61. Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
City: Philadelphia, PA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (215) 898-3900
Address: 3680 Walnut St.
Description: Located on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania, the “center” is actually a group of 3 venues, the Harold Prince Theatre, Zellerbach Theatre, and Irvine Auditorium, all of which are dedicated to presenting cross-cultural and cutting-edge performers, films, and speakers. Ticket prices vary widely. On Halloween, the original silent movie, The Phantom of the Opera, is shown in the Irvine, complete with accompaniment from its more than 85-year-old pipe organ.
62. Arden Theatre Company
City: Philadelphia, PA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (215) 922-1122
Address: 40 N. 2nd St.
Description: If you found it challenging to stay awake while reading the required works of classic literature in school, you’ll see them in a whole new light when they are performed on the Arden stage. The resident professional children’s theater troupe is also world-class. Ticket prices vary widely.
63. Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
City: Philadelphia, PA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (215) 893-1999
Address: 260 S. Broad St.
Description: In 2001 a star was born when this 2-venue dazzler became home to the Philadelphia Orchestra, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Peter Nero and The Philly Pops, and PHILADANCO on its 2,500-seat Verizon Hall and 650-seat Perelman Theater stages. Ticket prices vary.
64. Mann Center for the Performing Arts
City: Philadelphia, PA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (215) 893-1999
Address: 5201 Parkside Ave.
Description: There’s nothing like enjoying a great concert outdoors on a beautiful summer night. And this city-owned venue in Fairmount Park, which combines covered, outdoor, and lawn seating, has been the premier place to do it since 1935. To say that its annual roster features all musical genres and classical and contemporary dance is an understatement. Think the American Ballet Theatre with Mikhail Baryshnikov, Sarah Brightman, Riverdance, Yo-Yo Ma, James Taylor, CeCe Winans, Lyle Lovett, and k.d. lang. Ticket prices vary.
65. Merriam Theater At the University of the Arts
City: Philadelphia, PA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (215) 732-5446
Address: 250 S. Broad St.
Description: In addition to being one of the two principal residences of the Pennsylvania Ballet, this 1,870-seat theater has been hosting entertainment legends past, present, and future since 1918. John Barrymore played Hamlet here, Al Jolson and Sammy Davis Jr. sang, and Helen Hayes, Katharine Hepburn, and Sir Laurence Olivier owned the stage. It’s also a popular stop for Broadway and comedy shows on the road.
66. Theater of the Living Arts
City: Philadelphia, PA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 334 South St.
Description: Affectionately known as the TLA, this converted, single-screen movie house is a standing-room-only (capacity a little over 800) South Street staple that is frequented by the rap, heavy metal, rock, and grunge crowd. Edgy comedy acts also appear here. Prices are generally between $25 and $30.
67. Tower Theatre
City: Philadelphia, PA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (215) 627-1332
Description: Built in 1927, this former Delaware County vaudeville house and movie theater has long been one of the best acoustic venues in the area. The Tower is the place where David Bowie (he later recorded one of his biggest-selling albums here) and Genesis with Peter Gabriel made their American debuts. And it hasn’t missed a beat ever since.
68. Bushfire Theatre of Performing Arts
City: Philadelphia, PA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (215) 747-9230
Address: 224 S. 52nd St.
Description: For more than 30 years, Bushfire has been featuring the works of established and emerging African-American playwrights, actors, and directors in a small historic (circa- 1909) theater. Check out the Walk of Fame in front that honors such luminaries as August Wilson, Glynn Turman, Ruby Dee, and Esther Rolle.
69. Freedom Repertory Theatre
City: Philadelphia, PA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (215) 765-2793
Address: 1346 N. Broad St.
Description: Founded in 1966, Pennsylvania’s oldest African-American theater has evolved from a small community theater to a nationally recognized award-winning regional (but, with fewer than 300 seats, still intimate) venue that promotes 4 productions each year ranging from classic to contemporary dramas, comedies, and musicals. Tickets generally cost between $20 and $35.
70. Painted Bride Art Center
City: Philadelphia, PA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (215) 925-9914
Address: 230 Vine St.
Description: For more than 40 years “the Bride” has been a place for emerging local to international artists of all kinds, particularly traditionally underrepresented populations such as women, people of color, gay and lesbian, and disabled, to find their own voices and communicate original (and often controversial) ideas. Themes span the spectrum of cultures and points of view, genres from theater to music to dance and visual art exhibits. Tickets are around $25.
71. Society Hill Playhouse
City: Philadelphia, PA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (215) 923-0210
Address: 507 S. 8th St.
Description: The building is Victorian, complete with pressed-tin walls and ceilings, but the performances are as far from stuffy as you can get. This is the place to come for new comedies, East Coast premieres, or standards such as Nunsense, which was originally booked for a 6-week run and ended up playing for 10 years. The very intimate downstairs Red Room is comedy cabaret at its best. Main stage tickets run from $40 to $45, Red Room from $28 to $30.
72. The Wilma Theater
City: Philadelphia, PA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (215) 546-7824
Address: 265 S. Broad St.
Description: The Wilma was founded to foster conversation and controversy with productions that range from international classics to new American plays to original adaptations of classic novels. Tickets generally start at $45.
73. Pennsylvania Ballet
City: Philadelphia, PA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: Tickets: (215) 893-1999
Description: The resident company of 40 dancers presents 6 productions per season (including the must-see Nutcracker) peppering its mostly classic (a la George Balanchine) repertoire with more contemporary works choreographed by contemporary greats such as Twyla Tharp, Jerome Robbins, and Agnes de Mille. Tickets range from $30 to more than $100. Every year, the Pennsylvania Ballet performs Shut Up and Dance to benefit MANNA, a local organization that delivers nutritious meals to families living with AIDS, cancer, or another devastating illness.
74. PHILADANCO!
City: Philadelphia, PA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (215) 893-1999
Address: 9 N. Preston St.
Description: The name of this nonprofit organization is an acronym for the Philadelphia Dance Company, and its mission is to utilize this art form to preserve and share predominantly African-American traditions. Try to catch the annual holiday performance of the signature Xmas Philes with its spirited twists on traditional (and some new) tunes.
75. Boyer College of Music and Dance
City: Philadelphia, PA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (215) 204-7600
Address: 1715 N. Broad St.
Description: In addition to ticketed (around $28) performances by the Temple University Orchestra, Jazz Band, Wind Ensemble, and Sinfonia as well as headliner guest artists in the newly renovated, 1,200-seat auditorium at the Baptist Temple, the college offers free jazz monthly at the Howard Gittis Student Center.