Diversions: Feb. 26-March 4

THEATER Annie The Kimmel Center hosts the classic musical about a gold-digging orphan, through Feb. 28 at Merriam Theatre, 250 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.

Any Given Monday Theatre Exile presents a world premiere by Bruce Graham about political correctness, religious faith, class discrimination and social injustice and how one man defines right and wrong, through Feb. 28 at Plays and Players Theater, 1714 Delancey St.; (215) 218-4022.

Ben, Anadolu Painted Bride Arts Center presents a play in Turkish language that starts with the Hittites and continues through modern-day Turkey, 3 p.m. Feb. 28, 230 Vine St.; (215) 925-9914.

Blue Door Arden Theatre Company presents the story of a successful mathematics professor experiencing a sleepless night where a series of ancestors visit to reveal the hardships and victories that have shaped their lives, through March 21, 40 N. Second St.; (215) 922-1122.

Bye Bye Birdie The Players Club of Swarthmore Theater presents the Tony Award-winning musical, through March 6, 614 Fairview Road, Swarthmore; (866) 811-4111.

The Eclectic Society The Walnut Street Theatre presents the world premiere of a complex story of drama and humor set on a university campus in 1963 New England, through March 7, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 574-3550.

Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue The Walnut Street Theatre’s 2009-10 Independence Studio on 3 presents the story of a Marine on leave to recover from his wounds from the war in Iraq, through March 14, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 574-3550.

The Importance of Being Earnest Forge Theatre presents the classic Oscar Wilde play about high society and the antics of two bachelors trying to win their ladies’ hearts, through March 13, 241 First Ave., Phoenixville; (610) 935-1920.

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 April 18 at Kimmel’s Innovation Studio, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.

Language Rooms The Wilma Theater presents a black comedy that exposes the divided loyalties among today’s immigrants, who are discovering the rising cost of the American Dream, March 3-April 4, 265 S. Broad St.; (215) 546-7842.

The Play’s The Thing The Actors’ NET of Bucks County presents the classic farce set in the 1920s about a playwright and his collaborator, who bring a young composer in love with the leading lady of an upcoming musical to a weekend retreat at an Italian castle, through March 14 at The Morrisville Heritage Center, 635 N. Delmorr Ave., Morrisville; (215) 295-3694.

Respect: A Musical Journey of Women Society Hill Playhouse presents an exuberant musical that recounts the journey of women in the 20th century with popular music, through April 18, 507 S. Eighth St.; (215) 923-0210.

Take Me Out Reading Community Players presents the story of a star baseball player who decides to come out, through March 7, 40 N. 11th St., Reading; (610) 375-9106.

MUSIC classical LolliPOPS & Roses Peter Nero and the Philly Pops perform with Grammy-winner Jack Jones for a special program of songs from the heart, 8 p.m. Feb. 26 and 3 p.m. Feb. 27 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.

Brahms Violin Concerto The Philadelphia Orchestra performs with Dutch violinist Janine Jansen, 8 p.m. Feb. 27 and 28 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.

An Evening of Schumann The Philadelphia Orchestra and Maestro Christoph Eschenbach commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Robert Schumann with an evening devoted to his music, 8 p.m. March 4-6 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.

MUSIC other Avi Wisnia The out bassa-nova singer performs at 7 p.m. Feb. 27 at Magic Gardens, 1020 South St.; (215) 733-0390.

Sugar Town The night of lady rockers and DJs features Kitten Disaster, The Sky Drops, out rock band She Ends All and Maura Johnston, 9 p.m. Feb. 27 at Tritone Bar, 1508 South St.; (215) 545-0475.

Chrisette Michele The Grammy-winning singer performs at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; (215) 572-7650.

Big Ears: John Hollenbeck’s Large Ensemble Painted Bride Arts Center presents the jazz ensemble, 7 and 9 p.m. Feb. 29, 230 Vine St.; (215) 925-9914.

Muse The superstar U.K. rock band performs at 7 p.m. March 2 at Wachovia Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; (215) 336-2000.

The Black Eyed Peas The hip-hop group performs at 8 p.m. March 3 at the Wachovia Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; (215) 336-2000.

Bob Mould The out punk icon performs at 8 p.m. March 3 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400.

EXHIBITIONS Ancient Rome & America The National Constitution Center presents an exhibition of rare artifacts from Italy and the United States, including excavated remains from Pompeii and Roman busts of Julius Caesar and Cicero, through Aug. 1, 525 Arch St.; (215) 409-6600.

Contemporary Folklore The James A. Michener Art Museum presents an exhibition featuring the works of four regional artists mining both collective and personal stories to create sculptures that retell new histories, through June 13, 138 S. Pine St., Doylestown; (215) 340-9800.

Fabricated Stories AxD Gallery presents an exhibition of mixed-media works by Dolores Poacelli and David Carrow, through March 6, 265 S. 10th St.; (215) 627-6250.

Inspiring a Nation The National Constitution Center hosts an exhibition featuring World War I posters created by Philadelphia Sketch Club artists, through April 25, 525 Arch St.; (215) 409-6700.

It Was Good While It Lasted Space 1026 presents a joint exhibition by Blake E. Marquis and Justin Van Hoy, through Feb. 26, 1026 Arch St., second floor; (215) 574-7630.

Meditation on the Chawan ArtStar Gallery presents a solo exhibition by Philadelphia fiber artist Ed Bing Lee, through March 21, 623 N. Second St.; (215) 238-1557.

Nameless and Reverberating Fleisher/Ollman Gallery presents a solo exhibition of new drawings by Chicago artist Luis Romero, through March 27, 1616 Walnut St., Suite 100; (215) 545-7562.

Play Mate The James Oliver Gallery presents an exhibition of whimsical works by Darla Jackson, Gretchen Diehl and Sienna Freeman, through March 23, 723 Chestnut St., fourth floor; (215) 923-1242.

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.

Sanbao: A Way of Living and Working The Clay Studio presents an exhibition of works from Jackson Li, through March 14, 139 N. Second St.; (215) 925-3453.

DANCE Black Grace The Kimmel Center presents the group of dancers fusing Pacific traditional cultures with contemporary dance, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26-27 and 2:30 p.m. Feb. 27 at Perelman Theatre, 250 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.

Moving Beyond Form Asian Arts Initiative and Urmika Devi present three distinctly different choreographers and ensembles exploring rhythm and storytelling in classical and contemporary Indian dance, at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26 and 4:30 p.m. Feb. 27, 1219 Vine St.; (215) 557-0455.

STREB: Raw The acrobatic dance company performs at 8 p.m. March 2 at the Grand Opera House, 818 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; (800) 374-7263.

The Four Temperaments and Carmina Burana Pennsylvania Ballet presents the two works March 4-13 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.

FILM The Treasure of the Sierra Madre The Humphrey Bogart film is screened at 2 p.m. Feb. 28 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; (610) 917-0223.

Live From Bonaroo A film of the 2009 festival featuring performances by Bruce Springsteen, Phish, Elvis Costello and more is screened at 8 p.m. March 1 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400.

BOOKS Victoria Janssen The Philadelphia-based science-fiction author of “The Moonlight Mistress” hosts a discussion, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26 at Moonstone Arts Center, 110a S. 13th St.; (215) 735-9600.

Anousheh Ansari The first female private space explorer and author of “My Dream of Stars: From Daughter of Iran to Space Pioneer” hosts a book event at 7:30 p.m. March 4 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; (215) 686-5322.

OPERA Tea: A Mirror of Soul The Opera Company of Philadelphia presents a contemporary opera that marries Western lyricism and Asian influence in a breathtaking union through Feb. 28 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.

Tosca Amici Opera Company presents Puccini’s opera fully staged, 3 p.m. Feb. 28 at Center For Creative Arts, 410 Upper Snuff Mill Road, Yorklyn, Del.; (215) 224-224-0257.

CABARET It’s Madame With An E The puppet diva returns, 8:30 p.m. Feb. 27 at Harlans Cabaret, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; (215) 862-5225.

ETC Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus The “greatest show on Earth” runs through Feb. 28 at the Wachovia Center, 3600 S. Broad St.; (215) 336-2000.

Whitney Cummings The comedian seen on “Chelsea Lately” performs Feb. 26-27 at Helium, 2031 Sansom St.; (215) 496-9001.

Scene The monthly LGBTQ dance party celebrates its one-year anniversary from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Feb. 27 at Voyeur Nightclub, 1221 St. James St.; www.tlbtbproductions.com.

Gay Community Night at 76ers LGBT fans get their own section when the Sixers play the Orlando Magic at 7 p.m. March 1 at the Wachovia Center, 3600 S. Broad St.; (215) 336-2000.

Todd Glass The comedian seen on “The Sarah Silverman Show” performs March 3-6 at Helium, 2031 Sansom St.; (215) 496-9001.

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