Ho hum. Another year over and what have we done?
Well, we’ve published another 400 articles about local arts. (That’s over 2,400 in the last four years, more than any other site in Philadelphia*!) Theater. Dance. Music. Film. Visual Art. You name it, and if it’s one of those things, we might’ve covered it. Here are the articles you read the most on Phindie in 2017.
Overall impressions
These were the most-read new articles of the past year. The top few getting tens of thousands of unique readers!
- “New York-caliber actors”: How NYC-centrism hurts regional theater by Cameron Kelsall
- 24 Picks for the 2017 Philadelphia Fringe Festival by Christopher Munden
- 2016-2017 Phindie Critics’ Awards
- Philly Actors Who Are Better Than You (at acting) and Deserve to be Seen by John Rosenberg
- Anthony Heald in GYPSY: Journeyman actor makes his way to Philadelphia by Cameron Kelsall
- THE GROOM’S A FAG; THE BRIDE’S A CUNT; THE BEST MAN’S A WHORE; AND THE MAIDEN OF HONOR (JUST) HUNG HERSELF IN THE CLOSET (On the Rocks): 2017 Fringe review by Cameron Kelsall
- Utopias on the Outskirts: Celia Reisman’s suburban landscapes at Gross McCleaf Gallery by Lev Feigin
- JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (Bristol Riverside Theatre): In a little river town a great but shopworn rock opera is reborn by Kathryn Osenlund
- GYPSY (Arden Theatre): Mary’s turn by Cameron Kelsall
- CORIOLANUS (Lantern): Succeeding with a Shakespeare many companies wouldn’t attempt by Kathryn Osenlund
Theater reviews
Over the last few years, Phindie has published more reviews of Philadelphia theater productions than any site in the WORLD!!!! Here were the favorites of 2017.
- THE GROOM’S A FAG; THE BRIDE’S A CUNT; THE BEST MAN’S A WHORE; AND THE MAIDEN OF HONOR (JUST) HUNG HERSELF IN THE CLOSET (On the Rocks) by Cameron Kelsall
- JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (Bristol Riverside Theatre) by Kathryn Osenlund
- GYPSY (Arden Theatre) by Cameron Kelsall
- CORIOLANUS (Lantern Theater Company) by Kathryn Osenlund
- TOWN (Jolie Darrow & Jack O’Keeffe) by Julia Taus
- A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Arden Theatre) by Christopher Munden
- THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST (Walnut Street Theatre) by Toby Zinman
- MY FAIR LADY (Quintessence Theatre) by Kathryn Osenlund
- HAND TO GOD (Philadelphia Theatre Company) by Toby Zinman
- SEAGULL (EgoPo Classic Theatre) by Kathryn Osenlund
- PEACEABLE KINGDOM (Orbiter 3) by Toby Zinman
Features
Our feature articles on local arts and culture are our most read pieces.
- “New York-caliber actors”: How NYC-centrism hurts regional theater by Cameron Kelsall
- 24 Picks for the 2017 Philadelphia Fringe Festival by Christopher Munden
- 2016-2017 Phindie Critics’ Awards
- Philly Actors Who Are Better Than You (at acting) and Deserve to be Seen by John Rosenberg
- 2017 Barrymore nominees: In their own words by Cameron Kelsall
- International Fringe 2017: A welcome to theater from around the world coming to the Philadelphia Fringe Festival by Henrik Eger
- you fucks are lucky this dude covers shit but if you appreciated him you wouldn’t be phila so fuck chris the brit : An editorial by John Rosenberg
- In Judgment of Wrongs: A biting premiere on American injustice launches Kash Goins’s residency at the Arden by Christopher Munden
- What We Save: An historic house explores non-traditional historical narratives by Natalie Rissner
- How should Philadelphia Theatre Company rebrand itself? by Cameron Kelsall
Interviews
That’s what (s)he said.
- Anthony Heald in GYPSY: Journeyman actor makes his way to Philadelphia by Cameron Kelsall
- Opening Doors, No Matter What: OSLO playwright J.T. Rogers talks about the evolution of a new world classic by Henrik Eger (two parts)
- Marriages of Figaro: Opera Philadelphia stars [John Chest and Layla Claire] are partners on and off stage by Cameron Kelsall
- WHITE: James Ijames on PlayPenn and Playwriting by Henrik Eger
- Even Talking about Suicide Is Difficult: Nine playwrights on collaborative playwriting with Elephant Room Productions by Henrik Eger
- A Woman Who Dares: Interview with KC MacMillan by Cameron Kelsall
- America’s Diva Comes to Philadelphia: An interview with Renée Fleming by Cameron Kelsall
- Right Hand Woman: An interview with Emily Zeck, PTC’s managing director by Cameron Kelsall
- Life in Oz: Interview with WICKED star Ginna Claire Mason by Debra Danese
- Local playwright makes good: An interview with Jacqueline Goldfinger by Cameron Kelsall
Dance
Let’s dance. Put on your red shoes and dance the blues.
- LE CORSAIRE (PA Ballet): A flamboyant and passionate ballet of the pirates by Eri Yoneda
- KINK HAÜS (Gunnar Montana): 2017 Fringe review by Lisa Panzer
- Dance in Sketch: ON EDGE (PA Ballet) by Ralph Malachowski and Chuck Schultz
- Dance in Sketch: More from Annie Wilson’s AT HOME WITH THE HUMORLESS BASTARD (FringeArts) by Chuck Schultz
- THE DELPHI PROJECT ANNUAL PERFORMANCE (with PA Ballet): Child’s play by Eri Yoneda
- EVENING OF DUETS: Eleven couples dance by Meredith Pellon
- Choreographic Workshop (PA Ballet): Dance beginnings from Pennsylvania Ballet by Eri Yoneda
- Challenges, Chances, Changes—Gender Equity in Concert Dance: Interview with Helen Pickett by Eri Yoneda
- Winter Series 2017 (BalletX): Exploring and experimenting by Eri Yoneda
Film
They’ll make a film about a Phindie that’s sad and lonely, and all Phindie will have to do is act naturally.
- I, TONYA (dir. Craig Gillespie): Philadelphia Film Festival review by Angela Harmon
- BRIMSTONE & GLORY (dir. Viktor Jakovlesly): Philadelphia Film Festival review by Dan Scully
- LADY BIRD (dir. Greta Gerwig): Philadelphia Film Festival review by Dan Scully
- The 26th Philadelphia Film Festival skates off with Tonya Harding and closes with Martin McDonagh by Christopher Munden
- THELMA (dir. Joachim Trier): Philadelphia Film Festival review by Dan Scully
- THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI (dir. Martin McDonagh): Philadelphia Film Festival review by Angela Harmon
- DARKEST HOUR (dir. Joe Wright): Philadelphia Film Festival review by Dan Scully
- Dispatches from the 26th Philadelphia Film Festival: Capsule reviews from opening weekend by Dan Scully
- IN THE FADE (dir. Fatih Akin): Philadelphia Film Festival review by Dan Scully
Music
If music be the food of love, that’s pretty good.
- Marriages of Figaro: Opera Philadelphia stars are partners on and off stage by Cameron Kelsall
- LA RONDINE (Curtis Opera Theatre): Puccini’s elusive swallows flies to Philly by Cameron Kelsall
- THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO (Opera Philadelphia): Mozart at the Academy of Music by Margaret Darby
- Opera Innovator: An Interview with David Devan ahead of the O17 Festival by Cameron Kelsall
- Daniel Matsukawa and Friends (PCM Society): Music review by Chuck Holdeman
- Your guide to Opera Philadelphia’s O17 Festival by Cameron Kelsall
- WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED (Opera Philly): 2017 Fringe review by Christopher Munden
- Opera in Sketch: DOCTOR ATOMIC (Curtis) + BLUEBEARD’S CASTLE (Philadelphia Orchestra) by Chuck Schultz
- After the O17: A reflection on Opera Philadelphia’s brave endeavor by Margaret Darby
- Opera in Sketch: Giargiari Bel Canto Competition at the Academy of Vocal Arts by Chuck Schultz
From the Archives
You’re still reading these? These are the most-read pieces over the last year that were published before 2017.
- Sex on Stage in FEST (FringeArts) and KEIN APPLAUS FÜR SCHEISSE (American Realness [NYC]) by Julius Ferraro
- We Are All Chelsea Manning: Inis Nua actors on what THE RADICALISATION OF BRADLEY MANNING means to them by Christopher Munden
- A Brief History of Early Publishing in Philadelphia by Christopher Munden
- Literary Legacy: A History of Philadelphia Writers by Christopher Munden
- From Mormon Boy to Rent Boy: Interview with solo performer Steven Fales by Henrik Eger
- One of the oldest taboos in history: Interview with Dan Hodge on The Rape of Lucrece by Henrik Eger
- Nudity or Crudity: a conversation with Mary Tuomanen about THE BODY LAUTREC by Julius Ferraro
- 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
- Ranking 50 Years of Philadelphia Theater by Neal Zoren
- From Assisi to Philadelphia: U.S. premiere of Italian cantata celebrating the extraordinary life of Hildegard von Bingen by Henrik Eger