Happy New Year!
We’re not psychic but something tells us 2016 is going to be a roller coaster of a year. The GOP debates are only going to get more vicious and outrageous as they trundle along. Then once the smoke clears from that, the real political fireworks are going to go off. The fate of the free world hangs in the political balance — stressful stuff.
The point is, winter (as unseasonably mild as it is) is upon us and life is short. And it may or may not be getting shorter. Get in all the arts, culture and good times in 2016 that your can cram into your schedule before frost and whatever societal craziness set in and cramp your style.
Cheers!
Books
Michael Eric Dyson
The minister and author of “The Black Presidency: Barack Obama and the Politics of Race in America” hosts a reading 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215-567-4341.
E.J. Dionne Jr.
The minister, professor and author of “Why the Right Went Wrong: Conservatism — From Goldwater to the Tea Party and Beyond” hosts a reading 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215-567-4341.
Buzz Aldrin
The astronaut and author of “No Dream Is Too High: Life Lessons From a Man Who Walked on the Moon” hosts a reading 7:30 p.m. April 7 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215-567-4341.
Classical/Opera/World Music
Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique
The Philadelphia Orchestra performs with conductor Fabio Luisi Jan. 7-9 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800.
Hayden and Bruckner
The Philadelphia Orchestra performs with conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin Jan. 21-22 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5847.
Brahms and His Legacy
The Philadelphia Orchestra performs Feb. 4-6 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5847.
Bronfman Plays Beethoven
The Philadelphia Orchestra performs with conductor Yefim Bronfman Feb. 11-14 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5847.
2CELLOS
The cello sensations perform 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5847.
Comedy/Humor
Todd Glass
The out comedian performs Jan. 14-17 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215-496-9001.
Judy Gold
The out comedian performs 8 p.m. Jan. 22 at the Rrazz Room at The Prince, 1412 Chestnut St.; 215-422-4580.
Hal Sparks
The comedian seen on “Queer As Folk” performs Feb. 11-14 at Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215-496-9001.
Billy Gardell
The comedian performs 9 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.
Jeff Dunham
The comedian/ventriloquist performs 3 p.m. Feb. 14 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215-389-9543.
Ron White
The comedian performs 8 p.m. March 12 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215-572-7650.
Dance
Shen Yun
The Chinese dance and orchestral group performs Jan. 8-10 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800.
Dancing with the Stars Live!
Dancers from the hit TV show perform 8 p.m. Jan. 14 at Tower Theatre, 19 S. 69th St., Upper Darby; 610-352-2887.
Ballet Hispanico
Dance Affiliates and the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts present the contemporary Latin-dance company Feb. 5-6 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215-898-3900.
Dance Theater of Harlem
Dance Affiliates and the Annenberg Center present the iconic dance company performing ballet masterpieces March 3-5 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215-898-3900.
Exhibits
International Pop
Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition chronicling pop art’s emergence as a global movement, migrating from the United Kingdom and the United States to western and eastern Europe, Latin America and Japan, Feb. 24-May 16, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.
Holly Trostle Brigham: Sisters and Goddesses
The Michener Art Museum hosts an exhibition of works by Philadelphia-based artist Holly Trostle Brigham Feb. 26-May 26, 138 S. Pine St., Doylestown; 215-340-9800.
Philadelphia in Style: A Century of Fashion
The Michener Art Museum hosts a display of approximately 30 dressed forms and additional accessories spanning a century of high fashion March 13-June 26, 138 S. Pine St., Doylestown; 215-340-9800.
Music
Aiden James
The out singer-songwriter performs 8 p.m. Jan. 9 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400.
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
The rappers perform Jan. 23-24 at Tower Theatre, 19 S. 69th St., Upper Darby; 610-352-2887.
Who’s Bad
The Michael Jackson tribute band performs 8 p.m. Jan. 30 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215-572-7650.
Indigo Girls
The out acoustic duo performs 3 and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215-572-7650.
Brandi Carlile
The out country singer performs 8 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
The rock singer performs “The River” in its entirety 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215-389-9543.
Carrie Underwood
The country singer performs 7 p.m. Feb. 22 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215-389-9543.
Janet Jackson
The pop icon performs 8 p.m. Feb. 24 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215-389-9543.
The Music of Billy Joel
The Philly POPS perform the music of Billy Joel March 4-6 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5847.
Rachelle Ferrell
The R&B/soul singer performs 8 p.m. March 6 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215-572-7650.
The Who
The rock band performs 7:30 p.m. March 14 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215-389-9543.
The Temptations
The classic R&B group performs 8 p.m. March 18 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave.; 215-572-7650.
AC/DC
The rock band performs 8 p.m. April 1 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215-389-9543.
Diana Ross
The pop and R&B icon performs 8 p.m. April 1 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.
Rihanna
The R&B/pop singer performs 7:30 p.m. April 3 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; 215-389-9543.
Theater
Once
The Tony Award-winning musical about a Dublin musician who is about to give up on his dream runs Jan. 15-17 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800.
Harvey
Walnut Street Theatre presents the classic Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy about a man with an unwavering friendship with a 6-foot-tall, invisible white rabbit Jan. 19-March 6, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550.
To Kill a Mockingbird
Media Theatre presents the play adapted from the classic Harper Lee novel Jan. 27-Feb. 14, 104 E. State St., Media; 610-891-0100.
Exit Strategy
Philadelphia Theatre Company presents the story of a dilapidated public school in Chicago targeted for closure and the power struggles that ensue among the faculty and students desperate to keep it open Jan. 29-Feb. 28 at Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St.; 215-985-0420.
Strength and Longing
The Pennsylvania Ballet performs a contrasting piece portraying the ups and downs of everyday life Feb. 4-7 at Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-893-1999.
Twelfth Night
The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents a new take on Shakespeare’s lyrical work Feb. 9-13 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215-898-3900
Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles
The live concert-musical featuring songs from the Beatles anthology, Feb. 11-14 at Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-893-1999.
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
The classic animated film is brought to life on stage Feb. 16-21 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800.
Pippin
The high-flying, death-defying, Tony Award-winning hit musical comes to town Feb. 23-28 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800.
Local Girls
Azuka Theatre presents the world premiere by Philadelphia playwright Emma Goidel about a high-school burnout who needs to find a new singer for her heavy-metal band Feb. 24-March 13 at The Drake, 1512 Spruce St.; 215-563-1100.
Dog Fight
Media Theatre presents the play about three young Marines on one last night out before deployment in 1963, March 2-27, 104 E. State St., Media; 610-891-0100.
Don Quixote
The Pennsylvania Ballet performs the classic comedy March 3-13 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800.
Peter and the Starcatcher
Walnut Street Theatre presents the grown-up prequel to “Peter Pan” March 15-May 1, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550.
The Sound of Music
The musical story of Maria and the Von Trapp Family, March 15-20 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800.
Beautiful: The Carole King Story
The Tony Award-winning story of the successful songwriter, March 22-April 3 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800.
Misc.
Bridget Everett
The comedy cabaret performer comes to town 8 p.m. Jan. 15 at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215-922-6888.
Pig Iron Theatre’s La Vie Bo-Ham
The theater company’s annual benefit cabaret, 8 p.m. Feb. 5 at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215-922-6888.
America’s Drag Stars
Celebrity queens perform 9 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.