Late Night Comedy
Join the Mask and Wig Cast, the Mask and Wig Band, Bloomers, Simply Chaos, and Without a Net for a free night of comedy and performances in Platt Performing Arts House!
Join the Mask and Wig Cast, the Mask and Wig Band, Bloomers, Simply Chaos, and Without a Net for a free night of comedy and performances in Platt Performing Arts House!
SPAN brings together 50+ student performing arts groups and hundreds of new Penn performing artists for a whirlwind collage of short, get-to-know-you performances. Organized and produced by the PAC Executive Board, this night of entertainment serves as of chance for all students, but especially first-year and transfer students, to get a taste for the wide variety of performing clubs before entering audition season each fall.
Tickets
-$5 General Admission
-Information on how to reserve tickets will be available the week before the event.
Discounts
-Group Discounts available for Residential Groups and Programs.
-Individual discounts are available to members of the Platt House Community Ticketing Program.
The Inspiration is once again hosting our annual karaoke night as a way to interact and engage with current members of the Penn community, but also as a way to mingle with prospective members as well. A night full of fun, laughter, and singing ranging from good to comically bad!
The Mask & Wig and Bloomers Free Show is a great opportunity for new students to learn more about these comedy groups!
Do you like to sing? Dance? Do comedy? Do a short skit? Play an instrument? Recite poetry/writing? Or anything else? Now is your chance!! Fuerza (Penn’s Latinx Music Group) is hosting an Open Mic in the Platt House Lobby! If you want a chance to show off your skills or just see others perform, we’d love to see you there!!
iNtuitons Experimental Theatre presents their annual Alternative Theatre Festival!
iNtuitons Experimental Theatre presents their annual Alternative Theatre Festival!
The circus invades the museum! Seven zany acrobats and an electrifying musician set off a vibrant explosion of color in an otherwise monochrome exhibit. In this exhilarating feast for the senses, the wacky and endearing characters of La Galerie combine dizzying feats, astonishing discoveries and a serious dose of silly fun in an ode to creativity. With “immensely gifted performers…and spectacular routines,” (The Boston Globe) the Québec-based Machine de Cirque makes its Philadelphia debut with breathtaking stunts and live music in a show that’s at once playful, poetic and perilous. Student tickets only $10.
Pilobolus celebrates 50 years of radical creativity and boundary-pushing art with Big Five-OH!, a remixed retrospective of signature works from vintage classics to current innovations. It’s the Pilobolus you’ve grown to love, with wit, sensuality and stunning physical acumen, put on a sideways tilt as the company looks to the future and tests every limit. “There are other companies that take art to extremes, but Pilobolus proves once more that it does it best.” (The Philadelphia Inquirer) Student tickets only $10.
Pilobolus celebrates 50 years of radical creativity and boundary-pushing art with Big Five-OH!, a remixed retrospective of signature works from vintage classics to current innovations. It’s the Pilobolus you’ve grown to love, with wit, sensuality and stunning physical acumen, put on a sideways tilt as the company looks to the future and tests every limit. “There are other companies that take art to extremes, but Pilobolus proves once more that it does it best.” (The Philadelphia Inquirer) Student tickets only $10.
Three one-act plays, six playwrights and directors. A collaboration with our 22/23 season artist-in-residence, the esteemed Negro Ensemble Company, this one-act play festival seeks to amplify and celebrate Black voices, stories and perspectives. Thoughtfully selected from a worldwide pool of submitted scripts, each play will be produced and see its world premiere with Penn Live Arts before going on to New York for an extended run. Our Voices, Our Time elevates meaningful and thought-provoking conversations on the monumental role of Black artists in shaping art and culture in our country. Student tickets only $10.
Pilobolus celebrates 50 years of radical creativity and boundary-pushing art with Big Five-OH!, a remixed retrospective of signature works from vintage classics to current innovations. It’s the Pilobolus you’ve grown to love, with wit, sensuality and stunning physical acumen, put on a sideways tilt as the company looks to the future and tests every limit. “There are other companies that take art to extremes, but Pilobolus proves once more that it does it best.” (The Philadelphia Inquirer) Student tickets only $10.
Three one-act plays, six playwrights and directors. A collaboration with our 22/23 season artist-in-residence, the esteemed Negro Ensemble Company, this one-act play festival seeks to amplify and celebrate Black voices, stories and perspectives. Thoughtfully selected from a worldwide pool of submitted scripts, each play will be produced and see its world premiere with Penn Live Arts before going on to New York for an extended run. Our Voices, Our Time elevates meaningful and thought-provoking conversations on the monumental role of Black artists in shaping art and culture in our country. Student tickets only $10.
Known for “sublime dance theater of the highest caliber,” Pam Tanowitz “has long been one of the most formally brilliant choreographers around.” (The New York Times) Following her debut on our stage as part of our 21/22 digital season, Tanowitz’ acclaimed company returns with two world premieres, including Walk With Me, our commissioned work set to the music of Alice and John Coltrane. With live music by saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin and her band, Pursuance, the piece sees Tanowitz choreographing to jazz for the first time. Her innovative twist on ballet and modern styles continues to shine in forever and ever and ever and ever, uniquely developed for our Zellerbach Theatre. “Pam Tanowitz's dances are a lot like diamonds: They dazzle with compositional brilliance.” (Dance Spirit Magazine) Student tickets only $10.
Known for “sublime dance theater of the highest caliber,” Pam Tanowitz “has long been one of the most formally brilliant choreographers around.” (The New York Times) Following her debut on our stage as part of our 21/22 digital season, Tanowitz’ acclaimed company returns with two world premieres, including Walk With Me, our commissioned work set to the music of Alice and John Coltrane. With live music by saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin and her band, Pursuance, the piece sees Tanowitz choreographing to jazz for the first time. Her innovative twist on ballet and modern styles continues to shine in forever and ever and ever and ever, uniquely developed for our Zellerbach Theatre. “Pam Tanowitz's dances are a lot like diamonds: They dazzle with compositional brilliance.” (Dance Spirit Magazine) Student tickets only $10.
Known for “sublime dance theater of the highest caliber,” Pam Tanowitz “has long been one of the most formally brilliant choreographers around.” (The New York Times) Following her debut on our stage as part of our 21/22 digital season, Tanowitz’ acclaimed company returns with two world premieres, including Walk With Me, our commissioned work set to the music of Alice and John Coltrane. With live music by saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin and her band, Pursuance, the piece sees Tanowitz choreographing to jazz for the first time. Her innovative twist on ballet and modern styles continues to shine in forever and ever and ever and ever, uniquely developed for our Zellerbach Theatre. “Pam Tanowitz's dances are a lot like diamonds: They dazzle with compositional brilliance.” (Dance Spirit Magazine) Student tickets only $10.
“Lakecia Benjamin sings through her saxophone.” (NPR) Named a rising star in DownBeat’s 2020 Critics Poll, Benjamin is fierce and fearless, offering a reverent embrace of the jazz canon infused with the soul of funk and R&B. In an all-Coltrane program, Benjamin is joined by her band, Pursuance, and some very special guests: vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater and two musicians who played with the Coltranes themselves, Gary Bartz and Philadelphia-native Reggie Workman. Enjoy John Coltrane’s masterpiece, A Love Supreme, and his newly rediscovered “Blue World,” as well as music from Benjamin’s Pursuance: The Coltranes album and the world premiere of a Penn Live Arts commission.
Lakecia Benjamin is Artistic Advisor of Alice & John: A Coltrane Festival. Student tickets only $10.
Back by popular demand, the second son of Alice and John “has evolved a bright, warm tone that pours from his instrument with a lucidity of expression, often with a molten intensity not devoid of a certain family resemblance.” (The Philadelphia Inquirer) In the Philadelphia premiere of his Cosmic Music program, saxophonist Ravi Coltrane leads a contemporary exploration of the groundbreaking, mystical and spiritual music of his legendary parents. Student tickets only $10.
“One of the loveliest sounds heard on record in 2020 was the pluck and shimmer of Brandee Younger’s harp.” (Rolling Stone) Making her Penn Live Arts debut, the classically trained, 2021 Grammy®-nominated harpist celebrates her musical hero Alice Coltrane’s otherworldly album, Ptah, the El Daoud, with additional Coltrane favorites and music from Younger’s 2021 album, Somewhere Different. “Younger has almost single-handedly made a persuasive argument for the harp’s role in contemporary jazz,” (The New York Times) and this immersive concert experience will surely illustrate why. Student tickets only $10.
Explore the world of Salamone Rossi, a Jewish composer working in Italy at the same time as Claudio Monteverdi. Largely ignored until the 20th century, Rossi was a multifaceted musician who wrote for the glittering court of Mantua as well as for the synagogue. The first known musician to compose a collection of choral motets in Hebrew, Rossi’s The Songs of Solomon (1623) were an innovative development in Jewish devotional music. Meg Bragle, mezzo-soprano and Penn Department of Music Artist-in-Residence, returns to our stage alongside other nationally renowned artists to create a portrait in sound of this intriguing and talented composer. Student tickets only $10.
Hailed as “the king and queen of the banjo,” (Paste Magazine) sixteen-time Grammy® Award-winner Béla Fleck returns to our stage alongside his wife, fellow banjoist and singer Abigail Washburn. Fleck is the world’s premier banjo player, known for his eclectic mix of bluegrass and jazz, while Washburn marries folk traditions with far-flung Eastern influences. Together, their sound is familiar yet wildly innovative and on stage, their artistry and chemistry results in a picking partnership unlike any on the planet. Student tickets only $10.
“One of the best contemporary repertory ensembles,” (The New York Times) Ballet Hispánico recently celebrated five decades of lush and virtuosic dance that fuses Latin culture with contemporary technique. Theatricality and passion propel every move as Ballet Hispánico performs the Philadelphia premieres of Club Havana, an intoxicating mash-up of beloved Latin styles, Con Brazos Abiertos, a fun and honest look of life caught between Mexican and American cultures, and Línea Recta, a powerful exploration of flamenco and its lack of physical partnering. “The versatile Ballet Hispánico dancers are exquisite” so don’t miss this “cutting-edge crowd pleaser." (The Washington Post) Student tickets only $10.
“One of the best contemporary repertory ensembles,” (The New York Times) Ballet Hispánico recently celebrated five decades of lush and virtuosic dance that fuses Latin culture with contemporary technique. Theatricality and passion propel every move as Ballet Hispánico performs the Philadelphia premieres of Club Havana, an intoxicating mash-up of beloved Latin styles, Con Brazos Abiertos, a fun and honest look of life caught between Mexican and American cultures, and Línea Recta, a powerful exploration of flamenco and its lack of physical partnering. “The versatile Ballet Hispánico dancers are exquisite” so don’t miss this “cutting-edge crowd pleaser." (The Washington Post) Student tickets only $10.
“One of the best contemporary repertory ensembles,” (The New York Times) Ballet Hispánico recently celebrated five decades of lush and virtuosic dance that fuses Latin culture with contemporary technique. Theatricality and passion propel every move as Ballet Hispánico performs the Philadelphia premieres of Club Havana, an intoxicating mash-up of beloved Latin styles, Con Brazos Abiertos, a fun and honest look of life caught between Mexican and American cultures, and Línea Recta, a powerful exploration of flamenco and its lack of physical partnering. “The versatile Ballet Hispánico dancers are exquisite” so don’t miss this “cutting-edge crowd pleaser." (The Washington Post) Student tickets only $10.
Osvaldo Golijov's gripping song cycle, Falling Out of Time, explores the vast emotional journey of a mother and father grieving the loss of their son. Based on David Grossman’s book of the same name, this piece “glides frictionlessly across classical, folk, pop, and jazz idioms” as a “kind of voyage of the soul through jagged sweeps of grief and defiance, memory and yearning." (The Boston Globe) Performed by several musicians from the Silkroad Ensemble, this evocative Philadelphia premiere by a Penn alum weaves a tapestry of sound with voices, Persian kamancheh, Chinese pipa and sheng, trumpet, guitar, electronics, string quintet and percussion.
Sung in English and Hebrew with supertitles. Student tickets only $10.
Five-time Grammy® Award-winning trumpeter/composer Terence Blanchard is joined by his E-Collective, the Turtle Island Quartet and visual artist Andrew F. Scott for a dynamic portrait of dual influences. Performing music from his 2021 album, Absence, Blanchard offers a heartfelt tribute to legendary jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter with a score that showcases his frequent use of music to make powerful statements on American culture, past and present. This Philadelphia premiere is enhanced by Scott’s live curation of Gordon Parks’ iconic photography, literally showcasing his tremendous impact on social justice and humanitarianism. Student tickets only $10.
With “a cornucopia of remarkable voices” (The New York Times) and truly “dazzling music,” (Billboard) the Soweto Gospel Choir makes a joyful return to our stage with its much-beloved blend of South African gospel, reggae and pop. The three-time Grammy® Award-winning choir performs the Philadelphia premiere of Hope, a powerful program that celebrates freedom for all in South Africa and the U.S., with inspirational classics by Billie Holiday, James Brown, Aretha Franklin and many more. Don’t miss this vibrant evening with the world’s favorite choir. Student tickets only $10.
Platt House’s signature Carnegie Hall showcase lights up New York City with an unforgettable night of talented student ensembles presenting song, dance, and comedy. The much-awaited event at this prestigious venue brings together students, friends, and family, reuniting performing arts alumni with their own fond Penn memories and often introducing them to newer groups who have emerged to dazzle Penn’s stages.
More details including exact times and ticketing info TBA.
Applications are now open for groups to perform at Carnegie Hall this winter!
What do you need to know before applying for the Carnegie Hall Showcase?
What is the time commitment? This event will take place on Saturday, December 3rd. Performers will be bussed to New York in the late morning and will return on buses late that evening. Please note that December 3-4 is also the last weekend of PAC shows. If your group has afternoon or evening performances that day, you may be ineligible to attend this year. There will always be next year! If you are not sure whether the timing of your show makes your group ineligible, please contact Platt House at platthouse@pobox.upenn.edu.
Your group members may also have other commitments conflicting with this date. Please poll your members for their availability before submitting your application. Keep in mind that Carnegie’s Zankel Hall limits us to 18 performers on the stage at a time, so larger groups might not be performing with their full membership.
What are the obligations of participating? The 5-7 groups who are selected for this event will be required to help market this so that their alumni, families, and peers are in the audience. This will be an active effort to develop contact lists and reach out to prospective ticketbuyers. Please read the application thoroughly and make sure your group is prepared to meet these responsibilities.
What are the COVID safety measures for the event? It is still too early to know what to expect for transmission rates, infection levels, and safety measures in December. However, the COVID policies will be aligned with both Penn’s and Carnegia Hall’s safety protocols. This past year, these included all audience members and performers presenting vaccine cards and performers presenting proof of a negative PCR test before the event.
When is the app due? The application for a performance slot is due Friday, July 1st. Please contact us as early as possible if your group may need an extension.
What if I have more questions? Contact platthouse@pobox.upenn.edu. Depending on interest there may be an info session this summer. Follow our social media pages and make sure your group has updated PAC-Rep listserv contacts to make sure you stay in the loop.
“The most brilliant hip-hop choreographer in America,” (The New Yorker) Rennie Harris, is back with a complete re-mounting of one of his most celebrated works, Rome & Jewels. A story of love, fear, violence and triumph, Rome & Jewels challenges preconceived notions of Shakespeare with a hip hop journey through the streets of Philadelphia. The evening-length production was groundbreaking globally, winning numerous awards as it explored racial, religious and economic questions through the lens of gang violence. Honoring Puremovement’s 30th anniversary and featuring some of the original cast, Elizabethan drama gets intermixed with hip hop rhythms and tragic gang culture, resulting in an epic and poetic look at real life. Student tickets only $10.
“The most brilliant hip-hop choreographer in America,” (The New Yorker) Rennie Harris, is back with a complete re-mounting of one of his most celebrated works, Rome & Jewels. A story of love, fear, violence and triumph, Rome & Jewels challenges preconceived notions of Shakespeare with a hip hop journey through the streets of Philadelphia. The evening-length production was groundbreaking globally, winning numerous awards as it explored racial, religious and economic questions through the lens of gang violence. Honoring Puremovement’s 30th anniversary and featuring some of the original cast, Elizabethan drama gets intermixed with hip hop rhythms and tragic gang culture, resulting in an epic and poetic look at real life. Student tickets only $10.
“The most brilliant hip-hop choreographer in America,” (The New Yorker) Rennie Harris, is back with a complete re-mounting of one of his most celebrated works, Rome & Jewels. A story of love, fear, violence and triumph, Rome & Jewels challenges preconceived notions of Shakespeare with a hip hop journey through the streets of Philadelphia. The evening-length production was groundbreaking globally, winning numerous awards as it explored racial, religious and economic questions through the lens of gang violence. Honoring Puremovement’s 30th anniversary and featuring some of the original cast, Elizabethan drama gets intermixed with hip hop rhythms and tragic gang culture, resulting in an epic and poetic look at real life. Student tickets only $10.
Mixing classical, big band jazz and New Orleans swing, this brass ensemble brings together top musicians from across the country for a jazzy holiday celebration. Led by trumpeter Rodney Marsalis, part of the famed first family of jazz, this glorious group will ring in the season with Christmas classics, including arrangements from Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker and Handel's Messiah. Returning to our stage after multiple sold-out performances, don’t miss this festive evening with a dream team of brass players. Student tickets only $10.
“America’s most astonishing choir,” (The New York Times) The Crossing, reflects on our world during the holiday season. Conducted by Donald Nally, this multiple Grammy® Award-winning new music ensemble performs a world premiere by Caroline Shaw and the Philadelphia premiere of Mass Transmission by Mason Bates. Featuring organist Scott Dettra, Mass Transmission explores how the telephone and early radio connected people across the planet but created a new kind of global loneliness at the same time. Student tickets only $10.