Diversions: Sept 18-24

THEATER Chicago TV-show host Jerry Springer stars in this tour of the hit musical, through Sept. 20 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels The Walnut Street Theater presents the story of two suave and shameless con-men with two very different styles, through Oct. 25, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 574-3550.

Fractured Fairy Tales B. Someday Productions presents a madcap interactive live performance for kids and adults, through Sept. 19 at the Walking Fish Theatre, 2509 Frankford Ave.; (215) 413-1318.

The History Boys The Arden Theatre presents the acclaimed drama chronicling the final school year of eight clever young British students in pursuit of sex, sport and admission into Oxford or Cambridge, Sept. 24-Nov. 1, 40 N. Second St.; (215) 922-1122.

Missed Connections, A Craigslist Fantasia Philly Fringe and the Curio Theatre Company presents an ensemble piece created primarily from Philadelphia Craigslist personal and community forums, exploring the social dichotomy of anonymity and identity on the Internet using only found text, through Sept. 19 at Calvary Center Sanctuary, 4740 Baltimore Ave.; (215) 413-1318.

Neil Simon’s Rumors, A Farce The Players Club of Swarthmore Theater presents a production full of evasions, lies, slamming doors and assumed identities, culminating in a wildly implausible explanation of the whole tangled plot to a skeptical policeman, through Sept. 26, 614 Fairview Road, Swarthmore; (610) 328-4271.

Sex, Dreams & Self-Control Philly Fringe presents out musician and actor Kevin Thornton performing his new one-man show, Sept. 18-19 at the William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St.; (215) 732-2220.

Welcome to Yuba City Pig Iron Theatre Company presents an absurd performance work presenting fragments of mythic America in an outpost on the edge of civilization, through Sept. 19 at The Festival Theatre at the Hub, 626 N. Fifth St.; (215) 413-1318.

Who Will Carry the Word? Philly Fringe presents the poetic, heartbreaking play based on the memoirs of Holocaust survivor Charlotte Delbo, through Sept. 26 at Second Stage at Adrienne Theater, 2030 Sansom St.; (215) 413-1318.

MUSIC classical Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 opens the season along with a celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, featuring classical music from some of Latin America’s leading composers, at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 19 at Kimmel’s Perelman Theatre, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.

All-Haydn The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia celebrates the music of Josef Haydn at 2:30 Sept. 20 and 7:30 p.m. Sept. 21 at Kimmel’s Perelman Theatre, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.

Dutoit Conducts Saint-Saëns The Philadelphia Orchestra’s chief conductor and artistic adviser opens his second season with Saint-Saëns’ thunderous Third Symphony, at 8 p.m. Sept. 24 and 29 and 2 p.m. Sept. 25 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.

MUSIC other Sophie B. Hawkins The singer-songwriter performs at 7 p.m. Sept. 19 at The Fire, 425 W. Girard Ave.; (267) 671-9298.

Christine Havrilla The out singer-songwriter performs at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 19 at Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St.; (215) 928-0770.

The Sounds The alt-rock band with the bi lead singer performs at 8 p.m. Sept. 19 at TLA, 334 South St.; (215) 922-1011.

The No Brainer Benefit Concert featuring Avi Wisnia, Julie Gold and Rachael Sage Local queer artists and special guests perform in an effort to fight brain tumors, 3-6:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at Club Fuzion, 460 N. Second St.; (215) 774-7557.

Earl Pickens and Family play The Joshua Tree The band performs an alt-country/acoustic interpretation of the classic U2 album, 8 p.m. Sept. 20 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400.

Moby The electronica songwriter performs at 8 p.m. Sept. 20 at TLA, 334 South St.; (215) 922-1011.

KMFDM The industrial rock band performs at 8 p.m. Sept. 24 at TLA, 334 South St.; (215) 922-1011.

She Wants Revenge with Kill Hannah The alt-rock groups perform at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 24 at Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; (215) 922-5483.

Regina Spektor The singer-songwriter and pianist performs at 8 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St.; (215) 627-1332.

Toshi Reagon The out singer-songwriter and Righteous Babe recording artist performs at 9 p.m. Sept. 24 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.

Autumnal Visions Edge Gallery presents an exhibition by Mike Watson exploring nature through an abstract filter, through Sept. 27, 72 N. Second St.; (215) 413-7072.

David Kube The William Way LGBT Community Center presents an exhibition celebrating the grand-prize winner of the center’s fourth annual Juried Art Exhibition, through Sept. 25, 1315 Spruce St.; (215) 732-2220.

Henri Matisse and Modern Art on the French Riviera The Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of art inspired by the Mediterranean vacation spot, through Oct. 25, 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.

Surfacing AxD Gallery presents an exhibition of paintings by Paul Davis Jones, through Oct. 3, 265 S. 10th St.; (215) 627-6250.

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.

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 Carmen Amici Opera Company presents Bizet’s opera at 7 p.m. Sept. 19 at Center for the Creative Arts, 410 Upper Snuff Mill Road, Yorklyn, Del.; (215) 224-0257.

DANCE Kun-Yang Lin Workshop New York City-based visual artist Jeff Sable will lead a workshop exploring Tai Chi movement, voice and improvisation, from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sept. 20, 27 and Oct. 4 at Chi Movement Arts Center, 1316 S. Ninth St.; (267) 687-3739.

Smoke, Lilies and Jade: Choreographic Sketches Painted Bride Arts Center presents a performance of traditional and contemporary African Diasporic art forms, from 7-9 p.m. Sept. 19, 230 Vine St.; (215) 925-9144.

LGBT Square Dance Open House Independence Squares shows the ropes anyone who wants to learn at 7 p.m. Sept. 22 at Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion, 2111 Sansom St.; (215) 567-3668.

FILM 2001: A Space Odyssey The classic science-fiction film is screened at 2 p.m. Sept. 20 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; (610) 917-0223.

For the Bible Tells Me So Dan Karslake’s provocative, entertaining documentary about homosexuality and scripture is screened at 2 p.m. Sept. 20 at First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia, 2125 Chestnut St.; (215) 563-3980.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine The summer hit is screened at 8 p.m. Sept. 21 at Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; (215) 922-5483.

My Big Break Bryn Mawr Film Institute presents a controversial documentary offering a fascinating glimpse into the lives of five roommates as they try to make it in the movie business, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 23, 824 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr; (610) 527-9898.

BOOKS Joseph R. G. DeMarco The author of “Murder on Camac” hosts a reading at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 18 at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; (215) 923-2960.

Ralph Nader The former presidential candidate and author of “Only the Super-Rich Can Save Us!” hosts a discussion at noon Sept. 22 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; (215) 686-5322.

Gil Robertson The author of “Family Affair: What It Means to Be African American Today” hosts a reading at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; (215) 923-2960.

Marjane Satrapi The author of “Persopolis,” an autobiographical graphic novel about growing up in Iran after the Shah is overthrown, hosts a discussion at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 23 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; (215) 686-5322.

Howard Dean The former presidential candidate and author of “Howard Dean’s Prescription for Real Health Care Reform” hosts a discussion at noon Sept. 24 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; (215) 686-5322.

Frederick Herts The author of “Making It Legal: A Guide to Same-Sex Marriage, Domestic Partnerships, and Civil Unions” hosts a reading at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 24 at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; (215) 923-2960.

ETC Delaware Pride Festival Headliner Deborah Cox, emcee Mona Lotts, Pamala Stanley, Tom Goss, Carol Regan, along with various drag queens and kings and singers, liven up the tax-free state, noon-6 p.m. Sept. 19 at Gordons Pond State Park, at the north end of Ocean Drive, Rehoboth Beach, Del.; (302) 378-6524.

Lynnee Breedlove The queer/trans musician, writer, artist and former Tribe 8 frontperson performs at 8 p.m. Sept. 23 at Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; (215) 922-5483.

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