Celebrate Carnival at International House on Friday.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24
Carnival Celebration @ International House
Sample Brazilian and Caribbean food and drink, dance to music from DJ King, and watch samba and drumming performances by the Greater Philadelphia Caribbean Cultural Organization Masqueraders and One Nation Ensemble at I-House’s Carnival party.
Blockbuster Broadway @ Kimmel Center
Philly native Hugh Panaro, who played the title role in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway more than 2,000 times, and fellow Broadway performers Alli Mauzey and Nicole Parker join the Philly Pops for three shows this weekend. David Charles Abell conducts.
Dito & Aeneas: Two Queens One Night @ TLA
Stephanie Blythe, who just starred in Opera Philadelphia’s Tancredi, joins Dito van Reigersberg, aka Martha Graham Cracker, for a one-night-only drag cabaret written and directed by John Jarboe, artistic director of the Bearded Ladies. They’ll be singing a mix of pop songs, opera and classical tunes.
The Bodyguard @ Academy of Music
Theater critic David Fox describes The Bodyguard, starring Deborah Cox and based on the film with Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, as “kitsch,” but also a “breathless runaway train of a musical” and “a hell of a lot of fun.” It runs through Sunday.
Person of the Crowd Opening Party @ The Barnes Foundation
The Barnes is throwing a party to open its new exhibit, Person of the Crowd: The Contemporary Art of Flânerie. And just in case anyone else, like me, wasn’t sure what that means, this seems like a pretty good description of a flâneur.
Carnaval A Go Go @ Trestle Inn
Samba dancers from Alô Brasil and PhillyBloco, along with the Trestle Specials dancers, perform to Brazilian music at this Carnaval/Carnival party.
Harlem Quartet and Arturo Stable @ World Café Live
Arturo Stable performs newly commissioned music based on the rhythms of his native Cuba at this LiveConnections concert, which also features works by Mozart and Cuban composer Guido Gavilan.
NPR’s Ask Me Another @ Keswick Theatre
Amy Sedaris joins host Ophira Eisenberg at this live taping of the NPR trivia show Ask Me Another, which airs on WHYY.
Eddie Lang: Welcome to the Jazz Guitar @ Woodmere Art Museum
Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble guitarist Frank Butrey pays homage to Eddie Lang, a Philadelphian considered the “father of jazz guitar,” as part of the Woodmere’s Friday Night Jazz series.
Michelle Wolf @ Punch Line Philly
The Daily Show’s Michelle Wolf, who’s also worked for and appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers, written for the Academy Awards, and created two web series for Comedy Central, brings her standup to Punch Line on Friday and Saturday.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25
Azuka is performing Douglas Williams’ Shitheads.
Shitheads @ Proscenium Theatre at The Drake
Next up in Azuka Theatre’s “pay what you decide” season is this premiere from Philly playwright Douglas Williams set in a bike shop in Manhattan, opening Saturday and running through March 12th. Audience members choose how much to pay after the show, but you do have to reserve tickets.
Celebration of African Cultures @ Penn Museum
The Penn Museum is hosting its 28th annual Celebration of African Cultures, with traditional music, contemporary dance, a performance by the Liberian Women’s Chorus for Change, storytelling, drumming, arts and crafts, games, films and an African marketplace, all taking place in the museum’s African galleries.
PhillyBloco Carnaval and Mardi Gras Bash @ World Café Live
The dancers, singers and musicians of the percussion-heavy Brazilian funk/samba/reggae band PhillyBloco will be joined by members of the West Philadelphia Orchestra, the ASCAB Capoeira International School Of Philadelphia and Unidos da Filadelfia Samba School.
Watercolor Remix Party @ Philadelphia Museum of Art
Check out the new American Watercolor in the Age of Homer and Sargent exhibit at this Young Friends of the PMA party with an open bar, dessert stations, and music.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26
The Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience comes to Philly on Sunday.
Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience @ Wells Fargo Center
Game of Thrones composer Ramin Djawadi, along with an orchestra, a choir, and gigantic projection screens, make up this “immersive music and visual experience” for fans of HBO’s hit show.
Awards Night Party and Screening @ Prince Theater
The Philadelphia Film Society is hosting a fancy Oscars party with food, drink and a silent auction. It’s 21 and up, and guests will be in cocktail attire.
Oscar Watching Party @ Square 1682
Watch the Academy Awards, play movie trivia, sip on Champagne cocktails and eat (free) truffle popcorn at Square 1682’s Oscars party. Or, show up before the awards ceremony to watch pre-show coverage during a Red Carpet Happy Hour.
Shen Yun @ Merriam Theater
The Chinese music and dance extravaganza Shen Yun brings its Philly run to a close on Sunday.
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