Audiences were enthralled last summer for Theatre in the X’s almost three hour all-Black presentation of Shakespeare’s Othello (Photo West Philly Local).

Theatre in the X, a group comprised of three local theater artists – Carlo Campbell, Walter DeShields and LaNeshe Miller-White – is returning for its third season to Malcolm X Park this month with free outdoor performances.

In honor of their third season the group will present ​three Sundays of three plays: The Meeting by Jeff Stetson, the story of a fictional meeting between Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X; Love, Queens who Suffer from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, a choreopoem written and compiled by Jamila Capitman and Heather Thomas featuring the writing of Philadelphia poets; and New Black Math by Suzan-Lori Parks, a creative explanation of what a Black play is.

Performances take place at Malcolm X Park, 5100 Pine St., on Aug. 7 at 6 p.m., Aug. 14 at 3 p.m., and Aug. 21 at 6 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chair for a guaranteed seat.  Continue Reading

When you take a walk at The Woodland Cemetery you never know what you may run into. We spotted two deer hanging out at the cemetery today.

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SEPTA riders who wanted to test the new SEPTA Key Fare card but didn’t get a chance to purchase it in June when the Early Adopters program was launched, will have another chance very soon. The SEPTA Key Early Adopters Program will begin expanding on Monday, Aug. 1, with two major sales offices offering a limited number of Key Cards loaded with Weekly or Monthly TransPasses. The expansion will continue through September, with more sales locations and station kiosks for reloading passes added each week.

Some 10,000 passes were offered for sale at fare kiosks inside stations along the Market-Frankford starting June 13 and Broad Street Lines and sold out by the end of June.

Starting Aug. 1, Weekly and Monthly TransPasses loaded on Key Cards will be sold at SEPTA Sales Offices located at 15th Street Station and SEPTA Headquarters at 1234 Market Street. Then, starting Monday, Aug. 8, SEPTA will expand sales and reloading of Weekly and Monthly TransPasses to sales offices at major transit terminals. Additional station kiosks will be available only for reloading of Weekly or Monthly TranPasses. The full rollout schedule is posted online at http://www.septakey.org/key/.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Early Adopters program does not eliminate tokens, which will still be in use for single trips.

Shakespeare in Clark Park opened last night in front of its customary large crowd. This year the performance, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, is being staged on the south end of the bowl and includes window frames and chandeliers hanging in the trees, a high-spirited cast and lively jazz sextet.

Performances are every night through Sunday, July 31 beginning at 7 p.m. If it rains, the whole thing moves to University of the Sciences (Main Dining Hall, 600 S. 43rd St.).

(Photos by Mike Lyons/West Philly Local)

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A murder nearly 60 years ago that still casts a long shadow over neighborhoods around the University of Pennsylvania today will be remembered Friday when the 3600 block of Hamilton Street in Powelton Village, will be named “In-Ho Oh Memorial Way” in a special ceremony.

In-Ho Oh was a 26-year-old Penn graduate student who was beaten to death by a group of nearly a dozen young men and boys on his way to drop a letter in a mailbox at about 9 p.m. near 36th and Hamilton on April 25, 1958. The murder exacerbated racial tensions in the city and became national news. Oh lived with his aunt and uncle in a small apartment at 36th and Hamilton and planned to return to Korea and his family after his studies at Penn.

Law enforcement’s reaction was swift and severe. Nine people were charged with murder, many juveniles, and prosecutors pushed for the death penalty. In the end, five were sentenced to terms ranging from life in prison to 10 years.  Continue Reading

The Two Gentlemen of Verona: David Glover as Valentine (left), and Jake Blouch as Proteus; and Maria Konstantinidis as Silvia. (Photo by Kyle Cassidy)

Here’s a reminder of one of the most popular summer events this side of the Schuylkill – Shakespeare in Clark Park (SCP) will return this Wednesday with five outdoor shows. The company will present the romantic comedy The Two Gentlemen of Verona in the park’s “Bowl” at 45th and Chester on July 27 – 31. Shows begin at 7 p.m. All SCP performances are free and open to the public (but consider bringing a few bucks for donation since this helps them immensely).

Photo by West Philly Local

This year’s production is directed by Kathryn MacMillan and features some of Philadelphia’s finest actors and a troupe of community swing dancers (SCP is partnering with Lindy and Blues, an all volunteer organization). Music is by Suburban Jazz Quintet.

In the case of rain, performances will be held at the Main Dining Hall, University of the Sciences, 600 S. 43rd St.

In addition to the theatre, a number of special events will take place this week in conjunction with SCP, including a Friendly Dog Night at Clark Park on Friday, July 29 (co-sponsored by the SPCA and Baltimore Pet Shoppe), Clarkville Call Ahead Dinner Package + Opening Night Party, and Parks on Tap (local craft beers will be served in the park this Wednesday through Sunday, as well as mojitos and white wine).

For more information on this year’s production and special events, click here.