PIFA Brings Free Live Entertainment Round the Clock at the Kimmel Center with Something for Everyone to Enjoy!

In need of an escape? Fear not.  Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts, inspired by the Kimmel Center, kicks off April 7 with city-wide arts festival celebrating the creativity, collaboration and innovation of artistic energy permeating in Paris, the City of Lights, circa 1910-1920. 

Free Live Entertainment in the Kimmel Center Commonwealth Plaza Begins with WXPN Free at Noon concert on April 8. Visitors will experience round the clock free entertainment from April 8 to May 1 with the Kimmel Center’s Plaza transformed into a Parisian Streetscape including: the 81 ft. Eiffel Tower replica with 6,000 light bulbs providing a nightly FREE Eiffel Tower Light Show. The dazzling light and sound show includes mobile planes, trains and a blimp zooming overhead.  In addition, the Plaza will have FREE Wi-Fi connection throughout the festival with a stylized Parisian food cart serving coffee, pastries, and hot chocolate in the morning and crepes during lunch. PIFA also brings FREE French wine tastings at PA Wine & Spirits shop located on premise, FREE French in 10 Minutes lessons, and FREE noon time, happy hour, and nightly performances.   Plaza festivities kick into gear with a full service bar serving Parisian flared drink specials by Wolfgang Puck catering.

Below is a complete list of FREE entertainment and family friendly activities taking place at the Kimmel Center’s Commonwealth Plaza throughout PIFA including:

• Family Fun Weekends provide free family-friendly activities and performances, Saturdays and Sundays, 11am to 1pm (*times vary according to event)
• Lunchtime Tunes put the spotlight on student and professional piano performances featuring jazz, pop, classical and contemporary music. Monday through Friday, noon to 2pm
• Free @ Five concerts entertain the after work crowd with French food and Parisian-flared specialty drinks by Wolfgang Puck Catering offered at the PECO bar in the Plaza.  Monday through Friday, 5pm to 7pm
• Jazz Tuesdays bring the best local jazz musicians to the Kimmel Center’s Plaza stage.   
• WXPN 88.5 FM programs artistic talent to perform free live music on stage in the Plaza for Wednesday Nights at the Kimmel, (5pm to 7pm; 10pm to midnight) and Friday Free at Noon concerts to be broadcast live on XPN from the Plaza stage during the festival. Visit  XPN.org one week prior to date for artist listings.
• PIFA After Dark - free concerts kick off with a dazzling Eiffel Tower light show at 10pm and special late-night bar menu offered at the PECO Bar. Thursday through Saturday, 10pm to midnight.

Note: Please visit kimmelcenter.org/PIFAFree for performer and schedule updates as the festival approaches. 

Family Fun Weekends

FREE family programming and activities take place Saturdays and Sundays, from 11am to 1pm (*times vary). Events include concerts, arts & crafts, an Easter egg hunt, and a specially designated children’s area part of the PIFA street fair on April 30^th.,

Commonwealth Plaza

Specializing in Gypsy Jazz, the Hot Club of Philadelphia presents a program for PNC Grow Up Great that will tell the story of Django Reinhardt—the inspiration behind this unique style of music. The ensemble will perform a variety of music and discuss the meaning behind each piece. Young learners will also learn first-hand about the instruments being used (accordion, guitar, violin, and double base) as well as concepts of Jazz music, including improvisation.

Sunday, April 24 at 11am

Easter Egg Hunt

Commonwealth Plaza

Celebrate the signs of spring with a family-oriented Easter Egg Hunt within the Kimmel Center Plaza. For children 10 and under.

Saturday, April 30 11am – 8:30pm

PIFA Street Fair
Broad Street (Chestnut to Lombard)

As the French-inspired Festival comes to a close, the celebration moves to the streets. Broad Street transforms into a slice of Paris, with carefully selected street vendors selling food and wares, café tables and chairs, a grass-laden park with a children's area, and a giant Ferris Wheel on Broad Street. Two stages provide all-day entertainment from around the world, with street performers and activities to delight the crowds. The day culminates with a breathtaking routine by La Compagnie Transe Express, the world-renowned theatrical troop from France, who will perform 100 feet in the air just as the sun sets at night.

Sunday, May 1 at 1pm
Kimmel Center Youth Jazz Ensemble

Commonwealth Plaza

Lunchtime Tunes

In need of an escape from the work grind? Enjoy a leisurely mid-day break with FREE live music energizing the Plaza, Monday through Friday, noon to 2pm. A stylized Parisian food cart serves coffee, pastries, and crepes during lunch (11am to 3pm).

Monday through Thursday, students and professional musicians play classical and pop numbers on a piano furnished by Jacobs Music. WXPN broadcasts the Friday at Noon FREE concert from the Kimmel Center Plaza Stage, featuring some of the station’s most popular artists. Visit www.XPN.org for concert details one week prior to each show.

Free @ Five concerts

Unwind with a FREE happy hour performance, Monday through Friday from 5pm to 7pm.  Jazz Tuesdays showcases local jazz musicians on the Plaza stage. WXPN programs Wednesday Nights at the Kimmel from singer-songwriter to soul and modern-rock.  Food and drink specials are available by Wolfgang Puck Catering and the Parisian food cart opens again (5 to 8pm).

Visitors may also experience:

·         Alliance Francaise staffs authentic French teachers in Kimmel Center Plaza offering FREE 10 minute instruction of key French words and phrases in group settings.  Weeknights at 5pm.

·         PA Wine & Spirits provides FREE French wine tastings (Thursdays through Saturdays) with full bottles available for purchase at the on-site kiosk in the Kimmel Center Plaza (Tasting Schedule: Thursdays- Saturdays, 5pm -7pm; Sundays, 2pm - 4pm. Note: No tastings on Easter Sunday.)

·         FREE Eiffel Tower light show (7pm), a dazzling light and sound spectacle with 6,000 light bulbs bringing to life the 81 ft. Eiffel Tower replica.

Saturday, April 9 at 5pm

Jerry Blavat Spins the Hits!

Commonwealth Plaza
The Geator with the Heater spins a special set of oldies for the festival’s opening weekend!

Sunday, April 10 at 5pm

Avi Wisnia

Commonwealth Plaza

Fans say it is Avi Wisnia’s live performance that really captures his musical virtuosity, his humor and his energy. Avi showcases his own music with unexpected arrangements, and he experiments with contemporary pop tunes from artists like Lauryn Hill, Bjork, Wilco and The Cure - stripping them down, taking them apart and reviving them with a dynamic new spirit.

Monday April 11 at 5pm

Josh Lawrence Jazz

In Celebration of Philadelphia's Jazz Appreciation Day!

Josh Lawrence is an internationally acclaimed trumpeter, composer, bandleader and educator. He has performed with artists from Erykah Badu to Charli Persip and toured extensively throughout North America and Europe. His band the Josh Lawrence Jazz 3 fuses influences from New York City and Philadelphia into a fresh new sound called Soul Bop.

Thursday, April 14 at 5pm

Jessi Teich

Commonwealth Plaza
For more information on the artist, visit www.jessiteich.com

Friday, April 15 at 6pm
Gospel Performance

Commonwealth Plaza

Gospel music soars as hundreds of voices from Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church Choir sing new works and spiritual favorites from the Kimmel Center tiers.

Saturday, April 16 at 5pm

Thee Phantom and the Illharmonic Orchestra

Commonwealth Plaza

When was the last time you witnessed an orchestral ensemble of up to 15 pieces at a Hip-Hop concert? Well, that is but a fraction of what you will get when you catch Thee Phantom in action. Picture B-Boy meets Beethoven!

Thursday, April 21 at 5:30pm

PIFA: Artist in Communities Residency Showcase

Commonwealth Plaza
Four teams of Philadelphia lead resident artists and community partners collaborate with both youth and adults to create new works. Artists include Misty Sol, Lowe Harrison, Alex Shaw, Joanna Pascale, Toni Miceli and Greg Corbin.

Saturday, April 23 at 5pm

Eleanor Dubinsky

Commonwealth Plaza
Voted best up-and-coming Francophone Singer in New York City 2010 by French Culture Guides, American-born songstress Eleanor Dubinsky connects with her audience through her gently pulsing romantic songs and soulful, heartfelt vocals in English, French and Spanish. For more information on the artist, visit www.eleanordubinsky.com

Thursday, April 28 at 5pm

Philadelphia Ukulele Orchestra

Commonwealth Plaza

The Philadelphia All-star Ukulele Orchestra is a twelve piece ensemble comprised of bohemians, libertines and ukulele enthusiasts! Their performance is an experience not to be missed or heard!

PIFA After Dark

Ready for a nightcap? A destination for city dwellers looking for action, the Kimmel Center’s Plaza offers exciting nightly entertainment with local bands, DJs, and a variety of performers, Wednesday through Saturday from 10pm to midnight. On Wednesdays, WXPN programs FREE live music performances spanning the station’s eclectic playlists from singer-songwriter to soul and modern-rock, wrapping up each night with an imaginative DJ set.

The FREE Eiffel Tower Light Show begins at 10pm and Wolfgang Puck Catering offers a special late night bar menu.

April 14, 15, 16 at 10pm

QUIZZO

Commonwealth Plaza

Enjoy the atmosphere of the Plaza lobby while playing live trivia. Quizzo hosts and themes to be announced!

Sunday, April 17 at 10pm

?uestlove Post-Show Party
Featuring DJ AfroDJiak, Rich Medina and ?uestlove of The Roots

Perelman Theater

Immediately following ?uestlove's  ticketed performance at Verizon Hall, guests can catch him spinning a special festival DJ set in the Kimmel Center's Perelman Theater, free of charge. Philadelphia DJ favorites Rich Medina and DJ AfroDJiak will also spin.

Thursday, April 21 at 10pm

DJ AfroDJiak

Commonwealth Plaza
AfroDJiak's conspicuous mixes and head-nodding blends have made her one of Philadelphia's most sought after DJs.

Friday, April 22 at 10pm

AfroTaino - Global Soul Lounge with DJ Rahsaan

Commonwealth Plaza
Global Soul Lounge is a musical refuge for the soul. After hustling and bustling, clunking through the potholes of the workweek, you can recharge your batteries at the Global Soul Lounge.

Saturday, April 30 at 10pm

Mucca Pazza vs. West Philly Orchestra

Commonwealth Plaza

The ultimate village band freak off, Chicago vs. Philadelphia. These two energy packed ensembles will light the Kimmel Center Plaza Stage on fire with their brass infused, funk, folk, punk musings.

 (Note: The dance party on Friday, April 29 is a $10 ticketed event.)

*Visit kimmelcenter.org/PIFAfree for updated artist information.

FREE Limited Engagements at the Kimmel Center

Monday, April 11 at 6 and 9pm

Scribe Video Center/Art-Reach
Precious Places Community History Project: 2010-2011

Innovation Studio at the Kimmel Center

The story of James Reese Europe, an African-American musician who assembled an orchestra in New York, recorded his music at the original Victor Talking Machine Company in Camden, NJ and later became a lieutenant in the army during World War I hits the big screen in a documentary commissioned by PIFA. Using original archival footage and photos, the film artists from Scribe Video recount the world of this groundbreaking musician. Scribe will also present its annual collection of new documentaries created by Philadelphians called Precious Places.

Tuesday, April 19

Settlement Music School's
103rd Anniversary Annual Concert

Perelman Theater at the Kimmel Center

Settlement Music School's 103rd Anniversary Annual Concert will feature performances by students who study at one of Settlement's six branches in Northeast, South & West Philadelphia, Germantown, Willow Grove and Camden, New Jersey. Selected by audition, the performers represent a variety of ages, instruments or voice, musical styles and ethnicities.

Note: Though the performance is free, seating is ticketed. For reservations, call (215) 320-2684 for ticket information.

Wednesday, April 20 and Friday, April 22

Both performances at 6pm

Plays & Players
PIFA New Play Festival

Rendell Room at the Kimmel Center

Kick off your night out with Plays & Players' PIFA New Play Festival and celebrate the best of local playwrights with staged readings of new plays. In partnership with Philadelphia Dramatists Center (PDC) -- Philadelphia's premiere community of playwrights, collaborating artists and audience members dedicated to creating and nurturing new work -- this evening is sure to be brave, provocative and inspirational. Inspired by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Paula Vogel's "Bake-Off" writing exercise, playwrights from around the area "bake" a play from the same ingredients, including this year's PIFA theme of "Paris in 1911." Select plays are chosen by a panel of local experts to receive further development and have public performances.

Kimmel Center, Inc., a charitable, not-for-profit organization, owns, manages, supports and maintains The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, which includes Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, Innovation Studio and the Merck Arts Education Center.  Kimmel Center, Inc. also manages the Academy of Music, owned by the Philadelphia Orchestra Association, and the University of the Arts’ Merriam Theater. Our mission is to operate a world-class performing arts center that engages and serves a broad audience from throughout the Greater Philadelphia region. The 2010/2011 season is sponsored by Citi, and the Broadway 2010/2011 season is sponsored by Verizon, and American Airlines.  For additional information, visit www.kimmelcenter.org.  

The Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA), inspired by the Kimmel Center, launches the city’s art and cultural scene onto the world stage with a three-week festival offering performances, exhibits and events.  Based on the philosophy of collaboration, innovation and creativity, PIFA’s programs represent every arts discipline and include more than 100 partners.  Offerings include newly commissioned works, classical performances and exhibits, surprising partnerships featuring local and international artists and exciting explorations of traditional, non-traditional, new and emerging art forms.  In homage to the artistic energy of Paris 1910-1920, PIFA celebrates works from that era and new creations inspired by the brashly innovative spirit of the period. The festival was made possible by an extraordinary grant from Philadelphia philanthropist Leonore Annenberg, whose vision for a city-wide celebration of the arts shaped its philosophy and programming.   For more information, visit www.PIFA.org.