Things to Do in Philly in April
“Sarah R. Bloom & Rosalind Bloom: Reclamations” shows at Da Vinci Art Alliance through April 30th. | Photo by Sarah Bloom
April 1st to 30th
“Sarah R. Bloom & Rosalind Bloom: Reclamations” at Da Vinci Art Alliance
Merion Station’s Sarah Bloom has been taking nude self-portraits in abandoned buildings for the better part of a decade. But her work received little recognition until earlier this year, when the Daily Mail sent her story viral. The self-taught photographer, 45, says she chooses these decaying structures because they are at once “sad and beautiful,” a comparison she draws with the aging human body. “There’s a lot of loss there,” she says. “But also a beauty to it.” This month, she shows some of the stark, bleak, arresting images from the series at Da Vinci Art Alliance, in a joint exhibit with her mother, mixed-media artist Rosalind Bloom. “I grew up with art books around me,” Sarah says. “Nude in art is not a weird thing in my family.”
April 3rd-26th
Uncanny Valley at Adrienne Theater
Philadelphia stage veteran Frank X stars in this new play about artificial intelligence from InterAct Theatre Company.
April 7th
Sufjan Stevens plays Academy of Music April 9th and 10th.
The Decemberists at the Academy of Music
The recently reunited indie pride of Portland, Oregon, tour in support of their seventh studio album, What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World.
April 9th-10th
Sufjan Stevens at the Academy of Music
The multi-instrumentalist has written songs about everything from his home state of Michigan to killer John Wayne Gacy. A second show was added due to popular demand.
April 10th
Dan Deacon at First Unitarian Church
Crazy live dance music from a crazy bearded guy from Baltimore. Look up the recent Tiny Desk Concert he did for NPR.
April 10th
Bob Dylan at Borgata
You either love him or hate him. If it’s the former, good luck getting tickets!
April 11th
Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock at the Academy of Music
They rarely perform solo, let alone together.
April 11th
Catch Dan Deacon at First Unitarian Church on April 10th.
Zappa Plays Zappa at the Keswick Theatre
It would be easy to imagine that Dweezil Zappa is simply riding the coattails of his deceased father, Frank, with this long-running tribute show. But that’s not the case. The younger Zappa is a consummate guitarist and does his dad’s complex music justice while expanding on it. A must for any Frank Zappa fan.
April 15th-June 21st
the Jungle Book at Arden Theatre
Old City’s Arden had a huge hit with its last children’s theater presentation, Beauty and the Beast. Next up is this new play based on the Rudyard Kipling favorite. Expect a show appropriate for the kids but also one that you’ll enjoy.
April 16th-May 17th
To the Moon at Christ Church
Fresh off his critically acclaimed portrayal of a 600-pound man in The Whale, Scott Greer returns to the stage in 1812 Productions’ world premiere based on the colorful life of Jackie Gleason.
April 16th-May 17th
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at Plays & Players Theatre
Theatre Exile takes on Edward Albee’s 1963 Tony winner for Best Play, with Catharine Slusar as chain-smoking Martha.
April 17th-19th
Bob Saget TLA on April 18th.
The Color Purple at Merriam Theater
Starring original Dreamgirls cast member Jennifer Holliday.
April 17th-25th
Philly Tech Week at Various locations
We’re excited to see how they’ll top last year’s Guinness record-setting game of Tetris played on the side of the Cira Centre.
April 18th
Bob Saget at the TLA
Want to play a really cruel joke on your mom? Tell her you got her tickets to see “that guy who played Danny Tanner on Full House” do a live show on South Street. She’ll love the opener—cleanly funny Philadelphia comedian extraordinaire Chip Chantry. But run and hide when the filthiest comic in America starts his set.
April 22nd-25th
Now Now Oh Now at FringeArts
Austin’s most innovative and daring theater company, Rude Mechanicals, brings its 2012 choose-your-own-adventure show to Philadelphia, performed multiple times each day for an audience of just 30 people.
April 24-May 2nd
Philadelphia Science Festival at Various locations
One of our favorite annual events in the city. Geeks unite!
April 24th-May 31st
“Badass Art Man” at the African American Museum
A retrospective of the visual art of Danny Simmons, brother of hip-hop mogul Russell.
April 25th
Plays & Players Theatre presents Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, starting April 16th.
They Might Be Giants at the TLA
Also known as the band responsible for the Malcolm In the Middle theme and excellent children’s albums.
April 25th
Center City Jazz Festival at Various locations
The fourth annual.
April 28th-May 10th
Kinky Boots at the Forrest Theatre
A musical from the always entertaining mind of Cyndi Lauper.
April 29th
Toni Morrison at the Central Library
With her latest book, God Help the Child.
