Trice Baldwin-Browns (left) and Tessa Kuhn in “Gidion’s Knot” (Photo by Rebecca Gudelunas).

Curio Theatre Company begins the season with a play that deals with an incredibly timely issue that is currently in the headlines. Written by Johnna Adams, Gidion’s Knot is a play that brings to light the question of who, if anyone, is responsible when a juvenile makes a tragic decision.

During a 90-minute parent/teacher conference that takes place in real time, a grieving mother, played by Curio company member Trice Baldwin-Browns, and an emotionally overwhelmed elementary school teacher, played by Curio company member and Education Director Tessa Kuhn, grapple with the tragic suicide of fifth grader Gidion. Who failed Gidion and how? Who, if anyone, is responsible for the failure to recognize such profound distress in Gidion? As the two women use Gidion’s own writing to try to get closer to the truth, they come to conclusions both shocking and profound. Continue Reading

Families are invited to take part in fun Halloween/Fall events hosted by local non-profit organizations: Spruce Hill Community Association, Penn Museum, The Woodlands, and CinéSPEAK. Here are more details:

Halloween Family Fun Day

UPDATE: This event has been cancelled due to rain in the forecast for Sunday, Oct. 23.

The Woodlands (40th and Woodland), is hosting its annual Halloween Family Fun Day. This year’s Family Fun Day will feature a pop up Mini Mütter Museum, and performances by Karen Smith’s “Spiritual Atmosferic Cleansing” and Tangle Movement Arts. Philadelphia Orchard Project’s (POP) Learning Orchard, located at The Woodlands, will be open for visitors throughout the event. Go here for more details. Continue Reading

Here’s a great chance to visit West Philadelphia artist studios. The Philadelphia Open Studio Tours, a program of The Center for Emerging Visual Artists, will take place in West and Southwest Philly on Sunday, Oct. 16. These are self-guided and community-centered tours when folks are encouraged to stop by their neighborhood art studios to support the artists and check out their work. Studios will be open from Noon to 6 p.m.

The following artists, studios and POST community partners will open their doors to visitors this Sunday (an interactive map is available here): Continue Reading

The annual Peoplehood Parade is this Saturday (photo by West Philly Local).

A West Philly tradition complete with drumlines, banners and giant puppets will wind through neighborhood streets this Saturday, Oct. 15 (unless it rains) as the annual Peoplehood Parade returns.

The parade departs the Paul Robeson House at 50th and Walnut at 1 p.m. and concludes with performances in Clark Park beginning at about 2:30. See the map below. Continue Reading

Photo by Randl Bye & Melissa Sobel

Dancefusion, a West Philly-based dance company, was founded by Artistic Director Gwendolyn Bye who grew up in Powelton Village. Celebrating 35 years this year, the company will be presenting ENVISIONS at the Philly FringeArts Festival in collaboration with The Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble from New York City.

The program will feature both companies with three performances on September 9 at 7:00 p.m. and September 10 at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at the Performance Garage, 1515 Brandywine Street in Philadelphia.

Dancefusion will present two pieces by Pauline Koner, a visionary dancer and choreographer. Concertino (1955) is set to music by Unico Wilheim van Wassenaer. The dance, using the flavor of court dances, depicts a Lady and her ladies-in-waiting in three facets of the Lady’s life. The second work is an excerpt from Koner’s monumental solo The Farewell (1962), set to Gustav Mahler’s The Song of the Earth. Dancefusion will add a third innovative, fun work for the company, Forces in G: Ode to a Ball, choreographed by Rachel Kantra Beal to music by J.S. Bach. Continue Reading

Theatre in the X is back at Malcolm X. Park (5100 Pine St.) with the opening of celebrated musical Dreamgirls on Thursday, Aug. 18, at 7 p.m.

Based on the show business aspirations and successes of R&B acts such as The Supremes, James Brown, Jackie Wilson, and others, the musical follows the story of a young female singing trio “The Dreams,” who become music superstars.

The city’s Black theater company will stage four performances this year, including another 7 p.m. show on Aug. 19 and Saturday and Sunday performances (Aug. 20-21) beginning at 5 p.m. Admission, as always, is free. Just bring a chair or a blanket or whatever you want to sit on.

Dreamgirls is based on the Broadway hit by playwright Tom Eyden and composer Henry Krieger first staged in 1981. The play was adapted as 2006 film that starred Beyoncé, Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy, and also features Jennifer Hudson and Danny Glover.

West Philly native Ozzie Jones is directing the production and Sanchel Brown is choreographer. Will Brock will provide music direction and original compositions. Continue Reading