185 stories by "Alaina Johns"
If you love books, stay tuned. From May 17-23, we're celebrating our fourth annual BSR Book Week with reviews, giveaways, a virtual panel of bestselling authors, and staff recommendations.
The American Philosophical Society celebrates America’s 250th with the largest display of early copies of the Declarations ever assembled, but some of the show’s lesser-known artifacts a…
The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales has been delighting readers of all ages for more than 30 years. Now it hits the Arden stage in a zany adaptation by John Glore. Alaina Joh…
See for yourself what BSR writers had to say when they learned we met our $10K goal to close a spring funding gap with our Readers Decide campaign in March.
On March 28, 2026, an estimated 40,000 people took to the Parkway for the third nationwide No Kings march. A fake image of the protest quickly went viral. Here's a real view, from Alaina Joh…
Neil and Alaina chat for 10 minutes about the latest on our Readers Decide campaign, including some interesting stats and what donors have been saying. You have until March 31 to join the ca…
Walk around Philly this spring and they are everywhere: anti-fascist stickers. They're angry, whimsical, artful, edgy, urgent, thoughtful, and funny. Check out this gallery spanning many cit…
A Vacation, a Philly GRIT solo show from local performer and director Bastion Carboni, follows a travel influencer who is in over his head at his latest controversial destination: Purgatory.…
Our Readers Decide campaign has been running for less than three weeks. Here's what you, our readers, have shown us in that time.
Nonprofit arts media is tough going these days, but this work is important, and we know Philly values it. If you have the means, BSR needs your support for our Readers Decide campaign, runni…
On February 19, President's House advocates rallied to celebrate a ruling that demands the return of signage about slavery, while a court case over their removal by the Trump administration …
Locals gathered in below-freezing temps on January 27 for the announcement of new "ICE OUT" legislation cosponsored by Councilmembers Rue Landau and Kendra Brooks. Alaina Johns reports.
Members of the BSR community were shocked when the exhibit documenting slavery at George Washington's Philly house was dismantled last week. We'll keep standing up for Black history at BSR.
Anti-ICE activists in Philly are organizing to protect our neighbors from unconstitutional abuses, and pressure Governor Shapiro into action. Alaina Johns was at their January 21 meeting in …
On January 15, the BSR community gathered for our biggest event yet, our Party with the Critics, in honor of our 20th anniversary. Here's a recap.
Darnelle takes the hot seat as BSR editor Alaina interviews him about his theater backstory, and where he's going as the new executive director of Theatre Philadelphia.
This will be a tumultuous year in Philly, with elections, global sports events, and the eyes of the world on America's 250th birthday. But we must brace for even bigger challenges. Alaina Jo…
If you love BSR, it's time to get your tickets to our 20th anniversary event, Party with the Critics, at Indy Hall on January 15, 2026.
With nearly 20 years as a journalist on Philly's arts and culture scene, Alaina Johns has a clear eye on its trends, including a worrying situation with arts PR that affects everyone, includ…
It's back! Our popular 90-minute webinar full of tips for reaching out to the media is back on Wednesday, December 10. Get the details and grab your ticket.
The Brandywine Museum of Art mounts its first solo presentation of an emerging artist, Baltimore luminary Jerrell Gibbs, who is getting his first solo exhibition, with echoes of Rockwell, Ho…
Hot takes are flying on the Philadelphia Museum of Art's rebrand and sudden firing of CEO Sasha Suda. Alaina Johns breaks it down.
Philly turned out for the second nationwide No Kings Day, with rallies throughout the region that showcased our creative flair and our refusal to show fear in the face of fascism. BSR was th…
After managing coverage for dozens of Fringe shows, Alaina Johns is proud of the BSR team's work, proud of Philly artists, and ready to share her top takeaways from this year's festival.
Terms of Use: A Millennial Farce, a new Fringe show promising to examine Millennials' relationship with the Internet, isn't quite ready for the stage. But it poses questions worth building o…
