Arden Theatre Co. presents Amsterdam-based musical
Based on the book by Michael Ogborn, the Arden Theatre closes its season with the musical “Tulipomania.” Before we had the subprime mortgage crisis, Holland had the Tulip Bulb Bubble. Six strangers in an Amsterdam hash bar recall this seedy story of love, sex, money and power. From the writer and composer of “Cafe Puttanesca” and “Baby Case” comes a new musical that gets high off our financial lows.
Arden Theatre Co. at 40 N. 2nd St.
May 24 through July 1
Tickets: $34-40; $32 for students
www.ardentheatre.org
“N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz”
Feel the flavor of the city that never sleeps with Jerome Robbins’ “N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz.” Robbins’ “ballet in sneakers” celebrates the youth and vitality of the era in which it emerged: the distinctly cool 1950s. “N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz” adopts the spirit of Robbins’ renowned “West Side Story” with Broadway-style theatricality saturating this series of dances to the music of Robert Prince.
Merriam Theater at 250 S. Broad St.
May 31 through Sunday, June 3
Tickets: Start at $20; $15 student rush available at box office one hour prior to show
www.paballet.org
MAD Dragon annual showcase
Housed in the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, the Music Industry Program introduces students to the business and technology sides of the industry through a hands-on, entrepreneurial approach. Students enrolled in the music industry bachelor’s degree program will complete part of their course requirements by managing all aspects of the program’s record label, MAD Dragon, including production, recording, marketing, copyrights, contracts and distribution. MadKo Concerts will present a showcase of talent June 1 at The Legendary Dobbs. The annual spring show features music in the styles of rock, punk rock and blues/folk/rock. The WeatherVanes will be headlining the show, supported by The Frayed Coats and Maris Lane.
The WeatherVanes are a four-piece folk-rock band from the greater D.C. area. They came together after a series of startups, shutdowns, Craigslist ads and adult beverages. Now just two years old — with management in place, a record under their belt, and gas in the tank — the band is taking off. The latest EP, “Morning Light” (released December 2011), has been compared to a mix of Ryan Adams, Tom Petty and Gov’t Mule.
The Frayed Coats feature vocalist and guitarist Steve Mroozian, bassist Joe Murray, and drummer Danny Williams. Amid the hustle and bustle of a 9 to 5 and the sovereign serenity of their weekday rehearsals, the power trio has carved out a sound as understated as a warm blanket of distortion on a cool fall day.
Maris Lane is a young band fresh from the suburbs of Philadelphia. They formed in early 2011 and released “The Pursuit EP” soon after. The professional production quality made the release stand out and reflect their determination to make a name for themselves in the music scene.
The Legendary Dobbs at 304 South St. (21+)
Friday, June 1
Tickets: $5 in advance, $7 at the door.
www.dobbsphilly.com
“Handfuls of Wisdom” Postcard Project
Inspired by his grandfather, a victim of Alzheimer’s, Drexel adjunct writing professor Matthew Ross Smith started a nationwide communal artistic project. He gave out postcards for individuals to trace their handprints and write one piece of wisdom, advice or a memory in the space between their fingers. The Spaces Between Your Fingers Project, which combines the efforts of more than 2,100 volunteers from 46 states, will be debuted in a free event on campus, where members of the public will be invited to create their own contributions. Beginning the following week, the postcards will be on display for the public for the first time at Melanie’s Place gallery in Old City through July 9. On Saturday, June 9, at 8 p.m., Smith, along with his band, will perform original music from a recently recorded collection of acoustic songs called “Postcards,” inspired by the people he has encountered in his travels.
Creese Student Center’s Behrakis Grand Hall, 32nd and Chestnut streets
Friday, June 1, 2-4 p.m.
www.events.drexel.edu
“At Home on The Stage”
In the Year of Dickens 2012, the Free Public Library of Philadelphia celebrates Charles Dickens, one of the greatest novelists who ever lived. Events scheduled over the weeks include guest speakers and discussions of his individual works. Dickens also had a passion for the stage; he wrote original plays for his group of “amateur theatricals” and acted in productions himself. The exhibition opening Monday, June 4, “At Home on The Stage,” features rare playbills, letters and memorabilia from Dickens’ lifelong relationship with the world of theater.
Rare Book Department in the Parkway Central Library at 1901 Vine St.
Monday through Saturday, 9-5 p.m.
www.freelibrary.org