Latest news with #ArdenTheatre
CBS News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
"Rent" takes the stage in Philadelphia as the Tony Awards honor Broadway's best
"Rent" takes the stage in Philly as the Tony Awards honor Broadway's best "Rent" takes the stage in Philly as the Tony Awards honor Broadway's best "Rent" takes the stage in Philly as the Tony Awards honor Broadway's best This Sunday, Broadway's biggest night takes center stage for the 78th Annual Tony Awards on CBS, celebrating excellence in live theater. But right now, the spotlight is also shining in Philadelphia, where the Arden Theatre in Old City is presenting its own tribute to Broadway history, Jonathan Larson's groundbreaking musical "Rent." The rock musical, which won four Tony Awards and a Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1996, continues to resonate with audiences nearly 30 years later. "The vibration of 'Rent' – what it stood for – I think, is still really, really impactful today," said Gilbert Diego Sanchez, who stars as Angel in the Arden Theatre production. CBS Philadelphia A Timeless Story with Timely Themes "Rent" follows a group of struggling artists in New York City's East Village, grappling with love, loss, poverty and the AIDS crisis. It's a portrait of resilience and chosen family with themes that continue to hit home in 2025. "Introducing the piece to a lot of young people, I think, is really important," Sanchez said. "Because when I heard this soundtrack at 14 years old, it blew my mind." Ashley Smith-Wide Eyed Sanchez brings warmth and emotional depth to the role of Angel, a generous, joyful drag performer living with AIDS, whose presence lifts the entire community. "I think Angel is a beautiful example of like even though things are awful or can be awful on you, if you choose love, if you bring people together, if you make people laugh, it can bring the light back into the room," said Sanchez. Still relevant, still radical The musical's urgent messages about housing insecurity, health care access and LGBTQ+ rights still ring loud and clear, especially as those issues persist across the country. "Homelessness is a huge issue," Sanchez said. "We see kind of the erasure of trans people, and gay people being attacked by the administration, kind of like AIDS was attacked in that time, and no one was talking about it." While "Rent" offers moments of escape, it also offers reflection. Arden Theatre Company "What's amazing about the piece, and also it's, I think, kind of disheartening about the piece, is that it still stands very, very true," Sanchez said. As audiences fill the seats at Arden Theatre, the show invites them to measure their lives in love, just as its characters do. The Arden Theatre's bold new production transforms the Haas Stage with the iconic chords of "Seasons of Love," "I'll Cover You" and more. Twenty-dollar Rush Couch Seating is available up to 72 hours before each performance — in-person only at the TKTS booth inside the Independence Visitor Center. For tickets and showtimes, visit
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Theatre loses in High Court after secretly building venue without permission
A theatre has lost a High Court appeal after it was ordered to tear down its 465-seat venue which was built secretly without planning permission. Kevin Fraser, director of Titchfield Festival Theatre, took his fight to save his venue to the High Court after claiming to be the victim of a 'vendetta' from the local council. Mr Fraser had already admitted the £1.7 million development in the Hampshire village of Titchfield was built without planning permission and the theatre was declared illegal by a planning inspector last year. Determined to ensure that the show must go on, 68-year-old Mr Fraser launched an appeal by alleging that the inspector's ruling was not lawful. However, a High Court judge made the curtain finally fall on Titchfield Festival Theatre's Arden stage, the newest of its three stages. READ MORE: Shows are still being advertised for next month at the Arden stage although it is understood that the theatre is under orders to cease performances. William Shakespeare is thought to have links to Titchfield after an alleged affair with the Earl of Southampton, Henry Wriothesley, who sponsored the writer for a time. For the last 13 years, Titchfield Festival Theatre has been operating out of a converted barn which holds two auditoriums seating 100 and 200 audience members respectively. But after two failed attempts to get permission to convert a storage space on the site, in August 2022, artistic director Mr Fraser sanctioned the covert building of the new venue more than twice the size. The Arden Theatre which has the order to be torn down at Titchfield Festival Theatre in Titchfield, Hampshire. (Image: Andrew Croft/Solent News) The new Arden theatre even featured an underground orchestra pit - which can seat up to 16 musicians - dwarfing the existing Acorn and Oak theatres. It had been hosting performances since last summer, before Fareham Borough Council stepped in by serving a Planning Enforcement Notice in 2023. READ MORE: Titchfield Festival Theatre loses appeal to stay open Councillors from Fareham Borough Council said it 'beggared belief' that Mr Fraser would build the Arden without permission. Kevin Fraser at Titchfield Festival Theatre in Titchfield, Hampshire. (Image: Andrew Croft/Solent News) Mr Fraser branded them 'Scrooges' and said they had a 'vendetta' against him, but in August last year the venue was declared illegal by a planning inspector. Central to the decision was the stipulation that the site could not legally be used as a theatre. In a statement published by the BBC, Titchfield Festival Theatre said: "The trustees are obviously disappointed with the ruling from the Judicial Review. "We are taking further legal advice on the potential outcomes. In the meantime the Arden Theatre continues to operate."
Axios
28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Philadelphia weekender: Cereal cocktail bar, Flower Show
🥣 Trix are no longer just for kids. Philly's first cereal-inspired cocktail lounge opens today. Pair together your inner child and boozy sides while picking from several cereal-inspired sips. Plus: Check out the Cereal Mascot Hall of Fame. Runs through April 27. Tickets: $18+ ⛸️ It's the last weekend to ice skate or play games at the Penn's Landing winter wonderland. They're capping the season with Arctic Beats DJ Night on Saturday and a Black Panther character skate session on Sunday. Skate admission: $5; $12 rentals. 🎭 Check out "King Hedley II" at the Arden Theatre in Old City. The play from Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning playwright August Wilson focuses on King's struggle after returning home from serving a seven-year prison bid. Runs through March 23. Tickets: $32+ 🦕 Need a late-night fossil refuel? Check out Dinos after Dark at the Academy of Natural Sciences. Exhibits, pay-as-you-go drinks, plus activities led by scientists. Friday, 5-8pm. Tickets: $10 🌷 The Flower Show opens Saturday at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Check out what the " Gardens of Tomorrow" look like as dozens of exhibitors put together their visions of horticultural heaven. Runs through March 9. Tickets: $20-$54.99, children 4 and younger are free 🍻 Cheers to beers. Philly Beer Fest is back at the 23rd Street Armory. Try offerings from more than two dozen of the state's best breweries, plus nom away at the food trucks. Saturday, noon-9pm. Tickets: $39+ 🎉 It's Mardi Gras at Xfinity Live! DJs, bull riding, music and drink specials. Saturday, 3pm. Tickets: $16+ 💃 It's a community fiesta. Bucks County celebrates Latino culture with food, music and lots of dancing at the Bristol Riverside Theatre. Saturday, 5-8pm. Free, but reserve your spot here. ⚽ Soccer season already. The Union's home opener is Saturday at 7:30pm against Cincinnati. Tickets: $15+ 👊 Join in the triumphant reopening of the National Marian Anderson Museum, which has been closed since 2021 due to flooding. The historic site was renovated and is marking the occasion with Saturday's ribbon-cutting ceremony, plus a gala (Tickets: $150) on Sunday.
