Shop Penn

Spring is the perfect time to get out of the house and enjoy everything that the City of Brotherly Love has to offer. There is something for everyone including history, dance, music, and theater. #ShopPenn is here for you with all the best exhibits, events, and shows to check out throughout the month of May. Find out everything happening with the latest edition of the “Shop Penn Playlist,” a snapshot of the top events being offered around the Penn campus all month.

Monarch Yoga At The Park - Schuylkill Banks and Clark Park
All Month

In anticipation of their opening in University City later this month, Monarch Yoga will be hosting outdoor yoga classes in the district throughout the summer. For just $5, you can join Monarch for a Flow Yoga session at Schuylkill Banks and Clark Park. Check the website to see the full schedule of classes and reserve your spot.

Lady Hoofers Tap Ensemble – Penn Live Arts
May 9

Philadelphia’s own all-women tap company, The Lady Hoofers Tap Ensemble, “is a powerhouse of technique, joy, and passion.” (ThINKingDance) The 2026 Spring Concert Series features innovative choreography by Lisa LaTouche and Caleb Teicher, company repertoire, and a world premiere by NYC-based guest choreographer Dre Torres. In the group's 15th season, “The Lady Hoofers not only can spark the floor, they take tap in unexpected directions.” (The Dance Journal)

I Can Do Bad All By Myself – The Rotunda
May 10

I Can Do Bad All By Myself is a powerful stage play by Rick Watson coming to The Rotunda on May 10. Centered on the realities of toxic relationships, the production aims to spark conversation around breaking cycles of abuse and finding the strength to move forward. Through a compelling narrative and emotionally driven performances, the play explores themes of abuse, neglect, substance dependency, and abandonment. Audiences can expect a raw and honest portrayal that sheds light on difficult but important topics. The production not only entertains but also encourages reflection and awareness within the community.

Native Futurism by Holly Wilson – Penn Museum
May 16

Join Penn Museum for a Mural Unveiling which will debut an art installation by multidisciplinary artist Holly Wilson, Delaware Nation Lenape and Descendent of the Delaware Tribe of Indians. The large-scale mixed-media installation themed “Native Futurism." offers an Indigenous-led perspective as the United States marks its 250^th anniversary, adding complexity to the nation’s story. 

Second Chance Dance: Rhythm, Roots & Revolution – Penn Live Arts
May 16

Step into an evening where rhythm carries memory, movement holds history and the stories of generations unfold across the stage. Second Chance Dance proudly presents Rhythm, Roots & Revolution, a powerful recital exploring the decades, eras, and cultural moments that shape how we move, who we become and how we find one another through dance. This year’s performance celebrates the rhythms that have carried us through time — the music that filled living rooms and roller rinks, the sounds that shaped communities, the movements that sparked joy, resistance and transformation.

Women’s Bandura Ensemble of North America – Iron Gate Theatre
May 16

The Women’s Bandura Ensemble of North America will present a concert of Ukrainian music, “Songs from Near and Far”, featuring the Ukrainian bandura, a stringed instrument combining lute and harp elements, rooted in Ukraine’s oral tradition of storytelling and song. The program celebrates the remarkable versatility of the bandura, showcasing its ability to transcend genres, eras, and cultures. It will include everything from nostalgic Ukrainian folk songs to retro tunes to a unique medley blending Gershwin’s “Summertime” with a Ukrainian lullaby. 

Sunday Reset with Dope Botanicals – Institute of Contemporary Art
May 17

Step into the exhibition and come play in the apothecary. Inspired by the Shakers’ bottled remedies—and the bold promises printed on historic labels—this hands-on Sunday Reset is a workshop where you get to reset your nervous system and create your own herbal ritual. You will craft your very own herbal remedy for the support you need. You’ll sip on spring-forward herbal tastes, then jump into a Medicinal Herb Match Lab. You will choose the “promise” you want most right now, learn the herbal actions behind it, and build a custom tea blend that fits your body and the season.

Garden Railway: Revolutionary Philly – Morris Arboretum
Opens May 22

The Morris Arboretum & Gardens’ beloved Garden Railway returns with a new theme, placing this signature attraction at the center of the Morris’s America 250 storytelling. Set within lush garden plantings, the immersive miniature landscape celebrates Philadelphia’s pivotal role in the nation’s founding and brings Revolutionary history vividly to life. Visitors of all ages can take a miniature tour of eighteenth-century Philadelphia along more than a third of a mile of track, featuring seven loops and tunnels, fifteen rail lines, two cable cars, and nine bridges, including a trestle bridge that guests can walk beneath. Bustling model trains move through scenes inspired by colonial Philadelphia, highlighting landmarks and historic moments such as the Battle of Germantown.

Pop Spirit Hunters: A Global Adventure Night – Penn Museum
May 29

For one night only, step into a world where music meets myth to embark on a high-energy, family-friendly adventure inspired by stories, spirits, and traditions from around the globe. Become a Pop Spirit Hunter and travel through the galleries as you train like a true guardian.: Design your own protective charm, create a spirit guide, explore powerful symbols, and discover how different cultures understand the unseen world. Bring your skills to life with interactive dance moments and rhythm challenges inspired by today’s global pop sounds. For an electrifying finale, join the action in a live, K-pop–inspired dance performance where you’ll help power the final “spirit showdown.”

Martha Graham Dance Company – Penn Live Arts
May 29-30

The iconic Martha Graham Dance Company celebrates a century of Graham’s groundbreaking and uniquely American dance style. Beloved worldwide, the troupe performs Night Journey, offering a different perspective in the Greek myth of Oedipus, and the Philadelphia premieres of Frontier, a tribute to the vision and independence of the pioneer woman, and Hope Boykin’s En Masse, a new work set to Leonard Bernstein in honor of America’s 250th anniversary. The program will also feature the world premiere of in case of fire, speak by Tommie-Waheed Evans