The Sanctuary Jam: A Philadelphia First: At St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Hamilton Village (3916 Locust Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104) is open to both Drexel University and University of Pennsylvania students and musicians.

Visit with us and hear the best of the universities instructors in jazz, and if you play an instrument you’re invited to sit in. Come on West Philly support Jazz in all its Glory…FREE PIZZA – GREAT MUSIC – NO CHARGE.

And yes we know that February 2nd is Super Bowl Sunday! Jazz in the afternoon, football in the evening! A great day for all!  Continue Reading

Theatre in the X. (Photo by West Philly Local).

Theatre in the X, known for its free summer productions in Malcolm X. Park, is planning something exciting for the upcoming season and wants the community to participate. In addition to their August production in the park, the Afrocentric theatre troupe will present an original play in the summer of 2020. The play will be “created with the West Philadelphia community in mind,” according to a Facebook announcement.

Four public meetings will be held this winter and spring to devise an original theatre piece for Theatre in the X’s new community-based production. Here’s information on the first two meetings:  Continue Reading

West Philly-based arts and culture organization Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture has moved to a new location – 3645 Lancaster Avenue. This Friday, Dec. 6, the public is invited to visit their new location during an open house from 5 – 9 p.m. Guests can meet Al-Bustan’s team and enjoy an evening of art, music, food, and mingling.

An art exhibit by West Philly artist Tremain Smith will also be on display at the new Al-Bustan’s location, and guests will have a chance to meet the artist.

“Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture is excited to have an administrative and programming hub on Lancaster Ave.,” reads a message on the organization’s Facebook page. “We look forward to building relationships with neighboring residents, businesses, and organizations as we co-create a welcoming cultural hub for all.”  Continue Reading

The Jazz Sanctuary presents a very special event: SANCTUARY JAM, a Jazz Event for students and the community of West Philly!

This is a FIRST for PHILLY – a partnership between Penn Music (University of Pennsylvania) and Drexel University (Westphal College of Media Arts & Design), St. Mary’s – Hamilton Village, and The Jazz Sanctuary: bringing to West Philly a Jazz event for the entire community.

The house band features two instructors from Penn and two instructors from Drexel. Listen to an hour of the best jazz found anywhere and then a Jazz Jam. Bring your instrument and jam with the house band! Pizza will be available to all who attend.  Continue Reading

                             Li Sumpter

The Barnes Foundation continues its community programming in West Philadelphia and will host a special Barnes Presents! event this Thursday, Nov. 7 at The Bank (3750 Lancaster Ave). The event will introduce the Barnes’ current major exhibition, 30 Americans, and will include a conversation about race and equity in the arts. Li Sumpter, a scholar of art, myth, and humanities, and artist Sherman Fleming will participate in the discussion, moderated by the Barnes education team’s Jihan Thomas.  Continue Reading

It’s fitting that Curio Theatre Company is staging The Mystery of Irma Vep – A Penny Dreadful a couple of days after Halloween. By the way, Irma Vep is an anagram. You should figure it out before you proceed.

American playwright Charles Ludlam wrote The Mystery of Irma Vep as a campy celebration of the horror genre. Characters in this three-act play include a werewolf, mummy, vampire and Egyptian princess. Only two actors play all of the characters, so the performance includes more than 30 super-quick costume changes.  Continue Reading