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May 3, 2001
EDITOR'S PICK
The world comes to Philly
(children’s version)
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Italian actor
Oreste Catagna brings Oscar Wilde’s children’s classic
“The Happy Prince” to life in one of this year’s
featured performances at the Philadelphia International Children’s
Festival.
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It really is a small world after all. At least it is while the
Philadelphia International Children’s Festival is under way.
This year’s 17th edition of the arts and crafts festival for kids,
which continues through Sunday, May 6, showcases the world’s diversity
in an entertaining and educational fashion, with feature performances
from eight groups representing seven countries — Belgium, Canada,
China, Italy, Japan, Uganda and the United States.
A complete listing of the main stage shows follows. Tickets are $10 each
for the first show and $6 each for additional shows (up to the number
purchased for the first show). For tickets or information, visit www.pennpresents.org
or call 215-898-3900.
 SHANGRI-LA
CHINESE ACROBATS: This 18-member troupe, formerly known as the Chinese
Magic Revue, has dazzled audiences around the world with acrobatic performances
featuring feats of balance, kung fu, brilliant costumes and a touch of
comedy. Today at 10 a.m., Friday at noon, Saturday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
and Sunday at noon and 4 p.m. in Zellerbach Theatre, Annenberg Center,
3680 Walnut St.
“THE HAPPY PRINCE”: The
Fondazione Aida children’s theater of Verona, Italy, presents Oreste
Catagna’s original interpretation of Oscar Wilde’s classic children’s
tale, set to a jazz score by Claudio Angeleri. Today at 10 a.m., Friday
at noon, Saturday at noon and 4 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. in Harold Prince
Theatre, Annenberg Center.
KUNIKO YAMAMOTO:
A frequent performer at Disney’s Epcot Center, this Japanese storyteller
comes to Philly with a feast of folk tales, including “The Little
Funny Woman” and a Japanese favorite, “The Stonecutter.”
Today at 10 a.m., Friday at noon, Saturday at noon and 2 p.m. and Sunday
at noon and 2 p.m. in Studio Theatre, Annenberg Center.
ROBERT MINDEN DUO: Canadian musician/storytellers
Robert Minden and Carla Hallet explore the musical possibilities of all
sorts of unusual instruments and objects in “The Lost Sound.”
Today at 10 a.m., Friday at noon, Saturday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and Sunday
at 2 p.m. at the Iron Gate Theatre, 3700 Chestnut St.
NDERE TROUPE: This ensemble seeks
to conserve and promote the rich musical, dance and poetic traditions
of the many cultures that make up modern Uganda in the wake of that country’s
years of chaos. Today at noon, Friday at 10 a.m., Saturday at noon and
4 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. in Zellerbach Theatre, Annenberg Center.
JIM JACKSON: The fruits of 20 years
of research on the topic, “The clown is a poet who is also an orangutan,”
are displayed every time this accomplished funnyman takes the stage. In
this production, he takes on fine art via the character of Mr. Art Guffaw,
a house painter who is afraid of color and cannot draw a straight line.
Today at noon, Friday at 10 a.m., Saturday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and Sunday
at noon and 4 p.m. in Harold Prince Theatre, Annenberg Center.
TOM PAXTON: He’s been around
since the ’60s Greenwich Village folk scene, but his songs continue
to entertain, delight and comment on the state of the world today and
influence a new generation of folksingers. Today at noon, Friday at 10
a.m., Saturday at noon and 4 p.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Iron Gate
Theatre.
“ANTON”: Het Muziek Lod
of Belgium presents this new play based on Fernand Auwera’s fairy
tale about a young boy who’s had enough of fairy tales but gets caught
up in one as he takes a walk through the woods. Today at noon, Friday
at 10 a.m., Saturday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and Sunday at noon and 4 p.m.
at International House, 3701 Chestnut St.
KIDS’ CORNER LIVE: Folk
singer Tom Paxton joins host Kathy O’Connell for a special live edition
of WXPN’s “Kids’ Corner” from the Zellerbach Theatre
stage. Friday at 7 p.m. in Zellerbach Theatre, Annenberg Center; also
simulcast on WXPN (88.5 FM).
Wait, there’s more!
Along with the shows on the festival’s main stages, the free “StageWorks”
performance area features jugglers, clowns, musicians and storytellers,
and the “PlayWorks” area, free to those with a show ticket,
features craft workshops in painting, basketmaking, puppetry, musical
instruments and more. This year’s “StageWorks” stage is
located at Sansom Common, on 36th St. between Sansom and Walnut; “PlayWorks”
takes place on the Annenberg Center plaza off Locust Walk between 34th
and 36th streets.
“StageWorks” performances run from 11 a.m. to noon today and
tomorrow, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. “PlayWorks”
takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today and tomorrow, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
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