What’s Happening in Philly | The Triangle

What’s Happening in Philly

Comedy Cabaret “Let’s Pretend We’re Famous”
Philadelphia’s most comedic character couple, Jennifer Childs and Tony Braithwaite, return to the stage for a limited-engagement run of their newest comedy cabaret, “Let’s Pretend We’re Famous.” A trip down the red carpet featuring classic and original material, Childs and Braithwaite try on the high life for an evening of double-act antics (and a knockout Garland and Rooney medley)! For fans of “Let’s Pretend We’re Married,” 1812 Productions gives a hilarious first show of the season.
Plays and Players Theater at 1714 Delancey St.
Tuesday, March 6-25
Tickets: $20-$36
www.1812productions.org

Leah Stein Dance Co. celebrates 10 years
Philadelphia Dance Projects honors a landmark year for a movement pioneer with “Leah Stein Dance Co.’s 10th Anniversary,” an expansive program that reflects on the company’s past and contemplates the road ahead through duet and small-group works. During each performance, Philadelphia choreographer Leah Stein will walk audiences through her ever-contemplative body of work, from introspective site-inspired dances to bold collaborations.
“This is an artist who is important to know,” Philadelphia Dance Projects executive director Terry Fox said. “Leah has paved the way for site-specific work and has forged new territory in the way she creates structures in her dances. Philadelphia Dance Projects’ mission is to give context to contemporary dance as an evolving form. This program shows the history of an artist with a particular style and virtuosity that we felt was important to examine and allows audiences to see the common threads throughout her works. It’s about getting close to the mover — watching logic and inspiration happen and getting inside the heart of it.”
Thematically, “Leah Stein Dance Company’s 10th Anniversary,” an evening of six dances, focuses not only on Stein’s individual path but how she has shared it with her fellow dancers and collaborators over the past decade.
These works, from serene and simple to brash and bombastic, also showcase Stein’s cherished relationship with the world around her. The choreographer, whose mission is to connect people, culture and physical environment, is well known for forging the territory of site-specific dance in Philadelphia, yet her connection to nature runs deeper than the spaces her dances have inhabited. This program incorporates many elements of the natural world, from the muscular, pulsing water of “Hull” to the weightlessness of “Kite.” Stein’s dances explore how we interact with our environment and how nature can enliven urban spaces.
The Performance Garage at 1515 Brandywine St.
Thursday, March 8 through Sunday, March 11
Tickets: $20-$25
www.philadanceprojects.org 

Pennsylvania Ballet Presents “Messiah”
Pennsylvania Ballet presents choreographer Robert Weiss’ “Messiah,” set to the universally popular score by George Frideric Handel and featuring The Philadelphia Singers.
“Messiah” carries a special connection to Pennsylvania Ballet, as its choreographer is the company’s former artistic director. In this ballet, Weiss employs more than 50 individual scenes to convey an emotional spectrum of joy, suffering, passion and redemption. “Messiah” opens with a full choir onstage in a skeletal abstraction of a church. With sun streaming through the bare windows, dancers take the stage in a vivid, moving interpretation of this epic libretto, featuring stunning sets and costumes. The Pennsylvania Ballet Orchestra is accompanied by The Philadelphia Singers. Soloists include Suzanne Ramo, soprano; Jamie Van Eyck, mezzo soprano; Steve Sanders, tenor; and Levi Hernandez, bass.
The Academy of Music at 240 S. Broad St.
March 8-17
Tickets: $20-$140; $15 student rush tickets available one hour before the show
www.paballet.org

Arden Theatre presents “Cyrano”
Arden Theatre Co. 2011-12 mainstage season continues with Edmond Rostand’s “Cyrano” in a new version translated by Michael Hollinger, co-adapted with director Aaron Posner. This classic French love story reimagined for an American audience lets audiences discover if Roxane will fall for Christian’s dashing looks or Cyrano’s daring poetry in this passionate romance full of wordplay and swordplay that’s been an inspiration to writers and lovers for centuries.
“Cyrano” marks Hollinger’s first full-scale translation, for which he used his fluency in French to develop the play with Posner’s lean and athletic directorial style in mind. Hollinger has premiered seven plays at the Arden, including three Barrymore Award winners for Outstanding New Play: “Opus” (one of American Theatre’s Top 10 most produced plays in 2009), “Ghost-Writer” and “Red Herring,” performed by the Drexel Players in winter 2009.
Arden Theatre Co. at 40 N. 2nd St.
Thursday, March 8 through April 15
Tickets: $29-$45; $5 student rush five minutes before showtime
www.ardentheatre.org

Craft Beer Express
The concept behind the Craft Beer Express is simple: a handful of Philly bar owners wanted to share their love of beer with people who appreciate a fine brew as much as they do. What better way than a pub crawl? The Craft Beer Express collaborated to create a crawl that would attract a knowledgeable audience who has a passion for quality beers and in-depth tasting events. Tickets are available online up until the day of the event, and bus routes are added for patron transportation. Participating bars include: Kraftwerk, Johnny Brenda’s, Standard Tap, Bishop’s Collar, The Sidecar, Pub on Passyunk East, Brauhaus Schmitz and Race Street Cafe.
Saturday, March 10, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Admission: $10
www.craftbeerexpress.com