SHOP PENN Playlist for September
With everything from art to history to music, there is something for everyone on the west side of the Schuylkill this September. The “Shop Penn Playlist” is a snapshot of the top events being offered by institutions, organizations, and venues throughout the district this month.
Novelty Candle Experience – Cork & Candles
All Month
The Cork & Candles Novelty Experiences invites you to transform wax into unique realistic candles inspired by favorite themes such as food, decadent sweets and desserts, refreshing beverages, seasonal nostalgia, and household décor. Each month, they introduce an exclusive new candle design, giving you the opportunity to roll up your sleeves and explore advanced candle-making techniques in this unique educational and playful experience. For the month of September, they offer a Pumpkin Spice Latte candle. The most popular fall beverage, the Pumpkin Spice Latte, smells of pumpkin spice and is topped with a vanilla scented whipped cream and a dash of cinnamon.
A Patchwork of Stories for Grown-Ups – The Rotunda
September 7
Patchwork Storytelling Guild presents a brand-new fringe fest showcase, A Patchwork of Stories for Grown Ups, honoring the oral tradition and artistry of storytelling. Patchwork is celebrating the art of storytelling, elevating voices from novice to seasoned professional, and bringing a vibrant mix of styles, tales, and emotional depth to the stage with boundless enthusiasm and great anticipation! Join host and emcee Denise McCormack with Michele Belluomini, Ingrid Bohn, Ray Gray, Barbara Sherf, Christina Sturgis, and Nancy Wexler Taylor for a harmonious, memorable, and meaningful afternoon of stories.
The Laff House @WCL: Laff House Reunion – World Café Live
September 12
Join the Laff House Reunion and experience the place where many comedians launched their careers. This iconic comedy club has returned to Philadelphia, giving new talent a chance to shine and the audience a night full of laughs. Featuring standout performances from Malcolm Hill, Queen Hunny, and Charles Walden, this special event celebrates both the legacy and future of urban comedy. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this unforgettable night!
Blacktronika Presents: Tyshawn Sorey and King Britt – Institute of Contemporary Art
September 13
Drummer, composer, and Pulitzer Prize winner Tyshawn Sorey, alongside veteran producer, synthesist, and Pew Fellow King Britt, embody the spirit of improvised performance, deep sonic exploration, and polyrhythmic time travel. In this special live performance, the duo expands upon the dynamic collaboration first captured in their 2020 studio release, Tyshawn & King, pushing even further into uncharted auditory terrain. Stay, mingle, and enjoy a DJ set by Rebel Foster on our Terrace after Sorey and Britt’s performance.
The Breath Between – The Rotunda
September 20
Denise McCormack returns to Philadelphia with The Breath Between, an intimate storytelling performance that invites audiences on a journey through stories and songs imbued with moments of clarity. These are the rare instances when time seems to willingly freeze, allowing the observer to gaze in stillness, to savor the subtle nuances of meaning until they coalesce into a deep revelation. Such moments become lifelong tools—gifts meant to be shared. In this evocative show, McCormack weaves myth, memory, and melody to explore how wonder and story converge into knowing—those transformative flashes of insight that strike like lightning and resonate deeply within us.
Mark Morris Dance Group – Penn Live Arts
September 26-27
Celebrate the rich tapestry of American music and dance with Mark Morris, “the most successful and influential choreographer alive.” (The New York Times) Morris’ signature blend of wit, musicality and emotional depth shine in a program featuring American composers. Enjoy the Philadelphia premieres of two new works set to the jazzy sounds of James P. Johnson and the high-energy rhythmic flair of Louis Moreau Gottschalk. The program also features returning favorites Dancing Honeymoon and Three Preludes, set to George Gershwin. The stunning combination of exceptional dancers, beautifully sophisticated choreography and live music showcases how Morris’ “dances simply feel right, to the eye, intellect and nervous system.” (The Washington Post)
Branford Marsalis Quartet – Penn Live Arts
September 28
Saxophonist Branford Marsalis, an NEA Jazz Master and multiple Grammy® Award-winner, returns to the Penn Live Arts stage alongside his longtime quartet – pianist Joey Calderazzo, bassist Eric Revis and drummer Justin Faulkner. “A model of daring, unapologetic artistry for the past three decades,” (Jazziz Magazine) this unparalleled group is revered for its kaleidoscopic range of original compositions and inventive interpretations of jazz classics. On the heels of its first release in six years, the quartet will perform music from this acclaimed new record, Belonging, a reimagining of a 1974 album of the same name by Keith Jarrett’s European Quartet.