For a PDF version of this press release, click here.
Tweet It!
JUST ANNOUNCED: @KimmelCenterunveils all-star lineup for 2019/20 season including #BWYPHL, #Jazz, #NatGeoLive #FamilyDiscoverySeries and #FreeAtTheKimmel. Packages & select shows on sale now! More info @ kimmelcenter.org
Press Contact:
Lauren Woodard
215-790-5835
LWoodard@kimmelcenter.org
Jessica Christopher
267-765-3738
jchristopher@alliedglobalmarketing.com
KIMMEL CENTER CULTURAL CAMPUS
ANNOUNCES 2019/20 SEASON LINEUP
PACKAGES AND SELECT SINGLE TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Lineup includes Eric Andre, The Office! A Musical Parody, Marc Maron, Mandy Patinkin, Samin Nosrat, Adam Ant, Gregory Porter, Black Violin, Nick Jr. Live, Baby Shark Live!, and the return of National Geographic Live! Explorer Series
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Philadelphia, PA, September 10, 2019) – The Kimmel Center Cultural Campus is thrilled to announce its 2019/20 season, including the imaginative Family Discovery Series, storied Broadway season, star-studded Jazz selection, captivating & educational National Geographic Live Explorer nights, and inviting free community events. Packages and select single tickets are on sale now. All Cultural Campus programming enables the Center to move forward in its mission to engage the Philadelphia region’s diverse communities with art through performance and education.
The diverse lineup offers an extensive variety of events, from Tony® Award-winning Broadway classics to powerful speaking tours, from uproarious comedy to masterful dance, and a wide range of art for all. This season, the unpredictable and outrageous actor, comedian, and talk show host Eric Andre will rattle audience’s minds in his Legalize Everything Tour. The Emmy® Award-winning YouTube sensation Randy Rainbow brings his hysterical political spoofs and toe-tapping songs, including viral hit “Braggadocious”, to the stage. Tony® nominated actor Mary Bridget Davies stars in a musical journey celebrating the queen of Rock ‘N’ Roll and the unmistakable voice that touched a nation in A Night With Janis Joplin. Everyone’s favorite Dunder Mifflin employees take the stage in a riotous, unauthorized theatrical satire: The Office! A Musical Parody. Families take an adventure into the sea with Baby Shark Live!, the state-of-the-art concert experience that has young fans dancing in the aisles. Known for his landmark podcast WTF With Marc Maron, stand-up veteran Marc Maron presents a sidesplitting stand-up special that will have audiences roaring with laughter.
The Kimmel Center’s Esteemed Resident Company, PHILADANCO,celebrates its 50th anniversary season with Genesis, featuring appearances by Tony® Award-winning star of Hamilton and PHILADANCO alumnus,Leslie Odom, Jr. Returning to the Cultural Campus after a wildly successful engagement at the Kimmel Center’s Merriam Theater last October is the classically-trained string instrumentalist duo Black Violin. This genre-bending group uses their unique blend of classical and hip-hop music to encourage people of all ages, races, and economic backgrounds to join together and break down cultural barriers in the Impossible Tour.
Writer Kevin Fedarko and award-winning photographer & filmmaker Pete McBride offer audiences a glimpse into one of our planet’s most spectacular places in the National Geographic Live’s Between River and Rim: Hiking the Grand Canyon. Join Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and the whole Peanuts gang when everyone’s favorite holiday classic comes to life in the all-new touring production, A Charlie Brown Christmas Live On Stage.The fearlessly funny women of the world’s premier comedy club The Second City take the stage to roast the patriarchy in their brand new show, She The People: Girlfriend’s Guide to Sisters Doing It for Themselves.
“This year’s multifaceted lineup exhibits the highest quality of contemporary entertainment on the Kimmel Center Cultural Campus,” said Ed Cambron, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. “Our extensive season speaks to our region’s rich cultural tapestry and our institution’s ongoing commitment to presenting diverse and thought-provoking content for art lovers of all ages. The carefully-curated programming brings light-hearted family favorites for our youngest patrons, riveting examinations of our world, uproariously edgy performers, Broadway’s finest, and everything in between.”
FAMILY DISCOVERY SERIES
The previously-announced Family Discovery Series returns for a fifth consecutive season with family-friendly programming to cultivate the next generation of burgeoning art lovers through popular and engaging shows. This season features returning favorites, all-new productions, and reimagined classics with live performances from beloved characters, innovative puppetry, powerful music, and beautiful dance. This year’s series is generously sponsored by Santander.
The 2019/20 season lineup includes: Baby Shark Live! (November 10, 2019); The Rainbow Fish (November 23, 2019), including a sensory-friendly performance at 12:00 p.m.; A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage (December 20 – 21, 2019); Cirque Dreams: Holidaze (December 26 – 29, 2019); Drumline Live (January 10 – 11, 2020); Riverdance – New 25th Anniversary Show (January 21 – 26, 2020); Nick Jr. Live! Move to the Music (February 7 – 9, 2020); Ballet Folclòrico Nacional de México de Silvia Lozano (March 12, 2020); Cashore Marionettes: Simple Gifts with Organist Marvin Mills (March 21, 2020); Wild Kratts Live 2.0 – Activate Creature Power (April 18, 2020) and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood LIVE! (May 9, 2020). Additional details for the individual shows are available below.
Tickets start at $9.50 per show and packages are available now. Choose three or more shows from our spectacular Family Discovery Series and save 10 percent. Single tickets are on sale now, with the exception of Cirque Dreams: Holidaze (December 26 – 29, 2019), Riverdance – New 25th Anniversary Show (January 21 – 26, 2020), and Wild Kratts Live 2.0 – Activate Creature Power (April 18, 2020).
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LIVE!
Following a successful premier season, the National Geographic Live! series returns to the Kimmel Center Cultural Campus. Audiences will explore the unknown edges of the world with National Geographic Live’s three spectacular shows, led by real-life National Geographic Explorers!
Join writer Kevin Fedarko and photographer & filmmaker Pete McBride in an audacious and demanding adventure through the Grand Canyon’s uncharted glory. Watch as they share the struggle and beauty of their estimated 875 mile walk through one of our planets most spectacular places in Between River and Rim: Hiking the Grand Canyon (November 13, 2019).
Dr. Kara Cooney, professor of Egyptology, explores a time in ancient history when women ruled the world. Often neglected in history books, these women were considered exceptions to the rule, political pawns in a patriarchal society. Cleopatra used her sexuality – and her money – to build alliances with warlords of the Roman Empire. Neferusobek was the first woman to definitively take the title of King. Dr. Cooney provides powerful insights and illuminating answers to the question “what can we learn from how these women ruled?” in When Women Ruled the World (March 18, 2020).
Astrobiologist, planetary scientist, and National Geographic emerging Explorer Kevin Hand searches for life beyond Earth. Currently, he is helping plan a NASA Mission to Jupiter’s moon Europa to investigate evidence of a vast subsurface ocean – a body of water which could sustain primitive forms of life on this alien world nearly 600 million miles from our planet. Join Hand for a firsthand report on the search for real extraterrestrials in The Search for Life Beyond Earth (May 21, 2020).
BROADWAY SEASON
The 2019/20 season will bring the best of touring Broadway to the heart of the City of Brotherly Love, featuring the latest Tony® Award-winning productions, as well as returning beloved Broadway classics. A monumental slate of 9 productions will be making their Philadelphia premieres. The Broadway season includes: Rent 20th Anniversary Tour (October 18 – 20, 2019); Come From Away (October 22 – November 3, 2019); Mean Girls (November 19 – December 1, 2019); The Spongebob Musical (December 3 – 15, 2019); Cirque Dreams: Holidaze (December 26 – 29, 2019); The Band’s Visit (January 7 – 19, 2020); Riverdance – New 25th Anniversary Show (January 21 – 26, 2020); Hello, Dolly! (February 19 – March 1, 2020); Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles (March 13 – 15, 2020); Les Misérables (March 17 – 29, 2020); Jesus Christ Superstar (April 7 – 12, 2020); Dear Evan Hansen (April 7 – May 3, 2020); Waitress (May 12 – 17, 2020); Summer: The Donna Summer Musical (June 2 – 7, 2020) and Escape to Margaritaville (June 16 – 28, 2020). Broadway Philadelphia is presented collaboratively by the Kimmel Center Cultural Campus and The Shubert Organization, with productions at the Academy of Music, Forrest Theatre, and the Merriam Theater.
JAZZ SEASON
The previously announced 2019/20 Jazz season features powerhouse collaborations, critically-acclaimed musicians, and culturally diverse masters of the craft. The season will kick off with pianist/composer hailed as “the genius of the modern piano,” Marcus Roberts & the Modern Jazz Generation (October 11, 2019), followed by the Grammy® Award-winning Chick Corea Trilogy with Christian McBride and Brian Blade (October27, 2019). The season continues with a multifarious lineup that celebrates an extensive range of jazz styling including genre-defying & genre-defining artists, Philadelphia favorites, and former Kimmel Center Jazz & Theater Residency artists. Lineup includes: Ms. Lisa Fischer & Grand Baton performing with The Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (November 1, 2019); high-energy duo Black Violin: Impossible Tour (November 8, 2019); groundbreaking quartet, Béla Fleck & the Flecktones (December 3, 2019); gospel, soul, and jazz traditionalist Gregory Porter (February 10, 2020); up-and-comer and Thelonious Monk winner Jazzmeia Horn (March 14, 2020); renowned Philadelphia favorites and former Kimmel Center Theater Residency artists Ethan Lipton & His Orchestra (March 14, 2020); captivating Philadelphia native and former Kimmel Center Jazz Resident, Joanna Pascale (April 25, 2020); trailblazing trumpeter and soloist Bria Skonberg (May 9, 2020); and the return of internationally-revered ensemble Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis (May 17, 2020).
MONTHLY FREE EVENTS
La NOCHE is the Kimmel Center’s FREE monthly, Latin music, dance-party experience. The Kimmel Center’s own house band, La NOCHE, performs, led by Cuban percussionist Arturo Stable. The evening is hosted by dance leader, Kevin Ngo. La NOCHE is proudly sponsored by PNC Arts Alive.
Sittin’ In is a FREE monthly event at the Kimmel Center, introducing audiences to new cutting-edge artists, drawing everything from straight-ahead jazz to freestyle hip-hop and all points in between.
FREE PNC Grow Up Great programs will continue in the 2019/20 season. Grow Up Great is for young music lovers, ages 3-5 years old. Each month Grow Up Great introduces children to the vibrant worlds of either jazz or musical theater.
FREE 15-minute Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ demonstrations take place monthly, during the Kimmel Center’s Saturday building tours, showcasing the instrument’s unparalleled and dramatic sounds live in Verizon Hall.
# # #
The 2019/20 Season lineup can be found below in chronological order. Full program details at www.kimmelcenter.org:
ERIC ANDRE: Legalize Everything Tour
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Merriam Theater
September 17, 2019, 7:30 p.m.
Eric Andre is the creator and host of Adult Swim's top-rated hit series The Eric Andre Show. With an already proved stand-up act, Andre brought his own flare to the otherwise very organized and predictable world of late night talk shows. Andre's unrelenting and constantly over the top humor puts some of his guests on The Eric Andre Show into situations they never thought they would end up in. This year, he will bring his outrageous humor to the stage in the Legalize Everything Tour.
ADAM ANT: Friend or Foe
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Merriam Theater
September 20, 2019, 8:00 p.m.
In October 1980, millions of living rooms across the UK were set on fire by a blazing TV performance by Adam and the Ants. After three ferocious minutes of ‘Dog Eat Dog’, on the weekly music show, Top of the Pops, the phenomenon rapidly began and they would go on to dominate the charts with extraordinary success. Building a huge cult following, Adam and the Ants performed live at venues including The Roxy, Vortex, and the famous Marquee club in London. Adam’s first solo album, Friend or Foe, continued his success in the US, delivering three top twenty hits on the Billboard Top 100. Friend or Foe is considered his most successful solo album to date and was certified gold album status on both sides of the Atlantic after selling more than 100,000 copies. Now Adam Ant is performing his landmark solo album for the first time LIVE in its entirety, as well as some of his chart-topping singles and personal favorites.
RANDY RAINBOW LIVE
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Merriam Theater
September 21, 2019, 7:00 p.m.
Randy Rainbow is a comedian, actor, writer, host, and internet sensation best known for his viral comedy videos. His popular series of political spoofs and song parodies have garnered international acclaim and over a hundred million views. Dan Savage called him "the best thing about the 2016 GOP race" and his musical tribute to the first presidential debate of 2016 ("BRAGGADOCIOUS!") received 28 million views in its first two days. Subsequently, he was asked by the cast of TV's Will & Grace to parodize a song, which they performed during a political fundraiser for the 2016 election.
A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Merriam Theater
September 24, 2019, 7:30 p.m.
A Night With Janis Joplin is a musical journey celebrating Janis Joplin and her biggest musical influences – trailblazers like Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Odetta, Nina Simone, and Bessie Smith, all of whom inspired Joplin to become one of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s greatest legends. Like a comet that burns far too brightly to last, Joplin exploded onto the music scene in 1967 and, almost overnight, became the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Her unmistakable voice, filled with raw emotion and tinged with Southern Comfort, made Joplin a must-see headliner from Monterey to Woodstock. Audiences will enjoy Joplin’s favorites, including “Piece of My Heart,” “Cry Baby,” “Me and Bobby McGee,” and many others.
THE OFFICE! A Musical Parody
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Merriam Theater
September 28, 2019, 8:00 p.m.
September 29, 2019, 2:00 p.m.
Singing! Dancing! Paper! It's a typical morning at Scranton's third largest paper company until, for no logical reason, a documentary crew begins filming the lives of the employees of Dunder Mifflin. The Office! A Musical Parody, currently selling out the Jerry Orbach Theatre in New York City, lovingly pokes fun at the hit TV show The Office. Don’t miss this hilarious unauthorized musical parody featuring your favorite coworkers from Dunder Mifflin. Featuring songs such as “Welcome to Scranton (The Electric City),” “That’s What She Said,” “The Dundies,” “Marry Me Beesly,” and more.
BIANCA DEL RIO: “It’s Jester Joke”
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Perelman Theater
October 2, 2019, 8:00 p.m.
Comedy queen and RuPaul's Drag Race champion Bianca Del Rio premieres her brand new comedy show, It's Jester Joke. The self-proclaimed “Clown in a Gown” will tell tales of her world travels and the outrageous circus that is her life on the most ambitious solo drag show tour in history. Irreverent and fierce, Bianca is guaranteed to keep audiences in stitches with her comical ‘tell-it-like-it-is’ views, from politics and travel to family and social media, that has seen her become one of the biggest drag superstars in the world today. Don’t miss the chance to see The Queen of Mean live in her uncompromisingly funny new show.
SONGS YOU LEFT BEHIND
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ SEI Innovation Studio
October 3, 2019, 7:00 p.m.
Songs You Left Behind is an opportunity for representatives from many Latino nations to share the pride of their homeland in the community. Wherever we’re from, we all have songs that remind us of home. This is the music of our childhood, sung by our families and neighbors, on the radio, and in our homes. Listen to the music. Hear their stories. Experience the emotions. Open your heart and celebrate the cultures of Latin America as members of our community share what they’ve left behind and what they carry with them. This will be the 6th year of this event.
PHILADANCO: Genesis
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Merriam Theater
October 5, 2019, 8:00 p.m.
October 6, 2019, 2:30 p.m.
Acclaimed Philadelphia dance company and Kimmel Center Cultural Campus Resident Company PHILADANCO kicks off their 50th season with Genesis – igniting the Merriam Theater stage with some of the most requested and exciting ballets from the company’s early years. Former DANCO dancers and guest artists will join the current company in a special evening of the ballets that established the preeminent company audiences know and love. Featuring Christopher Huggin's "Enemy Behind the Gate," Milton Myers tribute to Aretha Franklin "Love and Pain," and "Exotica" by Ron K. Brown. The October 5 evening performance will feature an appearance by acclaimed PHILADANCO and Hamilton alumnus Leslie Odom, Jr.
CRISTELA ALONZO: My Affordable Care Act
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Perelman Theater
October 10, 2019, 8:00 p.m.
Cristela Alonzo made history in 2014 when she became the first Latina to create, produce, and star in her own network sitcom, Cristela, for ABC. During that same year, she split her time between LA and NYC to serve as one of ABC’s favorite guest hosts on their hit daytime talk show, The View. Now, the hilarious comedian comes to Philadelphia for her latest stand-up, My Affordable Care Act.
MARC MARON
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Merriam Theater
October 10, 2019, 7:30 p.m.
For over thirty years, Marc Maron has been writing and performing comedy for print, stage, radio, online, and television. Best known for his hit landmark podcast, WTF with Marc Maron, he has interviewed iconic personalities such as Conan O’Brien, Robin Williams, Keith Richards, Ben Stiller, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lorne Michaels, and former US President Barack Obama. It has become a worldwide phenomenon: averaging six million downloads each month, with over 450 million lifetime downloads.
MARCUS ROBERTS AND THE MODERN JAZZ GENERATION
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Perelman Theater
October 11, 2019, 8:00 p.m.
Pianist/composer, Marcus Roberts, has been hailed as “the genius of the modern piano”. Marcus, with his trio members Jason Marsalis (drums) and Rodney Jordan (bass), founded the Modern Jazz Generation in 2013. This band is based on the principle of mentoring that was such a critical part of the evolution of jazz. Older jazz musicians have always worked with and mentored younger musicians on the stage. Mentoring and education are both critical parts of Marcus Roberts’ musical mission and this new band has been a part of the realization of that mission.
Trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader Charles Tolliver will be honored with the 2019 Living Legacy Jazz Award Presented by PECO in a special ceremony at the Kimmel Center preceding the Marcus Roberts and the Modern Jazz Generation show. Toshiko Akiyoshi, the 2018 Living Legacy honoree, will make a special appearance during the Marcus Roberts show in celebration of this year’s event. The Living Legacy Jazz Award is a program of Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation (MAAF) and honors living jazz masters from the Mid-Atlantic region who have achieved distinction in jazz performance and education. The 2019 event marks the 25th Anniversary of the Living Legacy Jazz Award and the 40th Anniversary of Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation.
MY BROTHER, MY BROTHER AND ME: Become the Monster Tour
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Verizon Hall
October 15, 2019, 7:00 p.m.
Join Justin, Travis, and Griffin McElroy for a live episode of their podcast, MY BROTHER, MY BROTHER AND ME, an advice show for the modern era. They take your questions and the questions on Yahoo! Answers and turn them into wisdom right before your eyes!
JUDY COLLINS: Love Letters to Stephen Sondheim
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Merriam Theater
October 17, 2019, 7:30 p.m.
A Grammy® Award-winning artist, Judy Collins is known for her eclectic palette as a solo artist, melding folk, rock, classical, and jazz into a singular aesthetic. Her biggest success of her career came with her recording of Stephen Sondheim’s “Send in the Clowns” from her best-selling album Judith. The single charted on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in 1975 and again in 1977, spending 27 non-consecutive weeks on the chart and earning Collins a Grammy Award Nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance Female and a Grammy Award for Song of the Year. Her iconic 55-album body of work thrived in the music industry for half a century. The award-winning singer-songwriter is esteemed for her imaginative interpretations of traditional and contemporary folk standards and her own poetically poignant original compositions.
DENA BLIZZARD: One Funny Mother
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Perelman Theater
October 19, 2019, 8:00 p.m.
Dena Blizzard, the viral video sensation and creator of the “Back to School Rant” (125 million views), “Chardonnay Go” (24 million views), and “Chardonnay Go: The Board Game for Wine Lovers, Moms, and Other Shameless People” has an Off-Broadway Show currently touring the United States. Join this comedian, former Miss New Jersey and married mother of three on her hilarious journey through the trials and tribulations of marriage and motherhood in One Funny Mother.
MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 LIVE: The Great Cheesy Movie Circus Tour
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Merriam Theater
October 25, 2019, 7:00 p.m.
The hilarious Peabody Award-winning hit TV comedy is coming to Philadelphia with an all-new show, Mystery Science Theater 3000 Live: The Great Cheesy Movie Circus Tour! Join show creator and original host Joel Hodgson and the world’s greatest – and only – movie riffing robots, Tom Servo, Crow and Gypsy as they take you on an exhilarating rollercoaster ride through some of the cheesiest films ever made.
CHICK COREA TRILOGY WITH CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE AND BRIAN BLADE
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Verizon Hall
October 27, 2019, 7:00 p.m.
Grammy® Award-winning Chick Corea Trilogy features six-time Grammy®-winning Jazz bassist and Philadelphia native, Christian McBride, one of the most requested and most recorded figures in the music world today, and the widely respected drum master Brian Blade.
MANDY PATINKIN IN CONCERT: Diaries with Adam Ben-David on Piano
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Verizon Hall
October 30, 2019, 7:30 p.m.
Mandy Patinkin in Concert: Diaries with Adam Ben-David on Piano, presents the acclaimed actor/singer/storyteller in his most electrifying role: concert performer. “Mandy Patinkin is in the business of showstopping,” raves The New Yorker, and that’s exactly what he does in this powerful, passionate evening of song. Diariesis a marriage of many of Mandy’s favorite Broadway and classic American tunes, along with selections for his newest recordings on Nonesuch Records, Mandy Patinkin Diary, January 2018 and Mandy Patinkin Diary, April/May 2018.
MS. LISA FISCHER & GRAND BATON WITH THE PHILADELPHIA YOUTH ORCHESTRA
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Verizon Hall
November 1, 2019, 8:00 p.m.
Lisa Fischer and her band are joined on stage by The Philadelphia Youth Orchestra for a fully orchestrated performance. Featured in the Oscar-winning documentary film 20 Feet from Stardom, Fischer stepped into the spotlight after a successful career as a back-up singer for the likes of the Rolling Stones and Sting. This special evening brings together Fischer and her band, Grand Baton, with musicians from the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra to perform powerful renditions of your favorite songs from Luther Vandross, Tina Turner, the Rolling Stones, and Sting.
Lisa Fischer and her band Grand Baton first set out on tour in 2014. Their music is an organic gumbo of progressive rock, psychedelic soul, and African, Middle Eastern, Caribbean rhythms and classical influences. In performance, they re-invent songs by Led Zeppelin, Amy Grant, Little Willie John, and The Rolling Stones as well as Lisa’s originals. After decades bringing raw soul to the stage for The Rolling Stones, Sting, Tina Turner and Nine Inch Nails, Lisa is emerging as the most inventive and heartfelt interpreter of classic rock songs working today.
The Philadelphia Youth Orchestra is the tri-state region’s premier youth orchestra organization for gifted, young, classical musicians, and one of the oldest and most highly regarded youth orchestra organizations in the United States. For 79 years, the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra organization has been providing professional-caliber musical experiences to young instrumentalists, while thrilling discriminating audiences in the Greater Philadelphia region and across the globe.
THE KINGDOM CHOIR
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Merriam Theater
November 1, 2019, 8:00 p.m.
Led by one of the UK’s most respected gospel tutors and choir conductors Karen Gibson, The Kingdom Choir is known for its united sound, warm energy, and enthusiastic performance. The choir is comprised of individual singers and performers from in and around London, England, dedicated to creating a sound that demonstrates the community they share. Following their show-stopping performance of "Stand By Me" at the Royal Wedding in 2018, London’s The Kingdom Choir will bring their infectious joy and inspiration to the Kimmel Center’s Merriam Theater.
AN EVENING WITH SAMIN NOSRAT
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Academy of Music
November 6, 2019, 7:30 p.m.
Since 2000, Samin Nosrat has pursued her twin passions of food and words, aiming to create work that inspires, creates community, and raises cultural, social, and environmental awareness. Her book, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking is a New York Times bestseller and has won numerous awards. She is one of five food columnists for the New York Times Magazine, was named the Eater Chef of the Year in 2018 and one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2019 in the Pioneers category.
THE CONVERSATIONALISTS
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ SEI Innovation Studio
November 7 – 9, 2019, 8:00 p.m.
This unique show starring James and Jerome was developed through residencies with the Kimmel Center Cultural Campus (annual Theater Residency), the New York Theatre Workshop, and the 2019 Sundance Institute Theatre Lab at MASS MoCA. The Conversationalists is a movie James and Jerome have written together, but which the audience never sees. Rather, the film is passionately described for the audience, shot by shot, by the performers, while a chamber ensemble on stage plays the acoustic and electronic score live. In this way, the spectacle of the movie occurs in the minds of the audience members. The Conversationalists is experienced at once as a theater piece, a concert, a sort of radio play, a night of storytelling, and a movie dreamed together. This is a designated BYO performance.
OUTSIDE THE WIRE
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ SEI Innovation Studio
November 10, 2019, 5:00 p.m.
A powerful public performance on the stage of the Kimmel Center featuring veteran poets and musical collaborators, including acclaimed musician and composer Luke Carlos O'Reilly. Continuing the Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ partnership with Warrior Writers, this event will help recognize Veteran’s Day. Stay tuned for more details.
BLACK VIOLIN: Impossible Tour
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Academy of Music
November 8, 2019, 8:00 p.m.
Fan favorites and classically trained string instrumentalists, Wil Baptiste (Viola) and Kev Marcus (Violin) return to the Kimmel Center Cultural Campus for the Impossible Tour. With influences from Shostakovitch and Bach to Nas and Jay-Z, Black Violin breaks all the rules, fusing classical with modern hip-hop, rock, R&B, and bluegrass music. The band uses their unique blend of classical and hip-hop music to overcome stereotypes while encouraging people of all ages, races, and economic backgrounds to join together and break down cultural barriers.
BABY SHARK LIVE!
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Academy of Music
November 10, 2019, 2:00 p.m.
In this one-of-a-kind concert experience, young fans will be dancing in the aisles as Baby Shark and friends go on fun adventures to learn about shapes, colors, numbers, and so much more!
Take an adventure into the sea with Baby Shark as he joins up with his friend Pinkfong to sing and dance through some of your favorite new and classic songs! Baby Shark Live! is a state-of-the-art kids spectacular using interactive LED screens and large scale special effects.
COMEDY BANG! BANG! LIVE
STARRING SCOTT AUKERMAN WITH GUESTS
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Merriam Theater
November 11, 2019, 8:00 p.m.
Scott Aukerman's Comedy Bang! Bang! is a popular podcast with over 50 million downloads. This special LIVE performance features Scott and very special guests doing a totally improvised program, with plenty of character drop-ins.
Scott Aukerman got his start as a writer and performer on the HBO cult classic sketch series Mr. Show with Bob and David. Since 2009, he has hosted the podcast Comedy Bang! Bang!, which has been downloaded over fifty million times and was turned into a television show on the IFC network. He is the co-creator and director of the acclaimed and Emmy-winning Funny or Die web series Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis.
SASHA VELOUR’S SMOKE AND MIRRORS
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Merriam Theater
November 12, 2019, 8:00 p.m.
Smoke & Mirrors, Sasha Velour's first one-queen theatre tour, is an effortless blend of drag, visual art, and magic. Velour introduces audiences to a whole new side of her artistry, through 13 dazzling and genre-busting lip-synch performances, all directed and choreographed by the queen herself. You'll be on the edge of your seat as she explodes into rose petals, vanishes in a poof of smoke, saws herself in half, conjures a rainstorm, even transforms into a tree in front of your eyes (to name just a few). But the real magic is the way that these illusions and deceptions serve to unmask deeper truths, sparking fresh analysis of gender, fame, family, and the importance of dreaming big and living life over-the-top.
Featuring the music of Annie Lennox, Whitney Houston, Shirley Bassey, Judy Garland, Celine Dion, Sia, Nina Simone, Le Tigre, and more. Video created by Sasha Velour. Costumes designed by long-time collaborated Diego Montoya. Sasha Velour's Smoke & Mirrors toured Australia and New Zealand in January 2019, had a sold-out 8-night New York City residency in March 2019, and limited sold-out engagements in Los Angeles and London, to rave reviews.
NAT GEO LIVE! Between River and Rim: Hiking the Grand Canyon with Kevin Fedarko and Pete McBride
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Merriam Theater
November 13, 2019, 7:30 p.m.
Join writer Kevin Fedarko and photographer/filmmaker Pete McBride in an audacious and demanding adventure through the Grand Canyon’s uncharted glory. Watch as they share the struggle and beauty of their estimated 875 mile walk through one of our planets most spectacular places.
TAJ EXPRESS: The Bollywood Musical Revue
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Merriam Theater
November 14, 2019, 8:00 p.m.
Through a fusion of film, dance, and music, this dazzling international sensation takes audiences on a live cinematic journey through modern Indian culture and society. Taj Express: The Bollywood Revue explodes with the sounds of India and Bollywood, capturing the vibrant, expressive spirit of the world of Bollywood movies that have been entertaining billions of people in India for generations.
AN EVENING WITH SUTTON FOSTER
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Merriam Theater
Friday, November 22, 2019, 8:00 p.m.
Sutton Foster is an award-winning actress, singer, and dancer who has performed in 11 Broadway shows – most recently the revival of Violet – and originated roles in the Broadway productions of The Drowsy Chaperone, Little Women, Young Frankenstein, Shrek The Musical,and her Tony® Award-winning performances in Anything Goes and Thoroughly Modern Millie. Since March 2015, she has starred in the TV Land series, Younger, created by Darren Star. As a solo artist, Sutton has performed all over the country, as well as internationally with her musical director Michael Rafter. She has graced the stages of Carnegie Hall, Feinstein’s, Lincoln Center’s American Songbook series, Joe’s Pub, and many others. In fall of 2020, she will be appearing opposite Hugh Jackman on Broadway in The Music Man.
THE RAINBOW FISH
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Merriam Theater
November 23, 2019, 12:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m.
The Rainbow Fish will enchant even the youngest child with his silver scales and heart of gold in this stage adaptation of the story of the beautiful fish who learned to share his most prized possession. The Rainbow Fish includes an original adaptation of Marcus Pfister's colorful story as well as two of the author's companion tales, Rainbow Fish Discovers the Deep Sea and Opposites. The 12:00 p.m. performance of The Rainbow Fish is a Kimmel Center sensory-friendly performance.
BÉLA FLECK & THE FLECKTONES
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Verizon Hall
December 3, 2019, 7:00 p.m.
Groundbreaking banjoist, composer, and bandleader Bela Fleck has reconvened the original Béla Fleck & The Flecktones. Alongside Béla Fleck is pianist/harmonica player Howard Levy, bassist Victor Wooten, and percussionist/Drumitarist Roy “Futureman” Wooten creating some of the most forward-thinking music of their long, storied career. The group fuses all manners of genres from classical and jazz to electrical blues and Eastern European folk dance.
A SOULFUL CHRISTMAS
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Verizon Hall
December 10, 2019, 7:30 p.m.
The annual holiday tradition A Soulful Christmas returns this winter with an inspiring, uplifting communal gathering of regional choristers, performing holiday spirituals, and gospel favorites. With Artistic and Musical Director Dr. J. Donald Dumpson & 2019 honoree Reverend Norman Hutchins.
MARTHA GRAHAM CRACKER IN CONCERT
CELEBRATING THE RELEASE OF THE LASHED BUT NOT LEASHED ALBUM
With Dito van Reigersberg as Martha Graham Cracker
Collaborating songcrafters and performers include: Vince Federici, Eliza Hardy Jones, and David Sweeny
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Perelman Theater
December 12, 2019
For her Perelman concert debut, Ms. Martha Graham Cracker throws her all into a musical fever-dream as she belts out a bevy of original songs – all available that night for the first time on Martha’s very first album.
In a stunning once in a lifetime performance, we’ll learn about the making of the songs of Lashed But Not Leashed, get a peek behind the music, and revel in the lush and lovelorn songs that make up Martha's first-ever album.
Lashed But Not Leashed is an 11-song musical odyssey into the hairy heart of Martha Graham Cracker as we witness what may be her last performance. As she stares into the abyss of the current state of the world, she finds herself moved to abandon that fickle mistress called show biz in order to heed a much more urgent calling: she must become a librarian.
The show was created in residency at the Kimmel’s 2015 Theatre Residency Program with a world premiere in March 2017. Martha and her band also took the show to Joe’s Pub as part of the Under The Radar Festival in January 2018, and traveled to Minneapolis to perform at the Guthrie Theatre in February 2019 before returning to perform it again at the Kimmel in March 2019. Now, due to popular demand, they have recorded the music and will celebrate its release with a can’t-miss one-night-only performance, with songs that range in style from throbbing funk anthem to close-harmony country, from quiet hymn to soaring ballad, and from flirtatious patter song to angry driving rock 'n' roll – all the sounds of Martha’s heart.
The Kimmel Center is proud to be the Executive Producer of the Lashed But Not Leashed album.
Tickets are not yet on sale.
RACHAEL & VILRAY
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Perelman Theater
December 13, 2019, 8:00 p.m.
Lead vocalist of Lake Street Diveand frequent guest on NPR’s Live from Here, Rachael Price joins guitarist-singer-composer Vilrayfor a unique and marvelous performance. Rachael & Vilray feels like a rare old vinyl gem that a curious collector found and decided to share with the world, an unearthed jazz-vocal treasure. With Rachael & Vilray, the duo adds a new chapter to the American Songbook, an opportunity to hear tomorrow’s standards today.
TUBA CHRISTMAS
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Commonwealth Plaza
December 15, 2019, 12:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m.
One of the Kimmel Center’s favorite holiday events, Tuba Christmas returns with its joyous presentation of holiday classics in the Commonwealth Plaza. Attendees of all ages are invited to this FREE performance where over 100 regional tuba, sousaphone, and euphonium musicians come together to put on a show for all ages. 2019 marks the 46th anniversary for Tuba Christmas concerts and events, which are presented during the holiday season all over the world.
SILENT NIGHT SING-IN
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Commonwealth Plaza
December 16, 2019, 6:00 p.m. rehearsal, 7:00 p.m. performance
Join together with fellow Philadelphians for a returning holiday favorite on the Kimmel Center Cultural Campus, our annual “Silent Night” sing-in, by gathering together and paying homage to this beloved melody.
A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS LIVE ON STAGE
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Merriam Theater
December 20, 2019, 7:00 p.m.
December 21, 2019, 1:30 p.m. & 5:00 p.m.
Join Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, and the whole Peanuts gang as they produce their own Christmas play and ultimately learn the true meaning of the season, live on stage. Adapted from Charles M. Schulz’s timeless story of the spirit of Christmas, this family-friendly musical features the unforgettable music of Vince Guaraldi, as well as a concert of beloved holiday carols performed by the Peanuts characters.
NEW YEAR’S DAY CELEBRATION
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Commonwealth Plaza
January 1, 2020, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts opens its doors for its 15th annual FREE New Year’s Day Celebration. The campus will be alive with holiday sights and sounds as patrons are invited to warm up indoors to enjoy panoramic views of the Mummers Parade, performances, and activities from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
THREE KINGS DAY
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Commonwealth Plaza
January 4, 2020, 4:00 p.m.
The Kimmel Center Cultural Campus, the Mexican Consulate, and the Mexican Cultural Center invite you to partake in one of the most widely-celebrated holidays among Hispanics and Latinos, and a Kimmel Center holiday tradition. Bring your family and join us for a reenactment of the story of the Three Wise Men. Enjoy an evening of activities, piñatas and a piece of traditional “Rosca de Reyes” bread, which will be the largest one ever made in Philadelphia!
DRUMline LIVE
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Merriam Theater
January 10 – 11, 2020, 7:30 p.m.
The show-stopping attraction created by the musical team behind the hit movies, Drumline and Drumline: A New Beat returns for a brand new show perfect for the entire family! DRUMline Live’s high-octane show embodies the soulful, high-stepping style of the Historically Black College and University marching band experience.
JERRY BLAVAT AND FRIENDS
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Verizon Hall
January 25, 2020
Jerry Blavat, also known as “The Geator with the Heater” and “The Big Boss with the Hot Sauce,” is an American disc jockey and performer who has been a major influence in promoting oldies music on the radio. A Philadelphia icon, he gained local fame hosting live dances in the area, leading to his own independent radio show, on which he broke many acts in the 1960s, including the Four Seasons and the Isley Brothers. This will be Blavat’s 41st show on the Kimmel Center Cultural Campus. Tickets will go on sale on September 20, 2019.
THE SIMON & GARFUNKEL STORY
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Merriam Theater
January 29 – 30, 2020 8:00 p.m.
This critically-acclaimed concert-style theatre show tells the story of two young boys from Queens, New York, who went on to become the world’s most successful musical duo of all time. Using state of the art video projection, incredible lighting, and a full live band, The Simon & Garfunkel Story is a moving and powerful concert featuring all the hits such as “Mrs. Robinson,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “Homeward Bound,” “Scarborough Fair,” “The Boxer,” “The Sound Of Silence,” and many more.
GREY ROCK
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ SEI Innovation Studio
February 6 – 7, 2020, 8:00 p.m.
February 8, 2020, 2:00 & 8:00 p.m.
February 9, 2020, 2:00 p.m.
Director and playwright Zuabi creates a humorous, fantastical play exploring how US culture has permeated and influenced Palestinian culture. The story centers around a young Palestinian so enamored with the 1969 American moon landing that he muses, "shouldn't Palestine, the land of prophets, also have a presence on the moon?" Without money or technology, but with the help of his bemused West Bank neighbors, he sets out to build a space shuttle. Knowing full well that he can't succeed with this impossible, but necessary, task, the young man is visited by American heroes who guide him on his mission. Tickets are not yet on sale. This is a designated BYO performance.
NICK JR. LIVE! Move To the Music
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Merriam Theater
February 7, 2020, 6:00 p.m.
February 8, 2020, 10:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m.
February 9, 2020, 10:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.
Nick Jr. Live! Move to the Music follows Dora and her PAW co-hosts, Marshall and Rubble, as they team up with their Nick Jr. friends, live on stage together for the first time ever, in a one-of-a-kind adventure sure to excite the whole family! You’re invited to sing, dance, clap, cheer, and move to the music with your friends from Bubble Guppies, Paw Patrol, Dora The Explorer, Shimmer and Shine, Blue’s Clues and You, Blaze and the Monster Machines, and Top Wing in an unforgettable musical spectacular!
GREGORY PORTER
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Verizon Hall
February 10, 2020, 7:30 p.m.
International best-selling artist and Grammy® Award-winning vocalist Gregory Porter’s music is at once timeless yet utterly of its time, solidifying his standing as his generation's most soulful jazz singer-songwriter. In his remarkable career, Porter has repeatedly demonstrated his innate ability to transcend genre and connect with audiences from all walks of life.
TURN
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ SEI Innovation Studio
February 26 – 29, 2020, 8:00 p.m.
Turn, a new theatrical project by M’Balia Singley, forces us to reconsider Othello through the lens of black women, feminist scholarship, and our own personal experiences. Using the characters from Shakespeare’s classic play as a springboard, the show interweaves original songs, humor, and compelling stories to entice the audience into a conversation about the ways in which societal expectations are casting the roles that Black women in America today are often allowed, encouraged, or forced to play. Turn was commissioned and developed through the Kimmel Center’s 2017-2018 Theater Residency. This is a designated BYO performance.
GRAND ORGAN CELEBRATION: Featuring Wayne Marshall, Olivier Latry and David Briggs
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Verizon Hall
February 26, 2020, 8:00 p.m.
Organists Wayne Marshall, Olivier Latry, and David Briggs perform the music of Bach, Widor, Liszt, Ravel, Saint-Saëns, and Gershwin. The concert will culminate in a three-way improvisation by the organists, based on subjects suggested by the audience. Water, cats, apocalypse, flamenco, your favorite emoji – no idea is a bad idea! Suggestions collected during the show.
BRUCE HORNSBY + YMUSIC
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Merriam Theater
March 4, 2020, 8:00 p.m.
Three-time Grammy® winner Bruce Hornsby has built one of the most diverse, collaborative, and adventurous careers in contemporary music. He has returned to traditional American roots forms, collaborating with Ricky Skaggs. He has played with the Grateful Dead. He has fused the plunk and dazzle of 20th century modernist classical composition to singer-songwriter emotional inquiries. He has scored films for Spike Lee and performed with symphony orchestras.
Hornsby describes Absolute Zero, his new album, as “a compendium of what I like and moves me.” Don’t expect, perhaps, a thing or two new, but prepare for a multifaceted ride. Hornsby’s songs, both in spirit and memory, function collectively as an homage to fiction writing that, while often poetic, takes no prisoners. His performance will offer a glimpse of a restless spirit who continues to push forward into exciting new musical terrain.
yMusic, "six contemporary classical polymaths who playfully overstep the boundaries of musical genres,” (The New Yorker) performs in concert halls, arenas and clubs around the world. Founded in New York City in 2008, yMusic believes in presenting excellent, emotionally communicative music, regardless of style or idiom. Their virtuosic execution and unique configuration (string trio, flute, clarinet, and trumpet) has attracted the attention of high-profile collaborators—from Paul Simon to Bill T. Jones to Ben Folds—and inspired original works by some of today’s foremost composers, including Nico Muhly, Missy Mazzoli and Andrew Norman. Tickets will go on sale on September 20, 2019.
PAULA POUNDSTONE
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Merriam Theater
March 7, 2020, 8:00 p.m.
Paula Poundstone is a humorist, author, and comedian known for her clever, observational humor and spontaneous wit. When she isn’t collecting hotel soaps while on tour or paneling on NPR’s #1 show, Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me!, Paula hosts the popular Maximum Fun podcast, Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone. Nobody is a comedy field guide to life complete with taste tests, cats of the weeks, and leading experts in everything from beekeeping to ping pong to prosopagnosia. In addition to the podcast, she has countless stand-up credentials, multiple books, and film credits including Academy Award-winning film, Inside Out. In February 2019, Paula’s stand-up special, Cats, Cops and Stuff was named by TIME Magazine and Tig Notaro as one of The 5 Funniest Stand-Up Specials Ever.
THE CHIEFTAINS: The Irish Goodbye
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Verizon Hall
March 11, 2020, 7:30 p.m.
After 57 years of making some of the most beautiful music in the world, The Chieftains remain as fresh and relevant as when they first began. The six-time Grammy Award winners have been highly recognized for reinventing traditional Irish music on a contemporary and International scale. Their ability to transcend musical boundaries to blend tradition with modern music has notably hailed them as one of the most renowned and revered musical groups to this day. Come see them perform at what will be a memorable evening of music, song, and dance on this final journey. Tickets are not yet on sale.
BALLET FOLCLÒRICO NACIONAL DE MÉXICO DE SILVIA LOZANO
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Merriam Theater
March 12, 2020, 7:30 p.m.
Ballet Folclòrico Nacional de México de SILVIA LOZANO is an institution tasked with the dissemination, preservation, and promotion of the Culture of Mexico, both at home and abroad. With an artistic career spanning over 56 years, the BFNM reflects the work of Mexico’s leading researchers and practitioners of folklore, dance, music, and costumes.
Silvia Lozano is one of the most distinguished artists, internationally recognized as a leading promoter of authentic Mexican folklore. Silvia has dedicated herself to sharing the beauty of music, dance, costumes, and Mexican traditions with people around the world.
JAZZMEIA HORN
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Perelman Theater
March 14, 2020, 8:00 p.m.
Grammy® Award nominated vocalist Jazzmeia Horn has a name that speaks for itself, capturing her very essence. Since winning the Thelonious Monk Competition in 2015, Jazzmeia’s fame has continued to rise, along with her reputation as an artist with an assured maturity and a vocal confidence far beyond her years.
ETHAN LIPTON & HIS ORCHESTRA
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ SEI Innovation Studio
March 14, 2020, 8:00 p.m.
The quartet Ethan Lipton & his Orchestra has been playing together since 2005 and has released four studio albums. In 2017, the band was nominated for a Lucille Lortel Award for its show The Outer Space, produced by the Public Theater in Joe’s Pub and first developed in the Kimmel Center’s Theater Residency program. The band’s earlier theatrical song cycle, “No Place to Go,” won an Obie Award and has toured the U.S. and Europe. Comprised of Eben Levy (guitar), Ian Riggs (bass), Vito Dieterle (sax), and Ethan Lipton (vocals), the band is based in New York. This is a designated BYO performance.
SING HALLELUJAH!
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Verizon Hall
March 17, 2020, 8:00 p.m.
After two groundbreaking premiere performances, the Kimmel Center Cultural Campus welcomes back Cantor David F. Tilman as he leads a back-by-popular-demand evening of Jewish music in Sing Hallelujah! in Verizon Hall. Program details TBD. Tickets are not yet on sale.
NAT GEO LIVE! When Women Ruled the World with Egyptologist Kara Cooney
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Merriam Theater
March 18, 2020, 7:30 p.m.
When it comes to women in power, we’ve come a long way…right? Join Dr. Kara Cooney, Professor of Egyptology, for a look at a time in ancient history when women ruled the world. Often neglected in history books, these women were considered exceptions to the rule, political pawns in a patriarchal society. But their power and influence is undeniable. Cleopatra used her sexuality – and her money – to build alliances with warlords of the Roman Empire. Neferusobek was the first woman to definitively take the title of King. Neferiti is known more for her beauty than for bringing a fractured Egypt together. What can we learn from how these women ruled? Dr. Cooney shares some illuminating answers.
XANADU: THE MUSICAL
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Merriam Theater
Saturday, March 21, 2020, 8:00 p.m.
This Tony® Award nominated, hilarious, roller skating, musical adventure about following your dreams despite the limitations others set for you rolls along to the original hit score composed by pop-rock legends, Jeff Lynne and John Farrar. Based on the Universal Pictures cult classic movie of the same title, which starred Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly, Xanadu is hilarity on wheels for adults, children, and anyone who has ever wanted to feel inspired. Xanadu is a moving, electrifying tale of endless fun that will keep audiences in stitches while the original legendary, chart-topping tunes lift them out of their seats. You’ll have a bonafide 80's blast! Featuring RuPaul’s Drag Race superstars Ginger Minj and Jinkx Monsoon. Tickets will go on sale on September 13, 2019.
CASHORE MARIONETTES: Simple Gifts with Organist Marvin Mills
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Verizon Hall
March 21, 2020, 10:00 a.m. & 12:30 p.m.
Simple Gifts is a series of touching portrayals and poignant scenes from everyday life set to stunning music by such composers as Vivaldi, Strauss, Beethoven, and Copland. Through a combination of virtuoso manipulation, beautiful music, theatrical illusion, and artistic insight, the original vignettes presented in Simple Gifts provide an entertaining and compelling vision of what it is to be human. The performance explores a range of emotions with characters and actions that are amazingly convincing. The marionettes are engineering marvels and the quality of movement is extraordinary.
Native Philadelphian Marvin Mills is organist at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Kensington, Maryland. He is also music director of the acclaimed National Spiritual Ensemble, and guest artist with the Ritz Chamber Players, based in Jacksonville, Florida. He has performed throughout the United States in such places as the Academy of Music, Philadelphia, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The Barns, Wolf Trap Farm Park, as well as historic churches in Krakow, Poland. He has appeared as guest artist with numerous choral groups.
ROCK THE ORGAN withTrio RCM
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Verizon Hall
April 8, 2020, 8:00 p.m.
Organ (Yves Rechsteiner), percussion (Henri-Charles Caget), and electric guitar (Frédéric Maurin): this explosive trio of instruments revisits the great hits of the 1970s to the huge delight of rock fans and organ enthusiasts. Rediscover the iconic music of Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Frank Zappa, and Genesis in a new light, with three passionate performers. Let yourself be transported by this astonishing, out-of-the-ordinary, breathtaking world of sound!
THE SECOND CITY: She The People Girlfriends' Guide to Sisters Doing It for Themselves
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Perelman Theater
April 9, 2020, 8:00 p.m.
April 10, 2020, 3:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.
April 11, 2020, 4:00 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.
The all-female cast of She The People takes the stage with their brand new show entirely created, designed, and performed by the fearlessly funny women of Chicago’s The Second City. In their latest exploit they roast the patriarchy, taking on everything from having it all to having that sick feeling your government is trying to send you back to the middle ages. It’s time for women everywhere to collectively reclaim comedy!
AUDRA MCDONALD
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Verizon Hall
April 11, 2020, 8:00 p.m.
Audra McDonald is unparalleled in the breadth and versatility of her artistry as both a singer and an actress. The recipient of a record-breaking six Tony® Awards, two Grammy® Awards, an Emmy® Award, and a 2015 National Medal of Arts bestowed on her by President Barack Obama; Audra McDonald has distinguished herself as the most decorated performer in American Theater. Blessed with a luminous soprano voice and an incomparable gift for dramatic truth-telling, she is as much at home on Broadway and Opera stages as she is in roles on film and television. In addition to her theatrical work, she maintains a major career as a concert and recording artist, regularly appearing on the great stages of the world. As a recording artist, she has released six solo albums. Her training in classical voice at Julliard has led her to appearances with leading opera companies and orchestras around the world.
ZAKIR HUSSAIN, KALA RAMNATH, AND JAYANTHI KUMARESH
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Merriam Theater
April 14, 2020, 8:00 p.m.
Zakir Hussain is appreciated both in the field of percussion and in the music world at large as an international phenomenon and one of the greatest musicians of our time. A classic tabla virtuoso of the highest order, his consistently brilliant and exciting performances have established him as a national treasure in his own country, India.
Maestro Kala Ramnath with her "Singing Violin" stands among the world's finest, most inspirational instrumentalists. Due to her rigorous training in the Hindustani classical tradition and familiarity with the Karnatic classical tradition, she comfortably forges musical alliances with renowned artists from different genres around the globe, incorporating elements of Western Classical, Jazz, Flamenco, and traditional African music into her rich and varied repertoire.
Dr. Jayanthi Kumaresh has been captivating audiences around the world for 30 years and is one of the leading Veena artists today. Blending the traditional and innovative in her music in terms of content, technique, virtuosity, and expression, Kumaresh seeks to express the true voice of the veena, which transcends the boundaries of language and region.
PHILADANCO: Fast-Forward
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Perelman Theater
April 17, 2020, 7:30 p.m.
April 18, 2020, 2:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
April 19, 2020, 2:30 p.m.
As PHILADANCO moves into its next decade, Fast-Forward presents a co-commission with Toronto’s Dance Immersion, featuring work from exciting young choreographers. See work from Vietnam’s Thang Dao, Broadway’s Ray Mercer, and emerging choreographer Kathy Smith. Additional program details to be announced at a later date.
WILD KRATTS LIVE 2.0! – ACTIVATE CREATURE POWER
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Merriam Theater
April 18, 2020, 1:30 p.m. & 5:00 p.m.
Help the Kratt brothers save the day in Wild Kratts Live 2.0!, a theatrical stage show based on the hit animated television series Wild Kratts. Martin and Chris Kratt, zoologists by training and stars of the Emmy® nominated PBS show, engage the audience in a classic Wild Kratts story. Experience, live on stage, the infectious excitement and inspiring quests that makes Wild Kratts so popular with kids and their families. Tickets are not yet on sale.
JOANNA PASCALE: The Language of Flowers
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ SEI Innovation Studio
April 25, 2020, 8:00 p.m.
As a Kimmel Center Jazz Resident Artist in 2017, Joanna Pascale created this very personal exploration of how we communicate our thoughts and feelings to others using flowers. We give them to each other to celebrate happy occasions, express sympathy or offer love. Working with theater director Ellie Heyman, Joanna takes us on a journey to find out what we’re really trying to say with our bouquets. This is a designated BYO performance.
DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD LIVE!
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Merriam Theater
May 9, 2020, 2:00 p.m. & 5:30 p.m.
Daniel Tiger and all of his friends from the beloved PBS KIDS television series are hopping aboard Trolley to Philadelphia with DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD LIVE! Along with “O” the Owl, Katerina Kittycat, Prince Wednesday, Mom and Dad Tiger, and many more, Daniel Tiger will take live audiences on an interactive musical adventure to the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, sharing stories of friendship, helping others, and celebrating new experiences. This live theatrical production filled with music, dancing, laughter, and “grr-ific” surprises will warm the hearts of multiple generations.
BRIA SKONBERG
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Perelman Theater
May 9, 2020, 8:00 p.m.
New York based trumpeter/vocalist Bria Skonberg has been described as one of the “most versatile and imposing musicians of her generation” (Wall Street Journal). She links the present with the past by playing inventive arrangements of traditional jazz repertoire, clever reinterpretations of contemporary classics, and original compositions with genuine heart and dynamic flair. Ms. Skonberg's forthcoming album solidifies her as a truly unique voice in the jazz-blues-crossover realm.
THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC: Organist Dorothy Papadakos
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Perelman Theater
May 16, 2020, 2:00 p.m.
Spiritual rapture and institutional hypocrisy come to stark, vivid life in one of the most transcendent masterpieces of the silent era. Chronicling the trial of Joan of Arc in the hours leading up to her execution, Danish master Carl Theodor Dreyer depicts her torment with startling immediacy, employing an array of techniques—expressionistic lighting, interconnected sets, painfully intimate close-ups—to immerse viewers in her subjective experience. Anchoring Dreyer’s audacious formal experimentation is a legendary performance by Renée Falconetti, whose haunted face channels both the agony and the ecstasy of martyrdom.
JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA WITH WYNTON MARSALIS
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Academy of Music
May 17, 2020, 7:30 p.m.
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis (JLCO) comprises 15 of the finest jazz soloists and ensemble players today. Led by Wynton Marsalis, Jazz at Lincoln Center Managing and Artistic Director, this remarkably versatile orchestra performs a vast repertoire ranging from original compositions and Jazz at Lincoln Center-commissioned works to rare historic compositions and masterworks. The JLCO has been the Jazz at Lincoln Center resident orchestra since 1988, performing and leading educational events in New York, across the United States, and around the globe.
NAT GEO LIVE! The Search for Life Beyond Earth with Planetary Scientist Kevin Hand
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Merriam Theater
May 21, 2020, 7:30 p.m.
Astrobiologist, planetary scientist, and National Geographic emerging explorer Kevin Hand searches for life beyond Earth. Currently, he is helping plan a NASA Mission to Jupiter’s moon Europa to investigate evidence of a vast subsurface ocean – a body water which could sustain primitive forms of life on this alien world nearly 600 million miles from our planet.
DIXIE’S TUPPERWARE PARTY
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Perelman Theater
June 3, 2020, 7:00 p.m.
June 4, 2020, 7:00 p.m.
June 5, 2020, 7:30 p.m.
June 6, 2020, 2:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
June 7, 2020, 2:30 p.m.
Dixie Longate is the fast-talking, gum chewing, ginger-haired, Alabama gal who is bringing your grandma’s Tupperware party into the 21st century. Audiences howl with laughter as Dixie demonstrates the many alternative uses for the iconic plastic kitchen staple. Filled with outrageously funny tales, heartfelt accounts, audience participation, and a little bit of empowerment and homespun wisdom, Dixie’s Tupperware Party leaves your heart a little bigger and your food a little fresher. Includes adult content.
# # #
Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online at www.kimmelcenter.org/, or at the Kimmel Center Box Office. Group sales are available for groups of 10 or more and can be purchased by calling 215-790-5883. See www.kimmelcenter.org/for more information.
# # #
The Kimmel Center Cultural Campus
Located in the heart of Center City, Philadelphia, our mission is to engage the region’s diverse communities with art through performance and education. Our Cultural Campus serves more than 1 million guests per year and includes the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, the Academy of Music, and the Merriam Theater- representing more than 160 years of rich history for the performing arts along Philadelphia’s Avenue of the Arts. We are home to eight esteemed Resident Companies: The Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Ballet, The Philly POPS, PHILADANCO, The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, and Curtis Institute of Music. With nearly 9,000 seats per night, we are the region’s most impactful performing arts center, and the second largest in the country. Our Cultural Campus serves as a preeminent and inclusive place to enjoy exceptional experiences that reflect the spirit of our region by cultivating a creative and socially-responsible environment where our community shares experiences that are delivered with pride, integrity, and respect. As a 501 c 3 nonprofit organization, we collaborate on, present, and produce a broad range of relevant and meaningful events, we serve as an active gathering space for social and community events, we educate the region’s young people through access to quality arts experiences, and we provide support to artists in the creation of new work. TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is our proud sponsor of the Kimmel Center’s 2019-2020 Season. American Airlines is the official airline of Broadway Philadelphia. For additional information, visit www.kimmelcenter.org.
# # #
For photography, please visit www.kcpress.smugmug.com