9/22
Performing Arts
At the Annenberg Center, 50 years of experimentation
At the Annenberg Center, 50 years of experimentation
The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts celebrates its 50th anniversary with a new season and a planned building expansion. Penn Today looks back at the Center’s history—and where it’s going under Penn Live Arts.
New Stuart Weitzman Theatre to be constructed for Penn Live Arts at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
New Stuart Weitzman Theatre to be constructed for Penn Live Arts at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
The multipurpose space will adjoin the existing building in the heart of the University of Pennsylvania campus.
A summer internship with Play On Philly
A summer internship with Play On Philly
Rising College of Arts and Sciences second-year Chaily Derecskey is a summer intern with Play On Philly, a nonprofit that provides orchestral instrument instruction to Philadelphia school children.
Penn Glee Club performs on its first European tour as a gender-inclusive choir
Penn Glee Club performs on its first European tour as a gender-inclusive choir
On the first traveling tour as a gender-inclusive choir, the Penn Glee Club performed before audiences that included alumni in a Paris ballroom and passers-by on the streets of Barcelona.
The Sachs Program celebrates fifth year of supporting arts innovation at Penn
The Sachs Program celebrates fifth year of supporting arts innovation at Penn
The Sachs Program for Arts Innovation announced its 2022 cycle of grantees, with new funding for alumni and community partnership projects.
Penn Live Arts celebrates 50 years with upcoming season
Penn Live Arts celebrates 50 years with upcoming season
For its 50th anniversary, Penn Live Arts is rolling out a season like none before it—complete with a John and Alice Coltrane festival, one-act plays in partnership with the Negro Ensemble Collective, and a new ListenHear composer series.
From the page to the stage
From the page to the stage
In collaboration with author Amitav Ghosh, musician Ali Sethi, and Penn’s Brooke O’Harra, 14 students brought to life a parable Ghosh wrote about the world’s largest mangrove forest, human greed, and the environment.
Penn Live Arts embraces hybrid shows for spring season
Penn Live Arts embraces hybrid shows for spring season
A first for Penn Live Arts, several performances at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts this season will be both in-person and live-streamed.
On stage at Carnegie Hall
On stage at Carnegie Hall
The third-annual “Toast to Dear Old Penn” showcase featured more than 100 performers in Dischord and Penn Yo a capella, Onda Latina and Penn Dhamaka dance, Bloomers and Mask and Wig comedy troupes, and the spoken-word Excelano Project.
‘Ten Thousand Birds’ merges nature with classical music
‘Ten Thousand Birds’ merges nature with classical music
Penn Live Arts kicks off its fall season with the local premiere of “Ten Thousand Birds” given by modern chamber music ensemble Alarm Will Sound in an outdoor performance at Morris Arboretum’s Bloomberg Farm
In the News
Philadelphia Business Journal
Penn to build new Stuart Weitzman performing arts center in the heart of campus
Christopher Gruits of Penn Live Arts says that the new Stuart Weitzman Theatre will give artists more flexibility and completely transform the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts.
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WHYY (Philadelphia)
After 50 Brutalist years, the Annenberg Center plans to stretch out, open up
Penn Live Arts plans to transform Annenberg Plaza into a new performance space, the Stuart Weitzman Theater, expanding the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts for the first time in 51 years.
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Philadelphia Business Journal
University of Pennsylvania planning new $31M performing arts center
The University plans to develop a new performing arts center adjacent to Woodland Walk. The space will be dedicated to student uses and construction could begin as early as summer 2023.
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Philadelphia Inquirer
Penn performing arts center changes its name
The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts has been renamed Penn Live Arts. “As we have programmed outside of the four walls of the Annenberg Center, we really needed a brand more reflective of how we are presenting programs,” said Christopher Gruits.
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The Washington Post
With Emmy win, John Legend achieves status worthy of his last name
With his latest award, a Creative Arts Emmy for his role as producer for “Jesus Christ Superstar Live,” the Class of '99 Penn alum became the 15th recipient of the legendary EGOT—or Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award.
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Time
An Expert's Take on the Symbolism in Childish Gambino’s Viral ‘This Is America’ Video
Guthrie Ramsey of the School of Arts and Sciences provided an in-depth analysis of the provocative music video. “Even though we think of popular culture as a space where we escape, [Childish Gambino’s] forcing us to understand that there’s actually nowhere to run,” Ramsey said. “We have to deal with the cultural violence that we have created and continue to sustain.”
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