GARDEN PARTY: Out rocker and gay icon Melissa Etheridge performs a solo concert 7:30 p.m. Aug. 25 in the picturesque surroundings of Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square. For more information or tickets, call 610-388-1000.
Arts & Literature
Defiant Archives
The William Way LGBT Community Center presents a collection of archival and personal items about the history of transgender activism in Philadelphia, curated and collected by local trans community members, through Sept. 20, 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220.
Discovering the Impressionists: Paul Durand-Ruel and the New Painting
Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of paintings revealing the story of Monet, Renoir, Degas, Manet, Pissarro and their visionary art dealer and champion, Paul Durand-Ruel, through Sept. 13, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.
GayFest!
Quince Productions presents its annual festival of LGBT-themed theater performances through Aug. 22 at various locations; www.quinceproductions.
Genghis Khan: Bringing the Legend to Life
The Franklin Institute presents the story of one of the world’s greatest leaders through Jan. 3, 20th Street and the Parkway; www.fi.edu.
Into Dust: Traces of the Fragile in Contemporary Art
Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of the distinctions between the corporeal and transcendental, emergence and decay, belonging and displacement, life and death, through Oct. 25, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.
Mad Max
The action film is screened 8 p.m. Aug. 17 at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215-922-6888.
Northern Lights: Scandinavian Design
Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition surveying Scandinavian design from its triumphant showing at the 1900 World’s Fair in Paris to the present day, through Oct. 4, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.
Rage of Achilles
Commonwealth Classic Theater Company presents a comic tragedy involving Greek and Trojan spies through Aug. 22 at URBN Center Annex at Drexel University, 3401 Filbert St.; 215-895-2000.
Take Two: Contemporary Photographs
Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition exploring how contemporary artists have responded to changes in culture and technology by refashioning or rejecting photography’s conventions, Aug. 22-Nov. 15, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.
LEANER AND MEANER: Lisa Lampanelli, the comedian known as the “Queen of Mean,” is back in the area to dish out her popular brand of insults and observational commentary 8 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J. For more information or tickets, call 609-317-1000.
Music
Chris Brown
The R&B singer performs 7 p.m. Aug. 21 at Susquehanna Bank Center, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, N.J.; 609-365-1300.
Melissa Ferrick
The out singer-songwriter performs 8 p.m. Aug. 22 Downstairs at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400.
Naughty By Nature
The rap group performs 7 p.m. Aug. 23 at Dell Music Center, 2500 Strawberry Mansion Drive; 215-685-9560.
Graham Central Station and Bootsy Collins
The funk groups perform 7 p.m. Aug. 23 at Dell Music Center, 2500 Strawberry Mansion Drive; 215-685-9560.
PGMC Auditions
Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus holds auditions 8-10 p.m. Aug. 26 by appointment at Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion, 2111 Sansom St.; http://pgmc.org/auditions.htm.
Van Halen
The rock band performs 7:30 p.m. Aug. 27 at Susquehanna Bank Center, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, N.J.; 609-365-1300.
ZOSO
The Led Zeppelin tribute band performs 8 p.m. Aug. 27 at TLA, 334 South St.; 215-922-1011.
Bruce in the U.S.A.
The Bruce Springsteen tribute band performs 8 p.m. Aug. 28 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215-572-7650.
Nightlife
The Eric Jaffe Show
The entertainer performs highlights from the world-premiere musical “The Pop Musical Diary of a Gay Man,” 7:30 p.m. Aug. 21 at Tavern on Camac, 243 S. Camac St.; 215-545-0900.
Lil’ Steph presents RASPUTIN’S ROOM
The burlesque show begins 9 p.m. Aug. 21 at Ruba Club Studios, 416 Green St.; 215-627-9831.
Bev’s Back-to-School Bitchfest
The end-of-summer drag blowout starring Ari Kik, Bella Cane, Anita Manhattan and more starts 9 p.m. Aug. 22 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215-964-9675.
The Haus of Ham Presents: Mean Gays
A drag spoof of the teen comedy “Mean Girls,” 9 p.m. at Frank Bradley’s, 1320 Chancellor St.; 215-735-0735.
First Person Arts StorySlam
Spoken-word performers take over 7:30 p.m. Aug. 25 at L’Etage, 624 S. Sixth St.; 215-592-0656.
Devil Drag Takes On The Gayborhood!
The drag group performs 9 p.m. Aug. 28 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215-964-9675.
Outta Town
Emily Skinner
The Tony Award-nominated singer performs 8 p.m. Aug. 21 at the Rrazz Room, in The Ramada New Hope, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; 888-596-1027.
Santana
The rock guitarist performs 8 p.m. Aug. 21-22 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.
Spartacus
The classic sword and sandal epic is screened 2 p.m. Aug. 23 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610-917-1228.
No Sex Please, We’re British
The Hedgerow Theatre presents a comic farce about a happy couple whose lives are turned upside-down when mail-order pornography is mistakenly delivered to their home and place of business, through Aug. 23, 64 Rose Valley Road, Media; 610-565-4211.
Howard Jones
The synth-pop singer performs 8 p.m. Aug. 24 at Sellersville Theatre 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville; 215-257-5808.
Melissa Etheridge
The out singer-songwriter performs 7:30 p.m. Aug. 25 at Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square; 610-388-1000.
Louis Anderson
The comedian performs at 6 and 9 p.m. Aug. 28 at Sellersville Theatre 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville; 215-257-5808.
Lisa Lampanelli
The comedian performs 8 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.
Herman Leonard: Jazz Portraits
An exhibition of photographs from the master portrait photographer featuring jazz legends such as Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington and many more from 1940-60, through Oct. 11 at Michener Art Museum, 138 S. Pine St., Doylestown; 215-340-9800.