Diversions: March 12-18

THEATER 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.

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.

Fallen Angels Walnut Street Theatre presents a comedy about bored wives, old flames and high society, March 16-May 2, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 574-3550.

GROOVALOO: The Hip-Hop Sensation The Kimmel Center’s Broadway series presents the award-winning troupe’s real-life experiences as told by the dancers who lived them, through March 14 at Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.

Happily Ever After 1812 Productions presents four-time Barrymore Award-winner Mary Martello in her new cabaret about the lives of aging fairy-tale princesses, through March 28 at Adrienne Theatre, 2030 Sansom St.; (215) 592-9560.

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.

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

Never Been Stoked: A Traveling Bromance Anthology Project presents a new environmental theater piece set, literally, in the backseat of a moving car, about two friends stuck in post-grad monotony, through March 15, starting and finishing at the Rite Aid parking lot on 23rd and Walnut streets; [email protected].

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.

The Rear Column Iron Age Theatre Productions presents the story of explorer H.M. Stanley and the fate of the five men he left to wait in Africa, through March 21 at The Centre Theater, 208 DeKalb St., Norristown; (610) 279-1013.

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.

The Smell of the Kill The Players Club of Swarthmore presents a dark comedy about married couples, through March 20 at PCS’ Second Stage, 614 Fairview Road, Swarthmore; (610) 328-4271.

Up Bristol Riverside Theatre presents the story of a man who uses a lawn chair, a weather balloon, a BB gun and a beer to escape the ordinary, March 16-April 4, 120 Radcliffe St.; (215) 735-7356.

MUSIC classical Vänskä Conducts Sibelius The Philadelphia Orchestra presents the charismatic Finnish-born music director of the Minnesota Orchestra, conducting music from his native land, 8 p.m. March 13 and 14 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.

Artemis Quartet Philadelphia Chamber Music Society presents the quartet from Berlin, 3 p.m. March 14 at Kimmel’s Perelman Theater, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.

Beethoven’s “Eroica” The Philadelphia Orchestra performs with Russian conductor Vladimir Jurowski, 8 p.m. March 18 and 20 and 2 p.m. March 19 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.

MUSIC other Antigone Rising The all-female rock band performs at 7:30 p.m. March 12 at Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St.; (215) 928-0770.

Habib Koité The African singer and guitarist, along with his band Bamada, perform a mix of rock, folk and traditional African music, 7 p.m. March 14 at Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 3680 Walnut St.; (215) 898-6701.

Janelle Monáe The R&B singer performs at 8 p.m. March 17 and 18 at Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave.; (215) 739-9684.

Melissa Manchester The Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter-pianist performs at 8 p.m. March 18 at Sellersville Theater 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave.; (215) 257-5808.

EXHIBITS Benjamin Pierce’s Transfigure InLiquid presents an exhibition of photographs escaping the bounds of traditional figure photography, in which the human body takes on myriad forms, through March 21 at Painted Bride Art Gallery, 230 Vine St.; (215) 922-9144.

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.

Chromatic Alchemy AxD Gallery presents an exhibition of paintings by John Clark and Gabriel Turner Byrne, through April 3, 265 S. 10th St.; (215) 627-6250.

The Hermaphrodites: Living in Two Worlds Wexler Gallery presents a group show focusing on figural sculptures that embody the literal definition of hermaphrodites (encompassing both genders) and the conceptual nature of the term, through May 1, 201 N. Third St.; (215) 923-7030.

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.

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.

The Peaceable Queendom Wexler Gallery presents an exhibition of works by Adelaide Paul exploring the alternately sentimental and callous relationship between humans and both domesticated and wild animals, through May 1, 201 N. Third St.; (215) 923-7030.

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.

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 Shadow and Light Group Motion Dance Company celebrates its 40th-anniversary season by presenting new work by Manfred Fischbeck, Brigitta Herrman and guest choreographer Megan Bridge, March 13-14 at Painted Bride Arts Center, 230 Vine St.; (215) 925-9914.

FILM Looney Tunes Selected cartoons from the Warner Brothers catalog are screened at 2 p.m. March 13 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; (610) 917-0223.

The Quiet Man The Oscar-winning John Wayne film is screened at 2 p.m. March 14 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; (610) 917-0223.

The Shining Bryn Mawr Film Institute presents the classic Stanley Kubric horror film at 7 p.m. March 16, 824 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr; (610) 527-9898.

Hairspray Bryn Mawr Film Institute presents the John Waters film at 7:30 p.m. March 17, 824 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr; (610) 527-9898.

BOOKS Ngugi wa Thiong’o One of Kenya’s best-known intellectuals and author of “Dreams in a Time of War: A Childhood Memoir” hosts a book event at 7:30 p.m. March 16 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; (215) 686-5322.

William Peter Blatty The Academy Award-winning screenwriter and producer and author of iconic horror novel “The Exorcist” hosts a reading from his new novel “Dimiter” at 7:30 p.m. March 18 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; (215) 686-5322.

OPERA Tannhauser Amici Opera Company presents Wagner’s opera, 2:30 p.m. March 14 at The Garden Church, 82 N. Lansdowne Ave., Lansdowne; (215) 224-0257.

Antony & Cleopatra Curtis Opera Theatre presents the story of Marc Antony and Cleopatra as they weave through deception, political intrigue and passion as hot as the sands of Egypt, 7:30 p.m. March 17, 8 p.m. March 19 and 2:30 p.m. March 21 at Kimmel’s Perelman Theater, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.

AUDITIONS Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus PGMC hosts auditions for new members for its Pride concert from 10-11:30 a.m. March 13 at Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion, 2111 Sansom St.; contact (215) 731-9230 or [email protected] to schedule an audition time.

The Last Airbender The new M. Night Shyamalan film is holding an open call for physically fit men and women, ages 10-65, and boys and girls, ages 6-16, of all ethnicities (martial-arts training a plus), from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. March 13 at Independence Visitor Center, 1 N. Independence Mall West; contact [email protected] or (215) 552-8554.

CABARET Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School Philly See what happens when cabaret meets art school, along with music, booze, oddball competitions, sexy dames and straight-up debauchery, at 3 p.m. March 13 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400.

ETC HRC Annual Philadelphia Region Dinner The 14th annual regional fundraiser dinner celebrates change, hope and the future of the movement for greater LGBT equality, 6-10 p.m. March 13 at Hyatt Regency Philadelphia, 201 S. Columbus Blvd.; [email protected].

Chantal Carrere The out comedian performs at 8:30 p.m. March 13 at Harlans Cabaret, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; (215) 862-5225.

Paul Mooney The comedian seen on “Chappelle’s Show” performs March 17-20 at Helium, 2031 Sansom St.; (215) 496-9001.

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