At the end of each year we consider the unforgettable and completely coherent words of Scottish national poet Robert Burns. “We twa hae run about the braes and pu’d the gowans fine; But we’ve wander’d mony a weary foot sin auld lang syne.”
Hum. Also, here at Phindie we think about the articles you loved in the year just ending. Once again, here are the most-read pieces by your favorite Philadelphia theater and arts website.
Most popular new articles of 2018
The top-read article on Phindie got over 27,000 unique impressions in 2018!
- Phindie’s Picks for the 2018 Fringe Festival in Philadelphia
- PETER PAN (School of Pennsylvania Ballet): Forever’s children by Eri Yoneda
- An Aerialist Brazilian: Danila Bim discusses her work with Cirque du Soleil’s VOLTA by Debra Danse
- Winners of the 2018 Barrymore Awards
- Dinner for One: The greatest cult film you’ve never heard of by Henrik Eger
- HAPGOOD (Lantern): Rising to the challenge of a gleefully complicated spy story by Toby Zinman
- THE TEMPEST (Lantern): Sounds and sweet airs that give delight and hurt not by Toby Zinman
- WOLFCRUSH: a queer werewolf play (On the Rocks): 2018 Fringe review by Smalley Bogg
- IRVING BERLIN’S HOLIDAY INN (Walnut Street Theatre): Longing for a time that never was by Naomi Orwin
- THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK (People’s Light): An intense retelling of a familiar story by Neal Zoren
Theater reviews
We like theater and you like us! Reflecting the diversity of Phindie coverage, this year’s most-read reviews mixed new and classic plays, Broadway musicals and indie world premieres.
- HAPGOOD (Lantern): Rising to the challenge of a gleefully complicated spy story by Toby Zinman
- THE TEMPEST (Lantern): Sounds and sweet airs that give delight and hurt not by Toby Zinman
- WOLFCRUSH: a queer werewolf play (On the Rocks): 2018 Fringe review by Smalley Bogg
- IRVING BERLIN’S HOLIDAY INN (Walnut Street Theatre): Longing for a time that never was by Naomi Orwin
- THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK (People’s Light): An intense retelling of a familiar story by Neal Zoren
- MARY ROSE (Philadelphia Artists’ Collective): 2018 Fringe review by Toby Zinman
- A DOLL’S HOUSE (Arden): Ibsen for our times by Christopher Munden
- FRANKENSTEIN; OR THE MODERN PROMETHEUS (Quintessence Theatre): It’s Alive!! by Lisa Panzer
- SENSITIVE GUYS (InterAct): Satirizing the dialectic of sex by Toby Zinman
- WINTER WONDERETTES (Walnut Street): The lovely ditzies of winter by Henrik Eger
- FUN HOME (Arden Theatre): LOL misery by Kathryn Osenlund
Features
Our feature articles on local theater and arts are the most-read pieces on the site.
- Phindie’s Picks for the 2018 Fringe Festival in Philadelphia
- Winners of the 2018 Barrymore Awards
- Dinner for One: The greatest cult film you’ve never heard of by Henrik Eger
- A Vagina Monologues for our Times: Earlie Bird Productions’ V2: CREATION MYTH by Smalley Bogg
- Mule for Hire: John Rosenberg returns to Philly with some hella fresh theater by Christopher Munden
- Remembering Joel Markowitz, founding editor of DC Metro Theater Arts by Henrik Eger
- America the Beautiful, America the Ugly: An open letter to a German visitor by Henrik Eger
- Oscar-Winning Movies Don’t Come From Plays Anymore by Christopher Munden
- 10 Ways YOU Can Improve Theater Criticism by Christopher Munden
Interviews
Phindie talks to the finest artists in Philly. Some of them talk back!
- An Aerialist Brazilian: Danila Bim discusses her work with Cirque du Soleil’s VOLTA by Debra Danese
- “I Can’t Kiss Myself Alone”: The Wit and Retro Style of Berlin’s Max Raabe and His Palast Orchestra. Interview by Henrik Eger
- German Cabaret in Philadelphia: Interview with Berlin’s Dieter Rita Scholl by Henrik Eger
- Theater of the Extreme: Amanda Schoonover looks back on PHAEDRA’S LOVE by Henrik Eger
- Back to Prison: Playwright Kash Goins on his reprised play V to X at Arden Theatre by Christopher Munden
- A World Premiere by a Pennsylvania Ballet Dancer: Interview with Russell Ducker by Eri Yoneda
- My Favorite Things: Local actor Danielle Lee James appears in THE SOUND OF MUSIC tour by Debra Danese
- Abracadabra: Jonathan Weir appears in ALADDIN by Debra Danese
- Poetry and Film: Alexandra Naughton combines literary and cinematic talents at a film premiere by Christopher Munden
- MEDEA, A Woman in Crisis: Interview with Jennifer Summerfield by Henrik Eger
Dance
Are my lemons tied? Is my hair in place?
- PETER PAN (School of Pennsylvania Ballet): Forever’s children by Eri Yoneda
- An Aerialist Brazilian: Danila Bim discusses her work with Cirque du Soleil’s VOLTA by Debra Danse
- UNHINGED (Matter Movement Group): 2018 Fringe review by Lisa Panzer
- SWAN LAKE (PA Ballet): Pennsylvania Ballet refined through the classic by Eri Yoneda
- A World Premiere by a Pennsylvania Ballet Dancer: Interview with Russell Ducker by Eri Yoneda
- FALL SERIES 2018 (BalletX): Three varied, compelling world premieres by Christopher Munden
- THE NUTCRACKER (PA Ballet): 50 years of a holiday treat by Eri Yoneda
- Nick and Ben’s New Circus Jawn by Christopher Munden
- JEWELS (PA Ballet): A dazzling season finale by Eri Yoneda
- Hip-hop in Dance and Photography: Raphael Xavier exhibits visual art at Dupree Gallery by Christopher Munden
Music
Ein Klein Phindie music coverage got much love this year.
- “I Can’t Kiss Myself Alone”: The Wit and Retro Style of Berlin’s Max Raabe and His Palast Orchestra by Henrik Eger
- A dilettante at large: WRITTEN ON SKIN (Opera Philadelphia) by Toby Zinman
- German Cabaret in Philadelphia: Interview with Berlin’s Dieter Rita Scholl by Henrik Eger
- DO YOU WANT A COOKIE? (Bearded Ladies Cabaret): 2018 Fringe review by Smalley Bogg
- PABLO HERAS-CASADO RETURNS (Philadelphia Orchestra): Old and new by Magaret Darby
- CARMEN (Opera Philadelphia): Color and excitement by Dorie Byrne
- The Philadelphia Orchestra pulls in an audience with a surprisingly good Philadelphia Voices by Margaret Darby
- Berlin to Broadway, a Musical Voyage with Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill: Cast interview by Henrik Eger
- TRANSCENDENCE TO TRANSPARENCY (Les Canards Chantants): Music review by Margaret Darby
- Lahav Shani leads Philadelphia Orchestra with music by Lindberg, Stravinsky, and Prokofiev by Margaret Darby
Film
Some marquee articles about cinema.
- Dinner for One: The greatest cult film you’ve never heard of by Henrik Eger
- Oscar-Winning Movies Don’t Come From Plays Anymore by Christopher Munden
- Poetry and Film: Alexandra Naughton combines literary and cinematic talents at a film premiere by Christopher Munden
- THE FAVOURITE (dir. Yorgos Lanthimos): Philadelphia Film Festival review by Angela Harmon
- 10 Best Films of 2018 So Far by Harry Southworth
From the archives
Phindie’s been around a few years now, so many of our most-read pieces are evergreen articles from years’ past. These ones remain your favorites.
- Sex on Stage in FEST (FringeArts) and KEIN APPLAUS FÜR SCHEISSE (American Realness [NYC]) by Julius Ferraro
- Literary Legacy: A History of Philadelphia Writers by Christopher Munden
- A Brief History of Early Publishing in Philadelphia by Christopher Munden
- THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR (IRC): Corruption! by Julius Ferraro with Mike Jackson
- From Mormon Boy to Rent Boy: Interview with solo performer Steven Fales by Henrik Eger
- Rhythm, race, and energy: Interview with Ozzie Jones on the first African American production of DEATH OF A SALESMAN in Philadelphia by Henrik Eger
- Jay Cooke: The Philadelphia banker who funded the Civil War, caused one of the nation’s biggest financial collapses, and founded Penn State Abington by Christopher Munden
- A Weird History: Dr. Thomas Dent Mütter and his peculiar museum by Christopher Munden
- Yo Philly, No More Safe Bullshit by Christopher Munden and John Rosenberg
- An overview of the Philly theater scene by Christopher Munden
Read on in 2019.