The Wilma Theater

The Wilma Theater is a cornerstone of the Philadelphia Theater scene. This blog will give you an inside look at An Octoroon (playing now) and The Christians (Opening May 4th), and everything that makes the Wilma, well...the Wilma. 

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Hello all, and get excited, because you get to meet a new intern today! My name is Dan Ray and this semester I am serving as the Marketing and Community Relations intern at the Wilma Theater. I have been involved in theatre since I was in grade school, and the integrity of a live performance always amazed me. I am so excited to be a part of this hard working team at the Wilma!

A little bit about myself: I come from a small town in Portland, Maine and shipped all the way down here to Temple University. I am currently a sophomore at Temple, majoring in Media Studies and Production and a minor in Political Science. Being geared towards a career in television, I am so excited about this experience at the Wilma because I get to work with the outside world, and understand the inter-workings of a company.

Our next show, An Octoroon, is one unlike any other. A modern take on an old melodrama, the show takes place in the 1850s South, and is seen through the eyes of a young playwright. While its wild characters will make you laugh, it will also make you think.

An Octoroon opens in less than a week! All the information you need, show dates, times, special events, etc- can be found on our website, https://www.wilmatheater.org/.

I will be giving you an inside look in the coming weeks of An Octoroon. Until then, enjoy a picture of the chickens in our lobby!

Until next time

-Dan

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The Last Post

Hi there everyone! After a fantastic four months here at the incomparable Wilma Theater, I can finally say that I have completed my spring semester internship. It has been an honor to get to update you all on all of our fantastic events that happened this spring, as well as getting to attend them and help assist with them. I think we can all agree that The Body of an American, Hamlet, and the upcoming Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead are fantastic shows unlike any other, and I am amazed and humbled that I was given the opportunity to work so closely with each of them and gain the experience I did. The Wilma Theater is all-around a stellar organization that I believe makes Philadelphia a better place in a multitude of ways. I’m sure you all feel that way too- or else you wouldn’t be following our Tumblr account. I can say with absolute certainty that I haven’t seen the last of the Wilma, and I’ll be coming around until everyone here gets sick of me. Until next time, this is Liz Wiest, Development Intern, signing off.

“This above all: To thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man” - Hamlet Act 1, Scene 3 78-82

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Isn’t the Wilma Team lovely?

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A famous American theater has cast a black woman as Hamlet. It's not only historic, it looks cool.

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This actress has become “one of the first.”

And this article as well

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Zainab Jah - As Hamlet from Timothy Naylor on Vimeo.

Zainab Jah has been cast as Hamlet in The Wilma Theater’s production of Hamlet, directed by Blanka Zizka. The show has been selling out nearly every performance, due in no small part to Jah’s electrifying performance. 

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Check out this lovely video all about Zainab!

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In case you haven’t heard, Hamlet has been extended until May 2nd! You still have time to attend one of the most talked about shows in Philadelphia this spring! Visit www.wilmatheater.org to reserve your tickets today.

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Have you been staring at the variety of advertisements we’ve been handing out lately and wondering “What the heck’s a fête?”  Don’t worry, you’re not alone.  According to our favorite tertiary source, Wikipedia, a fete is defined as: “…an elaborate festival, party, or celebration”. These “fêtes” started out amongst Renaissance villages, and continue to be extremely popular in Europe today.  They were usually renowned for hosting festivities such as tug of war, pet shows, and elephant exhibits.  Not your style? Don’t worry, ours is a Fete of a different breed.   The Wilma Theater Fête is our annual fundraiser that stays true to the Wiki definition.  Every year we have fantastic food, live music, performances by your favorite Wilma actors, and of course all-night dancing.  In addition, we dedicate the evening to an individual who has made substantial differences in the arts community by bestowing upon them the prestigious gift of our Wilma Star Award. This year we have the honor of awarding this star to Opera Philadelphia’s General Director, the incomparable David B. Devan! So, to sum it up, we’re not your average village fete.  And this is no ordinary fundraiser.  Buy your tickets today, as we hope you’ll join us for an elaborate and sophisticated night that is both fun and fancy.  

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Guildenstern: What’s the first thing you remember?

Rosencrantz: …No, it’s no good. It was a long time ago.

Guildenstern: No, you don’t take my meaning. What’s the first thing you remember after all the things you’ve forgotten?

Rosencrantz: Oh, I see… I’ve forgotten the question.

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Don’t clap too loudly - it’s a very old world.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Tom Stoppard (via cranberrythimble)

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We cross our bridges when we come to them and burn them behind us, with nothing to show for our progress except a memory of the smell of smoke, and a presumption that once our eyes watered.

Tom Stoppard, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (via larmoyante)

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It’s hard to believe that in just a few short weeks, Zainab Jah will “to be or not to be”, for the last time. Nevertheless, we won’t have to say goodbye to the Hamlet gang just yet. In the first week of May, Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, directed by Blanka Zizka, will make its premiere on the Wilma stage! A fantastic tongue-in-cheek comedy about “the most expendable people of all time”. Stay tuned, as more information, fun facts, and Tumblr posts galore are to come.

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It is not, nor it cannot come to good. But break my heart, for I must hold my tongue!

William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act I, Scene 2 (via shakespeaker)

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Leslie Howard as Hamlet photographed by Antonio Valente, 1936

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Hamlet

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First Premiere

Last night marked a stellar first premiere of our latest production, Hamlet! The energy in the air was at a peak at both the pre-show as well as post-show reception as theater-goers and the actors reveled in the success of the work! We already have over five shows sold out and are hoping for more to come! Visit www.wilmatheater.org to view the schedule and and purchase tickets!

“To be there, or to be square, that is the question”.

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Zainab Jah, who is playing Hamlet, got a pretty nice article in this month’s Philadelphia Magazine!