Chinese New Year Celebration at Penn Museum
Ring in the Chinese Year of the Snake and learn more about how the lunar new year is celebrated throughout Asia at this annual daylong extravaganza. Bring the whole family and celebrate the new year with a wide variety of music and dance performances, martial and healing arts demonstrations, feng shui and folk tale presentations, children’s activities, storytelling, and arts and crafts. The day ends with a drumroll, a roar and the popular Grand Finale Lion Parade.
Penn Museum, 3260 South St.
Saturday, Feb. 2, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Free with museum admission
www.penn.museum
Award-Winning ‘Silent Night’ Playing at Academy of Music
On World War I’s western front, weapons are laid down when Scottish, French and German officers defy their superiors and negotiate a Christmas Eve truce. Enemies become brothers as they come together to share Christmas and bury their dead in a moving, dramatic work that features soaring, lyrical melodies and a stellar cast. Acclaimed tenor William Burden stars as the drafted opera singer whose voice inspires peace among adversaries. Soprano Kelly Kaduce plays Burden’s love interest, Anna Sorensen, and baritone Troy Cook returns as Father Palmer, the Scottish priest. A host of important debuts are in store, including bass-baritone Craig Irvin as Lt. Horstmayer, the German commanding officer; baritone Liam Bonner as Lt. Audebert, the conflicted French commander; and baritone Gabriel Preisser as Lt. Gordon. Oscar-winning, Tony-nominated Eric Simonson directs the new production, with Maestro Michael Christie at the orchestra podium.
The Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.
Friday, Feb. 8, 8 p.m. through Sunday, Feb. 17, 2:30 p.m.
Cost: Starts at $10
www.operaphila.org
Beyond Swastika and Jim Crow: new exhibition at the American Jewish History Museum
“Beyond Swastika and Jim Crow: Jewish Refugee Scholars at Black Colleges” tells the story of Jewish academics from Germany and Austria who came to the U.S. after being dismissed from their teaching positions in the 1930s. Some found positions at historically black colleges and universities in the Jim Crow South. Through over 70 evocative artifacts and documents, this exhibition illustrates the empathy between two minority groups with a history of persecution who came together in search of freedom and opportunity and shared the early years of struggle in the Civil Rights Movement.
National Museum of American Jewish History, 101 S. Independence Mall East
Now through June 2
Included in general museum admission
www.nmajh.org
Jerry Blavat: The Divas of All Time
Spend an evening enjoying the best rock ‘n’ roll of the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s with Philadelphia’s legendary radio icon and larger-than-life personality Jerry Blavat. The Geator’s energetic and star-studded program is sure to have you dancing in the aisles.
Kimmel Center, Verizon Hall, 1500 Walnut St.
Saturday, Jan. 26, 8 p.m.
Cost: starts at $41
www.kimmelcenter.org
Oscar Wilde’s “An Ideal Husband”
“An Ideal Husband” is a wonderfully witty story of romance, insider trading and scandal! Sir Robert is a highly respected politician whose spotless reputation is the pride of his beautiful wife and adoring sister. But when an old acquaintance threatens to reveal a dark secret from Robert’s past, only his womanizing, party-loving best friend is scheming and dishonest enough to come to his aid. As the story unfolds, it’s revealed that the man thought to be perfect is flawed, the man with all the flaws must do something right, and the question remains: What makes an ideal husband? Oscar Wilde’s timeless comedy explores morality and the greater standard that seems to fall upon those individuals in the public eye.
Walnut Street Theatre, 825 Walnut St.
Now through March 3
Cost: Starts at $14.25
www.walnutstreettheatre.org