Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts Announced Today

Lights on, curtains up. It's Philadelphia's moment, as the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA) turns a bright spotlight on the city's arts and cultural scene. For three weeks, from April 7 through May 1, 2011, audiences will revel in an array of one-time, only-in-Philadelphia productions by some of the region's top talents -- many of whom will partner with or present international performers. PIFA will feature music, dance, fashion, fine arts, poetry, cuisine and more -- all generously flavored with the essence of Paris, circa 1910-1920.

Inspired by the Kimmel Center, PIFA promises to be an out-of-the-box arts festival that honors the vision of longtime Philadelphia resident and philanthropist Leonore Annenberg. Before she passed away in 2009, Mrs. Annenberg provided a generous grant through the Annenberg Foundation to ensure that her lifelong dream for a citywide arts celebration would be fulfilled.

"Not in memory has the city hosted so much performing and visual arts linked by a common thread and packed into a one-month festival," says Ed Cambron, executive director of PIFA. "Philly has an extraordinary collection of top-notch arts groups that are excited about smashing the traditional arts festival format and presenting something truly different. The philosophy for PIFA is collaboration, creativity and innovation, which means our audiences will see a multitude of new works, unprecedented partnerships and performances that will happen only here."

All The City's A Stage:

As PIFA transforms the entire city into a giant stage, loyal fans and newcomers to the arts will have the opportunity to choose from among dozens of ticketed and free activities each day. Performances and exhibits will be held throughout Center City and beyond, many in Kimmel Center venues, as well as in theaters, performance halls and other venues, both large and small.

"Since opening 10 years ago, the Kimmel Center has played a central role in shaping, inspiring and supporting the region's cultural community," says Anne Ewers, president and CEO of the Kimmel Center. "Inspired by the Kimmel Center, PIFA will create extraordinary opportunities for us to build more connections that will strengthen arts and culture throughout the region."

One-of-a-Kind Performances With An Ooh-La-La Flair:

"We chose our theme because 100 years ago, Paris was the epicenter of creativity. What happened during that time frame shaped how we defined the arts throughout the 20th century," explains Cambron. "Right now, Philadelphia's creative community is poised to fuel the same spirit of ingenious creativity."

With more than 100 performances planned, three events serve as examples of the serendipitous moments and surprising performances audiences can look forward to. For the first time ever, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Pennsylvania Ballet will perform together, collaborating on what promises to be an unforgettable presentation of the classic French ballet Pulcinella. In an innovative pairing, Philly's signature hip-hop band The Roots will play in an anything-can-happen concert with a French chanteuse. What's more, daring aerialists will swing from the rafters of the Kimmel Center and teach anybody who has ever wanted to join the circus how to fly the trapeze on the Avenue of the Arts.

One Moment In Time:

"When a moment comes along, you don't want to miss it," says Meryl Levitz, president and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation. "This moment will last only a few weeks, and it will feature it-can-only-happen-here performances. That is a combination that makes PIFA a must-do event for residents of and visitors to Philadelphia."

The complete line-up will be announced on April 7, 2010, one year prior to the festival's start. Hotel and ticket packages will make it easy for audiences to attend desired performances and discover new events. Tickets to select performances go on sale April 7, 2010 through ticketphiladelphia.org and at participating venues. For the most up-to-date details and event information, visit pifa.org.

Kimmel Center, Inc., a charitable, not-for-profit organization, provides a rich diversity of programming through its Kimmel Center Presents sponsored by Citi and Broadway Series of performances, as well as arts in education and community outreach. The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and the Academy of Music together serve as home to eight Resident Company performing arts organizations, including The Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Ballet, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, American Theater Arts for Youth, Philadanco, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society and Peter Nero and the Philly Pops®. Kimmel Center, Inc. owns, manages, supports and maintains The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, which includes Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, Innovation Studio and the Merck Arts Education Center. Kimmel Center, Inc. also manages the Academy of Music, owned by The Philadelphia Orchestra Association.

The Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA), inspired by the Kimmel Center, launches the city's arts and cultural scene onto the world stage with a three-week festival featuring Philadelphia performances and activities designed to appeal to loyal fans, as well as the new-to-the-arts crowd. Based on the philosophy of collaboration, creativity and innovation, PIFA programs comprise newly commissioned works, unexpected partnerships with both local and International Artists and non-traditional and emerging art forms, along with classic performances that engage residents and visitors alike. With the overarching theme of Paris 1910-1920, PIFA celebrates works from and inspired by the period and the general innovative spirit of the time. Funded in part with a $10 million grant from Philadelphia philanthropist Mrs. Leonore Annenberg, whose vision for a city-wide arts extravaganza shaped the festival, PIFA takes place April 7 through May 1, 2011.