Full Performance Calendar

Important Note: Tickets must be reserved for ALL Drexel Performing Arts events.

Fall 2024-25

Mandell Presents

Ladies of Hip Hop
Black Dancing Bodies Project: Speak My Mind
October 10, 2024 | 7PM | Mandell Theater

“If I could speak my mind, what would I say?” The Ladies of Hip Hop Collective responds to this question through new writings (spoken word tracks), music, and movement spanning dance styles from African to waacking, vogue, hip hop, and house. Curated under the direction of Michele Byrd-McPhee, The Black Dancing Bodies Project is an initiative to uplift and celebrate Black women in street and club dance culture, addressing the erasure and miscoding of Black women’s contributions to American dance culture. The Black Dancing Bodies Project: Speak My Mind reclaims community stories, gestures, mannerisms, hairstyles, dances, and cultural norms.

Artist discussion immediately following the performance.

Engage more with this artist!

The driving force behind LOHH, Michele Byrd-McPhee is a 2024-25 Rankin Scholar-in-Residence for Drexel’s Antionette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design. A 2023 Bessie Award winner for Outstanding Service to the Field, Michele is a street dance activist and creative visionary who works to decolonize hip-hop culture along gender, cultural socio-historical, and racial lines. Michele Byrd-McPhee’s visit to Drexel includes a week-long residency, October 8-11, 2024.

Tickets are free but registration is required.

Dance

Fall Dance Lecture
with guest Michele Byrd-McPhee
October 8, 2024 | 6:30 PM | URBN Annex Black Box Theater
Rankin Scholar-in-Residence Series

The artistic engagement of Ladies of Hip-Hop (LOHH) along with Founder and Executive Director Michele Byrd-McPhee is part of the 24/25 Rankin Scholars-in-Residence Series. The Rankin Scholar-in-Residence Series, named in honor of former Dean Marjorie Rankin and established through the continuing donations of her friends and colleagues, seeks to bring noted individuals to campus who excel in the multidisciplinary education championed by the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design. The goal of the series is to inspire students, stimulate faculty, invigorate the professional field, and contribute to the Drexel community.

This event is free and open to the public. Register here!

Theatre

Drexel Theatre Program presents: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Based on the novel by Mark Haddon
Adapted by Simon Stephens
Directed by Esther M Cohen

Program

Winner of the 2015 Tony Award for Best Play, this story is about young Christopher who has an extraordinary brain. He is exceptional at mathematics but ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road let alone into the frantic city of nearby London, he can’t stand being touched, and he distrusts strangers. Christopher has just discovered his neighbor’s deceased dog, Wellington, on his front lawn. He is determined to solve the murder, and his detective work will lead him on a thrilling journey to uncover more secrets that will ultimately change his life forever.

Content Warnings:
The production includes the use of adult language, child abuse and self-harm, panic attacks, discussions of adult relationships, animal death and abuse, and the depiction of the mistreatment of an individual who is neurodiverse.

Show Schedule

Preview: November 14, 2024 | 8:00 pm

Opening: November 15, 2024 | 8:00 pm
November 16, 21, 22*, 23, 2024 | 8:00 pm
November 17**, 2024 | 2:00 pm

*School Matinee | Fri Nov 22 | 10:00 AM

This special additional matinee performance is exclusively for school groups (grades 6-12). School teachers and administrators reserve tickets by contacting the Mandell Box Office at dpaboxoffice@drexel.edu.

** Postshow Panel | Sun Nov 17th |

There will be a panel discussion about the representation of Neurodiversity in the show immediately following the show.

The panel guests will include: Moderated by Michael Stahler, professional actor/director and the Dramaturg and Asst Director on The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Dr. Amy Edwards, Director of the Center for Autism and Neurodiversity, Students from The Center for Autism and Neurodiversity, and Esther M Cohen, Director of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

Mandell Theater

Tickets
General Admission $20
Non-Drexel Students $15
Drexel Student/Faculty/Staff/Industry $10

Register here!

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Facebook: @drexeltheatreprogram
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Instagram: @drexeltheatreprogram

END-OF-TERM SHOWCASE

URBN Annex Black Box Theater

Sat Dec 7, 2025
Musical Theatre Cabaret | 1:00 PM
Director’s Lab | 7:00 PM
Advanced Improv | 8:30 PM

This event is free, but tickets are required.

Fall Music Concert Series

Percussion Ensemble & Experimental Music Ensemble
Sun Dec 1 | 3:00 PM
Creese Student Center

Chamber Strings
Tue Dec 3 | 7:30 PM
Main Auditorium

Fusion Band & Rock Ensemble
Tue Dec 3 | 7:30 PM
Mandell Theater

Mediterranean Ensemble
Wed Dec 4 | 7:30 PM
Mandell Theater

Jazz Orchestra & Jazztet
Thu Dec 5 | 7:30 PM
Mandell Theater

Drexel University Symphony Orchestra
Fri Dec 6 | 7:30 PM
Main Auditorium

Gospel Choir
Sat Dec 7 | 7:00 PM
Mandell Theater

All College Choir, Chamber Brass & Winds
Sat Dec 7 | 7:30 PM
Main Auditorium

University Chorus
Sun Dec 8 | 3:00 PM
Great Court (In Main Building)

Concert Band
Sun Dec 8 | 7:00 PM
Mandell Theater

All events are free but registration is required. Register here.

Winter 2024-25

Dance

Drexel Dance Ensemble Winter Performance

See an exciting evening of dance featuring Ellen Forman winner Yuki Ishiguro, professional guest artists, and dance faculty. Bodies exchanging ideas, dancing in community, and a visual landscape for all!

February 7-8, 2025 | 7:30 pm
Mandell Theater

FreshDance Winter Performance

Come celebrate our first-year dance ensemble students as they premiere diverse and engaging works on the Mandell stage! These performances feature the work of professional and student choreographers in multiple genres.

February 6, 2025 | 7:30 pm
February 8, 2025 | 2pm
Mandell Theater

General Admission: $15

Drexel Students: $5

Tickets will be available here.

Theatre

Drexel Theatre Program Presents: Mantua Theater Project's The Super Power Plays!

Featuring plays written by the young playwrights of the Mantua Theater Project from the Belmont Charter School

Directed by Nick Anselmo

Join us for these insightful, whimsical, and touching stories featuring characters based on animals, inanimate objects, and forces of nature. You will love the creativity of these talented youth brought to life by Drexel Theatre Program artists.

February 14, 2025 | 7pm | URBN Annex Black Box Theater
February 15, 2025 | 2pm & 7pm | URBN Annex Black Box Theater

Tickets are free but registration is required. Please reserve tickets here.

Philadelphia Young Playrights Play Development Series

Featuring 4 brand new plays, written by middle and high school students in collaboration with Philadelphia Young Playwrights as part of their Play Development Series.

February 22, 2025 | 2pm | URBN Annex Black Box Theater

Tickets are free but reservations are strongly encouraged.

NewWorks Festival

Drexel’s Theatre Program partners with the Screenwriting/Playwriting program for The NewWorks Festival!

The Festival brings to life plays written during the winter quarter in the Page-To-Stage Class under the mentorship of Theatre Program professor, Bill Fennelly. This developmental lab culminates in readings of the new plays by student actors and stage managers working with professional directors.

March 15, 2025 | 7pm | URBN Annex Black Box Theater

Tickets are free but registration is required. Reserve your tickets here.

END-OF-TERM SHOWCASE

URBN Annex Black Box Theater

Sat March 15, 2025
Musical Theatre Cabaret | 1:00 PM
Advanced Improv | 8:30 PM

This event is free, but tickets are required.

Winter Music Concert Series

Concert Band
Mon Mar 3 | 7:00 PM
Mandell Theater

Chamber Strings
Tue Mar 4 | 7:30 PM
Mandell Theater

Fusion Band & Rock Ensemble
Tue Mar 11 | 7:30 PM
Mandell Theater

Mediterranean Ensemble
Wed Mar 12 | 7:30 PM
Mandell Theater

Jazz Orchestra & Jazztet
Thu Mar 13 | 7:30 PM
Mandell Theater

Drexel University Symphony Orchestra
Fri Mar 14 | 7:30 PM
Main Auditorium

Gospel Choir
Sat Mar 15 | 7:00 PM
Mandell Theater

All College Choir, Chamber Brass & Winds
Sat Mar 15 | 7:30 PM
Main Auditorium

Percussion Ensemble & Experimental Music Ensemble
Sun Mar 16 | 3:00 PM
Mandell Theater

University Chorus
Sun Mar 16 | 3:00 PM
Great Court (In Main Building)

Tickets are free but registration is required.

Spring 2024-25

Theatre

Urinetown, The Musical

Music & Lyrics by Mark Hollman

Book & Lyrics by Greg Kotis

Directed by Peter Reynolds

Urinetown is a hilarious and timely musical tale of greed, corruption, love, and revolution in a dystopian future when there is a terrible water shortage, caused by a 20-year drought. This has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets forcing the citizens to use public amenities, regulated by a single malevolent company that profits by charging admission for one of humanity’s most basic needs. Amid the people, a hero decides he’s had enough, and plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom.

Preview Thu May 8 | 8:00 PM

Opening Fri May 9 | 8:00 PM

Sat May 10 | 8:00 PM

Sun May 11 | 2:00 PM

Thu-Sat May 15-17 | 8:00 PM

Mandell Theater

Tickets are available here.

END-OF-TERM SHOWCASES

URBN Annex Black Box Theater

Sat Jun 7, 2025
Musical Theatre Cabaret | 1:00 PM
Director’s Lab | 7:00 PM
Advanced Improv | 8:30 PM

This event is free, but tickets are required.

Dance

Drexel Dance Ensemble Spring Performance 
May 29-May 31, 2025 | 7:30pm | Mandell Theater

FreshDance and Dance Ensemble join forces for our Spring series! These captivating performances showcase the work of both leading professional choreographers and the emerging artistic voices of students.

General Admission: $15
Drexel Students: $5

Tickets will be available here.

Spring Music Concert Series

Chamber Strings
Tue Jun 3 | 7:30 PM
Main Auditorium

Mediterranean Ensemble
Wed Jun 4 | 7:30 PM
Mandell Theater

Jazz Orchestra & Jazztet
Thu Jun 5 | 7:30 PM
Mandell Theater

Outdoor Music Jam
featuring Experimental Music Ensemble, Fusion Band, Percussion Ensemble
and Rock Ensemble
Fri Jun 6 | 12:00 – 4:00 PM
Lancaster Walk

Drexel University Symphony Orchestra
Fri Jun 6 | 7:30 PM
Main Auditorium

Gospel Choir
Sat Jun 7 | 7:00 PM
Mandell Theater

All College Choir, Chamber Brass & Winds
Sat Jun 7 | 7:30 PM
Main Auditorium

University Chorus
Sun Jun 8 | 3:00 PM
Great Court (In Main Building)

Concert Band
Sun Jun 8 | 7:00 PM
Mandell Theater

Tickets are free but registration is required.