Broad Street Review, The Podcast

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 happening during Philly Theatre Week, including comedy shows, devised theater, and community-centered initiatives. The conversation between Darnelle Radford and Sabriaya Shipley explores the importance of community and transparency in the Philadelphia theater scene. They discuss the need for theaters to adapt and evolve to meet the changing needs of the community. They also highlight the work of Beacon Theater, which brings theater to different locations in Philadelphia to make it more accessible. The conversation touches on the challenges of being in a leadership position in the theater industry and the importance of self-care and setting boundaries. Theater Philadelphia's future plans include creating an archive of the city's theater scene and continuing to support and promote local theaters. FOR MORE INFORMATION: https://phillytheatreweek.com

In this conversation, Darnelle Radford interviews artistic director Alex Burns about Quintessence Theater Group's love and war season, with a focus on the production of Macbeth. The conversation covers various topics, including the themes of love and war in the season, the exploration of villain stories, the expectations of theater, and the approach to an all-male production of Macbeth. Burns discusses the use of artifice in theater and the transformative power of storytelling. In this conversation, Alexander Burns discusses the production of Macbeth at Quintessence Theatre Group. He emphasizes the power of theater artists to transcend identity and become anyone on stage. Burns also talks about his role as both director and designer for the production, balancing minimalism with the stagecraft required for Macbeth. He highlights the integration of sound design and electronic music to enhance the experience. The conversation explores the bridging of traditional and contemporary elements in the production, including costume design and mask-making. Burns shares his hopes for the audience to be exhilarated and emotionally moved by the performance. The conversation also touches on the challenges faced by the theater community and the importance of supporting and promoting the arts.

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and just recently on Broadway, Cost of Living traces two relationships: one between a wealthy graduate student with cerebral palsy and his female caregiver, the other between a woman recovering from a terrible accident being tended to by her ex-husband. Heartfelt, funny, and deeply moving, this exquisitely written play examines the fiscal and emotional cost of human connection. Ross Beschler - Eddie Gianna Castro - Jess Rachel Handler - Ani Christian Prentice - John Jeffrey L. Page (director), an Emmy-nominated director and choreographer celebrated for his dynamic theater and dance direction, earned the Douglas and Ethel Watt Critics’ Choice Award for his vibrant choreography in the 1776 Broadway Revival. Collaborating with icons like Beyoncé and influencing productions from Memphis to Ain’t Misbehavin’, Page’s work resonates globally. His film credits include Making Micheaux (director) and Freedom(choreographer). Academically distinguished as the first African American to receive The Juilliard School’s Marcus Institute Fellowship, Jeffrey also imparts knowledge at Harvard and The New School. As the leader of Movin’ Legacy, Page’s artistry continues to innovate with projects like The Trojan Women, solidifying his stature in modern performing arts. | @jeffreylpage | www.jeffreylpage.com Martyna Majok (playwright) was born in Bytom, Poland and raised in Jersey and Chicago. She was awarded the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and received a nomination for Best Play at the 2023 Tony Awards for Cost of Living. Other plays include Sanctuary City, Queens, and Ironbound, which have been produced across American and international stages. Other awards include the Obie Award for Playwriting, the Hull-Warriner Award, the Academy of Arts and Letters’ Benjamin Hadley Danks Award for Exceptional Playwriting, the Off-Broadway Alliance Best New Play Award, the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding New Play, the Hermitage Greenfield Prize as the first female recipient in drama, the Champions of Change Award from the NYC Mayor’s Office, the Francesca Primus Prize, two Jane Chambers Playwriting Awards, the Lanford Wilson Prize, the Lilly Award’s Stacey Mindich Prize, the Helen Merrill Emerging Playwright Award, the Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding Original New Play, the Jean Kennedy Smith Playwriting Award, the ANPF Women’s Invitational Prize, the David Calicchio Prize, the Global Age Project Prize, the NYTW 2050 Fellowship, the NNPN Smith Prize for Political Playwriting, and the Merage Foundation Fellowship for The American Dream. Martyna studied at Yale School of Drama, Juilliard, University of Chicago, and Jersey public schools. She was a 2012-2013 NNPN playwright-in-residence, the 2015-2016 PoNY Fellow at the Lark Play Development Center, and a 2018-2019 Hodder Fellow at Princeton University. Martyna is currently writing a musical adaptation of The Great Gatsby, with music by Florence Welch and Thomas Bartlett, and developing TV and film for Plan B, Pastel, and MRC. FOR TICKETS AND INFORMATION: https://philadelphiatheatrecompany.org/cost-of-living/

September 21 – October 1, 2023 PAPER DOLL ENSEMBLE creates devised absurdist tragicomedies that redefine traditional stories of feminine experiences. THE PECKING ORDER is born out of grief and disbelief after the 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, and inspired by the wife and daughters of the supreme court judge who penned the original opinion, Justice Harry Blackmun. This 70s-inspired tragicomedy highlights the absurdity of women’s rights being thrust back in time in typically unpredictable Paper Dolls fashion, and asks provocative questions about unplanned pregnancy, family dynamics, and women’s rights. Links: https://paperdollensemble.com/ https://www.patreon.com/ThePaperDollEnsemble https://phillyfringe.org/events/the-pecking-order/ Recommended: https://phillyfringe.org/events/citrus-andronicus/ https://phillyfringe.org/events/vile/ https://phillyfringe.org/events/she-was-a-conquistawhore/

IN THEIR SILENCE (formerly, They'll Neglect to Tell You) by TS Hawkins directed by Reva Stover September 15-October 1 *limited engagement Click here for Sept. 15th - 24th; tickets available at FringeArts! Click here for Sept. 29th - Oct 1st; tickets available at Allens Lane! ABOUT THE PLAY Grace is a burgeoning therapist. Merci dangles for freedom at the bottom of a bourbon glass. College sweethearts and newlyweds, they elope to Philadelphia for a fresh beginning. Stumbling into polarizing landscapes, they struggle in the margins of heart and home. Listen to the Moodlist on Spotify! Read about Grace & Merci's journey! CAST (She/They) Sabriaya Shipley as GRACE Jaylyn Anderson as MERCI Jameka Monet Wilson as THE CITY CREATIVE & CREW (They/Them) TS Hawkins - Playwright, Dramaturg, & Marketing Coordinator Reva Stover - Director (He/Him) Josh Hitchens - Allens Lane Art Center Artistic Director, Stage Manager, Sound Designer, & Costume Manager CJ Higgins - Intimacy Director Sabrena Wishart - Set Designer Siobhan Ehresmann - Lighting Designer Megan Edelman - Prop Management SPONSORS Dorothy Lewis-Hawkins, Black Theatre Alliance of Philadelphia, and Prime Act Media LLC FRINGE RECOMMENDS: Cannonball - https://www.cannonballfestival.org Hum N’ Bards - http://www.humnbards.com Mind The Gap - https://fringearts.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/events/a0S6e00000h3ZATEA2 Links: TS POETICS: https://www.tspoetics.com/2022/09/events-in-their-silence-by-ts-hawkins.html ALLENS LANE ART CENTER: https://allenslane.org/theater/ TIX at Allens Lane: https://allenslane.org/theater/ TIX at FRINGE ARTS: https://phillyfringe.org/events/in-their-silence/

The Wilma Theater and TCG Books present: Fat Ham (James Ijames in conversation with Amina Robinson, featuring a performance by Anthony Martinez-Briggs). In this special in-person and live-streamed book launch event, James Ijames will discuss his Pulitzer-winning play Fat Ham, which premiered in a digital production at The Wilma and will return to the Wilma for a live production in the Fall of 2023. Mr. Ijames will be in conversation with Amina Robinson, director of The Wilma's upcoming production. Anthony Martinez-Briggs, who played Tio in the original production and will reprise the role this Fall, will perform a monologue from the play. Live-streaming provided by the event's Media Sponsor, Broad Street Review. LINKS: The Wilma Theater - https://wilmatheater.org Theater Communications Group - https://tcg.org Broad Street Review - https://broadstreetreview.com Get a copy of Fat Ham: https://indiepubs.com/products/fat-ham/ To watch the Live-Stream on TCG’s Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/live/eXIOJOk7zC0

Why? Because Kae Lani Palmisano is approaching food journalism in the same way BSR approaches arts journalism: food and the arts (and media about them) are gateways for new voices and conversations, not an elitist checkpoint. Sometimes people push back on this work: see Palmisano’s recent Bon Appétit piece about the eight best cheesesteaks in Philly—she got “so much flack” for highlighting local Lebanese, Mexican, Korean, and Ethiopian chefs’ offerings alongside the better-known favorites. But this is the kind of inclusive, curious, and future-facing coverage we love at BSR. Our own Kyle V. Hiller moderated this conversation with Palmisano, journalist and digital producer Alisha Miranda (The Inquirer, Eater, Billy Penn, Philly Mag, Edible Philly, and more) and Inquirer deputy food editor Margaret Eby. We’re excited to welcome Palmisano as she launches Power Dining, a podcast and newsletter exploring the power structures, power moves, and power DINE-amics of the world of food. Links: https://www.kaelanisays.com/ https://www.bonappetit.com/story/best-cheesesteaks-philadelphia https://www.alishainthe.biz/ https://twitter.com/margareteby https://powerdining.substack.com/

(PVLA) will celebrate a milestone 45th anniversary during this year’s annual benefit celebration The Arts Affair 2023 on Wednesday, June 7th from 6-9pm at University of the Arts’ Hamilton Hall. Featuring live performances by local artists, visual art, and awards for both Volunteer Attorney and Law Firms of the Year, the event will highlight PVLA’s deep dedication to Philadelphia’s arts & cultural community. LOCATION: Dorrance Hamilton Hall, University of the Arts, 320 South Broad Street, Philadelphia DATE: Wednesday, June 7, 6-9pm TICKETS: $45 (artists, students, nonprofit and public interest employees), $125 (general admission), $200 (general admission x 2), or tickets can be purchased to sponsor artists; ie. Sponsor 1 Artist ($45), Sponsor 2 Artists ($90), Sponsor 4 Artists ($180) Ticket link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-arts-affair-2023-tickets-522560531617 More about PVLA: https://PVLA.org _______________________________________ IG: @PhillyVLA Twitter: @PhillyVLA FB: @phillyvolunteerlawyersforthearts LinkedIn: @Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts BlackStar Film Festival: https://www.blackstarfest.org/festival/ August 2-6, 2023 Kimmel Center The Women's Coalition for Empowerment, Inc. https://www.TheWCE.org, and our upcoming event: Philadelphia Juneteenth Wine & Arts Festival - https://Juneteenth-Wine-Art.eventbrite.com Saturday, June 17, 2023, | 1pm - 6pm | Cherry Street Pier

ABOUT ABANDON Luella is alone – haunted by the ghost of her son. Joshua is alone – kicked out of his house by his brother. One winter night these two people collide. Luella is looking for redemption; Joshua is looking for family. By the next morning, these two lonely souls are meshed together into an American Family in its truest sense. A world premiere by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright James Ijames, Abandon is sometimes violent, sometimes healing; with a gossamer veil that separates the worlds of the living and the dead, and shame and acceptance. Melanye Finister (Luella, she/her) is an artist and resident company member at People’s Light, a member of Wilma Hothouse, and an artistic advisory board member at PlayPenn. People’s Light: The Diary of Anne Frank, The Matchmaker, All My Sons, Fences, The Winter’s Tale, Seven Guitars, The Return of Don Quixote, Six Characters in Search of an Author, Something You Did, Fabulation, and The Member of the Wedding. Theatre Includes: Wilma Theater, Arden Theatre Company, Flashpoint Theatre Company, InterAct Theatre Company, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Venture Theatre, Temple Theaters and Walnut Street Theatre. Training: BFA, Carnegie Mellon University. Brenson Thomas (Gabriel, he/him) is a Black and queer writer, actor, and theatre-maker. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College’s MFA Theatre program, his plays include how i got over, or…red Kool-Aid stains on bubblegum lips; What We Lost & Never Knew; and How We Return, an upcoming commission for Constellation Stage & Screen in Bloomington, IN. Brenson also writes for TV/Film, most recently on Emmy Award winner Lena Waithe’s Twenties on BET. As a performer, Brenson has collaborated with Tony Award Winner Stew, Raja Feather Kelly, Lightning Rod Special in The Appointment (FringeArts/Next Door at NYTW; Barrymore Nominee for Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical), Arden Theatre Company in the world premiere of R. Eric Thomas’ Backing Track, and Into the Woods, and with 1812 Productions for This is the Week That Is: 2020, and the Wilma Theater. When he’s not hunched over his laptop crying about blank Google docs, Brenson enjoys long walks around his beloved Philly, doing bad accents, smashing patriarchal white supremacist structures, and Beyoncé. FOR TICKETS AND INFORMATION: https://theatreexile.org/shows/abandon/

Miniball is a micro-version of Cannonball Festival featuring encores of previous Cannonball shows, as well as other works not featured in the festival before, to keep the spirit of Cannonball sailing strong throughout the year. Make sure to follow @cannonballfest on Instagram and turn on notifications to be the first to hear about upcoming festivals, show announcements, pop-up programming, and more! THE OTHER GARDENERS by Very Good Dance Theatre What happens to (y)our gardens when we can no longer tend to them? When do the things and thoughts we leave behind become burdens, and when are they gifts? Can we both be refreshing fountains of reprieve for others, while we remember to pour into ourselves? What to do when our cup runneth over, and what to do when she's dryyyyyy ... we don't know, will you help us find out? "The Other Gardeners" is a new project created collaboratively by Very Good Dance Theatre by and for Black artists and/or those from African lineage. "Gardeners" playfully (re)imagines what remains of Eden after its more popular residents (Adam & Eve) have moved on, and reminds us that paradise cannot be destroyed, only lost. This project explores questions around lineage, diaspora(s), liberation, and asks all those in its midst to grapple with which burdens have been placed on them, by who, and how we can shoulder them (together). This is a Black queering of our origin stories, both a prequel and a sequel, and a conjuring of all the auto-biographies that never came to be ... or at least not yet? Expect sobbing and laughing, remembering and visioning, dreaming and forgetting, and loving and loving and loving. Come to learn, come to share, come to mourn, come alone (or not), leave together - connected - nurtured, just as gardens should be. ABOUT THE EVENT: Cannonball Festival is an independently produced performing arts festival, concurrent with the Philadelphia Fringe, that presents risk-taking independent artists in back-to-back performances next to delicious lounge spaces, fostering creative collisions and community conversation. Learn more at cannonballfestival.org Miniball Spring keeps the spirit of Fringe rolling April 6-8, 2023, with back to back performances of new works from some of Philly’s best independent artists. Learn more at cannonballfestival.org/miniball LINKS: Philly Theatre Week - Theatre Philadelphia https://theatrephiladelphia.org/whats-on-stage/2023-philly-theatre-week Support Theatre Philadelphia https://theatrephiladelphia.org/make-a-donation Support Cannonball Festival | Miniball https://www.cannonballfestival.org/donate RECOMMENDED Paige Phillips - The Tale of The Slaughtered Hog https://theatrephiladelphia.org/whats-on-stage/the-tale-of-the-slaughtered-hog Your Sunday Best https://theatrephiladelphia.org/whats-on-stage/your-sunday-best The World https://theatrephiladelphia.org/whats-on-stage/the-world Annie Wilson - Always The Hour http://www.theanniewilson.com/always-the-hour-copy

This year, experience over 50 unique events with hundreds of shows during Philly Theatre Week! Plus, join the 2023 Philly Theatre Week Kick-Off Celebration on March 20th at the Kimmel Cultural Campus. See preview scenes, songs, and interactive performances from participating Philly Theatre Week companies. Johnny Depp! (A Retrospective on Late-Stage Capitalism) FERGIE’S PUB - Second Floor Join “Johnny Depp”, preteen heart-throb turned wino forever, for a retrospective on every film in his entire career, even the ones we didn’t watch, in order to ask… what happened? Fresh off an international tour and a lot of rewrites because of a trial, comes a satirical “press tour” that is part ritual and part drunken singalong. Johnny Depp! (A Retrospective on Late-Stage Capitalism) features throwing things at random intervals, “fabulous” prizes, and a celebrity circus we keep tuning in to. “To watch a show like this recalls the sense of imagination that the Fringe is really all about.” – Broadway Baby “Johnny Depp: A Retrospective on Late Stage Capitalism is both exactly what you’d expect it to be and also something else entirely.” – Deadline, UK “We’re all f*cked, enjoy the show.”- Phindie, USA 9 collective international stars! ★★★★★★★★★ Starring Jenna Kuerzi as Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow as Johnny Depp as Late-Stage Capitalism. LINKS: Philly Theatre Week - Theatre Philadelphia https://theatrephiladelphia.org/whats-on-stage/2023-philly-theatre-week Jenna Kuerzi http://www.jennakuerzi.com/ Bonnie & Clyde - Media Theatre https://www.mediatheatre.org/shows-tickets Support Theatre Philadelphia https://theatrephiladelphia.org/make-a-donation

The Light Written by Loy A. Webb Directed by J. Paul Nicholas Featuring: Ang(ela) Bey and Abdul Sesay February 2, 2023 — February 26, 2023 “Explosive and Exquisite” – Stage Left Not every marriage proposal goes as planned. What started as the happiest day of a loving couple’s lives quickly unravels when ground-shifting accusations from the past surface. What The New York Times calls “compelling” and “visceral”, The Light by Loy A. Webb is a real-time rollercoaster ride of laughter, romance, and despair that uncovers how the power of love can be a healing beacon of light. ABOUT Dr. Kimmika L. H. Williams-Witherspoon (Dramaturg) PhD (Cultural Anthropology), M.A. (Anthropology), MFA (Theater), Graduate Certificate) Women’s Studies, B.A. (Journalism); is an Associate Professor of Urban Theater and Community Engagement and President of the Faculty Senate at Temple University. Author of Through Smiles and Tears: The History of African American Theater (From Kemet to the Americas) (Lambert Academic Publishing, 2011); The Secret Messages in African American Theater: Hidden Meaning Embedded in Public Discourse” (Edwin Mellen Publishing, 2006), she has had over 34 productions of her plays, her stage credits include over 20 productions, 8 one-woman shows and she has performed poetry in over 120 national and international venues. A contributing poet to 44 anthologies, 11 books of poetry, 9 book chapters, 10 journal articles and 2 books on African American Theater. FOR TICKETS AND INFORMATION: https://theatreexile.org

Some of BSR’s Media Recommendations: BOOKS Merlin Sheldrake - Entangled Life https://www.merlinsheldrake.com/entangled-life Adrienne Maree Brown - Pleasure Activism https://www.akpress.org/pleasure-activism.html You Have A Match - Emma Lord https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250237309/youhaveamatch TELEVISION Severance - AppleTV https://tv.apple.com/us/show/severance/umc.cmc.1srk2goyh2q2zdxcx605w8vtx Derry Girls - Netflix https://www.netflix.com/title/80238565 Power Rangers https://powerrangers.hasbro.com/en-us Midnight Diner - Netflix https://www.netflix.com/title/80113541 Support Broad Street Review: https://www.broadstreetreview.com/donate-to-bsr

Odd Man Out | Part of the America Rising Series A LIVE Immersive Experience In Complete Darkness Para ver el sitio web en español, haga click aquí November 30 – December 18, 2022 Odd Man Out is a captivating play that takes place in complete darkness. Created by Teatro Ciego (an Argentinian company founded by blind artists) and Theatre C (a groundbreaking immersive theatre company in NYC), this story is told unlike any you’ve ever experienced before. You’ll be led into a pitch-black room by ushers. Inside, you’ll immerse yourself in the life story of Alberto, a blind musician returning to Argentina after years of self-exile. It is, at once, a love story, a musical journey, and a multi-sensory immersion into theatre of the blind. Performances will be in Spanish on Friday, Dec 2 at 6pm | Sunday, Dec 4 at 6pm Thursday Dec 8 at 7pm | Saturday, Dec 10 at 8:30pm | Wednesday, Dec 14 at 7pm Sunday, Dec 18 at 3pm. This play takes place at 201 Cedar Street, Bristol, PA 19007. General Admission. Tickets start at $35. https://www.brtstage.org/shows/odd-man-out/

This Is My Brave, Inc. (TIMB), the national nonprofit organization dedicated to ending the stigma surrounding mental illness through storytelling, comes to Philadelphia this fall. The show will be held at the Ambler Theater on October 9, 2022. Performances will feature area community members who live with – or have loved ones living with - mental health challenges or substance use disorders, telling their stories through personal essay, spoken word, poetry, comedy, original music, and dance. One in five American adults face mental health issues (National Institute of Mental Health), yet the topic continues to carry shame. This Is My Brave aims to end this stigma and silence by celebrating the stories of real people living successful lives with mental health challenges. Since its first show in 2014 in Arlington, VA, This Is My Brave - The Show has featured more than 900 people sharing their stories in over 80 performances across the United States and in Australia. Philadelphia Show Information: Ambler Theater 108 E Butler Ave. Ambler, PA 19002 Sunday, October 9 at 5:00 PM Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased on This Is My Brave - The Show in Philadelphia's Eventbrite page. All ticket proceeds will go to the Montgomery County Suicide Prevention Taskforce whose mission is to decrease suicides in Montgomery County by increasing suicide prevention awareness, education, training, outreach efforts, and reducing stigma. It will also be live-streamed and a link will be available. Visit www.facebook.com/timbphilly for more information.

Today on the podcast, our summer series collaboration with Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance’s “RE-START Initiative”, draws to a close with the Initiative’s champions, Kabria Rogers and Roberta Johnson. Stay Tuned. The RestART Organizations we heard from: Al-Bustan: Seeds of Culture Davinci Art Alliance EgoPo Classic Theatre Kun-Yang Lin Dancers Intercultural Journeys Tiny Dynamite FUNDERS: PECO - An Excelon Company National Endowment for the Arts Learn more about RestART! RestART: The Arts are Back! https://phillyfunguide.com/editorial/restart-the-arts-are-back

Today on the podcast, our summer series collaboration with Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance’s “RE-START Initiative”, continues with Tiny Dynamite where we explore how the organization has fared during the pandemic. Here is my interview with KC MacMillan, Producing Artistic Director of Tiny Dynamite. It is the mission of Tiny Dynamite to offer audiences new ways to experience theater and artists new ways to create it. We present high-quality plays at modest ticket prices, in an environment that is intimate, social, joyful, and welcoming. Our principal project is A Play, a Pie and a Pint®, a form of theater that breaks down perceptions that the arts are only for special occasions: we offer inventive short plays, in unexpected spaces, served with food and beverages. KC MacMillan PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Kathryn MacMillan (she/her) is a Philadelphia-based theater director and arts leader who has led Tiny Dynamite since 2017. KC has directed nearly 50 productions in the Philadelphia area and beyond; recent productions include Unraveled (off-Broadway: Theatre Row), Romeo and Juliet (Commonwealth Classic Theatre Company); The Comedy of Errors (Dram Tree Shakespeare, Wilmington, NC); Grounded (InterAct); Mrs. Warren’s Profession at Lantern Theater Company, where she was the Associate Artistic Director for eight seasons; and The Revolutionists at Theatre Horizon, where she served as Guest Artistic Director for the 2017/18 season. KC’s notable productions include recent Barrymore Award nominations for directing (Jane Austen, Abridged, Tiny Dynamite, also co-writer; The Revolutionists, Theatre Horizon); and the critically acclaimed The Beauty Queen of Leenane (named Best Production of the 2012/13 season & Best Director by Philadelphia Weekly, who called her “sensationally gifted”), The Liar (Best Production Honorable Mention that same season), Arcadia (Runner up, Best Overall Production & Best Director by Phindie Independent Critic Awards), Doubt (named one of the Best Plays of 2015 by the Philadelphia Daily News), The Breath of Life (Barrymore Award nomination: Outstanding Overall Production of a Play), The Hothouse (Barrymore nominations for Outstanding Direction & Outstanding Production of a Play), and I Am My Own Wife (Barrymore nominations for Outstanding Direction and Outstanding Production of a Play and winner of the Virginia Brown Martin Philadelphia Award). In 2015, KC was named one of Billy Penn’s Who’s Next: 16 Young Philadelphians Shaping the Arts Scene. Email: kc@tinydynamite.org FOR MORE INFORMATION: https://tinydynamite.org

OUR VISION Intercultural Journeys boldly leverages the power of the performing arts to catalyze social change, challenge bias, and create spaces for dialogue and understanding by presenting culturally diverse voices that celebrate and affirm our shared humanity. OUR VISION We imagine a world of more: more welcome, more curiosity, more empathy, and more connection. Where more voices tell our history and shape our future, and we create an inclusive space to be still, to listen, to watch, to dance, and to learn together; Where recognition and respect for one and all are the starting point, and not the finish line, and love drives our journey forward. Learn more about RestART! RestART: The Arts are Back! https://phillyfunguide.com/editorial/restart-the-arts-are-back

Today on the podcast, our 8-part summer series collaboration with Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance’s “RE-START Initiative”, continues with Kun-Yang Lin Dancers. In our conversation, we learn how a dance company has fared during the pandemic. Here is my interview with Katie Moore-Derkits, Executive Director and Maggie Zhao, Assistant Artistic Director of Kun-Yang Lin Dancers. Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers (KYL/D) is one of the country’s premier contemporary Asian-American professional dance companies based in Philadelphia. Hailed for its superbly trained dancers and inventive choreography, the internationally-active KYL/D’s ensemble of professional dance artists – trained in the company's unique CHI AWARENESS PRACTICE that is deeply rooted in Asian art forms, contemplative practices and philosophies. Artistic Director Lin's zen-inspired practice of dance manifests in lush works of poetic sensibility that The New York Times says "create and inhabit worlds of their own." Lin draws upon insights from his ongoing research throughout Asia and around the globe, creating a personal movement language that is suffused with strong spiritual underpinnings. KYL/D has performed around the world, including at the Tanzmesse International Dance Festival (Dusseldorf), Busan International Dance Festival (Korea), Jogia International and AsiaTri festivals (Indonesia), Festival Internacional de Danza in Queretaro (Mexico), Victoria Theatre (Singapore), HsinChu Performing Arts Center (Taiwan). In the U.S., KYL/D has performed at Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival, Interlochen Festival, Columbia Festival, Kaatsbaan International Dance, Jacob's Pillow Inside/Out, Dancing in the Streets Festival, the Painted Bride Art Center, the Annenberg Center, the Kimmel Center, the Forrest Theater, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Barnes Foundation, and Philadelphia's City Hall. FOR MORE INFORMATION: https://kyld.org Learn more about RestART! RestART: The Arts are Back! https://phillyfunguide.com/editorial/restart-the-arts-are-back

EgoPo transforms timeless works of literature into innovative and immersive theatrical events. We re-envision the classic canon by re-introducing diverse works and re-bodying existing canonical works to ensure a wide range of voices, bodies and stories are shared on our stages. We honor and re-awaken these classic texts through a rigorous practice fusing psychological and physical acting and staging. We curate season-long journeys that foster an inclusive audience space for shared experiences and human connection across cultures and communities. FOR MORE INFORMATION: https://egopo.org Learn more about RestART! RestART: The Arts are Back! https://phillyfunguide.com/editorial/restart-the-arts-are-back