South Philadelphia

Ralph’s Italian Restaurant (760 S 9th Street)

Ralph’s Italian Restaurant is owned and operated by the fourth generation of the Dispigno family, making this an authentic restaurant for true Italian food in the heart of South Philly.  Ralph’s Italian Restaurant has won numerous awards over the years including Best Italian Restaurant in Philadelphia, Best Old Restaurant, and Best Spaghetti and Meatballs, among others.  This is the perfect restaurant to go with family due to the generous portions that are ideal for sharing.  Ralph’s offers delicious food at reasonable prices and is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week.

Phone: 215-627-6011

For more information visit www.ralphsrestaurant.com/.

Dante & Luigi’s (762 South 10th Street)

Opening in 1899, Dante & Luigi’s is Philadelphia’s oldest Italian restaurants, and one of the oldest existing Italian restaurants in the United States.  Located in the heart of the Italian Market district, Dante & Luigi’s offers a well-balanced mix of homemade, “Old World” specialties, along with delicious fresh seafood and exceptional daily specials.  Dante & Luigi’s accepts reservations and they are open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Friday and open at 3:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday.  After enjoying an authentic Italian meal, you can purchase the traditional homemade marinara sauce in different sized jars to take home and share with your family.

Phone: 215-922-9501

For more information visit www.danteandluigis.com.

Rittenhouse Square

Branzino (261 South 17^th Street)

Branzino is a wonderful BYOB that serves Old World Italian food in the heart of Rittenhouse Square.  Branzino specializes in fresh seafood dishes, homemade pastas, and flavorful meat dishes.  Branzino accepts reservations and is open for lunch Monday through Friday and dinner daily.  Come to Branzino when the weather is nice to enjoy your meal outdoors in the beautiful outdoor garden.

Phone: 215-790-0103

For more information visit www.branzinophilly.com/.

Melograno (2012 Sansom Street)

Melograno is a convivial trattoria and BYOB where guests can enjoy authentic Italian fair, artfully prepared by Roman-born Chef Gianluca Demontis.  Melograno was recognized with three bells by noted Philadelphia Inquirer food critic Craig Laban, and has been featured in The New York Times and Bon Appetit Top Tables.  Melograno offers a variety of menu items from homemade pasta to fresh fish, to meat such as a NY strip steak and even organic rabbit.  Melograno takes reservations for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday evenings, with Friday and Saturday being walk-ins only.

For more information visit www.melogranorestaurant.com/.

Washington Square

Vetri (1312 Spruce Street)

Marc Vetri’s award-winning restaurant Vetri features both traditional and contemporary Italian dishes and has a menu that changes seasonally.  Menu items include everything from pasta to branzino to roasted capretto (baby goat), so there is surely something for everyone.   Come to Vetri to enjoy delicious authentic Italian food in the intimate 40-seat restaurant in the heart of Center City.

Phone: 215-732-3478

For more information visit www.vetriristorante.com.

Northern Liberties/Old City

La Famiglia (8 South Front Street)

La Famiglia is one of the finest Italian restaurants in the city featuring upscale Italian dining in the historic Old City district.  La Famiglia has won many awards including Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence, Philadelphia Magazine – Best of Philly, Best Food, Best Wine, Best Italian, and Philadelphia’s Most Romantic Restaurant, among others.  La Famiglia is the perfect restaurant if you want a one-of-a-kind, memorable evening with delicious food, an exquisite wine list, and flawless service.  La Famiglia is open for lunch Tuesday through Friday and dinner Monday through Saturday.

Phone: 215-922-2803

For more information visit www.lafamiglia.com.

Modo Mio (161 W Girard Ave)

Modo Mio is a quaint cash only BYOB that has been getting great reviews on Zagat, the Philadelphia Inquirer, Yelp, and many other sources.  For $32 you receive an authentic Italian four-course meal that covers the entire menu, or if you are not as hungry you have the option of ordering a la carte.  The menu is seasonal and changes every six to eight weeks and features everything from fine Italian meats to homemade pasta to whole roasted fish.  Modo Mio offers some of the best Italian food at an affordable price.

Phone: (215) 203-8707

For more information visit www.modomiorestaurant.com.

Radicchio Cafe (402 Wood St)

This BYOB has a very friendly staff and a low-key vibe that will make you feel at home as you walk in the door.  Radicchio does not accept reservations, however they are open seven days a week and also open for lunch Monday through Saturday.  Radicchio offers outdoor seating during the summer, making it the perfect place to enjoy a delicious Italian lunch or dinner with your favorite bottle of wine.  This restaurant has a large menu selection, which includes many pasta items, seafood, chicken, lamb, veal, and more.

Phone: 215 627-6850

For more information visit www.radicchio-cafe.com/.

Created by: Ashley Orleans

Following Ticketed Performance by New Zealand-Based Dance Company Black Grace in Perelman Theater

Forte, the Kimmel Center’s young professionals group, hosts an after-party with live music provided by Philly’s own high-energy world fusion ensemble Leana Song in the Kimmel Center’s K Lounge on Friday, February 26, 2010 at 9:30pm. The admission-free event features complimentary hors d’oeuvres and drink specials alongside hypnotic grooves as Leana Song blends traditional Yoruba song with contemporary folk and jazz harmonies.

The party will take place immediately following the ticketed performance by New Zealand’s all-male dance company Black Grace making its Kimmel Center debut in Perelman Theater at 7:30pm. Ticket-holders for Black Grace can RSVP to forte@kimmelcenter.org to be added to the guest list, receive a free drink ticket and be automatically entered in a drawing for free tickets to upcoming shows.

Forte events offer arts and culture enthusiasts a chance to mix and mingle with other performing art aficionados, ages 21-40. Signing up for Forte is FREE—the e-club includes invitations to attend free mixers and networking events located within the private spaces of the Kimmel Center, discounted tickets to Kimmel Center Presents and Broadway Series presentations, exclusive meet and greets with Kimmel Center Presents artists, as well as giveaways and raffle drawings.

To join Forte, simply sign up at www.kimmelcenter.org/forte (no donation or membership fee required). Stay connected through the Kimmel Center’s Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.

Tickets for Black Grace are available for $34 and $44 by calling 215-893-1999, online at www.kimmelcenter.org, or at the Kimmel Center box office open daily from 10am to 6pm and later on performance evenings. (Additional fees may apply.)

A limited number of $10 community rush tickets will be available for this performance. Tickets go on sale the day of the event and can be purchased at the Kimmel Center box office beginning at 5:30pm prior to evening curtain time and 11:30am for matinees. Limit one ticket per person.

Upcoming Forte events scheduled for 2009-10 season include:
Friday, March 12, 2010 — Free Friday LIVE concert in the Commonwealth Plaza sponsored by Forte
Saturday, June 19, 2010 — Forte Lounge at the Kimmel Center’s Summer Solstice Celebration
Friday, February 26, 2010 | Post-Show (approx. 9:30pm)
Forte Party in K Lounge with Leana Song
Kimmel Center’s K Lounge on Tier 2
Price: FREE
Forte, the Kimmel Center’s young professionals group, hosts an after party for performing arts lovers ages 21-40 with drinks specials, complimentary appetizers and live music by Philly’s own drum-and-song ensemble Leana Song in the Kimmel Center’s K Lounge on Tier 2 immediately following the ticketed performance by Black Grace. Visit www.kimmelcenter.org/forte for more information and to RSVP.

Friday, February 26, 2010 | 7:30pm
Black Grace
Perelman Theater
Price: $34 – 44
Black Grace, a New Zealand expression for daring and bravery, is truly unique in the world of dance. Formed in 1995, this group of male dancers fuses Pacific traditional cultures with contemporary dance, all based on the vision of founder/choreographer Neil leremia. Program will include Minoi, showcasing Samoan slap dancing and singing, as well as Surface, which traces the masculine traditions of the Samoan culture.

PHILADELPHIA, PA: The Walnut Street Theatre’s 2009-2010 Independence Studio on 3 season continues with the Philadelphia premiere of Quiara Alegria Hudes’ Pulitzer Prize Finalist: Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue. Directed by José M. Avilés, the production starts on February 23^rd , opens February 25^th and continues through March 14^th in the Walnut’s Independence Studio on 3.

At the age of eighteen, Philadelphian Elliot Ortiz (Ephraim López) joined the marines and was shipped off to Iraq. By the age of nineteen, he received the Purple Heart. On leave to recover from his wounds, Elliot returns a hero to the city of Brotherly Love. As Elliot comes to terms with his own memories of war, the military experiences of his father and grandfather come to light, proving that history often repeats itself in interesting ways. As Elliot’s tale moves back in time, the stories of his father (Nick Anselmo), mother (Joanna Carden) and grandfather (Edward Furs) move forward until past and present collide, creating a connection of love, beauty and rebirth from the destructive nature of war. Melding poetic dreamscape with stream-of-consciousness narrative, Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue explores the unspoken connections across time and generations.

Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue premiered in 2006 at The Culture Project in NYC and was a finalist for the 2007 Pulitzer Prize. The New York Times praised the production as “a rare and rewarding thing: a theater work that succeeds on every level,” while Time Out New York hailed the play as “poignant and achingly evocative both utterly realistic and profoundly moving.”

Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue was written by West Philadelphia native Quiara Alegria Hudes. This production marks the first time Quiara’s work has been produced in her hometown. Her works include Yemaya’s Belly, Water by the Spoonful, 26 Miles and Barrio Grrrl! Hudes wrote the book for the Tony Award-Winning In The Heights, which garnered Tony and Pulitzer nominations for Hudes herself and the HOLA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Playwriting.  Currently, Hudes’ projects include an adapted screenplay for a film version of In The Heights. She is a resident playwright at New Dramatists and serves as a board member/mentor for Philadelphia Young Playwrights.

The cast of Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue includes Ephraim Lopez (Elliot), Nick Anselmo (Pop), Johanna Carden (Ginny) and Edward Furs (Grandpop). Walnut audiences will remember Ephraim and Nick from their roles in A Streetcar Named Desire (Ephraim as Pedro) and The Buddy Holly Story (Nick as Ritchie Valens) respectively. Johanna Carden and Edward Furs are making their Walnut debuts.

Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue is directed by Philadelphia native José M. Avilés. José has worked as an actor, director and theatre arts educator for over 20 years. As an actor, he has performed at the Wilma Theater, PTC, Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival, InterAct Theatre Company and Venture Theatre. In addition to working at WST, Jose has taught at the Wilma Theater and Taller Puertorriqueño. José most recently directed the world premiere production of The Domestication of Women; A House wares Party in Two Acts for Straw Flower Productions and Freedom Riders and Mean Girlz R Bullies 2 for the WST critically acclaimed Touring Outreach Company. He is currently the Theatre School Coordinator at WST and founder, artistic and producing director of Teatro del Sol.

Behind the scenes, the Walnut welcomes back Scenic Designer Andrew Thompson (Side by Side By Sondheim), Costume Designer Mary Folino (The Prince), Lighting Designer Shelley Hicklin (Barrymore Award Winner – Of Mice and Men) and Sound Designer Mark Valenzuela (Honor and the River).

Season sponsors for the 2009-2010 Independence Studio on 3 Season are The Independence Foundation and Macy’s East. Media season sponsors are Philadelphia Weekly and WRTI Radio. Tickets are $30 and are now available at 215-574-3550 or 215-336-1234. Tickets are also available at WalnutStreetTheatre.org or Ticketmaster.com.

JUST THE FACTS:

WHAT: ELLIOT, A SOLDIER’S FUGUE

By QUIARA ALEGRíA HUDES

WHEN: February 23 – March 14, 2010

Press opening: Thursday, February 25 at 7:30pm

WHERE: Walnut Street Theatre, Independence Studio on 3

825 Walnut Street, Philadelphia

WHO: Director: JOSÉ M. AVILÉS

Set Design: ANDREW THOMPSON

Lighting Design: SHELLEY HICKLIN

Costume Design: MARY FOLINO

Sound Design: MARK VALENZUELA

Stage Manager: SARA MAY

CAST:                         Pop…………………NICK ANSELMO*

Ginny……………JOANNA CARDEN*

Grandpop………….EDWARD FURS*

Elliot………………EPHRAIM LÓPEZ*

*Member, Actors’ Equity Association, the union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States

TICKETS: $30

CURTAIN: Tuesday-Sunday, 7:30PM; Saturday and Sunday at 2:30PM

PHONE: Tickets/Info 215-574-3550 or 800-982-2787

WEBSITE: www.WalnutStreetTheatre.org or Ticketmaster

1) Wednesday, 2/10/2010, 6:00 p.m. Hyatt Regency at Penn’s Landing, Philadelphia

2) Tuesday, 2/16/2010, 7:00 p.m. Giant (Alps Room), Willow Grove, PA

3) Thursday, 2/18/2010, 6:30 p.m. Whole Foods, Pennsylvania Ave., Philadelphia

4) Saturday, 2/20/ 2010, 10:00 a.m. Manayunk (Furniture) , Manayunk, PA

5) Wednesday 2/24/2010 6:00 p.m, Kaiserman JCC, Wynnewood, PA

Please call Katie Freind at 215-396-9100 ext. 8 or visit www.ccteamchallenge.org for more information.

The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America’s mission is to cure Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and to improve the quality of life of children and adults affected by these diseases. Known collectively as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), these painful, chronic illnesses affect approximately 1.4 million Americans, including some 140,000 children under the age of 18. CCFA was founded in 1967.

The Diseases

Crohn’s disease is a painful, incurable illness that may inflame the small and large intestines and cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps, weight loss, and numerous complications, such as bowel obstruction and abscesses.

Ulcerative colitis attacks the large intestine (colon), causing painful diarrhea, bleeding, and numerous complications, including colon cancer. While medications control most symptoms, the only cure is surgical removal of the colon.

Most of those affected are young, including teenagers and young children. Approximately 20 percent of patients have another family member affected by the disease, and families frequently share a similar pattern of disease.

Funding

CCFA is supported solely by individual, foundation, and corporate contributions.

More than 81 cents of every dollar CCFA spends goes directly into research and educational programs.

CCFA is among the top-rated charities in the the American Institute of Philanthropy’s Charity Rating Guide (www.charitywatch.org).

Research

Since CCFA’s inception, approximately $136 million has been provided for researchers attempting to find the causes of, and cures for, IBD. Each year, more than 80 current and ongoing research grants are funded. More than 60 percent of CCFA-sponsored researchers have obtained subsequent funding from the National Institutes of Health for further IBD research.

In 2001, NOD2, the first gene linked to Crohn’s disease, was discovered. This breakthrough was funded in part by a CCFA research grant. CCFA continues to accelerate the pace of IBD research by collaborating with top researchers and clinicians. CCFA-sponsored research, such as “Challenges in IBD Research,” a series of top-priority initiatives, the DNA and Cell Line Bank, and the Clinical Alliance, is forging new collaborations and providing vital resources for investigators nationwide.

Education and Supportive Services

CCFA provides educational programs for patients, physicians, and the public, including Webcasts and live education seminars; 300 active support groups; chapter newsletters; a national magazine; informational brochures and books; an Information Resource Center accessible at 888.MY.GUT.PAIN and www.ccfa.org; a scientific journal; professional medical forums; and research publications. The foundation distributes more than one million pieces of literature every year.

Affiliations

CCFA is a member of the National Health Coalition and a founding member of the Digestive Disease National Coalition.

FEBRUARY 2, 2010

Lights on, curtains up. It’s Philadelphia’s moment, as the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA) turns a bright spotlight on the city’s arts and cultural scene. For three weeks, from April 7 through May 1, 2011, audiences will revel in an array of one-time, only-in-Philadelphia productions by some of the region’s top talents—many of whom will partner with or present international performers. PIFA will feature music, dance, fashion, fine arts, poetry, cuisine and more—all generously flavored with the essence of Paris, circa 1910-1920.

Inspired by the Kimmel Center, PIFA promises to be an out-of-the-box arts festival that honors the vision of longtime Philadelphia resident and philanthropist Leonore Annenberg. Before she passed away in 2009, Mrs. Annenberg provided a generous grant through the Annenberg Foundation to ensure that her lifelong dream for a citywide arts celebration would be fulfilled.

“Not in memory has the city hosted so much performing and visual arts linked by a common thread and packed into a one-month festival,” says Ed Cambron, executive director of PIFA. “Philly has an extraordinary collection of top-notch arts groups that are excited about smashing the traditional arts festival format and presenting something truly different. The philosophy for PIFA is collaboration, creativity and innovation, which means our audiences will see a multitude of new works, unprecedented partnerships and performances that will happen only here.”

All The City’s A Stage:

As PIFA transforms the entire city into a giant stage, loyal fans and newcomers to the arts will have the opportunity to choose from among dozens of ticketed and free activities each day. Performances and exhibits will be held throughout Center City and beyond, many in Kimmel Center venues, as well as in theaters, performance halls and other venues, both large and small.

“Since opening 10 years ago, the Kimmel Center has played a central role in shaping, inspiring and supporting the region’s cultural community,” says Anne Ewers, president and CEO of the Kimmel Center. “Inspired by the Kimmel Center, PIFA will create extraordinary opportunities for us to build more connections that will strengthen arts and culture throughout the region.”

One-of-a-Kind Performances With An Ooh-La-La Flair:

“We chose our theme because 100 years ago, Paris was the epicenter of creativity. What happened during that time frame shaped how we defined the arts throughout the 20^th century,” explains Cambron. “Right now, Philadelphia’s creative community is poised to fuel the same spirit of ingenious creativity.”

With more than 100 performances planned, three events serve as examples of the serendipitous moments and surprising performances audiences can look forward to. For the first time ever, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Pennsylvania Ballet will perform together, collaborating on what promises to be an unforgettable presentation of the classic French ballet Pulcinella. In an innovative pairing, Philly’s signature hip-hop band The Roots will play in an anything-can-happen concert with a French chanteuse. What’s more, daring aerialists will swing from the rafters of the Kimmel Center and teach anybody who has ever wanted to join the circus how to fly the trapeze on the Avenue of the Arts.

One Moment In Time:

“When a moment comes along, you don’t want to miss it,” says Meryl Levitz, president and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation. “This moment will last only a few weeks, and it will feature it-can-only-happen-here performances. That is a combination that makes PIFA a must-do event for residents of and visitors to Philadelphia.”

The complete line-up will be announced on April 7, 2010, one year prior to the festival’s start. Hotel and ticket packages will make it easy for audiences to attend desired performances and discover new events. Tickets to select performances go on sale April 7, 2010 through ticketphiladelphia.org and at participating venues. For the most up-to-date details and event information, visit pifa.org.

Kimmel Center, Inc., a charitable, not-for-profit organization, provides a rich diversity of programming through its Kimmel Center Presents sponsored by Citi and Broadway Series of performances, as well as arts in education and community outreach. The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and the Academy of Music together serve as home to eight Resident Company performing arts organizations, including The Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Ballet, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, American Theater Arts for Youth, Philadanco, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society and Peter Nero and the Philly Pops^®. Kimmel Center, Inc. owns, manages, supports and maintains The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, which includes Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, Innovation Studio and the Merck Arts Education Center. Kimmel Center, Inc. also manages the Academy of Music, owned by The Philadelphia Orchestra Association.

The Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA), inspired by the Kimmel Center, launches the city’s arts and cultural scene onto the world stage with a three-week festival featuring Philadelphia performances and activities designed to appeal to loyal fans, as well as the new-to-the-arts crowd. Based on the philosophy of collaboration, creativity and innovation, PIFA programs comprise newly commissioned works, unexpected partnerships with both local and international artists and non-traditional and emerging art forms, along with classic performances that engage residents and visitors alike. With the overarching theme of Paris 1910-1920, PIFA celebrates works from and inspired by the period and the general innovative spirit of the time. Funded in part with a $10 million grant from Philadelphia philanthropist Mrs. Leonore Annenberg, whose vision for a city-wide arts extravaganza shaped the festival, PIFA takes place April 7 through May 1, 2011.

For the most up to date information, contact PIFA at (215) 790-5800 or visit pifa.org.

Photo: Phil Martin 2009

The Kimmel Center are pleased to announce America’s most beloved musical, ANNIE, is returning to the Merriam Theater in Philadelphia as part of its 30^th anniversary tour for a limited weekend engagement from February 26 – 28. The original Broadway production of ANNIE won seven 1977 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Book and Score. It ran for 2,377 performances, and has subsequently been produced all over the world.  The original production is one of the top 20 longest running shows in Broadway history, and ANNIE continues to be one of the most successful musicals ever.  Tickets are on sale now, so don’t miss your chance to sing along to favorite songs such as “It’s the Hard-Knock Life,” “N.Y.C” and “Tomorrow” by ordering yours today!

Leapin’ Lizards! America’s most beloved musical, ANNIE, is back for its 30^th anniversary tour, giving a whole new generation the chance to experience this classic musical about never giving up hope. The timeless tale of Little Orphan Annie will be coming to the Merriam Theater in Philadelphia for a limited weekend engagement from Feb. 26 – 28.

Tickets range in price from $20 to $70 and can be purchased by calling 215-731-3333, online at www.kimmelcenter.org, at the Kimmel Center box office, Broad & Spruce Streets. (open daily 10am to 6pm), or at the Merriam Theater box office, 250 S. Broad St. (open during performances only).  Special group pricing for select performances is available for groups of 15 or more by calling 215-790-5883.  Performances include: Friday & Saturday evening at 8 pm; Sunday evening at 6:30pm; and matinees Saturday at 2pm and Sunday at 1pm.

“One of the best musical ever,” proclaims the Chicago Tribune, and the Chicago Sun-Times says, “Ageless ANNIE as engaging as ever.”

ANNIE, with music by Charles Strouse and book by Thomas Meehan, is again directed by its lyricist, Martin Charnin, who brought the original production of ANNIE to Broadway in 1977. Tony Award winning set designer, Ming Cho Lee, has created a fresh look for this new production.

The original Broadway production of ANNIE won seven 1977 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Book and Score. It ran for 2,377 performances, and has subsequently been produced all over the world.  The original production is one of the top 20 longest running shows in Broadway history, and ANNIE continues to be one of the most successful musicals ever.

Boasting one of Broadway’s most memorable scores, including “It’s the Hard-Knock Life,” “Easy Street,” “N.Y.C.” and the ever optimistic “Tomorrow,” you can bet your bottom dollar that ANNIE will bring a smile to your face.

In addition to Charnin, Meehan, Strouse and Lee, ANNIE’s creative team includes original Broadway musical staging by Peter Gennaro, choreography by Liza Gennaro, lighting design by Ken Billington, costume design by Theoni Aldridge and sound design by Peter Hylenski.  ANNIE is being produced by Networks Presentations, LLC. For more information, visit annieontour.com.

The Broadway Series is presented by the Kimmel Center in association with the Shubert Organization and is sponsored by Citibank with support provided by American Airlines.

In addition to ANNIE, 2009-2010 Broadway Series productions at the Academy of Music, Forrest Theatre and Merriam Theatre will include: WICKED (Jan. 6 – 24); RAIN: A Tribute to the Beatles (Feb. 2 – 7); Disney’s THE LION KING (March 23 – April 24); August:Osage County (April 27 – May 2) at the Forrest Theatre; Avenue Q (June 18 – 20); and Dreamgirls (June 21 – 27).

Additional Broadway Series productions at the at the Merriam Theatre include: The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber (Feb. 9 – 14); GROOVALOO:The Hip Hop Experience (March 9 – 14); and Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance (May 14 – 16).

For more information visit www.kimmelcenter.org.

PHILADELPHIA – The Wilma Theater grapples with the problems of democracy in the 21^st century in the two plays that continue its 2009 – 2010 season, the World Premiere of Yussef El Guindi’s Language Rooms (March 3 – April 4, 2010) and the US Premiere of Leaving, Václav Havel’s first new play in 20 years, translated by Paul Wilson (May 19 – June 20, 2010).

Winner of the Edgerton Foundation’s prestigious New American Play award, Language Rooms pulls dark comedy from the hot-button issues of detention, interrogation, and creeping suspicion. The play follows Arab-American translator Ahmed as he discovers the divided loyalties and rising cost of the American Dream for today’s immigrants; as Egyptian-born playwright Yussef El Guindi says, “the price for a better life is always a little higher than you think it will be.”

Wilma co-Artistic Director Blanka Zizka says, “What I like so much about the play is that it deals with the world we live in right now, without suffering from ideological or political agendas or predictability. Just the opposite: the play is fresh, inventive, darkly funny, and fiercely original. It explores the absurd reality that can ensue from pursuing a dream without noticing that the dream has lost its moral standing, leaving merely insistence on loyalty.”

The Wilma’s World Premiere of Language Rooms grows out of an intensive development process, which began with a reading on the Wilma stage a year ago, in addition to workshops at Vassar & New York Stage and Film’s Powerhouse Theater and at the Wilma last summer. The Wilma welcomes back Yussef El Guindi – who The Philadelphia Inquirer calls “laugh-out-loud funny” – for an extended residency during rehearsals.

Philadelphia audiences will also be the first theatergoers in America to see dissident, playwright, and statesman Václav Havel’s Leaving, his first new play since becoming President of Czechoslovakia 20 years ago.

Havel began Leaving just before the events of the Velvet Revolution and the fall of Czechoslovakia’s communist government in 1989, which thrust him into Czechoslovakia’s Presidency. The play opens with a recently deposed Chancellor coming to grips with losing his political position. Suffering the indignities of powerlessness, his struggle echoes The Cherry Orchard and King Lear. Leaving is a meditation on politics and their perversions, and its insightful humor and pathos contribute greatly to Havel’s previous work as a playwright and a much-admired international political figure.

Wilma co-Artistic Director Jiri Zizka – who, like Havel, is a native of Prague – traveled to the Czech Republic for a long private meeting with the playwright this past December. Havel says he feels he is “in particularly great hands,” with Jiri bringing his knowledge of the original Czech text to rehearsals, alongside Paul Wilson’s vivid translation. Wilson likewise points out that Jiri’s heritage makes him “uniquely qualified to bring out the nuances of the original work,” and his “long experience in American theater will make sure that American audiences get the maximum impact of the play’s broad appeal.”

Language Rooms and Leaving are the kinds of plays on which the Wilma’s artistic vision is built. These two plays present fresh, relevant, fiercely-held perspectives on the most important issues of our time. Their playwrights – one an up-and-coming talent, the other a renowned and honored elder statesman – show the breadth and richness of the international perspective the Wilma brings to the Philadelphia stage.

Tickets for Language Rooms and Leaving range from $36 to $65 and are available at the Wilma’s Box Office by calling (215) 546-7842, visitingwww.wilmatheater.org, or coming to the theater, located at 265 South Broad Street in Philadelphia. Student tickets are available for as little as $10, depending on date and time, made possible through a grant from PNC Arts Alive. Two-play subscriptions are also on sale, starting at $55, with additional discounts for students, educators, and seniors.

Reduced ticket pricing for students is made possible by PNC Arts Alive, a five-year, $5 million investment from The PNC Foundation with the goal to increase engagement in the arts, develop new audiences and make the arts more accessible to diverse communities in the Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey region.  In advance, students can save 50% off full-priced tickets (excludes Opening and Saturday nights) and purchase $10 tickets for Sunday evening performances.  Tickets for same day performances can be purchased for $10 at the Box Office. Tickets are subject to availability; valid student ID is required; limit one ticket per ID.

The Sporting Club at the Bellevue is the Season Sponsor for The Wilma Theater’s 2009 – 2010 season.

Language Rooms is supported by DoubleTree Hotel Philadelphia as Artistic Lead Sponsor and the National Endowment for the Arts as Production Sponsor. Language Rooms is a recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New American Plays Award.

Leaving is supported by the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage through the Philadelphia Theatre Initiative, and Daniel Berger is Honorary Producer for this production.

For more information visit www.wilmatheater.org.

MAPLE SHADE, NJ (January 29, 2010) – Bowlers hoping to roll a few strikes against one of the nation’s deadliest diseases will “Bowl Over Cancer” on February 6 at Laurel Lanes in Maple Shade. Hosted by ChemoClothes – the nonprofit organization that gives cancer patients, survivors and others interested in fighting the disease a charitable outlet for their creative work – the event will feature an afternoon of bowling, food and fun.

“Everyone enjoyed last year’s bowling event, which raised $1,200 for several worthwhile organizations including the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia,” said Nicole Donahue, ChemoClothes’ director of special events. “We’re looking forward to a great time this year and hope to raise even more for this important cause.”

Funds from this year’s event will be directed to the Lance Armstrong Foundation, Alicia Rose “Victorious” Foundation and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Founded in 2008, ChemoClothes collects and sells handmade clothing, jewelry, pottery and other handcrafted items and donates the proceeds to organizations involved in the fight against cancer. The nonprofit raised $13,000 last year through several programs and events and has set a fundraising goal of $50,000 for the upcoming year.

Bowl Over Cancer tickets, which include shoe rentals, food, non-alcoholic drinks, (discounted rates on alcoholic beverages) and three hours of bowling beginning at 1 p.m., cost $20 per person – with a $5 discount for bringing any handknitted item – or $110 per lane (up to six bowlers per lane). Guests can register in advance or pay at the door at Laurel Lanes, located at 2825 Route 73 South.

For more information, visit http://www.chemoclothes.org or contact Nicole Donahue at 609.865.3901 or nicole@chemoclothes.org.

Tea Party. Gouache hand painting on archival inkjet print in specimen box. (c) Sue Johnson, 2009

Get out to The Rosenbach Museum & Library in Philadelphia (2008-2010 Delancey Place) from now through June, 6, 2010 to see the new exhibition, Moore Adventures in Wonderland, which is a Marianne Moore and Alice in Wonderland-inspired installation. Coinciding with the Moore Adventures in Wonderland exhibition, the Rosenbach will present several related programs and events throughout the season.  On Wednesday, March 3 from 6pm – 8pm, the Rosenbach will host the special event A Mad Tea Party to toast Lewis Carroll and hisAlice books. Guests are invited to examine the first edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, meet Scott Hoyt, director of the documentary The Meaning of Tea and sample unique teas with Alexis Siemons, a Philadelphia tea enthusiast and founder of the blog teaspoonsandpetals.com.  So, don’t miss out on these great events to prepare you for the forthcoming release of the major motion picture Alice in Wonderland, from Walt Disney Pictures and visionary director Tim Burton (opens March 5, 2010) by visiting the Rosenbach Museum today!

As part of the museum’s popular Hands-On Tours programming, the Rosenbach will feature two related tours: Marianne Moore, Modernist Poet (Feb. 28, Apr. 7 and 23), which looks at Marianne Moore’s letters, clippings and the objects she surrounded herself with; and Lewis Carroll/Charles Dodgson (Mar. 10, 14, 19), which explores both the man and the author and features original drawings by Sir John Tenniel(the illustrator of the Alice books), photographs of children taken by Carroll, and copies of his books. The Gallery Talk “Curiouser and curiouser” (Feb. 24) will look at the influence of Lewis Carroll on Johnson’s work, in addition to A.S.W. Rosenbach’s purchase and sale of the original Alice manuscript which caused an international sensation.

PHILADELPHIA – The Rosenbach Museum & Library’s new exhibition Moore Adventures in Wonderland, currently on view through June 6, 2010, is a Marianne Moore and Alice in Wonderland-inspired installation, created by Rosenbach Artist-in-Residence, Sue Johnson. The exhibition investigates the Rosenbach’s collection of the work of author Lewis Carroll and Modernist American poet and writer Marianne Moore and uncovers the unexpected connections between the two.

To celebrate the exhibition and the forthcoming release of the major motion picture Alice in Wonderland, from Walt Disney Pictures and visionary director Tim Burton (opens March 5, 2010), the Rosenbach will also offer several Lewis Carroll and Marianne Moore inspired programs and events in 2010, from Gallery Talks and Hands-On Tours, to the special event A Mad Tea Party (March 3).

The Rosenbach Museum & Library is located at 2008-2010 Delancey Place in Philadelphia and is open Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and groups of 10 or more, $5 for students and children ages 5-18, and free for children under 5. For more information, please call (215) 732-1600 or visit www.rosenbach.org.

With Moore Adventures in Wonderland, artist Sue Johnson has created a poetic archive and a hyper-visual experience using photography, painting, and digital collage of selected objects from the Rosenbach’s Marianne Moore collection presented in arrangements which recall scenes from Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass.  These multi-media trompe l’oeil (French for ‘trick of the eye’) images are displayed in large boxes reminiscent of Victorian specimen cabinets. This installation leads the viewer on a journey through a conceptual rabbit hole, only to realize at the end of the journey that, like Alice, one hasn’t really travelled at all, but sees the surroundings in a new light.

“When I first was approached by the Rosenbach to work with the collections and create an artist project I already had an inkling that the Marianne Moore archives would be of interest because her poetry often created equivalences between humans and wild nature in poems such as “The Octopus,” “The Paper Nautilus” and “No Swan So Fine.” I spent my time poring over her clipping files, each folder carefully labeled like a personal encyclopedia, and working with museum staff to access her vast collection of art objects and other ephemera,” says Sue Johnson.

“Along with my interest in Moore, I had a long-standing interest in the works of Lewis Carroll and the picturing of his characters by Sir John Tenniel,” continues Johnson. “Over time it became clear to me that I was drawn to both Moore and Carroll because of the way each created new ways to understand the world and human relations by situating Nature’s creatures as protagonist. This aspect is central to my own work, and I found new inspiration in the Rosenbach archives as I imagined Moore’s collection of objects as natural history specimens now curated by me through the lens of a ‘new wonderland.”’

Marianne Moore (1887 – 1972) was a Modernist American poet and writer and a central figure in New York Modernism. The Rosenbach houses The Moore Collection, including a recreation of Moore’s living room – where she worked for more than forty years – just as she once lived in it. A graduate of Bryn Mawr College, Moore’s complete library, with many personally inscribed and annotated books from her friends and contemporaries including Ezra Pound, T.S. Eliot and Elizabeth Bishop, is part of the Rosenbach collections in addition to drafts of her poetry, correspondence and unpublished memoirs. The collection is a unique literary repository, preserving intact a comprehensive record of a writer’s intellectual development.

Lewis Carroll, pseudonym of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (1832 – 1898), was an English author, mathematician, and Anglican clergyman. His most famous writings are Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel Through the Looking-Glass as well as the poems “The Hunting of the Snark” and “Jabberwocky”, all examples of the genre of literary nonsense. The Rosenbach Museum & Library today preserves one of the world’s finest Lewis Carroll collections: over five hundred letters in Charles Dodgson’s hand, nearly three dozen original drawings by Sir John Tenniel, rare and often inscribed copies of his books, photographs, and much more. In 1928, museum co-founder Dr. A.S. W. Rosenbachpurchased at auction the original manuscript to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The manuscript was not the first significant Carroll item the Doctor purchased. It was, however, a purchase that stunned Britain and earned him the moniker “The Man Who Bought Alice” in America. Dr. Rosenbach sold the manuscript quickly, but by a quirk of fate, was able to purchase it back in 1946, at which point he and Lessing J. Rosenwald presented it to the British Library as a gift.

Coinciding with the Moore Adventures in Wonderland exhibition, the Rosenbach will present several related programs and events throughout the season. On Wednesday, March 3 from 6pm – 8pm, the Rosenbach will host the special event A Mad Tea Party to toast Lewis Carroll and hisAlice books. Guests are invited to examine the first edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, meet Scott Hoyt, director of the documentaryThe Meaning of Tea and sample unique teas with Alexis Siemons, a Philadelphia tea enthusiast and founder of the blogteaspoonsandpetals.com.

As part of the museum’s popular Hands-On Tours programming, the Rosenbach will feature two related tours: Marianne Moore, Modernist Poet (Feb. 28, Apr. 7 and 23), which looks at Marianne Moore’s letters, clippings and the objects she surrounded herself with; and Lewis Carroll/Charles Dodgson (Mar. 10, 14, 19), which explores both the man and the author and features original drawings by Sir John Tenniel(the illustrator of the Alice books), photographs of children taken by Carroll, and copies of his books. The Gallery Talk “Curiouser and curiouser” (Feb. 24) will look at the influence of Lewis Carroll on Johnson’s work, in addition to A.S.W. Rosenbach’s purchase and sale of the original Alice manuscript which caused an international sensation.

The exhibition will feature a free gallery guide which includes an essay by Dr. Jennifer Cognard-Black about the ways in which Moore Adventures in Wonderland merges the curiosities of Carroll’s Alice books with the unconventional poetics of Moore by evoking scenes from Carroll’s books through arranged objects selected from the Moore archives. Cognard-Black is an Associate Professor of English at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, where she specializes in transatlantic Victorian literatures and fiction writing.

A full description of each program is included in the event listings section below.

ABOUT SUE JOHNSON

Sue Johnson earned a BFA in painting from Syracuse University and an MFA in painting from Columbia University. She has had one-person exhibitions at the Tweed Museum of Art, Jan Cicero Gallery, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Midwest Museum of American Art, Swarthmore College, Anderson Gallery/VCU, and University of Richmond Museums. Grants include awards from the Pollock-Krasner Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts/Mid Atlantic Foundation Fellowship, and four Individual Artist Awards from the Maryland State Arts Council. Selected residency fellowships include the Arts/Industry Program, John Michael Kohler Art Center, Mac Dowell Colony, Millay Colony, Art Omi International Artist Colony, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, City of Salzburg/Salzburg Kunstlerhaus Residency Fellowship, American Philosophical Society/Andre Michaux Library Research Fellowship, and American Antiquarian Society research fellowship. Johnson is a professor of art in the Department of Art and Art History at St. Mary’s College of Maryland where she has taught painting, drawing, printmaking and book arts since 1993. Visit www.suejohnson1.com for more information.

ABOUT THE ROSENBACH

The Rosenbach Museum & Library seeks to inspire curiosity, inquiry and creativity by engaging broad audiences in exhibitions, programs and research based on its remarkable and expanding collections. The museum was founded by legendary book dealer A.S.W. Rosenbach and his brother and business partner Philip. With an outstanding collection of rare books, manuscripts, furniture and art, the Rosenbach is a museum and world-renowned research library, set within two historic 1865 townhouses, that reflects an age when great collectors lived among their treasures.

Moore Adventures in Wonderland is made possible by the Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation and the Hirsig Family Fund of the Philadelphia Foundation. Too Many Thoughts to Chew: A Sendak Stew is made possible by the Independence Foundation and Marilyn and Mickey Steinberg.

Marianne Moore and Lewis Carroll Programs & Events

Where: The Rosenbach Museum & Library

2008-2010 Delancey Place, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Hours: Tuesday & Friday, 12pm – 5pm, Wednesday & Thursday 12pm – 8pm, Saturdays & Sundays, 12pm – 6pm. Closed Mondays and National Holidays.

Admission: Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for students and free for children under 5.

Information: (215) 732-1600 or visit www.rosenbach.org.

All events are free with museum admission (unless otherwise noted).

Exhibition: Moore Adventures in Wonderland

September 23, 2009 – June 6, 2010

This Marianne Moore and Alice in Wonderland-inspired installation, created by Rosenbach Artist-in-Residence Sue Johnson, investigates the Rosenbach’s extensive Lewis Carroll and Marianne Moore collections and uncovers unexpected connections between the two.

Hands-On Tours: Marianne Moore, Modernist Poet

Sunday, February 28; Wednesday, April 7; Friday, April 23

All tours will be held at 3pm

Marianne Moore, like Pablo Picasso, broke free of tradition and reassembled the pieces in a new and sometimes confounding way. In this tour, we will study her letters, clippings and the objects she surrounded herself with to find out more about the sources for her revolutionary and ground-breaking work.

Gallery Talk: “Curiouser and curiouser”

Thursday, February 24, 6pm

Rosenbach Artist-in-Residence Sue Johnson found inspiration for her installation Moore Adventures in Wonderland in the work of author Charles Dodgson, better known by his pen name, Lewis Carroll. Dodgson’s curious tale of a young girl named Alice has become an iconic piece of British literature, and A.S.W. Rosenbach’s purchase and sale of the original manuscript caused an international sensation. In this gallery talk we will examine the influence of Dodgson on Ms. Johnson’s work as well as talk about “the man who bought Alice,” Dr. Rosenbach. This talk is led by Farrar Fitzgerald, Group Tours & Education Coordinator. All gallery talks are included in the price of admission. Reservations are not required.

Special Event: A Mad Tea Party

Wednesday, March 3, 6pm – 8pm

Free with museum admission, registration required

“The table was a large one, but the three were all crowded together at one corner of it: `No room! No room!’ they cried out when they saw Alice coming. `There’s PLENTY of room!’ said Alice indignantly, and she sat down in a large arm-chair at one end of the table.” – Lewis Carroll,Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Chapter VII, A Mad Tea Party

The Rosenbach is toasting Lewis Carroll and his Alice books at a madcap tea party. Examine the first edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland; meet Scott Hoyt, the director of the documentary The Meaning of Tea; sample unique teas; and learn how to brew the perfect cup with Alexis Siemons, local tea enthusiast and founder of the blog teaspoonsandpetals.com. To register, please contact Mary Duffy, Development Associate, at (215) 732-1600 ext. 123 or rsvp@rosenbach.org.

Hands-On Tours: Lewis Carroll/Charles Dodgson

Wednesday, March 10; Sunday, March 14; Friday, March 19

All tours will be held at 3pm

Mathematician and cleric Charles Lutwidge Dodgson published children’s books under the pen name Lewis Carroll. This tour will explore both the author and the man by drawing on letters from Dodgson to his publishers, original drawings by John Tenniel (the illustrator of the Alicebooks) photographs of children taken by Dodgson, and, of course, copies of  his books.  We may not figure out why a raven is like a writing desk, or believe six impossible things before breakfast, but it is sure to be an enlightening tour.

Reading Group: Marianne Moore

Wednesdays, April 7, 14, 21 and 28, 6pm – 8pm

$80 for members, $125 for non-members (includes a tax-deductible membership gift of $45)

Marianne Moore was a central figure in the Modernist movement in the United States during the first half of the 20^th century. Ms. Moore is often referred to as a “poet’s poet” due to her intricate structure and collaged text which often challenges readers to work through her playful complexities. During this four part course led by Nathalie Anderson, participants will read and discuss selections of Moore’s poetry gaining insight into the various drafts, letters and personal papers which reside in the Rosenbach’s collections. Nathalie Anderson teaches courses in Victorian, Modern, and Contemporary Poetry at Swarthmore College and directs the Program in Creative Writing for the Department of English Literature. To register for the Marianne Moore poetry group, please contact Mary Duffy, Development Associate at (215) 731-1600 ext. 123 ormduffy@rosenbach.org.

Film Synopsis: Alice in Wonderland

Opens March 5, 2010

From Walt Disney Pictures and visionary director Tim Burton comes an epic 3D fantasy adventure Alice in Wonderland, a magical and imaginative twist on some of the most beloved stories of all time. Johnny Depp stars as the Mad Hatter and Mia Wasikowska as 19-year-old Alice, who returns to the whimsical world she first encountered as a young girl, reuniting with her childhood friends: the White Rabbit, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Dormouse, the Caterpillar, the Cheshire Cat, and of course, the Mad Hatter. Alice embarks on a fantastical journey to find her true destiny and end the Red Queen’s reign of terror. The all-star cast also includes Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, and Crispin Glover. The screenplay is by Linda Woolverton. Capturing the wonder of Lewis Carroll’s beloved “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” [1865] and “Through the Looking-Glass” [1871] with stunning, avant-garde visuals and the most charismatic characters in literary history, Alice in Wonderland comes to the big screen in Disney Digital 3D on March 5, 2010. Official website: http://adisney.go.com/disneypictures/aliceinwonderland.

For more information, please call (215) 732-1600 or visit www.rosenbach.org.

Bristol Riverside Theatre presents a one-day Jewish Theatre Festival, in partnership with Theatre Ariel on Sunday, April 25.  Highlights of the Festival, which will explore the contemporary Jewish experience as seen by Jewish performing artists, will be Tovah Feldshuh recreating her award-winning performance in Golda’s Balcony and the only area performance of the Multi-Cultural Theatre of the Galilee performing Sofia’s Drawings.  In addition to a special performance of The 10 Imaginings of Sarah and Hagar by Theatre Ariel, there will also be an exhibit of the history of Jewish theater as well as smaller, family-oriented programming.

Tickets to Golda’s Balcony beginning at 7:00 PM range from $60-$150.  Daytime passes for all other events are $20.  All tickets are available by calling the BRT Box Office at 215-785-0100 or visiting brtstage.org.  Bristol Riverside Theatre is located at 120 Radcliffe Street in Bristol, PA. Tickets will go on sale February 15.

“We are delighted to be filling a void in Bucks County by offering this culturally-specific arts festival to the community,” said Bristol Riverside Theatre Founding Director Susan Atkinson.

Golda’s Balcony by William Gibson follows the trajectory of the life of Golda Meir, from Russian immigrant to American schoolteacher to a leader in international politics as the fourth Prime Minister of Israel.  Tovah Feldshuh, who won a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Solo Performance and was nominated for the Tony Award, madeGolda’s Balcony the longest-running one-woman show on Broadway.

The Multi-Cultural Theatre of Galilee is comprised of actors, musicians, artists, environmentalists and human rights activists, representing the diverse population of Jews and Arabs from the Galilee region in Israel.  Presenting a unique visual theater incorporating objects, puppets and their bodies, they utilize non-verbal forms of communication so that language is not an obstacle.  Sofia’s Drawings, winner of the First Prize for Best Play and Music at Haifa’s International Theatre Festival, is based on a series of drawings by Sofia, a 16-year old girl, made while hiding inHolland from the Nazis.  Sofia was the daughter of Clara Asscher-Pinkhof, a known children’s author.  Before Clara was sent to the concentration camps and Sofia when into hiding, they published a series of children’s stories, written by Clara and illustrated by Sofia, in the weekly Jewish newspaper in Amsterdam.  Efrat Hadani, Sofia’s daughter, acts in the play and relates her mother and grandmother’s story.

Theatre Ariel’s original production of The 10 Imaginings of Sarah and Hagar explores themes of womanhood, family and community, both ancient and contemporary. Founded in 1990, Theatre Ariel remains Philadelphia’s only professional theater dedicated exclusively to exploring the Jewish experience.  With a commitment to regional and world premieres of new Jewish plays, Theatre Ariel has commissioned and produced 48 new works.  The three-year success of Theatre Ariel’s Ten-Minute Play Festival, resulting in thirty ten-minute plays, has served as a model for similar festivals at several theaters in the United States, Canada and Israel.  The company’s touring productions, which often use improvisation and socio-drama to explore Jewish identity, has brought new works of Jewish content to traditional and non-traditional performance venues, schools, synagogues, community centers, churches, conferences and museums.

Since 1986, BRT has brought consistently acclaimed professional theatre to Bucks County and maintained a long-term commitment to finding and developing new plays. The theatre is the recipient of over 50 Barrymore Award nominations for Excellence in Theatre, given annually by the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia. In addition to its mainstage productions, the theatre serves as a cultural hub for the community, with such programs as children’s theatre, community concerts and exhibitions of local visual arts. Currently under the direction of Artistic Director Keith Baker, Founding Director Susan D. Atkinson, and Managing Director, Amy Kaissar, BRT enters its 23^rd season. For more information, visit www.brtstage.org.