Diversions
Theater Almost, Maine The Players Club of Swarthmore Theater presents an off-beat comedy where love takes some surprising turns for folks in a tiny northern town, Jan. 14-30, 614 Fairview Road, Swarthmore; (610) 328-4271.
Becky Shaw The Wilma Theatre presents the Pulitzer Prize finalist and off-Broadway hit comedy from Obie Award-winner Gina Gionfriddo about a woman who sets up her best friend on a blind date with her husband’s mysterious co-worker, through Jan. 31, 265 S. Broad St.; (215) 546-7824.
Blue Door Arden Theatre Company presents the story of a successful mathematics professor experiencing a sleepless night, during which a series of ancestors visits to reveal the hardships and victories that have shaped their lives, Jan. 14-March 21, 40 N. Second St.; (215) 922-1122.
A Chorus Line The Ritz Theatre Company presents the smash Broadway musical, Jan. 14-Feb. 13, 915 White Horse Pike, Haddon Township., N.J.; (856) 858-5230.
First Impressions Act II Playhouse presents Tony Braithwaite’s hilarious new political humor romp, through Jan 17, 56 E. Butler Ave., Ambler; (215) 654-0200.
The Irish … and How They Got That Way The irreverent but affectionate history of the Irish in America uses classical songs and stories as told by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Frank McCourt, through Feb. 28 at Kimmel’s Innovation Studio, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
Oliver! Walnut Street Theatre presents one of the world’s most-beloved musicals, through Jan. 10, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 574-3550.
The Moon is a Mirror Within Me Firebird-Light Productions presents a series of dramatic readings both ancient and contemporary, through Jan. 10 at Walnut Street Theatre’s Studio V, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 574-3550.
Peter Pan The timeless story of Peter, Tinker Bell, Captain Hook and the Lost Boys hits the stage through Jan. 31 at Arden Theatre Company’s F. Otto Haas Stage, 40 N. Second St.; (215) 922-1122.
Scapin Lantern Theater Company presents Molière’s classic farce, through Jan. 10 at St. Stephen’s Theater, 923 Ludlow St.; (215) 829-0395.
The Threshing Floor Mauckingbird Theatre Company presents a one-man performance on an imagined encounter with out author James Baldwin and a fictional graduate student who comes to interview Baldwin at his home abroad, through Jan. 31 at Adrienne Theatre’s Second Stage, 2030 Sansom St.; (215) 923-8909.
TRU Mauckingbird Theatre Company presents a look into the psyche of out author Truman Capote as he reels from social shunning by his elite Manhattan friends following Esquire Magazine’s publication of a gossip-filled chapter from his never-to-be-finished work “Answered Prayers,” through Jan. 31 at Adrienne Theatre’s Second Stage, 2030 Sansom St.; (215) 923-8909.
When You Comin’ Back, Red Ryder? New City Stage Company presents the revival of Mark Medoff’s dark drama-comedy, through Jan. 10 at the Adrienne Theater, 2030 Sansom St.; (215) 563-7500.
Wicked The musical based on the untold story of the Wicked Witch of the West from “The Wizard of Oz” returns, through Jan. 24 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
Music classical Morales plays Mozart The Philadelphia Orchestra and principal clarinet Ricardo Morales perform one of Mozart’s most popular works, 8 p.m. Jan. 8 and 9 and 2 p.m. Jan. 10 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
Franz Schubert Philadelphia Chamber Music Society presents an evening of music by Franz Schubert spanning his entire compositional career, 8 p.m. Jan. 11 at Kimmel’s Perelman Theater, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
Marc-André Hamelin Philadelphia Chamber Music Society presents an evening of music by the acclaimed Canadian pianist, 8 p.m. Jan. 13 at Kimmel’s Perelman Theater, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
Mattila Debuts The Philadelphia Orchestra presents acclaimed Finnish soprano Karita Mattila, 8 p.m. Jan. 14-16 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
Music other Central PA in Philly Bands from central Pennsylvania invade Philly, 8 p.m. Jan. 9 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400.
Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven The two classic alt-rock groups perform at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 13 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400.
New York Songwriters’ Circle Local singer-songwriters perform in the round and discuss their material and songwriting process, 8 p.m. Jan. 14 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400.
Exhibits Agulhas Gallery 339 presents an exhibition of works by Edward Dimsdale, through Jan. 23, 339 S. 21st St.; (215) 731-1530.
Arabesque Expressionism AxD Gallery presents an exhibition of paintings by Daniel Stuelpnagel and Madeline Adams, through Feb. 6, 265 S. 10th St.; (215) 627-6250.
Body Worlds 2 & The Brain The Franklin Institute presents an eye-opening journey through the inner workings of the human body through a broad collection of authentic human specimens, through Feb. 20, 222 N. 20th St.; (215) 448-1200.
Common Ground: Eight Philadelphia Photographers in the 1960s and 1970s The Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition examining a critical period for the art of photography and the Philadelphia art scene, through Jan. 31, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.; (215) 763-8100.
8×10 and Under: Small Landscapes Gallery 339 presents a new photography exhibition, through Jan. 23, 339 S. 21st St.; (215) 731-1530.
Ragas and Rajas: Musical Imagery of Courtly India The Philadelphia Museum of Art presents a diverse selection of paintings and sculptures from across the subcontinent, through Feb. 28, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.; (215) 763-8100.
Step Right Up Bahdeebahdu presents the talented mixed-media work of Ryan Wilson Kelly, Melissa Stern and Ricky Boscarino, each bound by a circle of light to produce a single circus theme, through Jan. 30, 1522 N. American St.; (215) 627-5002.
Supergirl! NEXUS presents an exhibition of female video artists who represent themselves as superheroes in their work, through Feb. 5, 1400 N. American St., Suite 102; (215) 684-1946.
Twenty-Two Squared Twenty-Two Gallery presents an eclectic offering of affordable original art from 22 area artists, through Feb. 7, 236 S. 22nd St.; (215) 772-1911.
Dance nEW: Meet the Artists, See the Work nEW Festival 2010 will present the work of Philly’s finest emerging artists, 4 p.m. Jan. 10 at University of the Arts Terra Building, 211 S. Broad St.; (215) 717-6322.
River North Chicago Dance Company The jazzy dance troupe kicks off the new year for the Dance Celebration Series, Jan. 14-16 at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 3680 Walnut St.; (215) 898-3900.
Film Concrete, Steel and Paint Bryn Mawr Film Institute presents a screening and panel discussion of the award-winning documentary, taking us behind the walls of the State Correctional Institution at Graterford to reveal the tensions, challenges and rewards of a unique restorative justice project, 7 p.m. Jan. 12, 824 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr; (610) 527-9898.
Embraceable You The documentary about New Hope is screened at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 14 at Harlans at The Nevermore, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; (215) 862-5225.
Books Sonia Sanchez The acclaimed poet reads from her new book, “Morning Haiku,” at 7 p.m. Jan. 11 at Moonstone Arts Center, 110A S. 13th St.; (215) 735-9600.
Tracy Chavalier The author of “Remarkable Creatures” hosts a reading at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; (215) 686-5322.
Mika Brzezinski The MSNBC anchor and author of “All Things at Once” hosts a reading at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 14 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; (215) 686-5322.
Etc. Beyoncé, Britney, Gaga … The New Queens of Pop DJ Deejay brings his new dance party from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Jan. 8 at Sisters, 1320 Chancellor St.; (215) 735-0735.
First Person StorySlam First Person Arts Festival hosts the storytelling competition in which audience members share stories from their lives, 8:30 p.m. Jan. 11 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400.