Diversions: July 31-Aug. 6

THEATER End Days People’s Light and Theatre Company presents an outrageous comedy about acceptance and the importance of family ties, with “guest appearances” by Jesus and Stephen Hawking, through Aug. 3, 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern; (610) 644-3500.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival presents a production of Shakespeare’s masterfully orchestrated comedy, through Aug. 2 at Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, 2755 Station Ave., Center Valley; (610) 282-9455.

Respect: A Musical Journey of Women Act II Playhouse presents a high-energy celebration of just how much women have changed using the best songs of the past 100 years, through Aug. 2, 56 E. Butler Ave., Ambler; (215) 654-0200.

The Rock Tenor The Wilma Theatre presents a show fusing rock ’n’ roll anthems, Broadway classics, opera favorites, country rhythms and classical melodies, through Aug. 2, 265 S. Broad St.; (215) 546-7824.

The Tempest The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey presents William Shakespeare’s magical and mysterious romance, through Aug. 2 at the Greek Theatre on the campus of the College of St. Elizabeth, 2 Convent Road, Morris Township, N.J.; (973) 408-5600.

MUSIC classical Eric Plutz The Kimmel Center presents the acclaimed organist at 7 p.m. Aug. 6 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.

Slavic Soul Party! The Kimmel Center presents the virtuosic new brass band at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 6 at Kimmel’s Perelman Theater, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.

MUSIC other Splintered Sunlight The Grateful Dead tribute band performs at 7:30 p.m. July 31 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400.

Hall & Oates The ’80s rock duo performs at 8 p.m. July 31 at the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; (609) 317-1000.

Dream Theater The prog-rock band performs at 8 p.m. July 31 at the Tower Theatre, 19 S. 69th St., Upper Darby; (610) 352-2887.

Alo Brasil The African- and Brazilian-influenced group performs at 7 p.m. Aug. 1 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400.

Elton John and Billy Joel The two piano-playing mega-stars perform at 7 p.m. Aug. 1 at Citizens Bank Park, 1 Citizens Bank Way; (215) 463-1000.

Keith Urban and Taylor Swift The country superstars perform at 7 p.m. Aug. 1 at the Wachovia Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; (215) 336-2000.

Depeche Mode The electro-pop pioneers perform at 8 p.m. Aug. 1 at the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; (609) 317-1000.

7 Bridges The Eagles tribute band performs at 8 p.m. Aug. 1 at Sellersville Theatre 1894, 24 W. Temple St.; (215) 257-5808.

Schoolhouse Rock Jr. The Saturday-morning educational cartoon series is now one of the most energetic musicals ever to hit the stage, at 2 p.m. Aug. 2 at Sellersville Theatre 1894, 24 W. Temple St.; (215) 257-5808.

Tracy Chapman The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter performs at 8 p.m. Aug. 3 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; (215) 572-7650.

Hippiefest ’09 Felix Cavaliere (of The Rascals), The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie, Chuck Negron (formerly of Three Dog Night), Denny Laine (of The Moody Blues) and Badfinger perform at 8 p.m. Aug. 4 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; (215) 572-7650. Laura Izibor The R&B singer-songwriter performs at 8 p.m. Aug. 4 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400.

Edwin McCain The hit singer-songwriter performs at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 5 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400.

The Lovell Sisters The acoustic trio performs at 7 p.m. Aug. 6 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400.

Erykah Badu The neo-soul singer performs at 8 p.m. Aug. 6 at House of Blues, 801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, N.J.; (609) 236-2583.

The Fabulous Thunderbirds The rock band performs at 8 p.m. Aug. 6 at Sellersville Theatre 1894, 24 W. Temple St.; (215) 257-5808.

Nicky Egan & The Majority The Philly-based singer-songwriter performs at 8 p.m. Aug. 6 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400.

EXHIBITS The Art of Japanese Craft: 1875 to the Present The Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition surveying the rich diversity of 20th-century Japanese craft, through Oct. 18, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.; (215) 763-8100.

Bodies The James Oliver Gallery presents an exhibition uniting the works of Julia Day, Brooke Hine, Sky McDonagh and Dallas Shaw, through Aug. 22, 723 Chestnut St., fourth floor; (215) 923-1242.

Say Good Morning Tiger Lily Art Star Gallery & Boutique presents an exhibition of works from Amy Rice, through Sept. 13, 623 N. Second St.; (215) 238-1557.

Folk Art The Philip and Muriel Berman Museum of Art at Ursinus College presents an installation focusing on examples from Dr. David Bronstein’s collection of Pennsylvania and Northeast folk art and artifacts, through Aug. 29, 601 E. Main St., Collegeville; (610) 409-3500.

Frenz Fleisher/Ollman presents an exhibition of works selected by Will Oldham, the prolific singer-songwriter who records and performs under the moniker Bonnie Prince Billy, through the end of summer, 1616 Walnut St., Suite 100; (215) 545-7562.

Hello! Fashion: Kansai Yamamoto 1971-73 The Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of the work of one of the founding fathers of Japanese contemporary fashion, through July 31, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.; (215) 763-8100.

Metallic Motion AxD Gallery presents an exhibition of artwork by Nancy Schall, through Aug. 15, 265 S. 10th St.; (215) 627-6250.

A Modern Eye Part II Edge Gallery presents an exhibition of abstract paintings by the gallery’s stable of artists, through Aug. 30, 72 N. Second St.; (215) 413-7072.

Outgrowths AxD Gallery presents a solo sculpture exhibition by artist Carey Netherton, through Aug. 2, 265 S. 10th St.; (215) 627-6250.

Richard Schultz: Five Decades of Design The Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of works by the legendary outdoor furniture designer, through Aug. 23, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.; (215) 763-8100.

Shopping in Paris: French Fashion 1850-1925 The Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition exploring the American experience abroad between 1850 and 1925, through Oct. 25, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.; (215) 763-8100.

Something to Wear: Fashion in Print 1850-1925 The Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition exploring the world of fashion and consumer culture through printed publications, through Sept. 7, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.; (215) 763-8100.

A Taste for Modern: The Jeanne Rymer Collection of 20th-Century Chairs The Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an installation of 23 chairs by the acclaimed designer, through Sept. 20, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.; (215) 763-8100.

Urban Convergence Asian Arts Initiative hosts a multi-artist exhibition merging and morphing of artistic genres and culture — high art with street art, underground with pop, fine art with street culture, through Aug. 2 at 1219 Vine St.; (215) 557-0455.

What Were They Thinking: 160 Years of Bad Taste Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts presents an exhibition of styles that were the height of fashion at some point in recent history, through Nov. 8 at The Carriage House Gallery at the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St., Cape May, N.J.; (609) 884-5404.

OPERA La Cena delle Beffe Amici Opera Company presents the opera in Italian at 2:30 p.m. Aug. 2 at Garden Church Trinity Methodist, 82 N. Lansdowne Ave.; (610) 623-1644..

FILM Red Dust The 1932 comedy-drama starring Clark Gable and Jean Harlow is screened at 2 p.m. Aug. 2 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; (610) 917-0223.

Hud Bryn Mawr Film Institute presents a screening of the film starring Paul Newman as a hard-driving, hard-drinking, woman-chasing Westerner whose life is one long revolt against his stern father, at 7 p.m. Aug. 4, 824 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr; (610) 527-9898.

Modern Times Bryn Mawr Film Institute presents a screening of the classic Charlie Chaplin film at 7 p.m. Aug. 5, 824 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr; (610) 527-9898.

BOOKS Richie Unterberger The author of the Velvet Underground book “White Light/White Heat” hosts a reading at 7 p.m. Aug. 4 at Robin’s Books and Moonstone Arts Center, 110a S. 13th St.; (215) 735-9600.

Erwin Joos The author and curator of the Eugeen Van Mieghem Museum lectures internationally on the subject of the realist painter, at 6 p.m. Aug. 3 at Independence Branch Free Library, 18 S. Seventh St.; (215) 685-1633.

CABARET Joe Posa The versatile entertainer performs at 8:30 p.m. Aug. 1 at Harlans at The Nevermore, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; (215) 862-5225.

DANCE IndepenDance The Rock School for Dance Education performs a free youth concert at 11 a.m. Aug. 4 at The Mann Center for the Performing Arts, 5201 Parkside Ave.; (215) 893-1999

ETC Liberty Stampede 2009 Rodeo Liberty Gay Rodeo Association hosts three days of calf roping, bareback riding and dancing, July 31-Aug. 2 at the Lu Lu Shriners Rodeo Grounds, 5140 Butler Pike, Plymouth Meeting, and at Loews Philadelphia Hotel, 1200 Market St.; www.libertygra.org.

Fourth Annual Philly’s Funniest Person Contest The city’s up-and-coming comic talents battle for supremacy Aug. 1 and 7 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; (215) 496-9001.

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