6 Things to Do in Philadelphia This Week: Shakespeare Turns 450, The Shining in Reverse, Earth Day To-Dos and More

What you should do in Philly this week: 

Ken Vandermark + Made to Break

Chicago legend Ken Vandermark begins the impressive calendar for the New Paths Festival, bringing his globally inspired, experimental jazz to Philadelphia for the first time in five years. The internationally recognized improvizational MacArthur fellow and his newest ensemble, Made to Break, bring together elements of Ethiopian music, the New Music concepts of John Cage and Morton Feldman, and Dutch Group the Ex to debut a new piece inspired by the Barnes collection. Before the show, Vandermak and Barnes Foundation's Bernard C. Watson will discuss the music's correlation to Dr. Barnes' particular curation. Monday, April 21st, 7 p.m. (lecture), 8 p.m. (performance), $25, Barnes Foundation, 2025, Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Earth Day at the Constitution Center

The Constitution Center has a bash planned for the world's oldest hero: The earth! Visit local eco-friendly organizations stationed throughout the museum for lessons on greening your life. Take in a few inconvenient truths on the planet and its future with plenty of ecology-themed programming, like an Earth-day video presentation, eco-crafts, paper-making, and a fun quiz. Take the kids for a day of educational revelry. Tuesday, April 22nd, 9:30 a.m., free with admission, National Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street.

The Shining with Psychic Teens

If you haven't been to any of Cinedelphia's screenings yet, you're missing out on one of the most enjoyable, delightfully freaky film fests to come this way in quite some time. Make up for lost time at Tuesday's screening of the Kubrick classic, The Shining. This is no horror popcorn fest, though, with the film being shown forward and backwards simultaneously to challenging cinematic, and, yeah, trippy effect. Philly sludgesters, Psychic Teens, will provide live scoring. Tuesday, April 22nd, 8 p.m., $10, PhilaMOCA, 531 North 12th Street.

Year of the Bard: Shakespeare at 450

Happy 450th birthday, Bill! Celebrate the Bard's big four-five-oh with a blowout bash at the Free Library of Philadelphia's Central Branch. On the guest list are jugglers, swordfighters, and other period performers thanks to the Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre. Entertainment also includes Elizabethan crafts, live music, tight-rope walking, and cake. Wednesday, April 23rd, 12:30 p.m., free, Central Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, 1901 Vine Street.

Down the Show Screening Party

Philly funny people Abigail Bruley and Andrew Laputka debut the newest episode of their very funny, very Philly sketch show, Down the Show, at a screening party this week. Watch Philebrities like punk legend Micke McKee, comedian-cum-reality-star Doogie Horner, and rapper Kurt Hunte play stupid-smart in a variety of recognizable locales (sketches are filmed at Fergie's, on Broad Street, on the AC beach, at Penn Treaty Park, among other local institutions). Catch cameos from comedy heavy-weights like Kids in the Hall's Kevin MacDonald and the great Eddie Pepitone. Wednesday, April 23rd, 7 p.m., free, Underground Arts, 1200 Callowhill Street.

Philadelphia Black Gay Pride Poetry Slam

Kicking off Sunday, April 20th, Philadelphia Black Gay Pride (PBGP) is in full swing all week. It's seven days of celebrating the often under-represented members of the LGBTQ community, with a slew of events to spread awareness, education, and of course, pride. Thursday night's poetry slam, presented by Heartspoken and PBGP promises to combine these major tenets in a night of fun and openness. Check out other events in PBGP week here. Thursday, April 24th, 6:30 p.m., $10, 4 Fathers, 319 Market Street.

You’ll also find lots of local events now through June in our Philadelphia Event Listings.