Theatre Philadelphia presents Philly Theatre Week: a celebration of artists, organizations, and audiences that have made Greater Philadelphia one of the most vibrant theatre regions in the nation. Audiences will have an opportunity to try unique events from our theatre community through a series of virtual and non-traditional productions, readings, and much more.
Want streaming access to a show made for kids? Looking for something geared towards teenagers? Here are some events from local artists and organizations that you might try during Philly Theatre Week.
Acting Without Boundaries
Journeys
Thursday, April 22 - Sunday, May 2
Pre-Recorded Theatre Event
Pay What You Can
Journeys, a celebration of life, love, and the enduring human spirit that keeps us all moving forward. AWB company members will perform songs and select scenes from Broadway’s greatest musicals.
Family-Friendly, Musical, Disability Awareness - Access any time with registration
Acting Without Boundaries, AWB Junior
Stone Soup
Sunday, April 18 at 4:00pm
Pre-Recorded Theatre Event
Pay What You Can
AWB Jr. proudly presents the classic folktale Stone Soup. This new adaptation features book, music and Lyrics by Maria Ceferatti. Stone Soup is a folk story in which hungry strangers convince the people of a town to each share a small amount of their food in order to make a meal that everyone enjoys. The AWB Jr. version is set in Philadelphia. Watch as two tourist get immersed in Philly culture as they navigate the City of Brotherly Love. They even learn how to order their cheesesteaks wit!
Classics, Comedy, Family-Friendly, Musical, Philadelphia Premiere, American Premiere, World Premiere, Disability Awareness - Access at specific times with registration
August Wilson Consortium
Celebrating August Wilson!
Tuesday, April 27 - All Day
Live Virtual Theatre Event
Free
Artists, academics, and community folks will come together to celebrate the life and works of one of the greatest playwrights of the twentieth century August Wilson. Stay tuned for a list of speakers.
Drama, Family-Friendly, Panel Discussion, Town Hall / Open Forum, Workshop - Access at specific times with registration
Theatre Horizon
Art Houses: The Santoro & Wiley Family
Saturday, 4/24 from 7:30pm to 8:30pm
Live Virtual Theatre Event
Pay What You Can
Professional award-winning theatre artists are paired with local area households to create an evening of original theater. Each performance will expand on the concept of family in the era of quarantine and explore the sensational moments that can be found within the familiar every day. There will be a talk back after the performance.
Comedy, Devised, Experimental, Family-Friendly - Access at specific times with registration
CSz Philadelphia
ComedySportz
Saturday, April 24 from 7:30pm-8:30pm
Saturday, May 1 from 7:30pm-8:30pm
Live Virtual Theatre Event
ComedySportz is an improv comedy show unlike anything you've seen before: two teams of improvisers battle each other for points and laughs, AND through the interactive chat, you, The Loyal Fans are involved in the fun; making suggestions, awarding points, and helping to choose the WINNER! Featuring some of the funniest improvisers in Philadelphia, the Players use their wits and Fan suggestions to create comedic scenes and games on the spot. An Announcer provides scoring updates and color commentary and a Referee acts as host, timing the games, calling the fouls, and getting suggestions from The Loyal Fans. With quick, smart, and inclusive humor, ComedySportz is a high-energy comedy event, appropriate for EVERYONE. All shows are currently being performed on-line and interactive with an exciting visual design, streamed to your computer, phone and in your home. Join us on-line and see why ComedySportz remains Philadelphia’s longest-running comedy show!
Comedy, Family-Friendly, Improv - Access at specific times with registration
Theatre Ariel
Leaves from the Garden
Saturday, April 24 from 8:00pm-9:20pm
Sunday, April 25 from 2:00pm-3:20pm
Jewish storytelling is a spoken word tradition that links one generation to the next. Drawing stories from the desk of world-renowned storyteller and folklorist Howard Schwartz, Theatre Ariel has created a story-theatre performance, celebrating our tradition of sharing wisdom through stories.
Leaves from the Garden takes you on journeys around the world to encounter witches, demons, haunted trees, a magical oud, and wise Rabbis to discover the Story of Us.
Eight classic folktales explore the importance of vows, family, ethical behavior, guarding the earth, the power of love, healing, trust, and faith. Theatre Ariel’s Leaves from the Garden is a visually engaging Zoom production that is perfect for intergenerational programming, ages 12+.
By Howard Schwartz, Adapted by Deborah Baer Mozes and Jesse Bernstein.
Family-Friendly, Philadelphia Premiere, American Premiere, World Premiere, Story theatre - Live Virtual Theatre Event
Theatre Exile
Zoo Motel
Thursday, April 22, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Friday, April 23, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Saturday, April 24, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Sunday, April 25, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Thursday, April 29, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Friday, April 30, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Saturday, May 1, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Sunday, May 2, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
How many secrets can one room hold?
Step into this virtual odyssey that combines interactive live theater, gripping storytelling, cinematic illusions, and magic all in one creative hour of surprises.
Theatre Exile invites you to check into ZOO MOTEL, devised by director, designer, and performer Thaddeus Phillips in 2020 as a quarantined experiment that offers a window into what’s possible for live performance — a world where audiences from around the globe can share a mind-bending adventure in the comfort of their own home.
Broadcast live and online from one room in a South American village, ZOO MOTEL takes you on a journey to Spain, Japan, the Mojave Desert, and other parts of the world alongside fellow motel guests.
One room, endless possibilities. ZOO MOTEL.
Limited engagement and tickets, only one ticket per household needed. Check theatreexile.org for additional ticket availability. Once your order has been placed, you’ll receive an email confirmation with your order details. You will receive a separate email within 72 hours which will include your “room key”, Zoom link to access the performance, and some additional details needed for checking into the Zoo Motel!
Comedy, Drama, Family-Friendly - Access at specific times with registration
Ants on a Log
Curious: Think Outside the Pipeline!
Thursday, April 22 - Sunday, May 2
Theatre Related Film or Short Film
Pay What You Can
"Curious: Think Outside the Pipeline!" is the musical story of two siblings who organize their neighbors to fight for clean air. With the help of a songful community and a dancing pencil, Clio and Taylor learn to stand up for their beliefs, striving to make big change even in the face of some bigger, more powerful people.
This 40-minute musical is set to the Ants' award-winning soundtrack. "Curious" tells the story of a young girl and her non-binary sibling who persevere, even in the in face of greedy businessmen, distracted politicians, and their mansplaining Uncle Steve. Watch this fun, inspiring musical come to life with the Ants' signature balance of quirky-DIY and professional-artsy style. With sock puppets, drawings, and stop motion video, "Curious" offers children a view into the importance of standing up for community. While the plot is fictional, the musical is based on the community-powered work of Philly Thrive and the current youth-led climate change movement.
Family-Friendly, LGBTQ+, Musical - Access any time with registration
Yes! And...Collaborative Arts
Be Careful What You Wish For
Saturday, April 24 at 7:00pm - Sunday, April 25 at 7:00pm
Pre-Recorded Theatre Event
Pay What You Can
Be Careful What You Wish For is an original piece that originally streamed as Yes! And..’s 2021 Winter Sort of Thing, airing again for one night only as part of Philly Theatre Week! In this multi-medium musical movie, a mythical creator, Elah, is frustrated with the fact that her creations on earth are not quite as worshippy as she had expected. A trickster coyote offers to travel to earth and steal the fire from their bellies, which makes them dull and complacent--but at least they complain a lot less. But two human siblings, Prometheus and Abel, think there might be something missing. When they set out on a perilous voyage to try and find what they lack, they encounter mythical animals, divine beings, and a new friend, Pandora, who, mysteriously, has a locked door in her chest. The trio finds that in order to bring depth and color back to the humans of earth, they have to push the boundaries of their own reality, and maybe even go head to head with the great creator herself.
Streaming Online for 24 hours.
Family-Friendly, Musical - Access at specific times with registration
Val Dunn and Jenna Kuerzi
The Dumpster Dive
Saturday, April 24 from 10:00am - 2:00pm, Herman's Coffee
1313 S. 3rd St, Philadelphia PA 19147
Friday, April 30 from 5:00pm - 8:00pm, Corner of 13th and Reed
Saturday, May 1 from 4:00pm - 6:00pm, Clark Park
“The Bowl” area of the park, near the intersection of Chester Avenue and 43rd Street.
Sunday, May 2nd from 10:00am - 1:30pm, Dickinson Square Park
1600 E Moyamensing Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19148
Live Outdoor Event
Free
From the international superstars who brought you "Johnny Depp: a Retrospective on Late-Stage Capitalism" comes some totally free PPE (Personalized Punk Experiences). Swing by our humble outdoor craft table for some handcrafted joy!
Wait, is this a show or a craft fair? It’s sort of both!
Val Dunn will write you a punk song, Jenna Kuerzi will perform said punk song, and YOU will take home a totally adorable copy of these one of a kind lyrics — all for the stunning price of pay-what-you-decide/zero dollars. Whether you need to laugh, rage, or mourn, we will tailor the PPE to your socially-distanced heart’s desire.
Various pandemic craft projects made by these under-baked auteurs will also be available for purchase.
One of the guaranteed crafts available for purchase:
Dumpster Fires For You is a pandemic candle project from Jenna Kuerzi. Upcycled, unconventional, and antique containers (doomed to dusty corners of a thrift store) are turned into treasures you'll love. "Extremely affordable" is always the theme.
Comedy, Devised, Drama, Experimental, Family-Friendly, LGBTQ+, Improv, Philadelphia Premiere, American Premiere, World Premiere, Reading, Drop-In Event - Access at specific times with registration
Yes! And...Collaborative Arts Shadow Company
In The Moment
Friday, April 30 at 7:00pm - Sunday, May 2 at 7:00pm
Pre-Recorded Theatre Event
Pay What You Can
We're all experiencing this pandemic, but what is life like in this current moment for our teenagers? See through the eyes of some teens for their take on the issues that are affecting them; anxiety over all the unknowns of their future, the overwhelm of information, the loneliness and isolation in quarantine; mourning the loss of major milestones in their lives....all while experiencing "normal" parts of being a teenager. This piece originally aired as a 5 part series in August of 2020.
Devised, Experimental - Access at specific times with registration
The Phoenix Theatre
The Second Annual Surprise Birthday Party for William Shakespeare
Friday, April 23 from 7:00pm-9:00pm
Live Virtual Theatre Event
Pay What You Can
Don’t tell Shakespeare, but we’re throwing him another surprise birthday party! This year the bard is turning 457 so we’re all getting together again to perform some more of his work! It'll be a night of scenes, monologues, songs, sonnets, and of course...CAKE!
Classics, Comedy, Drama - Access at specific times with registration