If you go
Upstairs @ The
Adrienne
Opening Sept. 2
2030 Sansom St.,
Third floor
The entire history of performance art, from mead- hall folly to classical ballet, turns up in the rollicking “4 Play,” the Flying Karamazov Brothers’ latest show, now ensconced in a cave-like set made of cardboard boxes.Drew Barrymore has had some duds for onscreen partners in romantic comedies — not that she’s about to name names. “The worst is when you’re kissing someone who is not a good kisser, and you’re trying to make it look good, and you feel like you’re just working on your own,” she says. Luckily her latest film, “Going the Distance,” pairs her with someone very near to her heart: ex-boyfriend Justin Long.It’s been eight years since Tribe of Fools moved from California to West Philly, and now this troupe of minstrels are officially elder statesmen in the Philly Fringe.Despite spending two seasons on “Real Housewives of New Jersey,” it seems Danielle Staub managed to emerge with some notions of self-worth, decency and the dangers of reality TV. Bravo, Danielle!If Jonathan Franzen had been available for an interview, you’d be reading a feature on his new book, “Freedom.” But considering President Obama was spotted toting an advance copy and Time magazine dubbed Franzen the “Great American Novelist” on a cover last month, the guy is busy. We understand, but still feel compelled to talk about his book — something Philly-based author Jennifer Weiner finds curious.
Upstairs @ The
Adrienne
Opening Sept. 2
2030 Sansom St.,
Third floor
Britt Plunkett runs his forearm across his head, pushing sweat off his brow. “I actually took a picture of the thermostat,” he says. “I just had to record it: 99 degrees.”
It’s been a sweltering July for Plunkett’s three-man crew in the third floor of the Adrienne Theater complex. But what they plan to accomplish is something Philly’s indie theater community has dreamed of for at least a decade: a flexible black box theater, with seating for 60 to 100 audience members.
Up until June, the space had been the Susan Hess Modern Dance Studio. But when the company moved on, the landlord of 2030 Sansom approached InterAct (longtime tenants of the building’s main theater), to see if they wanted to manage a new space.
Unlike other small spaces in the city, the stage and seating will not be fixed. That flexibility will get a test run right out of the gate, as Luna Theater Co. presents Will Eno’s off-Broadway hit, “Thom Pain (based on nothing),” beginning Sept. 2. “The thing we’re most looking forward to is the freedom,” says Gregory Campbell, founder of Luna, which has performed in the Walnut Street Theatre Studio 3 for nearly a decade. “The Walnut was a great location for us, but we were always very hemmed in by what you were allowed to do in the space.”
InterAct plans to spend $140,000 on the new venue and will initially charge $1,000 per week to other non-profit companies.
“Right now it’s worth it,” says Campbell, whose rental costs will double. “It could hold 20 percent more people, and we need some technical freedom to grow.”
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In the July MMMpod, Young Veins talk about breaking away from Panic! at the Disco, Keith Lockhart talks about Buckwheat Zydeco throwing the Boston Pops for a loop, Zooey Deschanel talks about how Roy Orbison inspired a She & Him song, Derek Miller of Sleigh Bells talks about how awesome Funkadelic is, and we talk about how awesome Jimmy Cliff is, who in turn talks about Sam Cooke and divine intervention. An explosive show for July! Oh yeah, and we also test your knowledge of America songs in the MMMPod medley.
