ETC. Performance Series: April Insanity!!!
ETC. Performance Series, also known as “Philly’s FAVORITE hi-drama, lo-key performance series,” is an opportunity for performance artists of any and all genres to show their work to a new and diverse audience in an intimate venue. Dance, music, theater, performance art, stand-up comedy, spoken-word poetry, “etc.” is all welcome! Performances are given bi-monthly on the first weekend (Saturday, Sunday) of the month at the Meetinghouse Theater of the CEC. This Saturday’s artists include: Eisa Jackson, Eng & Friends Dance Company, ETCH Dance Company, New Street Dance Group, MardelDance Company, Craig Scull, SURGE Dance Team, Miranda Thompson, Viva Glamour, Lauren Williams and Eric Zonk. Sunday will feature: Baby BINC, coEXISTdance Company, ETCH Dance Company, Kaos Dance Company, MardelDance Company,Craig Scull, Miranda Thompson, Viva Glamour and Lauren Williams.
The Community Education Center at 3500 Lancaster Avenue
Saturday, April 9 and Sunday, April 10 at 8 p.m.
www.etcseries.org
Rockin’ Docs for Diabetes Cure
Rockin’ Docs for Diabetes Cure is a new, exciting benefit concert/fundraiser. This first annual event was conceived and created by Kenneth Einhorn M.D. and Jeremy Jaffe M.D. (himself diagnosed with type 1 diabetes over 20 years ago), both of whom are fathers of children with type 1 diabetes. Their goal is that no family should ever have to deal with the pain and anxiety in learning that a loved one has developed diabetes. And no one should ever have to carry the heavy burden of this disease throughout their lifetime. All profits from the show will benefit the The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the worldwide leader for research to find a cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications (it originally started right here in Philadelphia!). The concert will feature four established local rock bands composed predominantly of doctor-musicians from three large hospital centers in the Philadelphia area. Andre Gardner, WMGK Afternoon Drive Air Personality and host of Breakfast with the Beatles, will emcee the event.
The Electric Factory at 421 N. 7th Street
Sunday, April 10 from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Tickets are $12.50 to $50 for VIP
http://www.rockindocs.org
Lyric Fest: “Stranger Things”
Inspired by the theme of Philadelphia’s first International Festival of the Arts, Lyric Fest closes its season with “Stranger Things ~ Paris in the early 20th Century.” The program of vocal works, poetry, music and live commentary explores the allure of all things “other” in Paris in the first years of the 20th century: exoticism, orientalism, American jazz influences, animal songs and the Forbidden. In its first ever French-inspired program, Lyric Fest offers both complete and partial works with singers joined by instrumentalists.The program is a journey exploring the trajectory of fascination with all things “other” in French song and poetry, with highlights like Ravel’s “Chansons Madécasses,” Stravinsky’s “Three Japanese Lyrics,” Albert Roussel’s “Jazz dans la nuit,” Francis Poulenc’s “Le bestiaire” and Kurt Weill’s “Seven Deadly Sins.” A highly distinguished cast of established and promising artists brings additional interest to audiences.
The First Presbyterian Church at 21st and Walnut.
Sunday, April 10 at 3 p.m.
General admission $25; $5 for students
www.lyricfest.org
Amaryllis Theatre Company’s “Lydia”
Amaryllis Theatre Company will present the Philadelphia Premiere of the intense, lyrical and magical new play “Lydia” by Octavio Solis. One of the most talked-about works of 2009, the controversial Pulitzer Prize-nominated “Lydia” transports audiences to a 1970s Texas border town and into the home of a struggling Mexican immigrant family. The Flores family welcomes Lydia, an undocumented maid, into their El Paso home to care for their daughter Ceci, who was tragically disabled in a car accident on the eve of her quinceañera, her 15th birthday. Lydia’s immediate and seemingly miraculous bond with Ceci sets the entire family on a mysterious and shocking journey of discovery. “Lydia” is recommended for mature audiences only.
The Playground at the Adrienne at 2030 Sansom Street
Wednesday, April 13 through Saturday, April 23
Tickets are $10
www.amaryllistheatre.org
“Two Jews Walk Into War …”
InterAct Theatre Company continues its 23rd season with the Philadelphia premiere of the new comedy “Two Jews Walk Into War…” by local playwright Seth Rozin. Inspired by real-life events, the play follows Ishaq and Zeblyan, the last two Jews in Afghanistan. They share the only remaining synagogue that has not been destroyed by the Taliban, and a desire to continue practicing their religion and to repopulate the Jewish community in Kabul. But they hate each other. Can one incredible act of faith keep the diaspora alive and keep this Middle Eastern “odd couple” from killing each other? Using vaudevillian-style humor to explore themes of religious and cultural oppression, faith in God vs. trust in man, the nature of theology and structure of religion and the culture and crisis of contemporary Afghanistan, “Two Jews…” is a must see for the devout and the secular alike – for anyone in need of a good laugh.
The Mainstage at the Adrienne at 2030 Sansom Street
Wednesday, April 13 through May 8
$18 – $32; student discounts available/
Trade Winds From Japan
Sponsored by the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts, Trade Winds From Japan features the world and U.S. premieres of music by contemporary Japanese composers and traces the influence of the music of Debussy through their work. It’s well known that Debussy found inspiration in the woodcuts of Hokusai and other Asian arts; what may be less well known is the continuing influence that Debussy’s music had on the music of successive generations of Japanese composers. Dai Fujikura will travel from the UK to introduce his music at this concert, and will attend a post-concert reception as well. Additionally, as a pre-concert “Aperitif,” young musicians will perform works by French and Japanese composers during the half-hour prior to the concert. From now through April 14, discounted $5 student tickets are available. They can be purchased online using the discount code NNMSTU and picked up at the box office.
International House Philadelphia at 3701 Chestnut Street
Friday, April 15 at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $5 to $25
www.networkfornewmusic.org