#BILLYPENNGRAM OF THE DAY
Stop, in the name of love
(Photo by @postcardsfromsouthphilly)
Brazil, France among the teams that will be at the Linc for World Cup
FIFA has revealed the full schedule for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and Philly now knows which teams will be coming for the five group stage games at Lincoln Financial Field next summer. It’s unlikely we see the U.S. national team — unless things go badly for it, that is. But there are some gems. Continue reading …
Miracle or coincidence? In Theatre in the X’s holiday production, it’s all in how you look at it
Back around 2000, Philadelphia playwright Richard LaMonte Pierce took a good look at the Philadelphia theater scene in December and noticed the obvious – “A Christmas Carol” or “Nutcracker” on every stage. All classics— but, Pierce thought, something was missing.
“We need one,” he told his colleagues at the Bushfire Theatre of Performing Arts in West Philadelphia. “That’s why I wrote ’Ordinary People, Extraordinary People’, because I wanted to have that same Christmas feeling, but I wanted to view it from how Black people saw Christmas.” That play is on stage now. Continue reading …
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• Philly schools are preparing in case the SEPTA strike actually happens. The Union says it’s “imminent,’ although both sides agrees to resume talks Monday. [WHYY]
• Mayor Parker is going to city churches to press case for her housing initiative. [Inq$$]
• National Parks dropped free admission on MLK Day and Juneteenth, instead adding Trump’s birthday. [WHYY]
• Philly’s school board approved a new contract for principals; advocates defend educators amid congressional investigation. Also, district sees slight drop in students. [WHYY/PhillyVoice]
• Weather turns frigid again Monday, and looks to stay that way for a bit. [6ABC]
• Pig Iron Theatre will revive a Rube Goldberg machine contest this spring. [WHYY]
• Philly’s Pew Center named a new director and announced $8.6M in arts funding. [WHYY]
MAYOR WATCH
After visiting nine churches in the city on Sunday in support of her H.O.M.E. initiative, Mayor Parker has no public events scheduled for Monday.
ON THE CALENDAR
🎄 Holiday lightings around Philly
🏃🏽 Philly Runners Guide
🎞️ Ongoing: The Declaration’s Journey — Available on the WHYY YouTube Channel. New episodes will appear every two weeks.
Monday, Dec. 8: Cocktails and Chorus at Ladder 15
A friendly social chorus night to learn two pop songs, harmonize in groups, and meet new people. Free and beginner-friendly. (6 to 9 p.m.)
Tuesday, Dec. 9: Creating Keystones: The Building Pennsylvania Oral History Project
A glimpse of the archiving process for a collection of oral history interviews from the 2000s and 2010s with senior design professionals who lived or worked in the Greater Philadelphia region. Hear about the relationship between architectural and oral history and what researchers might learn from the collection in the future. Q&A and refreshments follow at the Athenaeum. $50 tickets. (6 p.m.)
Tuesday, Dec. 9: Green Elephant: Connect, Celebrate & Swap Sustainably
Celebrate the holiday season with Green Philly! Connect and network with fellow sustainability-minded friends while enjoying a fun, eco-friendly evening over light bites & drinks. This gift swap puts a sustainable spin on a holiday classic: instead of buying something new, bring a handcrafted, thrifted, or repurposed item you already have. Wrap it up, share the story behind it, and keep holiday waste low while keeping the holiday spirit high. $5 to $16 tickets. (6:30 to 8:30 p.m.)
Wednesday, Dec. 10: 2025 Billy Penn: Billies Awards
Join us for a night of celebration at WHYY where we applaud the movers and shakers who make our city shine. From community leaders to artists, activists to entrepreneurs, we’ll recognize those who embody the spirit of the City of Brotherly Love. Don’t miss out on this special in-person event where we come together to showcase the incredible talent and dedication that make Philly great! Free with RSVP. (5:30 to 7 p.m.)
Wednesday, Dec. 10: “Show Off” at Theatre Exile
Set in 1920, in working-class North Philadelphia, this comedy tracks a family thrown into chaos by their daughter’s suitor, a pseudo-socialist buffoon. Show Off became a theatrical sensation as one of the first plays to depict the new American middle class. The playwright’s teenaged niece, Grace Kelly, made her stage debut in the show’s premiere. Call about tickets. (6:30 p.m.)
Through Jan. 5: One-Man Nutcracker by Chris Davis
You know the Nutcracker the ballet, but what if the ballet was performed by only one man? If the daughter Marie, little boy Fritz, creepy uncle Drosselmeyer, the mice, the Sugar Plum fairy, were all channeled through one actor. Chris Davis is proud to bring you One-Man Nutcracker, a re-telling of the original E.T.A. Hoffmann Nutcracker Story and the Ballet. Various times. $17.85+ tickets.
The post World Cup stars to Philly; SEPTA-union talks resume; Mayor visits churches | Morning Roundup appeared first on Billy Penn at WHYY.
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