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F R E E Year 33, No. 17 SPECIAL TWO-WEEK EDITION • HAPPY NEW YEAR! December 20 – January 2, 2018 SPECIAL TWO-WEEK The Philadelphia Mummers Parade Rufus Wainwright and ISSUE The Philly POPS Perform Kicks Off the New Year
Former Eagle Ken Dunek to Speak Page 7
Friends’ Central Gives Back Page 11
For over 300 years Mummers have marched in Philadelphia on New Year’s Day. The official, City-sponsored Philadelphia Mummers Parade began January 1, 1901. Photo/2017 Parade he Philadelphia Mummers Parade will kick off the New Year on January 1, 2018 at 9 a.m. as thousands of colorfully costumed musicians and flamboyant performers strutting and dancing along the Broad Street parade route. Recently named the nation’s “Best Holiday Parade” by a USA Today readers’ choice poll, the Philadelphia Mummers Parade has roots dating back to the 1800s as a celebration of the New Year. The colorful procession along Broad Street features performances by comics, string bands and fancy brigades in their spec-
T Performances of “Après moi, l’obscurité” Page 12
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tacular costumes. Rufus Wainwright to perform with The Philly POPS on Parade Line-Up January 19. Following the concert, the POPS will host a The Mummers Parade includes five divifundraising dessert reception at William Way LGBT sions, each with its own artistry, sound and Community Center, just a block away from the customs. Leading off is Golden Sunrise Fancy Club, the last remaining Fancy Club. Next Kimmel Center. Photo/Matthew Welch come the Wench brigades, men clad in bonnets and bloomers, waving multi-tiered parhe Philly POPS will perform a one-night-only concert asols. Then it’s the Comics, with their sendwith the internationally-acclaimed artist Rufus Wainwright. ups of politics and pop culture. The Philly POPS Presents Rufus Wainwright will be held Next, the legendary String Bands, the heart on Friday, January 19, 2018 at the Kimmel Center. of the parade, are known for their unique The Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus will perform “Hallelujah” sound (Parade rules prohibit brass instruments on stage with Wainwright as well as music themed to sup-
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See The Philadelphia Mummers Parade on page 6
“LES MISÉRABLES” RETURNS
See Rufus Wainwright to Perform with The Philly POPS page 4
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PHILADELPHIA
January 9 - 21 at the Academy of Music glorious production is once ameron Mackintosh’s again touring the major cities acclaimed production across North America and is of Alain Boublil and more spectacular than ever.” Claude-Michel Schönberg’s “It is with great anticipation Tony Award-winning musical that we welcome back one of phenomenon, “Les Misérables,” Broadway’s most celebrated will make its much anticipatand beloved musicals since ed return to Philadelphia for a two-week engagement, Janu“Les Misérables” ar y 9 - Januar y 21 at the returns to Philadelphia Academy of Music on the KimJanuary 9-21, 2018. mel Center Cultural Campus. Photo/Matthew Murphy Tickets start at $20 and can be purchased by calling 215it last played Philadelphia in 893-1999, visiting www.kim2013!” said Anne Ewers, Presimelcenter.org, or at the Kimdent and CEO of the Kimmel mel Center Box Office. Center for the Performing Arts. With glorious new staging “With one of the greatest scores and dazzlingly reimagined of all time, everyone will recscenery inspired by the paintognize at least one of the thrillings of Victor Hugo, this breathing and beloved songs from taking production of “Les one of the greatest musicals Misérables,” which broke box every created.” office records during its preSet against the backdrop of 19th-century France, “Les Misérables” tells an Broadway tour, has left both audiences and critics awestruck, cheering “Les enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice Mis is born again!” (NY1). Cameron Mackintosh said, “I’m delighted that after a four year absence this See “Les Misérables” Returns to Philadelphia page 8
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