Campus Philly has teamed up with several of our Open Arts partners to bring three spectacular events free of charge to Philly’s college students. Check out an opera, an orchestral concert, as well as post-impressionist paintings on three nights of fun. To get your tickets, you just need to sign up on with Open Arts using the code INSIDER1516. Keep in mind that you must register beforehand, but the events are free.
Created in 1975, Opera Philadelphia has provided Philadelphians with both traditional and innovative operas, like the lively cabaret opera about Andy Warhol, ANDY: A POPERA. These are the kinds of productions the Opera puts on: modern, risky, and fun. Even their more traditional shows have a twist.
On October 3, bring your friends, food, and drinks to meet other college students behind Independence Hall at a picnic-style Opera on the Mall. La Triviata, an opera about a Parisian courtesan, is guaranteed to be loads of fun! This annual event sees between four thousand and five thousand people of all ages. The first 1000 audience members get a free seat cushion, so make sure to get there at 5:30pm when the gates open! Don’t worry about not understanding the songs and dialogue – there are subtitles for all their shows – and, anyways, the acting is superb, so you’ll always know what’s going on.
If you can’t make it to this event, Open Arts has teamed up with Opera Philadelphia to provide $10 advance student rush tickets for most of their shows. Dress code is dressy casual for the most part. You can dress up as much as you want, but don’t come wearing a swimsuit, coverup, and flip flops! They will not let you into the building. Slacks and a nice blouse or shirt will do nicely. Or some dark jeans and a button up. Or a cute skirt with –
MOVING ON.
One of the world’s best and most distinctive orchestras lives right in our own back yard! The Philadelphia Orchestra presents their Free College Concert on October 20 at 8 p.m. to open their eZseatU program. Let this world-renowned orchestra tug on your heartstrings (Get it? Heart strings? Nevermind). These super stars of the Orchestra have performed Lord of the Rings and Zelda in addition to their more classical repertoire, so I personally can’t wait to see what they have for us this season. It will be crowded, so make sure you get there early to snag a seat.Head over earlier to check out the Kimmel Center’s amazing architecture and the Campus Philly Open Arts table (it is entirely possible that there will be giveaways). And while you’re there, you might as well sign up for eZseatU, their $25 student membership program. You’ll have unlimited access to their 80+ events and purchase additional $8 student tickets for your friends.
LASTLY
Albert C. Barnes, a chemist who made his fortune at the turn of the twentieth century, collected what is considered by many to be the greatest collection of post-impressionist and early modern art. Tied by a very, very strict will, Dr. Barnes’ collection was finally moved from its campus in Merion to its current location on Benjamin Franklin Parkway after a two year legal battle. Dr. Barnes designed The Barnes Foundation’s collection very specifically to promote “the advancement of education and the appreciation of the fine arts.”
This legendary collection is partnering with Open Arts to bring you Open Arts College Night at the Barnes on November 13! Enjoy live music from Worldtown and Temple University’s Eric Montague Quintet as well as a dance performance by University of the Arts’ alumni choreographer Inger Cooper, while sipping (non-alcoholic) drinks and snacking on a variety of bruschetta alongside Van Goghs and Cezannes. We’ll party ALL. NIGHT. LONG. Or, rather, until about 10 p.m. or so.
Open Arts members get free weekday admission, so if you’ll have a chance to check out the beautiful exhibits if you can’t make it.
