All in for August!
Aug 08, 2023 02:00PM ● By FunTimes Staff
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio
FunTimes Magazine ‘Culture & Entertainment’ column, Week of August 7, 2023
July was the hottest recorded month in modern history in the United States, the Caribbean, Central America, northern Africa, the Middle East, and parts of South and Southeast Asia. But August is just heating up, at least with entertainment and events. Here are a few free or low-cost ways in the Philadelphia area to keep your summer sizzling hot, hip, and happening!
Brazilian music dances with a new beat
August 9, 2023. Check out Forrópera Experiência – a staged world premiere highlighting Brazilian Forró music, opera, dance, and storytelling – on Arts Access TV. Forró music is from Northeastern Brazil favoring three instruments: accordion, Zabumba, and metal triangle. Presented by Esperanza Arts Center & Astral Artists, Forrópera Experiência will feature Chrystal E. Williams (mezzo-soprano) and Forró musicians Gabe Hall-Rodrigues (accordion), Davi Vieira (zabumba) and the Esperanza Academy Dance Ensemble directed by Tania Y. Ramos Otón. The dynamic production is the season finale of a residency, with performances of original stage works created and performed by co-creators Felipe Hostins, and Chrystal E. Williams, in addition to Hall-Rodrigues, Vieira, and Esperanza Academy students. It’s part of Arts Access TV, an initiative of the Office of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy, with PHLGovTV . Free, 6 to 7 p.m. EST. Televised on local Channel 64 PHLgovTV (Comcast channels 64 and 1164, Verizon channels 40 and 41). 215-686-8446 or https://www.creativephl.org.
More power to ya!
August 11, 2023. Calling all teenagers: Power Up Teen Summit is calling you. It’s described as “the ultimate girl empowerment event of the year.” Take advantage of a cool back-to-school opportunity. Middle school and high school students can meet and mingle with inspirational female leaders, influencers, and mentors in the professional world who will share their hard-earned secrets to success. They can participate in interactive workshops and other engaging activities to learn practical skills for school, a career, friendships, and personal growth. DJ music and giveaways. Free but register; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST. Walnut Street Theatre, 825 Walnut St. E-mail: [email protected], 215-574-3550 or https://www.eventbrite.com.
Hip Hop in the Park
August 12, 2023. Check out Hip Hop in the Park, a great event to celebrate hip-hop’s 50th anniversary. It’s part of the City of Philadelphia’s The Oval event series. It’s a festival curated by TAMEARTZ featuring hip-hop, graffiti art, poetry, break dancing, and music from DJs from Philly, New Jersey, New York, and Baltimore. Chill to MCs such as Reef the Lost Cauze, TUF CREW, Schooly D, Peedi Crakk, Dell-P, Rebel Foster, and Nico Oso. Browse the booths of local vendors and take part in an unstoppable day of music. Free, noon to 8 p.m. EST. Eakins Oval, 23rd Street, and the Benjamin Franklin Pkwy. E-mail: [email protected], 215-763-3427 or https://blacksoulsummer.com.
Photo by Tima MiroshnichenkoYour move…
August 12, 2023. Is chess your game of choice? Take your hobby on the road and play in style on the grounds of the scenic Laurel Hill Mansion. Find a perch to play on a rear porch, a gazebo, or under beautiful trees at the historic estate along the Schuylkill River near Edgley Field in East Fairmount Park. Bring a chess set, a friend, and your lunch, and enjoy a summer day of fun. For all ages; kids under age 12 must be with an adult. Free admittance and parking reservations are requested, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. EST. Laurel Hill Mansion, 3487 Edgley Dr. E-mail: [email protected], 215-235-1776 or https://laurelhillmansion.org.
A story of the times
August 17-20, 2023. Theatre in the X has a treat for you. Check out its production of "Zooman and the Sign" by Charles Fuller and director Ozzie Jones. The riveting play is relevant in today’s urban city life. Set in Philadelphia in 1979, “Zooman” terrorizes his community, murdering a 12-year-old Black girl on the street. No witnesses are willing to come forward, prompting the deceased girl's father to post a sign shaming the entire community and accusing neighbors of cowardice during the rising crisis of senseless urban violence. Established in 2013, Theatre in the X provides free theater for West Philadelphia and general African-American communities directly in their neighborhoods. Free, August 17-18: 7 p.m. and August 19-20: 5 p.m. EST. Malcolm X Park, 5100 Pine St. E-mail: [email protected] or theatreinthex.com.
Brown’s eye sees the Black experience
Through September 5, 2023. The exhibit Beloved | Habibi حبيبي
features the work of North Philly photographer Karim Brown. Brown’s keen lens and background in Black Studies come in handy to engage, elevate and capture life in the Black community through everyday scenes. He tells the story of “the Black experience of local Philadelphians.” The exhibition is curated by Zindzi Harley, Assistant Curator of the African American Museum in Philadelphia, (Jack T. Franklin Auditorium), 701 Arch St. $14 (adults); $10 (kids, ages 4 to 12), Thursdays to Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST. 215-574-0380 or aampmuseum.org.
Teacher acts of kindness
Teachers: Enjoy the ultimate “apple of a gift.” The Kimmel Cultural Campus and The GRAMMY award-winning Philadelphia Orchestra are offering educators in the School District of Philadelphia free or discounted tickets. The offer is for teachers, administrators, staff, and their students. Check out free concerts by The Philadelphia Orchestra, exclusive invitations to Broadway shows, and more through APPLE (Appreciation Program for PhilaSD Leaders in Education). Register and get invites for select concerts in person or streamed concerts on the Digital Stage via philorch.org. Reserve APPLE tickets, which are issued on a first-come, first-served basis, and must be redeemed online. Plus, join the educator e-mail list to be invited to Teacher Appreciation events at venues on the Kimmel Cultural Campus. E-mail: [email protected], 215-670-2371 or kimmelculturalcampus.org. For the APPLE program: philorch.org.
