11 Things to Do in Comedy, Books, Dance, Movies and More
Michael Ian Black plays Helium Thursday through Saturday. (Natalie Brasington)
Empire of the Living Dead @ Wagner Free Institute of Science | Wednesday, October 25
Penn State history professor Christopher Heaney discusses the rarely discussed South American tradition of mummification, especially the Peruvian mummies that became traveling scientific specimens and have been used to “prove” the existence of aliens.
Philadelphia Film Fest @ several locations | Through October 29
The Film Fest continues. I posted a bunch of trailers here. Now here’s one for Ruben Östlund’s The Square which took the top prize at Cannes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKDPrpJEGBY&t=3s
Wellred — From Dixie With Love Tour @ Helium | Wednesday, October 25
Standup by the Wellred Comedy team Trae “The Liberal Redneck” Crowder, Drew Morgan and Corey Ryan Forrester. They end each show with a Q&A; here’s an NSFW example.
Juan González @ Philadelphia Free Library | Thursday, October 26
The TV/radio journalist talks about his new book Reclaiming Gotham: Bill de Blasio and the Movement to End America’s Tale of Two Cities with Democracy Now! producer/co-host Nermeen Shaikh.
Michael Ian Black @ Helium | Thursday-Saturday, October 26-28
By this point, saying he’s from The State seems pretty outdated. Michael Ian Black was also in Wet Hot American Summer, Stella, Viva Variety, Ed, and a million other things.
Sisters in Law @ Lightbox Film Center | Thursday, October 26
A “fascinating, often hilarious” documentary about two women fighting for women’s rights in Cameroon. Directed by Kim Longinotto.
Haruki Murakami’s Sleep @ Annenberg Center | Friday & Saturday, October 27 & 28
Brooklyn-based theatre company Ripe Time presents the world premiere of a play based on Haruki Murakami’s 1994 short story “Sleep.” Devised and directed by Rachel Dickstein. Adapted for the stage by Naomi Iizuka.
And Still They Rose: A Legacy of Black Philadelphians in Ballet @ Bride Art Center | Saturday, October 28
“In this in-depth panel discussion, dance icons Joan Myers Brown of Philadanco and Delores Browne of The New York Negro Ballet recount the early years as dancers.” Moderated by Theresa Ruth Howard.
Remembering Gwendolyn Brooks @ The African American Museum | Sunday, October 29
Sonia Sanchez, Herman Beavers, Margo Natalie Crawford and Lamont Steptoe take part in an informal discussion of Gwendolyn Brooks, poetry consultant to the Library of Congress and the first Black author to win the Pulitzer Prize. The Poetry Foundation calls Brooks “one of the most highly regarded, highly influential, and widely read poets of 20th-century American poetry.”
Horror Movie Quizzo @ World Café Live | Monday, October 30
XPN’s Robert Drake hosts a horror-themed trivia contest for fun and prizes.
Lore Podcast Live @ Trocadero | Tuesday, October 31
A Halloween edition of the popular history/folklore podcast, with host Aaron Mahnke and musical guest Chad Lawson. Listen here.
