2021-22 Lights Up! SHOWTIME! Season | The Philly Pops
 

2021-22 Lights Up! SHOWTIME! Season

Over the past year, stages across Philadelphia have sat quietly ... waiting for the sounds of live music to return. The POPS is back with a season that turns on the lights—with exciting, all-new performances, celebrating what we do best! This seasons’ shows cover the giants of our Legacy, POPS Rocks, and Broadway brands, with a nod to our favorite movie tracks as icing on the cake. It’s the perfect season for our return to the stage ... and our return to you. 

And this season, our stage is larger than ever before—with performances at venues throughout the city, virtual streams directly to your home, and streams throughout the world—through our partnership with the American Forces Network for our Salute Series performances. And, we’ve grown new digital and online programs like POPS @ Home and POPS in Schools @ Home to reach POPS fans and eager students of all ages  everywhere.  

We can’t wait to see you for this new season—wherever you’ll be.

Past Events

Sinatra: A Man and His Music

Sep 24-26, 2021
Rickey Minor, Conductor

The program highlights some of the most memorable greatest hits from Sinatra’s nine-time GRAMMY-winning career—it’s "Come Fly with Me," "Luck Be a Lady," "One for My Baby," "Fly Me to the Moon," "My Kind of Town," and "I’ve Got a Crush on You."  A show that’s certain to make you feel SOOO young! 

POPS Rocks ABBA: Mamma Mia and More...

Nov 17-21, 2021
David Charles Abell, Conductor

Mamma Mia — it’s time to get your dancing shoes on again! Hear the POPS’ signature sound on the hits of one of the greatest-selling bands of all time, ABBA! 

The sensational Finnish vocal group Rajaton brings their boundless energy to the POPS for a night of ABBA’s best — boogie along to “Dancing Queen,” “Gimme Gimme Gimme,” and “Chiquitita.” Rajaton has released 16 different albums. In 2017, Rajaton celebrated 20 years of music-making with one double platinum, three platinum, and eight gold records in Finland, as their worldwide record sales have hit over 400,000 copies altogether. 

A Philly POPS Christmas: Spectacular Sounds of the Season!

Dec 4-18, 2021
David Charles Abell, Conductor

All the glitter and warmth of Philly’s favorite holiday tradition is back for another dazzling season! It’s Philly’s favorite holiday tradition — this year featuring Music Director and Principal Conductor David Charles Abell, West End & Broadway star Scarlett Strallen, and Philadelphia native and Broadway legend Hugh Panaro! The POPS is back for another unforgettable holiday celebration! Also featured in this year’s show will be the young virtuoso pianist Charlie Albright, whose excitable, energetic style is sure to wow. 

This all-new original program will feature the perennial POPS favorites: The Philly POPS Festival Chorus, The African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas Gospel Choir, and The Philadelphia Boys Choir for another can’t-miss holiday extravaganza.

Dancin' In The Streets: THE MUSIC OF MOTOWN

Feb 18-20, 2022
Byron Stripling, Conductor

The Philly POPS gets grooving with the sounds of Hitsville, USA! 

Dancing in the Streets: The Music of Motown features the full Philly POPS orchestra on timeless Motown hits, including songs from iconic artists Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, The Four Tops, Stevie Wonder and more—with a nod to Philly’s own legendary producers, Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. 

Celebrate the legendary “Motown Sound” with Hairspray stars Shayna Steele and Chester Gregory, with American Idol finalist and charted R&B artist Michael Lynche. Audiences will be transformed by the powerful music of Motown with these authentic arrangements and exciting, young talented musicians.

POPS Rocks Let It Be

Mar 11-13, 2022
David Charles Abell, Conductor

The Beatles changed the rock and roll landscape forever. The Philly POPS continues its celebration of the 50th anniversaries of their last set of ground-breaking, memorable albums - the music that cemented their enduring legacy. As the final album released by “The Fab Four” Let It Be turns 50 this year!

Hammerstein: The Song is You

Apr 1-3, 2022
David Charles Abell, Conductor

With credits to over 1,589 unforgettable songs and 5 ground-breaking musicals, including Oklahoma!The Sound of Music, and South Pacific, Oscar Hammerstein 2nd shaped both American musical theater and the careers of his successors, particularly that of his neighbor and protégé, Stephen Sondheim. 

'S WONDERFUL! 'S GERSHWIN!

May 13-15, 2022
Byron Stripling, Conductor

Peter Nero performed a memorable “Rhapsody in Blue” at the POPS’ first-ever performance in 1979, kicking off the POPS’ storied 42-year history with one of America’s greatest songwriters and composers, George Gershwin.  
 
Guest conductor Byron Stripling presents the best work of this incandescent talent with this program, featuring music from Porgy and Bess, An American in Paris, and more! The program features some of the hottest stars of new Broadway, POPS favorites Nikki Renée Daniels, unforgettable Disney princess Allison Blackwell—fresh from her July 3rd triumph, and Ryan Silverman, last seen with the POPS in Abell’s Bernstein retrospective. Piano virtuoso Charlie Albright will perform “Rhapsody in Blue” with his dynamic, exciting style. 
 
“'S Wonderful,” “I Got Rhythm,” “Summertime,” “Love is Here to Stay” and more!