world premiere performances to Philadelphia as a core aspect of our mission. As part of our 50th anniversary celebration, we reinforced this legacy by launching our Accelerator Program, an annual commitment leveraging resources, expertise and facilities to fuel creative momentum by emerging and established artists and bring new and re-envisioned works to our stage.
The Accelerator Program aims to support artists who are aligned with our commitment to storytelling that reflects the experiences of our community. These unique engagements will generate and share work that brings challenging themes together in conversation, opening a space for artists and audiences to explore and unpack the important issues of today.
Penn Live Arts is a co-commissioner of the world premiere of Shadow Cities, performed by Ephrat Asherie with Arturo O'Farrill.
Tommie-Waheed Evans’ in case of fire, speak, performed by Martha Graham Dance Company, is a co-commission of Penn Live Arts and ArtPhilly as part of the What Now: 2026 Festival.
