February "Free at the Kimmel" Offers Something for Everyone
FEBRUARY 2, 2009Kimmel Center Presents 2008-09 Season Sponsored by Citi
Seventh Anniversary Season Marked with More Than 65 Free at the Kimmel Performances, Nearly 20 Artist Chats, and Several Organ Postludes as well as Free Themed Tours Throughout the Week
Kimmel Center Presents’ Free at the Kimmel events continue in February through the seventh anniversary season with more than 90 free events and performances to take place throughout the center’s spaces this year. Free at the Kimmel includes: Free in the Plaza with local artists performing classical, jazz, pop, country, world, dance and family fare on the Commonwealth Plaza stage; as well as Artist Chats with Kimmel Center Presents performers; Education Events in the Merck Arts Education Center; and Organ Postludes on the Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ in Verizon Hall.
Free themed tours, including Building & Theater Tours and Art & Architecture Tours, are conducted throughout the week by experienced volunteer guides. Updates and complete schedules are available at www.kimmelcenter.org/free. All artists and programs are subject to change.
Free at the Kimmel events are made possible through the Wachovia Gateway to the Arts Community Access Program supported by a generous grant from Wachovia Foundation.
Below is a full schedule of the Free at the Kimmel events in February 2009:
Friday, February 6, 2009 | 6:30pm and Post-Show (Approx. 10pm)
Commonwealth Plaza | Free in the Plaza
Philadelphia Songwriters Project Showcase
Join us for a free musical performance by local songwriters on
Commonwealth Plaza stage prior to and following the ticketed Acoustic
Evening with Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt On Stage Together in Verizon
Hall. The Philadelphia Songwriters Project is a non-profit organization
with the mission to serve as a resource for local and regional
songwriters. PSP supports the time-honored tradition of songwriting.
The organization is dedicated to providing local and regional
songwriters a place to showcase their music, improve their work and
advance their career. This evening's showcase will feature the
following artists: Tania Alexandra, Suzie Brown, Rich Levering and Adam
Swink.
Saturday, February 7, 2009 | 11am
Commonwealth Plaza | PNC Grow Up Great
Kala Jojo: A Journey Through Words and Worlds
With
his towering height, deep voice, engaging personality and gentle humor,
this nationally acclaimed vocalist, musician and African Jeli
(storyteller) enthralls audiences of all ages. Also known as "The Tall
Storyteller," Kala JoJo offers living lessons to children and adults
alike through traditional folktales and poetry embellished with a
myriad of African rhythms—from drums and harp to kalimba and bylophone.
This performance is part of the PNC Grow Up Great series which presents child-friendly programming at 11am on the first Saturday of every month in Commonwealth Plaza, unless otherwise noted. Visit www.kimmelcenter.org/family for more information.
Sunday, February 8, 2009 | 1:30pm
Commonwealth Plaza | Free in the Plaza
Chamber Music from the Members of Symphony in C
Join
us for a free musical performance on the Commonwealth Plaza stage prior
to the ticketed performance by the Cleveland Orchestra with Conductor
Franz Welser-Möst in Verizon Hall.
Sunday, February 8, 2009 | Post-Show (Approx. 5:15pm)
Verizon Hall | Organ Postlude
Join us for a free Organ Postlude on the Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ
in Verizon Hall following the ticketed performance by the Cleveland
Orchestra with Conductor Franz Welser-Möst.
Saturday, February 14, 2009 | 6:30pm and Post-Show (Approx. 10pm)
Commonwealth Plaza | Free in the Plaza
Alfred James Band
Join
us for a free performance of cello-driven acoustic rock by local artist
Alfred James and his band in Commonwealth Plaza prior to and following
the ticketed Valentine’s Day performance by Rufus Wainwright in Verizon
Hall.
"If you need just one reason to go hear Alfred James and his band perform, this should be it: James is the only cellist in the entire world who plays a five-string carbon fiber cello standing up! …When you also factor in that the Alfred James Band…has been compared to Sting, Jason Mraz, Jack Johnson and Dave Matthews, it adds up to one wild concert experience." — Play Magazine
Friday, February 20, 2009 | Post-Show
Perelman Theater Stage | Artist Chat
Artist Chat: Rennie Harris Puremovement
Join us for an Artist Chat on Perelman Theater stage with dancers,
choreographer Rennie Harris and Kimmel Center Director of Programming
Tom Warner immediately following the ticketed performance by Rennie
Harris Puremovement in Perelman Theater.
Saturday, February 21, 2009 | 6:30pm
Commonwealth Plaza | Free in the Plaza
"Celebrating Sondheim: A Musical Theatre Cabaret"
Prior
to the ticketed evening of Stephen Sondheim's A Life in the Theater, an
Onstage Conversation with Frank Rich in Verizon Hall, enjoy a free
cabaret performance celebrating some of Sondheim's and other composers'
great works. Join local vocalists Peter Danzig, Elizabeth Ross, Aimee
Robidoux and accompanist Pat Montenegro as they perform a variety of
musical theater pieces from shows such as Tick Tick Boom, Aida, Light in the Piazza and, of course, some favorites from Sondheim’s Company and Sweeney Todd.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009 | Post-Show
Verizon Hall | Organ Postlude
Organ Postlude: Peter Conte
Join us for a free Organ Postlude with organist Peter Conte on the Fred
J. Cooper Memorial Organ in Verizon Hall following the ticketed
performance by the Vienna Philharmonic with Conductor Zubin Mehta and
pianist Lang Lang.
Saturday, February 28, 2009 | Post-Show
Perelman Theater Stage | Artist Chat
Artist Chat: Bang on a Can All-Stars
Join us for an Artist Chat following the ticketed performance by Bang
on a Can All-Stars with Glenn Kotche from Wilco in Perelman Theater,
featuring the evening’s artists and Kimmel Center Director of
Programming Tom Warner. The performers will speak about their
music-making as well as take questions from the audience.
Tuesdays-Sundays | 1pm
Commonwealth Plaza Information Desk | Free Themed Tours
Building & Theater Tour
Join
us for a themed tour which includes a history of the Kimmel Center;
architectural and construction highlights; and visits to Commonwealth
Plaza, Perelman Theater, Verizon Hall, Merck Arts Education Center and
the Dorrance H. Hamilton Garden. This tour is approximately one hour in
duration.
Saturdays | 10:30am
Commonwealth Plaza Information Desk | Free Themed Tours
Art & Architecture Tour
Join
us for a themed tour which includes an in-depth look at the Kimmel
Center's architecture, a walk along the Avenue of the Arts to view the
Center in the context of the cityscape, and a tour of artworks on
display throughout the Kimmel Center, including the Moore Galleries and
the recently installed Percent for Art collection. Tours are led by
experienced volunteer guides and are free of charge. This tour is
approximately 90 minutes in duration.
> index of news releases
> For more information, and to request high resolution images for press use, send us a message online.