Penn Live Arts
Penn Live Arts advances a thriving creative culture through artist residencies, commissions and the creation of new work, dynamic masterclasses with visiting artists, fostering arts career connections for Penn students, and community programs.
Penn Live Arts is the University’s artistic crossroads, bringing renowned and emerging performing artists and programs that have an inspiring impact on the campus community, and serving as a champion of arts education, partnerships, and collaborations at Penn and in Philadelphia.
As the University’s home for the performing arts, we are initiating ambitious projects that will drive a further commitment to presenting artists and narratives from across the globe, deepen the integration of performing arts at Penn with curricular and co-curricular programming, and support the performing arts across campus through a new integrated capital renovation and expansion plan.
Did You Know?
The Annenberg Center houses the Zellerbach, Prince, and Montgomery Theatres, offices for staff, the Sachs Program, the Theatre Arts Department, and will be the home of the new Weitzman Theatre.
Highlighted Priorities
- Creation: Foster the development of new work through partnerships, commissions, premieres, and debuts, presenting emerging and established artists in a robust roster of compelling performances and public programs.
- Integration: Embed the performing arts into the University life experience through curricular and co-curricular collaborations, including artist residencies, master classes, internships, and arts career connections.
- Transformation – Employ the campus as our canvas, leading with a major capital plan for renovation and expansion of the Annenberg Center, including creation of the new Weitzman Theatre, and construction of a new student performing arts center on Hill Field. Unify Penn’s performing arts venues to better serve students, artists, and patrons in collaborative creation and appreciation.
“Art and community overlap at Penn Live Arts. Support for the performing arts enriches campus life through transformative artistic experiences and creates space that cultivates empathy and shared understanding.”
- Christopher Gruits
Executive & Artistic Director
