BOOKING

Gina Renzi, Executive Director:
gina@therotunda.org
215-573-3234
E-mail is preferred

PLEASE NOTE:
We generally book Thursdays-Sundays 3-6 months in advance, and weeknights 1-2 months in advance. We •occasionally• have cancellations or open slots with less advance notice.

We book public events only. We do not book private events or parties/socials.

Love The Rotunda? Hate The Rotunda?

Tell us!

Take The Rotunda Survey!

CLICK HERE!!!

This survey's goal is to profile the people who attend/perform at/organize Rotunda events, while gaining feedback from them. With the results, we will have concrete evidence of The Rotunda's impact on art, culture, and community. At the same time, the results will help us to understand what we're doing well and what we need to improve.

Please take the survey, pass the link to friends and have them take it as well, etc. There are hard copies available on the front desk at The Rotunda, for the web-less. We can also mail or fax blank surveys to those interested in participating.

UPCOMING EVENTS (updated frequently, so check back often!)

Wed,

April 30

7pm

FREE

Holistic Moms Network

more info tba

Thu.

May 1

6-9pm

FREE

The Grand Unveiling of

Collective Imprints

On Thursday, May 1, The Rotunda will unveil the
Collective Imprints art installation, a collectively-produced work of visual art that celebrates the life and history of The Rotunda, local history and folklore, and visions for future neighborhoods and communities.

This piece will remain on permanent display at The Rotunda (in a most interesting place), reminding audiences and performers that The Rotunda is a vital connector that inspires genuine dialogue and social change.

Collective Imprints, the first project of its kind in Philadelphia, is unique in that it employed dialogue, movement, music-making, and holistic collaboration from all participants. Everyone was welcome to brainstorm, move, make music, draw, paint, and collaborate on designs. Never before has such a long term multi-faceted and inclusive project been open to the general public in this city. We believe that future projects will be born of this, fostering long lasting connections between disparate communities.

About the Unveiling
The unveiling will kickoff with music, light refreshments, a photo slide show, and a short presentation by some of the Collective Imprints participants, followed by an open jam session (bring your own percussion instrument).

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend as we celebrate this historic project.

More about Collective Imprints

[For the project syllabus, articles, anecdotes, and photos, visit the project's blog HERE]

Collective Imprints was conceived last year by, among others, local community artist, muralist, and activist Michael B. Schwartz, and launched its first collaborative session on November 6, 2007. The work did not stop until the paint was dry last week.

The project started off with eye-opening and inclusive conversations about notions of belonging, place, community, activism, The Rotunda's mission, the arts, power of the people, and more. We also brought movement into the work as we explored new ways of brainstorming, using exercises shared by West Philadelphia multi-faceted artist Jodi Netzer. In addition, Bill Feiger, of Stares to Nowhere and other local acts, shared his musical instruments from around the world as we used sound and music to evoke even more ideas.

Shortly thereafter, we began to draw and paint images based on ideas spawned during conversations and movement exploration. Nearly 150 people participated, seeking to strengthen connections within the greater Rotunda community while building a sense of ownership and interconnectivity to the surrounding area.

Participants ranged from 5 year old school children to college students, teachers, doctors, professors, truck drivers, homemakers, and much more. On Martin Luther King, jr. Day alone, nearly 80 people spent their Day of Service working on Collective Imprints!

Support for this project was provided in part by The Puffin Foundation Ltd. and the 40th Street Artist-in-Residence program.

2 nights!!!
Fri. May 2

AND

Sat. May 3

8pm

pay what you can

PUPPET UPRISING returns to its roots with the MAY DAY CABARET, a smashing potpourri of puppet shows and sing-alongs culled from over a century of counter-culture. We've got puppeteers coming from near and far to perform works both old and new in honor of the workers’ springtime holiday, and we'll feature between-act nuggets of inspiration from members of the Uprising audience. 90 minites jam-packed with humor and history, music and magic on this monumental occasion!

About the shows:


Shoddy Puppet Company revives a crowd-pleaser from nearly a decade ago: “Mr. Block,” a feat of faux-bunraku based on the 1914 cartoon character created by Ernest Riebe and the IWW hymn penned by Joe Hill.

Amy Trompetter and Sam Wilson come from New York City and State with two pieces: Amy’s anarchistic spin on the English folk tale of “Punch & Judy” (performed in a wearable one-woman stage), plus the world premiere of “People’s History Puppet Show: true tales of travesty,” a collaboration-in-progress based on Howard Zinn’s revolutionary textbook A People’s History of the United States.

D.C.-area puppeteer Marianne Erlich Ross rides up with her visually poetic kranky (scrolling picture theater) show, "Two Very Short Parables By Bert Brecht," and Erik Ruin gives his new shadow theater show “Flight: the Mythic Journey of a Person Displaced ” its full-length Philly debut featuring a live violin score by Katt Hernandez and the capable puppetry of Megan Gibes.

As if this weren’t enough (and it isn't—some of these shows are only a few minutes long), Lucy Schneider will strut her stuff on the squeezebox along with a roster of rabble-rousing sing-alongsters (including Emily Bate and Joshua Marcus).

Uprising MC Morgan F.P. Andrews has a thing or two to say about the history of puppets and May Day, and we’ll have our fabulous springtime Cheap Art Bazaar with work by all the performing artists for you to take home (the art that is, not the artists).

Come early! Stay Late! Bring a date
to the May-Day Cabaret!

Mon.

May 5

7-8:15pm

$10

every Monday

Every Monday, join us in the practice of Yoga instructed by Maryte Curran.

Maryte teaches Vinyasa Yoga, which means movement is matched to the breath. The class also includes guided meditation. This class is perfect for both beginmers and people who have some yoga experience. We welcome all shapes, ages, and anyone who is looking to achieve spritiual and physical fitness.

The requested fee is $10.00 per class. A large portion of each class payment will be donated directly to Rotunda programs.

Instructor Bio
Maryte was first introduced to Hatha Yoga 9 years ago. Two and a half years ago, she became more consistent, practicing on a daily basis. In May 2006, she completed a teacher training workshop at Studio B in Northern Liberties, and is continuing to take yoga workshops.

Wed.

May 7

7pm

FREE; donations encouraged

Philly Al Nakba hosts a screening of
Handala

Handala is a film about the paradox of tremendous hope represented in various forms of local Palestinian nonviolent resistance, and at the same time, the hopelessness of 40 years of evermore violent occupation and 60 years of dispossession, in Palestine. It draws from material filmed in the occupied Palestinian Gaza Strip and West Bank, and Israel in the summer of 2007. With the film we are, in a sense, placing two diametrically opposed realities next to each other, in tension with one another, in order to honestly represent just how horribly violent and repressive the Israeli occupation is, and yet, also attempting to convey the thick inspiration and hope represented in the nonviolent movement to end the occupation and achieve mutual recognition and reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians. We believe that it is necessary to place these two narratives beside each other without diminishing the reality of either.

Thu.

May 8

8pm

FREE

Andrew's Video Vault
presents
Children and Art

with a screening of
Vincent and Theo (1990 / Four 51 minute episodes, totaling 204 minutes / 1.33:1)
The original cut of Robert Altman’s lush and atmospheric miniseries about Van Gogh (Tim Roth) and his brother (Paul Rhys).

Andrew's Video Vault screens films from various genres every second Thursday.

Fri.

May 9

9pm

FREE

The Philadelphia Science Fiction Society (PSFS) hosts The Great Luke Ski.

PSFS brings in a professional writer, artist, editor, or some other kind of mover and shaker in the Science Fiction genre, nearly every month.

This month's guest is
The Great Luke Ski
Singer very popular with SF fans

At Dragon*Con 2004, Dr. Demento declared “THE GREAT LUKE SKI” to be his radio program’s “Most Requested Artist of the 21st Century”. Since then, Luke has held onto that title by having a song within the top five of “The Dr. Demento Show’s” year-end “Funny 25 countdown of his most requested songs of the year for five years in a row, including two of them at #1 (“Peter Parker” featuring Sudden Death in 2002, and “Stealing Like A Hobbit” in 2003).

His song parodies, originals, stand-up and sketches about pop culture phenomena (doot doo, do-do-do!) have make him a favorite performer at science-fiction and fandom conventions all across the midwest and beyond. He’s released seven albums over the past ten plus years, and a DVD in 2006, titled “The Ego Has Landed”, featuring appearances by many fellow members of “the Funny Music Project” (theFuMP.com), a full live concert, and music videos for “Hobbit” and his convention favorite “Grease Wars”. His latest album “BACONspiracy” features many of the new songs he’s created for the FuMP, such as his new Doctor Who tribute “It Takes Who”, and his Piratey Dr. Demento hit, “You Don’t Know Jack”.

Sat.

May 10

6:30pm

$7 ($5 with food or clothing for the needy)

Mon.

May 12

7-8:15pm

$10

every Monday

Every Monday, join us in the practice of Yoga instructed by Maryte Curran.

Maryte teaches Vinyasa Yoga, which means movement is matched to the breath. The class also includes guided meditation. This class is perfect for both beginmers and people who have some yoga experience. We welcome all shapes, ages, and anyone who is looking to achieve spritiual and physical fitness.

The requested fee is $10.00 per class. A large portion of each class payment will be donated directly to Rotunda programs.

Instructor Bio
Maryte was first introduced to Hatha Yoga 9 years ago. Two and a half years ago, she became more consistent, practicing on a daily basis. In May 2006, she completed a teacher training workshop at Studio B in Northern Liberties, and is continuing to take yoga workshops.

Wed.

May 14

8pm

FREE

Fri.

May 16

8pm

FREE

Sun.

May 18

7pm

Suggested Cost: $12; $6 seniors & students; no one turned away for lack of funds

Peace and Justice:
Finding Our Way Together

Improvisational theatre based on personal stories, told by audience members in the moment..come tell, listen, and watch!!

asking..
What’s in your heart when you consider peace and justice?
What’s your vision for what’s possible for our city and neighborhoods?
What does peace mean to you?
How have you been impacted by peace and/or violence?
What are the seeds you are sowing?

For more information call 215-844-7566

Suggested Cost: $12, $6 seniors & students; no one turned away for lack of funds
A portion of the money raised from this show will go to support a series of playback theatre trainings in June 2008 in Serbia and Bosnia.

playback for change: sarah halley, pamela freeman, bianca adger, eric brunner, jessie cocks, nirva lafortune, ron
kravitz, aviva perlo, patrick seyler, jacob winterstein

Mon.

May 19

7-8:15pm

$10

every Monday

Every Monday, join us in the practice of Yoga instructed by Maryte Curran.

Maryte teaches Vinyasa Yoga, which means movement is matched to the breath. The class also includes guided meditation. This class is perfect for both beginmers and people who have some yoga experience. We welcome all shapes, ages, and anyone who is looking to achieve spritiual and physical fitness.

The requested fee is $10.00 per class. A large portion of each class payment will be donated directly to Rotunda programs.

Instructor Bio
Maryte was first introduced to Hatha Yoga 9 years ago. Two and a half years ago, she became more consistent, practicing on a daily basis. In May 2006, she completed a teacher training workshop at Studio B in Northern Liberties, and is continuing to take yoga workshops.

Fri.

May 23

Doors@7pm

FREE

Fri.

May 30

8pm

$10

Sat.

May 31

7pm

FREE

PhillySka.com
presents

Hub City Stompers
Tri-State Conspiracy
Drive-Thru Pharmacy
1 more TBA

Mon.

June 2

7-8:15pm

$10

every Monday

Every Monday, join us in the practice of Yoga instructed by Maryte Curran.

Maryte teaches Vinyasa Yoga, which means movement is matched to the breath. The class also includes guided meditation. This class is perfect for both beginmers and people who have some yoga experience. We welcome all shapes, ages, and anyone who is looking to achieve spritiual and physical fitness.

The requested fee is $10.00 per class. A large portion of each class payment will be donated directly to Rotunda programs.

Instructor Bio
Maryte was first introduced to Hatha Yoga 9 years ago. Two and a half years ago, she became more consistent, practicing on a daily basis. In May 2006, she completed a teacher training workshop at Studio B in Northern Liberties, and is continuing to take yoga workshops.

Sun.

June 8

1-4pm

$5-$7

MORE EVENT INFO IS COMING SOON!
EVENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

WEEKLY EVENTS

Vinyasa Yoga

EVERY MONDAY

7-8:15pm

$10

Every Monday, join us in the practice of Yoga instructed by Maryte Curran.

Maryte teaches Vinyasa Yoga, which means movement is matched to the breath. The class also includes guided meditation. This class is perfect for both beginmers and people who have some yoga experience. We welcome all shapes, ages, and anyone who is looking to achieve spritiual and physical fitness.

The requested fee is $10.00 per class. A large portion of each class payment will be donated directly to Rotunda programs.

Instructor Bio
Maryte was first introduced to Hatha Yoga 9 years ago. Two and a half years ago, she became more consistent, practicing on a daily basis. In May 2006, she completed a teacher training workshop at Studio B in Northern Liberties, and is continuing to take yoga workshops.

MONTHLY/REGULAR SERIES
(calendar slots subject to change)

2nd Thursdays

8pm

Andrew's Video Vault

Usually unspooling double or triple features, Philly based film director Andrew Repasky McElhinney screens rare treasures from his collection on the giant "screen" at The Rotunda the second Thursday of every month.

Free Screenings Continuous From 8pm (with some exceptions; please check individual listings)

[most]2nd Fridays

9pm
(business meeting 8pm)

The Philadelphia Science Fiction Society (PSFS) conducts open business meetings and welcomes guest speakers coming from the realm of Sci Fi and Fantasy. PSFS is a non-profit organization that meets monthly to discuss and promote science fiction and fantasy in literature, the arts, and popular culture.

Varies

8pm

$10

MELANGE, Live
An Eclectic Musical Journey
was conceived and developed by Executive Producer, Penni Gould, a singer/actor who grew frustrated with the aloof Philadelphia theater/cabaret culture and decided to take matters into her own hands by creating the perfect "performer centered" venue. She and her long time friend, noted pianist and Musical Director, Carla Mariani decided to embark on the project together, combining their unique creative talents to develop a totally new theatrical concept: "self-esteem enhancing theater".

At Melange Theatre, "Live", it's all about the performer. The theater company exists to promote the careers of its participants and to spoil them with total attention to their needs...a "first" to be sure. After a nurturing audition, participants are invited to perform whenever they need or want to. No hassles, no hoops, no limitations, no bottom line except for allowing entertainers the freedom to do what they do best--entertain!

Melange Theatre, "Live" was founded and created to provide talented people with a stage on which to experiment, gain exposure, develop or maintain a following, network with other east coast entertainers, gain publicity, market merchandise, and maintain a performance level in times of "performance famine"... In short, to have a great time performing in a no stress, non-competitive environment. At the heart of Melange Theatre's philosophy is the rationale that talent needs to be valued, respected, nurtured, encouraged and given the opportunity to mature, develop and grow without financial encumbrance; A tall order for today's profit intensive theatrical environment.

At Melange Theatre, "Live", the magic happens fueled solely by the energy of pure bliss that comes from producing something important and beneficial without a profit motive. This is truly "theater for the joy of theatre". The talented professionals that perform at Melange Theatre, "Live" come from all over the country and the world. They are from diverse backgrounds and levels of experience, but they all have one thing in common: extreme talent and the burning desire to entertain.

TO AUDITION: please contact Penni Gould: 215-923-1790 pgould@melangetheatre.info;
Carla Mariani: 215-732-5443 carlasclefs@aol.com

3rd Fridays

8pm SHARP

GATE

As one of the oldest series at The Rotunda, GATE showcases the newest in music and more. Featured is live music (of local, national, and international artists) from such genres as ambient, experimental electronic, free improv, found sounds, field recordings, IDM, tech-ambient, noise, post-rock, psychedelic, dark ambient, hard-to-define sounds and new music styles, and neo classical.

In addition to music, video art, oil projections, slides, 16mm films, performance art, interactive presentations (such as those from MIDI jumpsuits or audience participation), visual art, and more can be found at a single GTMBA event.

GATE serves as one of the most cherished monthly events of its kind, not only for the talent that it showcases, but also for the community it fosters, as musicians delving into new music can interact with and learn from each other.

GATE (originally named Gate to Moonbase Alpha)is the creation of Aharon Varady, who moved out of Philly a few years ago. Aharon also created The Philadelphia Ambient Consortium, which offers numerous resources for fans and artists of ambient and other experimental genres and subgenres. Nowadays, GATE is curated by Scott Cole.

For more info, and booking, please contact gatebooking@gmail.com

3rd Saturdays
(except May 10, 2008)

6:30pm

$7 ($5 if you bring clothes or food for the needy)

Philly Youth Poetry Slam
 
An effort to develop the youth talent in the Philadelphia area by mentoring young poets in the art of performance and slam poetry, giving the youth an opportunity to perform on a national level as representatives of Philly in the National Youth Poetry Slam. 

This will include workshops, support, instruction, and supervision by recognized local talent to prepare the Philly team. The mission is to bridge the generation gap for performance poetry by connecting veteran performers, producers, and musicians with the talented youth of the city who are anxious to carry on the torch by continuing the legacy of their predecessors.

Youth must be 13-19 years of age to participate.

Final
Wednesdays

7pm

The Philadelphia Chapter of the Holistic Moms Network meets here on Final Wednesdays

This chapter is a diverse group of holistic parents from across the city of Philadelphia, welcoming all area moms (and dads) with an interest in natural health and mindful parenting.

This group's goal is to develop a dynamic and thriving local community of holistic parents with a wide range of interests and to explore a variety of topics related to holistic living and parenting. This chapter was created in July 2004 and has since grown into a wonderful community!

Interested moms and dads are invited to attend a trial meeting to learn more about this community.

Dads, grandparents, partners, and other caregivers are also welcome as members. Even future parents will find that this organization is a great place to learn and make new friends! Moms-to-be and new moms are encouraged to attend, ask questions, and seek to be informed.

*ON HIATUS

Final Thursdays

10pm-2am

The Gathering

Established in 1997, The Gathering is the longest-running Hiphop event in Philly, and welcomes b-boys/b-girls, pop-lockers, emcees, graffiti writers, DJs, men, women, and children of all ages to enjoy this organic, community-based celebration of Hiphop.

DJs spin Hiphop, breaks, and funk all night, and there are open cyphers, a tag wall, and a featured performance and graffiti panel each month.

Hosted by I be 4EVR and TuPhace

*ON HIATUS
Final Saturdays

5-7pm

Girls' DJ Drop in Like It's Hot! Class

Girls' DJ provides the technology (CD players, turntable, inputs for MP3 players), and wannabe DJs provide the music.

No experience required -- if you want to DJ, show up at 5pm to register for a 15-minute slot on the ones and twos, with graduates of the Girls' DJ 101 course providing expert guidance and sharing a trick or two with you.

Girls' DJ exists to boost positive participation in the music scene--so bring your favorite positive tunes. Please leave music that disrespects anyone on the basis of race, sexual orientation, gender, etc., at home. Instrumental versions of any songs welcome!

Come to DJ, come to hang out and have a good time, Girls' DJ style..

Ars Nova Workshop concerts

"It is essential to distinguish between music the sole purpose of which is to produce a uniform and deliberate effect, thus simulating a collective action of an intended kind, and music whose meaning is, in itself, expressing feelings, ideas, sensations, or experiences, and which, far from welding people into a homogenous mass with identical reactions, allows free play to individual subjective associations." -Ernst Fischer

Founded in 2000, Ars Nova Workshop (ANW) is a Philadelphia non-profit 501(c)3 jazz and experimental music presenting organization. Ars Nova Workshop intentionally programs events and concerts in alternative spaces, showcasing divergent traditions/perspectives and challenging artistic ambitions. ANW acts as an intermediary between musicians/composers and their audience. We encourage the recognition and greater understanding Ð while contributing to the advancement - of progressive music, art and social movements.

Serving a broad and diverse audience, ANW events function as a catalyst for ideas, discourses and new trends in contemporary music and its practices.

Our focus includes recognizing the contributions of jazz, free jazz and other 20th century composers and improvisers, as well as the work of emerging musicians. Ars Nova Workshop seeks to be a vital cultural resource for Philadelphia and to serve constituencies beyond the area through collaborations, artist and tour support, and education.

Overall, ANW aims to provide an engaging and appropriate environment for musicians and composers; to inform, inspire, and challenge audiences; to actively attract new audiences; and to be an accessible resource that elevates the role of jazz and experimental music in contemporary culture.

Ars Nova Workshop has presented nearly 200 peculier events in Philadelphia including Dave Douglas' Witness, the Tomasz Stanko Quartet, "Interstellar Space is the Place" with Rashied Ali and Marshall Allen, and Peter BrotzmannÕs Chicago Tentet, among other unique musical collaborations from leading figures in contemporary music.

Ars Nova Workshop is the recipient of numerous awards and has been documented in the Philadelphia Inquirer, JazzTimes, and Wire Magazine.