The riotous play Oh, Mary! has found two new leads for its first North American tour kicking off this fall: drag queen Alaska Thunderf— and Broadway darling J. Harrison Ghee. When the show lands in Philadelphia next March, Ghee will take the spotlight as the delightfully mad first lady Mary Todd Lincoln.
First, though, the titular role will go to Alaska, a winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, who grew up in Erie, Pa., and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh. While she stars as Mary, Ghee — a longtime New Yorker originally from Fayetteville, N.C. — will play “Mary’s Husband,” aka President Abraham Lincoln, becoming the first actor to play both roles in the play.
J. Harrison Ghee will play “Mary’s Husband” opposite Alaska Thunderf-‘s Mary Todd Lincoln in the first part of the North American tour of “Oh, Mary!” before they take the titular role in Jan. 2027.Daniel Rampulla
The 2026-27 tour starts in Hartford, Conn., in September and runs through May, with stops including Washington, Boston, Los Angeles, and Detroit. Alaska will play Mary through Jan. 17 and Ghee will take over the lead role beginning Jan. 19 in Chicago. They will be the star during the show’s brief Philly run at the Miller Theater from March 9 to 14.
The camp comedy from actor/comedian Cole Escola follows a miserable, alcoholic Mary Lincoln just before her husband’s assassination in a satirical story that “finally examines the forgotten life and dreams of Mrs. Lincoln through the lens of an idiot.” Following Escola, several stars have put their own stamp on the role, including Tituss Burgess, Maya Rudolph, Jane Krakowski, and Jinkx Monsoon (another breakout star from the RuPaul’s Drag Race universe).
Drag queen Alaska Thunderf— will play Mary Todd Lincoln in the first part of the “Oh, Mary!” North American tour.Daniel Rampulla
The play was a massive hit when it landed on Broadway in 2024, becoming a Pulitzer Prize finalist and receiving five Tony Award nominations. Oh, Mary! won two in 2025, including best direction of a play and best performance by an actor in a leading role in a play for Escola — who made Tony Award history as the first nonbinary actor to win in that category.
So it’s fitting that Ghee — a nonbinary actor who also achieved a historic first at the 2023 Tony Awards when they won best leading actor in a musical for playing Daphne/Jerry in Some Like It Hot — will get a chance to play Mary, too.
The two actors haven’t yet talked in-depth about the roles, but earlier this year, they crossed paths when Ghee was waiting to hear back on their audition results. “We spoke briefly at the Tony [Awards] after-party at the Carlyle [Hotel], and they had kind of given me a hint,” said Ghee, who’s currently playing Hermes in Hadestown on Broadway.
“They were like, ‘I feel like I’m gonna see more of you coming up.’”
Ghee has seen Krakowski, Monsoon, and Hannah Solow play Mary so far and they can’t wait to take up the role. “I’ve seen a spectrum of Marys, and I’m excited to, as Billy Porter would say, ‘steal the good sh—,’ and also just bring myself to it and really have fun.”
They first auditioned for the role of “Mary’s Husband” but had eyes on the lead, too.
“It was very much a ‘yes, and’ [situation],” Ghee said. “A lot of my career has been based in duality. I am very that, and I love versatility. I don’t ever want to be pigeonholed … I want to show people the capacity — don’t let other people limit you.”
J. Harrison Ghee pictured as Mary Todd Lincoln. “Oh, Mary!” lands at Philadelphia’s Miller Theater from March 9 to 14, 2027.Daniel Rampulla
As for stopping in Philadelphia, Ghee said it’s one of the cities where they’re most eager to perform. They love visiting the city and enjoying the food culture.
“I love to take an Amtrak down to Philly because you still get city vibes, but it breathes a little easier,” they said. “So I’m even considering, like, is there a world where I live in Philly one day? I don’t know!”
Tickets are on sale now for “Oh, Mary!,” which runs March 9-14, 2027, at the Miller Theater, 250 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, 215-893-1999 or ensembleartsphilly.org.
A new comedy set at the Jersey Shore is in the works from Irish writer Lisa McGee, the creator behind the hilarious hit show Derry Girls.
Called Wildwood, the series will follow a group of college girls visiting New Jersey from Ireland in the summer of 2000 with “no money, no visas, no plan, no clue,” according to Deadline.
McGee’s Derry Girls became a whopping international hit after first airing on Britain’s Channel 4 in 2018 and later landing on Netflix.
It follows a group of messy, raunchy, and zany teens — including Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan — at an all-girls Catholic school in the 1990s during the Troubles conflict in Northern Ireland.
A still from “Derry Girls.” (Netflix)Netflix / MCT
The show was a semi-autobiographical story for McGee, who grew up in Derry and writes irreverent, cheeky young characters that make audiences cringe, cry, and laugh out loud. Her most recent project was the comical murder mystery How to Get to Heaven From Belfast, which premiered on Netflix in February.
Described as a “spiritual successor” to Derry Girls, Wildwood marks McGee’s first U.S.-based project. It will be developed with 20th Television and FX following a reportedly competitive bidding process. McGee will serve as creator and executive producer.
It’s not yet clear whether Wildwood will film in the eponymous beach town where it’s set, but FX — the longtime home ofIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia — is certainly no stranger to the region.
Classics scholar Emily Wilson was in Greece’s Costa Navarino last year when she heard the news that would change her life: Filmmaker Christopher Nolan was planning to release a star-studded adaptation of The Odyssey, the epic poem that Wilson had spent years painstakingly translating from Homeric Greek into English.
Nolan’s film crew, Wilson learned, had just left the Greek town where she was now staying. As she walked along the beach, the University of Pennsylvania professor imagined what scenes of adventure had been conjured on the ground where she stood.
The seductively scary sirens calling out to Odysseus? The giant Cyclops who eats his men? (Spoiler alert: It was the latter, shot at Nestor’s Cave in nearby Messenia.)
Professor Emily Wilson, in her office at the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, July 4, 2026.Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer
Nolan’s film was a thrilling prospect for the classicist who made her name penning a quick-paced and strikingly contemporary translation of the nearly 2,700-year-old story for modern audiences. While the Oppenheimer director wrote his own version for the big screen, along with partner-collaborator Emma Thomas, he has cited several translations, including Wilson’s, as references.
“It’s great that there’s going to be a whole new wave of people who may not have thought much about The Odyssey, may not even be familiar with the narrative, who may then get excited about it, because Christopher Nolan is a big name,” said Wilson, who lives in West Philly with her partner, David Foreman, a Swarthmore College administrator, her two younger daughters, Psyche and Freya, their cats, Pumpkin and Spice, and their dog, Pepper. (Her eldest daughter, Imogen, just graduated from Temple University.)
This image released by Universal Pictures shows, from left, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, and Tom Holland as Telemachus, in a scene from “The Odyssey.” (Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Pictures via AP)Melinda Sue Gordon
The Nolan bump is already in effect: The Odyssey made $263.7 million globally on opening weekend, and it has been hailed as a total triumph for the filmmaker behind Inception and Interstellar. The cast features Nolan regulars like Matt Damon (Odysseus), Anne Hathaway (Penelope), Robert Pattinson (Antinous), and Elliot Page (Sinon), as well as Tom Holland (Telemachus, son of Odysseus and Penelope), Zendaya (Athena), John Leguizamo (Eumaeus), and Lupita Nyong’o (Helen of Troy/Clytemnestra).
But even before the red carpets and glitzy media tours, Wilson saw a surge of interest in her 2017 translation. Last year saw a significant increase in book sales following the film announcement, and those numbers have continued to rise into 2026, said Louise Brockett, head of communications at W.W. Norton & Co., Wilson’s publisher.
Professor Emily Wilson, in her office at the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, July 4, 2026.Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer
As of July 2 this year, total sales reached a major milestone: “In 2026, notably, domestic sales across all formats surpassed 1,000,000 copies,” Brockett wrote in an email.
For Wilson, the overwhelming response has been stunning to witness. Long before The Odyssey again seized the zeitgeist, she took on the project with rather low expectations of readership.
“I remember being very much aware that most retranslations maybe sell 1,000 copies if you’re lucky … you’re going to work very, very hard on it for five years, and then maybe a tiny number of people will read it — and of course I thought it was still worthwhile,” said Wilson, who first became enamored with Greek mythology as a child growing up in Oxford, England.
Her book was a success, lauded for its compelling storytelling and accessible, modern language; it led to her being named a prestigious MacArthur “genius” fellow. With its release, Wilson also earned special recognition that initially surprised her: She was the first woman to publish an English translation of The Odyssey.
This image released by Universal Pictures shows director Christopher Nolan on set of “The Odyssey.” (Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Pictures via AP)Melinda Sue Gordon
“I used lots of translations of Homer in my teaching, and it hadn’t actually occurred to me that they were all by men. It was only once that became the headline about my translation that I then looked back at it, and realized how there is a pattern here,” she said.
But that distinction does not quite resonate with her. While classical studies still tend to be male-dominated, Wilson said, literary studies feature many women scholars in classics who have made major strides in scholarship across generations before her.
“So I guess I partly want to push back against the idea that it’s completely unique to be a woman in classics, because it certainly isn’t,” she said. “There are many other women classicists, and I don’t want the headlines to serve as a way of erasing their work. It makes me really uncomfortable.”
Professor Emily Wilson, at the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, July 4, 2026.Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer
She doesn’t think her translation is inherently feminist because she has earned the title of “first.” A better example of a feminist retelling, for her, is Circe, Madeline Miller’s popular fantasy novel adaptation of several Greek myths, including The Odyssey. (Miller’s bookfocuses on the perspective of the eponymous witch who turns men into animals, played by a chilling Samantha Morton in the Nolan film.)
Still, Wilson’s translation provided new language that stripped away some of the previous translators’ gendered biases: For instance, when the poem mentions the servant women in Ithaca who cater to Penelope’s suitors, other translators called them “sluts” and “whores,” but Wilson eschewed those derogatory terms and instead opted for “slaves” and “house girls.”
That nuance, however, was lost when Nolan’s Odyssey became a proxy for culture wars on the internet. Scores of mostly male critics decried Nolan’s casting decisions as inaccurate for racist and transphobic reasons (many claim Helen of Troy, portrayed by Nyong’o, cannot be a Black woman).
Director Christopher Nolan, left, and Emma Thomas pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film ‘The Odyssey’ on Monday, July 6, 2026, in London. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)Scott A Garfitt
Wilson herself has become a target for much of the outrage, too — so much so that she added a contact form to her website specifically marked for “misogynistic trolling” alongside the other button for “kind words and praise.”
She has brushed off the noise, though, and kept working at her craft with little regard for the haters who believe The Odyssey is meant to portray only one demographic.
From more than two decades of teaching, she knows they are simply wrong because these myths hold universal power.
“It is really exciting to see just how many young people, especially young women, are fired up about ancient literature and classics in a new way,” she said. “It’s a whole wave of current classical scholarship and books for the general public that are showing that these texts are not just for men, not just for white people, not just for any particular modern demographic. … This is a subject that anyone from any background can engage with.”
Wilson’s teen daughters have been swept up in the Nolan excitement, too. After Zendaya was pictured holding her book, Wilson’s daughters were thrilled.
“There’s nobody cooler than Zendaya, obviously, so now I’ve made it,” she said, laughing.
Beyond all the film news, Wilson is now hard at work on another translation of The Odyssey with different parameters than her first; primarily that it will be longer. Maybe Nolan’s film will spark some new ideas.
Her next release, Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea: Journeys Through Ancient Literature, comes out this fall. It is a series of essays about her translation process and the work of connecting modern audiences with ancient literature.
It can serve as a blueprint for anyone else eager, like her and Nolan, to take on an epic challenge.
The headline and the article were updated to reflect updated information from the publishing house. The book’s all-time sales surpassed 1 million in 2026.
The Fringe Festival celebrates its 30th anniversary this fall with a month of experimental, genre-blending, and provocative theater hosted all over Philadelphia.
Running Sept. 8 to 27, the festival will feature more than 338 productions spotlighting groundbreaking local and international talent, including a play about infectious disease scientist Anthony Fauci and AIDS activist Larry Kramer, an absurdist clown show, and a multimedia music experience inside the Franklin Institute’s planetarium.
“Fringe performance — often characterized by free expression, communal experience, collective wonder, challenging perspectives, and a DIY ethos — plays an essential role in our community,” said FringeArts CEO and producing director Nell Bang-Jensen in a statement. “This year, you can find us at nearly 100 venues, from traditional theaters and large cultural institutions to neighborhood bars and city sidewalks.”
With a lineup featuring world and regional premieres, the Philadelphia Fringe Festival is one of the biggest Fringe events in the country.
Organizers say they are on track to surpass the number of productions they presented last year, which was the largest festival in Philly Fringe history: A record high of more than 35,000 tickets were sold, with unique ticket buyers up 17% from the previous year — and for the first time, millennials and Gen Z made up more than half of the audiences.
A scene from “Friday Night Rat Catchers” by Lisa Fagan and Lena Engelstein, playing at FringeArts from Sept. 17-19, 2026. Photo credit: Maria BaranovaMaria Baranova
Festival “hubs” returning this year include Cannonball (at Asian Arts Initiative and Icebox Project Space), Circus Campus Presents in West Mount Airy, Dumb Hub at Pig Iron Theatre in Olde Kensington, and West Philly’s Studio 34. Newcomers this year are the Lemonade Stand, focusing specifically on new artists at Skinner Studio at Plays and Players, and a dance-focused hub at Performance Garage in Spring Garden. Each hub hosts more than a dozen experiences.
Among the hundreds of shows participating, there are 10 curated productions from FringeArts with artists both familiar and new to Philly Fringe audiences.
The lineup includes Friday Night Rat Catchers (Sept. 17-19 at FringeArts), a disco era-set dance production from choreographers Lisa Fagan and Lena Engelstein; Handle With Care (Sept. 17-19 at the Athenaeum of Philadelphia) from the boundary-testing Belgian theater collective Ontroerend Goed; and How Does It Feel to Look at Nothing (Sept. 25-27 at FringeArts), an avant-garde musical performance from clarinetist/vocalist Holland Andrews and violinist/composer yuniya edi kwon.
A scene from “Handle with Care” by Ontroerend Goed, which will perform Sept. 17-19 at the Athenaeum of Philadelphia.Ontroerend Goed
Another musical experience will take place inside the Fels Planetarium at the Franklin Institute with the Philadelphia premiere of Utopian Hotline: A Telephone Hotline, A Vinyl Record, A Performance (Sept. 24-27). The Brooklyn-based group Theater Mitu combines science and theater for fascinating explorations of humanity; in this case, they created a public hotline to encourage people to share messages to the future, taking inspiration from the Voyager space missions. The voicemails join the sounds of vinyl records and the visuals of the planetarium to immerse audiences into the otherworldly.
Kramer/Fauci (Sept. 8-11 at FringeArts), which premiered at New York University’s Skirball Center for the Performing Arts earlier this year, examines the contentious and complicated relationship between a public health official and a playwright/organizer. It’s a dramatic retelling of a C-SPAN segment from 1993 when Fauci, who led the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Kramer, the founder of the AIDS activist organization ACT UP, clashed over a new AIDS task force. The two adversaries (Kramer publicly called Fauci “a murderer”) later developed a close friendship. Broadway director Daniel Fish, who won a Tony Award for his Oklahoma! revival, crafted the show verbatim from the heated but riveting news segment.
The beloved and eccentric drag queens of the Bearded Ladies Cabaret — frequent Fringe headliners — are taking a look back through 16 years of performances with an installation and show called Priority Hoarding: A Retro-spectacle (Sept. 10-27 at the Hairport, 444 N. Third St.). It’s designed to feel like viewers are digging through a chaotic closet full of baggage both literal and metaphorical. The cabaret will stage three performances weekly on Saturdays during the run.
A scene from Nichole Canuso and Branching Path’s “Lunar Retreat,” which begins performances starting Sept. 10 at the Pearlstein Gallery. Photo credit: Theo CoteTheo Cote
Fringe regular Nichole Canuso will return with her eponymous dance company for the world premiere of Lunar Retreat (Sept. 10-20 at the Pearlstein Gallery), an interactive choose-your-own-path performance inspired by the moon’s orbit. Canuso developed choreography in collaboration with ocean explorer and visual artist Rebecca Rutstein.
For audiences looking for something immersive and outdoors, Blank Placard Dance, Replay (Sept. 13) is a silent protest march in Center City. The first march of its kind debuted in San Francisco in 1967 from artist Anna Halprin as a response to the Vietnam War. The procession consists of protesters holding blank signs and posters, backed by a marching band; Philadelphia’s performance will be led by choreographer Sherwood Chen. It’s billed as an invitation for public engagement: “When intrigued passersby ask what they are protesting, the marchers turn the question back to them: What do you want to protest? A discussion ensues. Ideas circulate. Protest takes root.”
A scene from “Blank Placard Dance, Replay,” a silent protest march with blank signs. It will performed in Philadelphia on Sept. 13, 2026. Photo credit: Herve VeroneseHerve Veronese
The local experimental dance theater group the Ninth Planet is back at Fringe with a world premiere of The Holy Fool (Sept. 10-19 at Impact Services, 124 E. Indiana Ave.), a dreamy ghost story about an American family struggling with aging, grief, and heartache accompanied by original music featuring trumpet, percussion, and synthesizers.
One of the most curious offerings this year comes from an Estonian clown. In Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha(Sept. 10-13 at the Proscenium at the Drake), Julia Masli wants to solve people’s problems. With a persona that the New York Times described as “halfway between curious child and ingenuous alien just landed on Earth,” Masli asks audience members to tell her their problems and she invents unexpected solutions ranging from funny to serious.
Tickets for Philadelphia Fringe Fest go on sale July 15 for FringeArts members and July 18 for the public.
Artist Charles Fazzino’s work jumps out at you. And it sparkles.
Renowned for capturing colorful cityscapes and big sporting events, Fazzino has for decades handcrafted three-dimensional pop-out art to mark major occasions from the Grammys to the Olympics — and, in recent years, the annual MLB All-Star Game.
With the game in Philadelphia this year, Fazzino is in town as the official commemorative artist and he is bringing along the MLB All-Star Game portrait and some of his bedazzled baseballs, bats, and helmets to the MLB All-Star Village at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
The MLB All-Star Game portrait spotlights the city of Philadelphia, featuring the skyline, Benjamin Franklin Bridge, SEPTA buses, and, of course, Citizens Bank Park.
Artist Charles Fazzino displays his hand painted baseballs available at his booth at the Capital One All-Star Village, Philadelphia Convention Center, on Thursday, July 9, 2026.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
The portrait is one of his signature 3D pop-out pieces. Fazzino started making these pieces in the 1990s inspired by pop-up books. First, he prints drawings on a special cardboard-like material called museum board, made of cotton rags, and proceeds to cut out each person, landmark, and building with an X-ACTO knife. Then he meticulously arranges the figures using gobs of glue to create the three-dimensional artwork; the glue is not just an adhesive but a layering tool as well.
Finally, he applies Swarovski crystals and acrylic paint to make the canvas glitter.
His work has been collected by a wide range of fans from Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton, to celebrities including Julia Roberts, Michael Jordan, and Reggie Jackson. To keep up with the demand, Fazzino runs a studio in New Rochelle, N.Y., with a staff of 60 who help with the painstaking process of cutting and gluing.
Artist Charles Fazzino created the official 2026 All-Star Game poster. His original 3D art that the poster is based on hangs at right. Fazzino was readying his booth at the Capital One All-Star Village at the Philadelphia Convention Center on Thursday, July 9, 2026.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
“The artwork is different because everything still is printed by hand, made by hand, cut out by hand, glued, assembled, and constructed all by hand,” said Fazzino, who found a passion for art thanks to his artist parents. “That’s what I think differentiates me from other artists, and why the pieces are so unique.”
Fazzino has been making artwork depicting Philadelphia for years, earning a substantial following in the region as local galleries have sold his work over the past 30 years.
Artist Charles Fazzino displays a custom-made batting helmet that will be available at his booth at the Capital One All-Star Village at the Philadelphia Convention Center on Thursday, July 9, 2026.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
“I’ve been going [to Philly] so many years, so I include the Mummers Parade or the Art Museum, Rocky sculpture, all the cool hotels, and the food culture,” he said.
In addition to the All-Star art, he made a piece commemorating the Semiquincentennial, featuring major landmarks from all 50 states.
Fazzino’s original 3D art costs between $3,000-$7,000 with framing, depending on the size, but he also sells posters at lower price points, in addition to a variety of baseball-related art.
At his booth at the Convention Center, visitors can see his Phillies-themed decorative baseballs as well as the ceremonial home plate that will be used in the first pitch at the All-Star Game on Tuesday.
Playing the best friend to Kate Winslet’s titular Mare Sheehan character, Nicholson won an Emmy in 2021 for her heart-wrenching performance as the mother of (spoiler alert!) the young boy revealed as the killer Sheehan was investigating.
More details about how her character will factor into Task are under wraps. But we know that the new season follows Ruffalo’s ex-priest-turned-FBI agent — a performance that earned him an Emmy nod — as he leads another task force that will clash with the DEA.
Mark Ruffalo (left) plays FBI agent Tom Brandis in the HBO series “Task.”Warner Bros. Discovery
It’s the first time that the worlds of Task and Mare have officially collided, though both shows were created by Berwyn writer Brad Ingelsby and filmed in the Philadelphia area. There’s also some overlap in their creative teams, from production and costume design to dialect coaching. (Ingelsby recognizes the importance of getting the signature Delco accent just right.)
“We weren’t trying to separate Task from Mare. In fact, we were actually going the other way and saying, ‘No, it’s OK to use the same streets,’” said Ingelsby, who received an Emmy nomination recognizing his writing for the Task finale. “If there’s something architecturally that can connect the two worlds, let’s wrap our arms around it.”
“Task” and “Mare of Easttown” writer Brad Ingelsby in his office in Berwyn, Pa.. on July 17, 2025. Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer
Mare was developed as a limited series, but talk of a potential second season has persisted in the years since its release. Ingelsby has said the door is always open for a continuation of the show and earlier this year, Winslet reportedly said recent conversations with HBO were promising enough that she believes there’s a “strong likelihood” filming could begin in 2027.
It’s not yet clear whether Winslet could make a cameo in Task when the two shows crossover.
Following a banner year for TV shows set in Philadelphia, the ABC sitcom Abbott Elementary and HBO drama Task received multiple Emmy Award nominations on Wednesday.
Ruffalo and Tom Pelphrey both received acting nominations, in outstanding lead and outstanding supporting categories, respectively.
The finale, “A Still Small Voice,” received particular attention: Ingelsby was nominated for outstanding writing for a drama series and editors Keiko Deguchi and Amy E. Duddleston were nominated in the picture editing category. The episode “Crossings” was recognized as well, with director of photography Alex Disenhof nominated for outstanding cinematography for a one-hour series.
Additionally, director Salli Richardson Whitfield was nominated for directing the action-packed episode “Out Beyond Ideas of Wrongdoing and Rightdoing, There Is a River.” She was also nominated in the same category for directing an episode of HBO’s The Gilded Age.
Ingelsby told The Inquirer in an email that the Task team is “deeply honored” by the recognition.
“Task exists solely because of the remarkable people who have believed in it and helped bring it to the screen. Thank you to HBO for shepherding it into the world so beautifully,” Ingelsby wrote. “I’m especially happy to see our cast leaders Mark Ruffalo and Tom Pelphrey nominated for their extraordinary performances.”
“This recognition represents the entire Task team,“ he said, ”in front of and behind the camera who poured their enormous talent and hearts into bringing this story to life.”
He added: “We are busy at work shooting Season 2 right now, and this is a very nice reason to pause for a moment and celebrate.”
Fresh off concluding its fifth season, the Emmy-winning powerhouse Abbott Elementary returns to the awards ceremony with seven nods, including outstanding comedy series and outstanding casting. West Philly’s Quinta Brunson, Abbott’s star and creator, was nominated for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series for her role as Janine Teagues and outstanding writing for a comedy series for the episode “Team Building.” Brunson won an outstanding lead actress Emmy for the same role in 2023 and an outstanding writing award for the Abbott pilot in 2022.
Joining Brunson in acting nominations are Janelle James, who plays the chaotically unpredictable principal Ava Coleman and is nominated for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series. Tyler James Williams, who plays neurotic teacher Gregory Eddie, is nominated for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy.
“Abbott Elementary” creator and star Quinta Brunson watches the Phillies play the Atlanta Braves during a taping of the show on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025. in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Abbott Elementary also received a nod for outstanding directing for a comedy series, recognizing Randall Einhorn for his effort filming the “Ball Game” episode during a live Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park last August. Phillies fans will remember it as the night Kyle Schwarber made MLB history with four home runs, while Abbott fans will recall suspecting the mysterious janitor Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis) was secretly the Phanatic.
“I couldn’t be more proud,” Brunson wrote on Instagram. “Congratulations to the hardworking cast and crew of Abbott. I am grateful for each and every person that makes this production move.”
In the supporting actor category, Williams will compete with West Philly native Colman Domingo, who was nominated for his role as the sharp and sassy Danny in Tina Fey’s Netflix comedy, The Four Seasons. This is Domingo’s second consecutive year as a best supporting actor nominee. The show’s second season, released in May, was filmed partially at the Jersey Shore and revealed that Domingo’s character is also from Philadelphia.
Domingo received a second Emmy nomination this year for the final season of HBO’s Euphoria, in the category of outstanding guest actor. He played the tenderhearted and justifiably furious addiction sponsor Ali to Zendaya’s lovably tragic character, Rue. In 2022, Domingo won the supporting actor Emmy for the same role.
The actor was just in Philadelphia on July 4, when he received a Philadelphia Freedom Award from Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. Now on vacation in Europe, he’s celebrating the double Emmy nods that highlight his acting skills in both comedic and dramatic roles.
“I think the diversity of work is what I’ve always hoped for, to have these opportunities to flex very different muscles,” Domingo told Deadline on Wednesday. He added that he believes the finale of Euphoria “is some of my best work” and he “gave it everything I had.”
Another Philly son got a nomination this year: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia creator Rob Mac (formerly McElhenney) stars in and executive produces the Emmy-winning Welcome to Wrexham, about the Welsh soccer team he co-owns with Ryan Reynolds. The show is in the running for outstanding unstructured reality program, which it has won twice before. (Mac’s Always Sunny costar and wife, Kaitlin Olson, also received a nomination for her guest appearance in Hacks.)
Leading in Emmy nominations were The Pitt, the emergency room drama set in Pittsburgh, with 25 nods, and Hacks, the comedy costarring Eagles superfan Hannah Einbinder, receiving 24. The daughter of a diehard Eagles fan from Doylestown, Einbinder is nominated again for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series. She won the award last year and made headlines for ending her speech with “Go Birds, f — ICE, and free Palestine.”
Hosted at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, the 78th annual Primetime Emmy Awards will air 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14, on NBC.
Is it rude to turn down a Fourth of July barbecue because it’s going to be 1,000 degrees? Let a woman sit inside … I’ll cook faster than the chicken.
Rosa Cartagena, Arts & Entertainment reporter
My knee-jerk response: Say no, and don’t feel guilty.
But for a better read on the situation — what’s your relationship to the host? Is this a must-do annual gathering? Are these friends you haven’t seen in a long time? Either way, we’re experiencing an extreme heat advisory, and you need to take care of yourself, so maybe staying home is the best bet.
Mike Newall, Life & Culture reporter
Before we begin, let me tell you a few facts about myself — so you can fully understand my bias. I was born with transparent skin. Nickname was Casper. I also hate sweating. Not if I’m exercising or playing sports or working. But if I’m just sitting down — I don’t want to be sweating.
I also don’t drink anymore. Given all that, I don’t ever like to be at a barbecue unless it’s in chilly Maine or I’m cooking. Because then I’ll be working, at least.
And Rosa’s right. Look after number one when it comes to heat advisories!
Rosa Cartagena
Oof, yeah, I agree with Mike — the sweat situation won’t be cute for anyone. What’s so special about this particular cookout, aside from the holiday? If it’s not an important tradition for you and your loved ones, then pass on this one and find another (cooler) time to enjoy the food and outdoors without so much discomfort. But if you do feel pressure to show up, you could always stop by early for a quick hour to show face and then duck out.
For my part, I do love the sun, and I think day drinking is the only July Fourth activity that I properly enjoy, but especially if you’re someone who’s older, or possibly have health concerns, it’s not worth the risk for some hamburgers. Protect your body (and your peace).
Mike Newall
Show your face to the bathroom mirror when you’re all sunburned!!!
Look, barbecues are just occasions to do things that aren’t enjoyable in 100-degree heat: make small talk, make sure the kiddo doesn’t get hurt or hurt anyone else, drink constant water and soda to keep boredom and nerves at bay and keep having to ask to use the bathroom (because of all that water and soda).
Rosa Cartagena
Totally true. I’d only add that it might be worth calling the host to see if their plans have shifted given the impending inferno — if they’re making adjustments to bring the party indoors, it may be worth the heat of traveling there and back. If not, just think how much happier you’ll be at home, in your AC, watching the World Cup and fireworks from the comfort of your couch.
Mike Newall
Call this host and ask them what the heavens to Betsy they were thinking of in the first place! Inviting you to such an obviously dangerous party in the first place! This selfish Meatapalozza in the middle of inhuman temps!
An event you would have to prepare an item for, pick out an outfit for, think of witty remarks for — all in the middle of Dante’s return!
But look, I’m someone who talks a big game, then goes and has the time of my life. So it’s really jump ball!
Look one things for certain. You can have a blast at a barbecue. It can be the summer kickback your soul needed. But this weather ain’t no joke.
Rosa Cartagena
Of course, there’s something really special about being outside and partying this week because there are thousands upon thousands of tourists enjoying the city and bringing such amazing, positive energy that I’d encourage everyone to experience. So if you wind up thinking, I want to have a good time during this historic, momentous celebration, I’m on your side. It could be a game-day decision. The urge to party may outweigh the dreaded sweat.
For me, I’d probably need just a couple tequila shots to make me feel invincible to the heat. (Then lots of water after, I promise.)
Mike Newall
Yes, drink responsibility! Do what you want! Have fun! And if anyone at this party brings up the 250th, just talk longly and loudly about how it all happened here. In short, be you. Be Philly. Happy 250th!
Editor’s note: This story contains spoilers for season one of “Task.”
The cast and crew of the HBO crime drama Task will descend on Manayunk next week to begin filming Season 2, according to notices posted around the neighborhood and on a local Facebook group.
The company Random Productions wrote that filming is scheduled for July 7-9, when certain streets will be closed to accommodate trailers, equipment vehicles, cast, and crew members. Parking restrictions, however, will begin earlier on specific blocks, starting Sunday, July 5.
“We will try to keep these closures as minimal as possible and will not prevent residents from accessing driveways or parking lots,” the notices state.
Actors Tom Pelphrey (left) and Mark Ruffalo, from HBO’s “Task,” do interviews before the Philadelphia Eagles game against the Los Angeles Rams at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
What fans need to know
The Mark Ruffalo-led series from Mare of Easttown creator and Berwyn resident Brad Ingelsby will again center on the dogged and empathetic FBI agent Tom Brandis, this time as he spearheads a new task force where, as the logline reads, “the deeper the operation runs, the harder it is to tell who’s the target.”
Brandis’ rival this season will be Philadelphia DEA agent Eddie Barnes, played by Mahershala Ali, the Oscar winner who starred in Moonlight, Green Book, and the 2019 HBO crime show True Detective. (Season 1 saw Brandis face off against robber Robbie Prendergrast, played to critical acclaim by Ozark actor Tom Pelphrey, who grew up in Howell Township, N.J.)
Joining Ali as fellow DEA agents are Pillion and Harry Potter actor Henry Melling, who will play a hothead named Brennan Boylan; The Assassination of Gianni Versace star Edgar Ramirez, cast as second-in-command Miguel Contreras, described as a “devoted family man … torn between duty and guilt”; and Star City actor Adam Nagaitis, playing loyal agent Luke Clemmons.
On the FBI side, 1923 actor Aminah Nieves will play Nataly Zamora, who Deadline described as “a no-nonsense FBI agent and dedicated young mother who fights hard to protect the community that raised her.”
It’s not yet clear whether other cast members from Season 1 will return. That includes Silvia Dionicio and Phoebe Fox, who played Brandis’ daughters, and Andrew Russel, their incarcerated brother who killed their mother accidentally during a schizophrenic episode. The emotional and bittersweet finale concluded with Brandis testifying at his son’s trial and affirming that he would be welcome home whenever he’s released.
Tom Brandis (Mark Ruffalo) hugs his family after his son Ethan’s parole hearing in the “Task” finale.HBO
Season 1 received millions of viewers — and, of course, a strong Philadelphia following — with the finale alone reaching an audience of 4 million in the U.S. within three days of airing. HBO has said that Task was one of its “top three fastest-growing, debut seasons.” Viewership overall outpaced Ingelsby’s Emmy-winning Mare of Easttown, which broke HBO viewership records in 2021 and may return for a second season. (It’s likely that Task, too, will receive Emmy Awards attention when nominations are announced July 8.)
Returning to Task behind the scenes are South Philadelphia native Jeremiah Zagar, who was a director and executive producer on Season 1; the son of late Philadelphia mosaicist Isaiah Zagar will serve as executive producer. Ruffalo will again executive produce the show, alongside Ingelsby and others, including Mare of Easttown executive producer Mark Roybal.
The first season of Taskfilmed in and around Philadelphia, including Delaware, Montgomery, and Chester Counties, and further out into rural Pennsylvania. Creator Inglesby has proudly said that the show is a Delco story, and his team aims for authentic portrayals of the region, down to the signature Delco accent.
Part of that effort means hiring local crews and background actors. In Season 1, the production hired 777 Pennsylvanians as cast and crew for 177 days, investing $230 million in the regional economy.
Actor Mark Ruffalo (right in black suit) shoots for the HBO series ‘Task’ at the Delaware County Government Center and Courthouse on June 17, 2024.Courtesy of Delaware County Government Center and Courthouse
Last fall, Task received a record-breaking $49.8 million tax credit from Pennsylvania, the highest amount the state has ever granted a single production. HBO estimates that Season 2 will bring some 3,700 jobs to the state and the studio expects to invest an estimated $194.1 million in Pennsylvania’s economy as it pays for local crews and hotel accommodations, among other expenses.
Kensington-based casting agency Heery Loftus has led local casting efforts for the show, most recently announcing a call for “Latino men who can portray organized crime figures” and “men and women of all ethnicities who can portray law enforcement personnel.”
A premiere date for Season 2 has not yet been announced.
“Task” showrunner Brad Ingelsby and star Mark Ruffalo on set.Warner Bros. Discovery
What Manayunk residents need to know
Per two notices from Random Productions, “No Parking” signs will be posted on these streets during these dates:
Sunday, July 5 at 6 p.m. to Wednesday, July 8 at 11 p.m.:
Cresson Street between Cotton Street and Gay Street
Monday, July 6 at 6 p.m. to Wednesday, July 8 at 11 p.m.:
Grape Street between Silverwood Street and Cresson Street
Levering Street between Cresson Street and Silverwood Street
Cotton Street between Cresson Street and Main Street
Main Street between Cotton Street and Levering Street
Grape Street between Main Street and Cresson Street
Levering Street between Main Street and Cresson Street
Wednesday, July 8 at 6 p.m. to Thursday, July 9 at 10 p.m.:
Dupont Street between High Street and Smick Street
Baker Street between Dupont Street and Green Lane
Baker Street between Dupont Street and Mallory Street
These streets will be closed during these dates and approximate times:
Tuesday, July 7 from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and Wednesday, July 8 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.:
Grape Street between Silverwood Street and Cresson Street
Cresson Street between Cotton Street and Gay Street
Thursday, July 9 from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.:
Dupont Street between Smick Street and High Street
Please note: This breakdown of parking restrictions and street closures may not be comprehensive as the company released multiple neighborhood notices.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect a later start time for the concert, which organizers changed due to the extreme heat advisory this week.
Broadway legend Idina Menzel has lived in Los Angeles for years now, but she still loves an East Coast audience — especially in Philly.
“They’re my vibe. I’ve got a lot of friends and family down there. They understand my humor,” said Menzel, who lives in Encino with her husband, actor Aaron Lohr, her 16-year-old son, Walker Nathaniel Diggs, and their dog, Gino.
“I just really feel like I’m very authentic when I’m on the stage with them, and we have a great time.”
The star singer behind unforgettable characters in Wicked, Rent, and Frozen, Menzel returns to Philadelphia on July 3 to perform her biggest hits from musicals and beyond, joining the Philly Pops for a free concert on Independence Mall.
“It’s been quite some time since I’ve done an orchestra show,” said Menzel, who last year starred in the Broadway musical Redwood, about a mother grieving the sudden loss of her son and finding solace in a redwood forest.
“It’s the most glorious experience, just standing up there in front of 80 some musicians and performing with them … there’s nothing like it.”
At Independence Mall, she’ll likely sing her popular hits, like “Defying Gravity,” “Take Me or Leave Me,” and “Let It Go,” as well as songs from her own discography, with some familiar arrangements and some new ones she created recently.
Outside of touring, the Tony Award-winner is no stranger to the city: As a New Yorker, Menzel has visited often before. In college, she once spent a Christmas in town with two New York University roommates from Philadelphia.
There’s one thing she loves to do whenever she stops in Philly — run up the Art Museum steps.
“I make it a point to, with my son, because he’s such an athlete. We run the steps. I call them the Rocky steps,” she said.
Performing as part of Wawa Welcome America’s Semiquincentennial celebrations leading up to July 4, Menzel joins a long list of celebrities coming to Philadelphia for the national birthday bash. If there’s one song from her history that she thinks Philly audiences — and Americans overall — need to hear right now, that would be “No Day But Today.”
“Rent was my very first professional show, and it’s one of my favorite songs from that show. For me, it’s kind of like a mantra, and whenever I sing it, audiences truly come together,” she said. “It’s more about gratitude and community. People coming together, not taking things for granted, and really embracing the moment.”
It’s a message that will likely resonate with Philadelphians — even if Menzel is a diehard Knicks fan.
Idina Menzel will headline Pops on Independence in Philadelphia at Sixth & Market Streets on the Independence Concert Series Stage at 8 p.m. on Friday, July 3.
