4pm, September 29
FDR Park, Northeast Corner Entrance
Teaching Artists from the Wilma Portable Studio and artists from the Philadelphia Senior Center board the Beardmobile for an evening of live art and performance. Hosted by Anthony Martinez-Briggs a.k.a US.
THE WILMA THEATER’S PORTABLE STUDIO offers free and fun workshops for adults who want to meet new people and inspire each other by seeing a show and creating theater together. The Portable Studio removes barriers, promotes care, and deeply connects the public to the Wilma’s living adventurous art, while connecting the Wilma to the wide range of voices, viewpoints, and styles of contemporary life in our communities. We aim to foster equitable, sustained relationships with our community partners, like the Philadelphia Senior Center.
What is the Beardmobile?
The Beardmobile is a big, gay mobile performance unit, glitterfully outfitted for socially-distanced performances and political actions. With neon LED lighting, high-powered speakers, a 6-foot retractable stage, and room for a three-piece band, the 15-foot box truck is not only stunning, but versatile. The Beardmobile Love Tour is a series of pop-up performances produced by The Bearded Ladies Cabaret and presented in partnership with a host of incredible local partners. The series runs from September 17 to October 23.
With a rotating cast of hosts including Anthony Martinez-Briggs (he/they) aka US of ILL DOOTS, Sam Rise (they/them) of Girls Rock Philly, and award-winning performers like Cookie Diorio (he/she), Jess Conda (she/her), Eric Jaffe (they/them), Brett Robinson (she/her), and John Jarboe (she/her), the Beardmobile will be popping up in neighborhoods across Philadelphia. We hope the project creates needed space for the particular communal joy, grief, processing, and release that live art provides.
Who are the Bearded Ladies?
The Bearded Ladies Cabaret is a Philadelphia-based troupe of artists who use cabaret to tackle the politics of gender, identity, and artistic invention with sparkle and wit. Cabaret, a unique blend of popular and ‘high’ art, lends itself particularly well to artistic exploration of contemporary issues. Their interdisciplinary productions also draw from traditional theatre, opera, dance, and art installation. In their 10-year history, they have collaborated with the Wilma Theater, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Kimmel Center, Opera Philadelphia, FringeArts, and Eastern State Penitentiary to bring their unique form of cabaret to more than 10,000 Philadelphians.
Who are partners for the Beardmobile Love Tour?
FringeArts, William Way LGBT Community Center, Vox Populi and the moon baby, PARC, East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District, The Wilma, ILL DOOTS, Dain Saint
Beards and FringeArts
We are proud to be partnering with FringeArts in the annual Philadelphia Fringe Festival. Reservations for the September 2021 shows can be made through FringeArts/ticketing.org. Due to safety measures around Covid-19, shows are limited in capacity and advance registration is extremely helpful to us. We do expect additional walk-up tickets will be available.
What measures have the Beardmobile team taken to keep everyone safe?
While the project is intended to raise morale all over Philadelphia, the Beards have implemented comprehensive safety protocols. In addition to practicing social distance, staying outside, and detailed cleaning of shared equipment (like microphones), all passengers aboard the Beardmobile are required to follow CDC and city guidelines. The leaders of the project planning team have also undergone an array of safety trainings, including Health Education Service’s COVID-19 Compliance Training. Each location will be overseen by a certified Accountability Partner who will provide site-specific adaptations. Performance schedule may result in modifications to conditions, postponements, or cancellations, based on shifting local policy.
Audiences are encouraged to “park here” with designated decals 6’ away from one another, and keep masks on while entering, exiting, or roaming around.
How many people can I bring to a Beardmobile show? How much do they cost?
All Beardmobile shows are free or pay-what-you-can. All pay-what-you-can donations raise funds for local orgs who do important work in Philadelphia as well as provide support for future Beardmobile performances. Tickets to the September 2021 shows are available through FringeArts on a tiered basis: $1, $15, $25, and $50. Please reserve your tickets at whatever price point is comfortable to you! And thank you for keeping our engine going!
Beardmobile events will offer seating for parties or “pods” of up to six people, six feet away from other pods.
Funding
The Beardmobile and Love Tour is supported by a grant from The Barra Foundation. The Beardmobile of The Bearded Ladies Cabaret is also a sponsored project of Painted Bride Art Center, Inc. made possible by a grant from Wyncote Foundation. Additional support provided by Barbara Teichert and The Velocity Fund administered by Temple Contemporary at Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University with generous funding from The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. Additional support also provided by Beardviewers like you.