Broad Street Review, The Podcast

In this engaging conversation, Darnelle Radford speaks with John Jarboe, the artistic director of Bearded Ladies Cabaret, about their innovative show 'Beards on Ice.' The discussion explores the origins of the show, its focus on climate justice, and the importance of family-friendly programming. John shares insights into the creative process, the role of humor in addressing serious topics, and the...

Nora: A Doll’s House follows Nora, the perfect wife and mother. She is dutiful and beautiful and always has everything in its proper place. But when a secret from her past comes back to haunt her, Nora’s life quickly unravels. Over the course of three days, Nora must fight to protect herself and her family or risk losing everything. Smith’s adaptation takes place in distinct time periods across 10...

A ground-breaking ninety-minute new musical,  Night Side Songs  explores the intimacy of illness, mortality, and the incredible dignity of caregivers through the story of Yasmine Holly, a fictional character informed by interviews with real doctors, hospital staff, and patients, many from right here in Philadelphia.  Night Side Songs  is a musical convergence which reflects and...

THE HALF-GOD OF RAINFALL BY INUA ELLAMS DIRECTED BY LINDSAY SMILING February 11 – March 2, 2025 Nigerian-born British poet and playwright Inua Ellams blends Yoruba and Greek mythologies into an incredible story of a demigod-turned-NBA superstar in  The Half-God of Rainfall . The epic poem follows a half-Nigerian mortal, half-Greek God named Demi, who possesses extraordinary powers yet is burd...

Camden Rep introduces girls of color between the ages of 14 and 18 to behind-the-scenes careers in theater and film with the company’s first Hammer and Nails Conference on Monday , Feb. 3 at Creative Arts High School , located on the campus of Camden High. Bringing together industry professionals and mentors with young, future creatives for a day of inspiration, learning and empowerment, the confe...

What everyone agreed on: Two cars collided. One, driven by a Hasidic Jew, veered off the road and critically injured two Black children, one of whom ultimately died. A crowd formed. Police arrived. What no one agreed on: Anything else. In the summer of 1991, Crown Heights, NY exploded into three days of violence fed by rumors and competing narratives formed from incomplete facts. In the chaos, som...

This conversation explores the reworking of Mae West's play 'The Drag' by a collaborative team of playwrights and directors. They discuss the origins of the play, the process of adapting it for contemporary audiences, and the importance of incorporating diverse voices and experiences in the rehearsal room. The conversation also highlights the role of choreography and movement in the production, th...

One-Man Nutcracker written & performed by Chris Davis directed by MK Tuomanen choreography by Campbell Tosney sound design by Adriano Shaplin lighting design by Krista Smith narrated by Severin Blake You know the Nutcracker the ballet, but what if the ballet was performed by only one man? If the daughter Marie, little boy Fritz, creepy uncle Drosselmeyer, the mice, the Sugar Plum fairy, were a...

It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play   Frank Capra’s beloved holiday classic comes to life as a live 1940s radio broadcast. Capturing the charm and warmth of the original story, actors portray multiple roles and create live sound effects to bring George Bailey’s uplifting journey to life. This production - featuring Christopher Patrick Mullen and Brian Anthony Wilson; and d...

A world-premiere hilarious and heartfelt solo-romp through Christmas classics. Starring Barrymore Award Winner Amanda Schoonover* Created by Brenna Geffers Run time - 60 minutes with no intermission December 12-19, 2024 She'll be home for Christmas --- home alone that is. It's Christmas Eve and after a tough year one lady is determined to get into the holiday spirits. Armed with eggnog, she's goin...

THE COMEUPPANCE BY BRANDEN JACOBS-JENKINS DIRECTED BY MORGAN GREEN A CO-PRODUCTION WITH WOOLLY MAMMOTH THEATRE COMPANY Set in 2023, Jacobs-Jenkins’ witty and moving dark comedy focuses on five friends who reunite 20 years after graduating from a high school in Prince George's County, outside of Washington, D.C. Known as the "Multi-Ethnic Reject Group," the group was once bonded by their outsider s...

MORENO by Pravin Wilkins November 1-24 American Premiere! When Kaepernick kneels, will he? 
2016. The NFL has been shaken by Colin Kaepernick’s controversial decision to take a knee during the national anthem to protest against police brutality. Superstar running back Luis Moreno, who is all about his game – and his paycheck -- has joined a new team with championship aspirations. But America’s lea...

On Saturday, Nov. 16, Prism Arts Philadelphia will host the event, which features fine art, highlights Black excellence, and showcases the diversity of Black drag kings. It will feature drag performers from Philadelphia Black Drag Kings Cyrus K. Stratton, Manny Lovett, Mo Betta, Mister Right, Gemini Mxr, Sir Suavey, Mr. Tee, Deej Nutz, Kyng Dom, and Reese the Beast. The event will also feature a g...

A NEW PERFORMANCE BY MORGAN BASSICHIS WITH ORIGINAL MATERIAL BY FRANK MAYA DIRECTED BY SAM PINKLETON MUSICAL RECREATIONS BY NATASHA JACOBS SCENIC RECREATION BY ELI WOODS HARRISON October 25–26, 2024 In a desperate attempt to prove they can think about someone other than themself, Morgan Bassichis revisits queer comedian, musician, and performance artist Frank Maya’s 1987 show,  Frank Maya Tal...

A contemporary and surprising adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic tale of horror FRANKENSTEIN, adapted and directed by Dave Ebersole. This fresh re-imagination will be staged in the historic Lathem Hall on Widener University’s campus for a limited engagement from October 10-20. Lightbooth Blackout  is partnering with  The Lone Brick Theatre Company  at Widener University to pr...

October 4 - 20, 2024 Written by Erlina Ortiz Directed by Tatyana-Marie Carlo In association with Edgewood Entertainment A Philadelphia Premiere Josefina is a stand-up comic from Philadelphia coming to terms with the recent death of her mother, as well as her sister’s sudden illness, just as her comedy career is taking off. Written by Philadelphia’s own Erlina Ortiz, Co-Artistic Director of Po...

AngelPirate Productions presents: the Are We Free Yet? project based on the book by Tina Strawn curated, written & directed by TS Hawkins Through sound and verse, we sojourn in an afro-future encapsulated within a Sunday dinner unpacking decades and dynasties of epigenetic memories.  Will the future ever progress against the past?  Sauté and serenad...

The Philadelphia Bookstore Crawl is an annual event that brings together book lovers and supports independent bookstores in the city. The idea for the crawl came from the organizer's experiences with similar events in other cities. Last year, the crawl had over 100,000 people access the Google map created for the event. This year, there are 34 participating bookstores. The crawl not only promotes...

Taking its title from the mythical Egyptian afterlife,  The Duat  is a psychological portrait of Cornelius Johnson, a FBI counterintelligence officer played by Philadelphia favorite  Frank X,  in a battle for his very soul. Using spoken word, North African drumming, and gorgeous choreography, this thrilling world premiere is a poetic and virtuosic story of redemption. Roge...

In  The Rose Garden , Jarboe seeks new ways of empowering museum visitors with agency that allows for a sense of narrative surprise, vulnerability, and catharsis. The inspiration for the work came in 2018 when Jarboe, at age 33, came out as trans to her family back home in Michigan, saying she uses she/her pronouns. What happened next would trigger a new gender journey for the artist: John’s...

HILMA A WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NEW GEORGES WORDS BY KATE SCELSA MUSIC BY ROBERT M. JOHANSON DIRECTED BY MORGAN GREEN June 4–23, 2024 The early 20th century queer mystic and artist Hilma af Klint channeled hundreds of paintings through messages from otherworldly forces, hoping to communicate the mysteries of the universe. Only recently rediscovered and hailed as one of the firs...

Lyrics and Book by Lynn Ahrens Music by Stephen Flaherty Directed By: Amina Robinson Assistant Director Mariah Ghant Choreographer Devon Sinclair Music Director Gina Giachero Cast Chabrelle Williams (Mama Euralie) Christopher Faison (Tonton Julian/Servant) Nadia Ra’Shaun (Ti Moune) Ethan B. Walker (Daniel) Sydney Banks (Andrea) Tiara Greene (Asaka) Ryane Nicole Studivant (Erzulie) Jessica Johnson...

The conversation revolves around the Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (PVLA) and their upcoming event, “The Arts Affair”. The guests discuss the importance of PVLA in providing legal services to artists and small arts organizations. They highlight the need for artists to understand the business side of their craft and the role PVLA plays in bridging the gap between art and commerce. The...

The BSR podcast hosts, Alaina Johns and Josh Herron, discuss their experience attending three solo shows in Philadelphia: 'Johnny Depp: A Retrospective on Late Stage Capitalism' by Jenna Kuerzi and Val Dunn, 'Catholic Guilt' by Kelly McCaughan, and 'Good Person' by Brett Ashley Robinson. They provide their thoughts on each show, highlighting the themes, performances, and audience interactions. The...

In this conversation, Darnelle Radford interviews Sabriaya Shipley, the executive director of Theater Philadelphia, about the seventh annual Philly Theatre Week. They discuss the importance of digital media in promoting the theater community, the value of long-form conversations, and the need for inclusivity and accessibility in theater. They also highlight some of the events and productions happe...