FunTimes Magazine ‘Culture & Entertainment’ column, Week of September 25, 2023

September is coming to a quick close this week, as October lurks in the shadows. From concerts to galas, here are some fun free, or low-cost entertaining activities in the Philadelphia area. Enjoy, but please take precautions, especially when in groups and indoors, with the onset of new COVID variants.

Audra McDonald

The musical magic of McDonald

Tuesday, October 3, 2023. Winner of more Tony Awards than any other actor in U.S. history, soprano Audra McDonald will headline a cool concert with Your Philadelphia Orchestra. Known for her roles in Porgy and Bess, Carousel, and Ragtime, the versatile performer of stage and screen will sing Broadway classics and a splash of the Philadelphia Sound. McDonald is a triple threat; she has won a Tony, GRAMMY® and Emmy. She has appeared in Ragtime, Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, and other Broadway classics. McDonald also has a TV resume with roles in CBS’s The Good Wife and The Good Fight and the HBO hit The Gilded Age. Top Broadway conductor Andy Einhorn will accompany her along with Your Philadelphia Orchestra. Tickets start at $69, 7:30 p.m. EST. Kimmel Center/Verizon Hall, 300 S. Broad St., 215-893-1999 or philorch.org.

Thursday, October 5, 2023.GEORGE TALKS, LLC’s presentation of E-SIDE STORY — a dramatization on unban teen life and gun violence — is precisely what urban America needs right now. At a time dominated by social media conflicts and teen violence, this theater fundraiser is spot on. The production focuses on Black and Latina teen life and conflict resolution. It will include a chat with panelists afterward. The script is by Antoine Stroman, directed by Freedom Cooke, and hosted by Dr. George James. Tom and Freedom Cooke are the executive producers. $10 to $35. African American Museum in Philadelphia, 701 Arch St. eventbrite.com.

Art connects communities

Saturday, September 30, 2023. Our Land, Our Movement, a public art project organized by Mural Arts Philadelphia, will focus on healing our bodies and lands. Led by Marguerite Hemmings, the initiative engages disconnected communities in West Philly, Olney, and Chinatown. Teen participants have teamed up with Hemmings and various facilitators/designers to create “a three-part movement ritual.” It is a walking mural, with inspiring young creatives painting their neighborhoods with movement and storytelling using bright fabrics, face makeup, and other elements. Free, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. EST, 215-557-0455. Asian Arts Initiative, 1219 Vine St., 215-557-0455 or http://www.muralarts.org.

Flor de Toloache

Latin music with an edge

Friday, September 29, 2023. Swarthmore College’s Department of Music and Dance and the Elizabeth Pollard Fetter Chamber Music Program will present Flor de Toloache. The Latin Grammy®-winning, all-female group mixes the old and innovative, with its edgy fresh approach to traditional Latin-American music. According to the promotional literature: “Their diverse ethnicities and musical backgrounds transcend culture and gender by forging new paths.” The ensemble from New York recently released “Florecita Rock-ERA”, a song collection inspired by American rock classics. Flor de Tolache also released “Soleda,” the first single from an upcoming album. Free, 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. EST, Swarthmore College, Lang Music Hall, 99 Whittier Place (11 miles southwest of Phila.). E-mail: bbruce1@swarthmore.edu, 610-328-8230 or https://flordetoloache.komi.io/.

30 culturally-enriching years on ‘The Avenue’

Friday, October 6, 2023. Celebrate 30 years and future plans with the best of the arts-culture on Broad Street at the Avenue of the Arts 30th Anniversary Gala. Avenue of the Arts, which spans the heart of the Broad Street corridor, is one of Philadelphia’s treasured cultural meccas. Organized by the nonprofit, Avenue of the Arts, Inc., join Governor Edward Rendell, CBS3’s Jim Donovan, and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright James Ijames, who will be the recipient of the 2023 “Avenue of the Arts Visionary Award” bestowed to an individual or group for contributions to the arts. Enjoy pop-up performances by BalletX, Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts, Kimmel Cultural Campus, Academy of Vocal Arts, Opera Philadelphia, and more. Enjoy food, drink, and dancing at VIP and cocktail receptions and dinner. The price, $250 per person, is up there for this column, but if you love The Avenue of the Arts….6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. EST. W Hotel, 1439 Chestnut St. E-mail: info@avenueofthearts.org, 215-834-1976 or https://www.avenueofthearts.org/gala/.