5 Things to Do in Philly this Week: Discotastrophe, Porgy and Bess Debuts, Bad Boys of Dance and More

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The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess: Tony Award-winning revival The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess makes its Philadelphia debut at the Kimmel Center tonight, with a 23-piece orchestra and a re-invigorated run.  Southern-fried love triangles with a side of scandal may be at the heart of pop culture (see: True Blood), but few rival this theater classic for longevity and Gershwin-penned operatic drama. Tue., Feb 18 – Feb 23, 7:30 p.m., Academy of Music, $20-$100, 240 S. Broad St.

Discotastrophe: Forget the period kitsch of American Hustle costuming; don your own platforms and perms this Wednesday at Dumpsta Players‘ camp-tacular “Discotastrophe.”   The show takes improv to ’70’s excess, with “guest appearances” from Andy Gibb and plenty of polyester, but rest assured your indulgence is not self-serving.  A portion of the proceeds benefit Gaudenzia House, dedicated to improving quality of life for people affected by mental illness or chemical dependency. Wed., Feb. 19, 10 p.m. doors, 11 p.m. show, $1.99, Bob and Barbara’s Lounge, 1509 South St.

Bad Boys of Dance:  In the space of two acts, Rasta Thomas’ hybrid dance troupe pirouettes around dance convention, combining hip-hop/pop mentality and form with balletic grace and expertise.  Performing acrobatics both physically and around expectations, Rasta Thomas’ Bad Boys wow with seamless integration of the time-honored and the funky fresh. Finely-honed balletic skill and a new-jack attitude makes for a dance performance exhilarating even for those to whom dreams of sugar plums are a downright nightmare. Thu., Feb 20, 7:30 p.m., $20-$55, Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 3680 Walnut St.

“From the Spot Where You/We/I Stand (Stood)“: In an alien landscape of precarious reality, “From the Spot” challenges viewers to hold their own ground, perhaps when even gravity is fighting against them. Combining dance, performance and installation art, the Miller Rothlein (MIRO) piece navigates the psychic and sometimes psychotic compulsion to stay upright, even as everything crumbles. Thu., Feb 20, 7:30 p.m., $20, The White Space at Crane Old Arts School, 1417 N. Second St.
Blue:  In a genre-spanning performance, Lindsay Browning explores her “immediate obsession with images of Blue, feelings of Blue and her personal drive to Design, Dye and Construct Wearable Blue.”  Dance, performance art, story-telling and music (Browning will be joined by musician Marlo Reynolds) coalesce in a piece deeply personal and knowingly referential, with a hardy nod to Samuel Beckett’s “Act Without Words.”  For this week’s installation, Browning shows her piece in its formative stage, exposing its process to inform its all kinds of blue. Thu., Feb 19, 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., free, Painted Bride Independence Gallery for the Visual Arts, 230 Vine St.
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