October 10 and 21 - 23, 2011

Presented in conjunction with New Jerusalem, this festival will explore the Sephardic Jewish experience in Europe and Spinoza's lasting influence on art, literature, and philosophy.

bonus event!     7:00pm
Lecture: The Sephardic Community in Amsterdam with Anne Oravetz Albert of the University of Pennsylvania. This lecture will present the history of Sephardic Jews in Amsterdam, revealing how their culture was shaped by a history of domination by others and persistence in the face of obstacles.
On the Lantern Mainstage; approx. 90min

6:00pm
Festival Kick-Off Party @ Marathon: Mingle with Lantern staff, artists, and fellow theatergoers over happy hour specials and complimentary light fare.
At Marathon, 10th & Walnut Streets; approx. 1hr

7:00pm
Curtain Raiser/Lecture: Spinoza's Thinking, created and performed by New Jerusalem assistant director and Lantern teaching artist M. Craig Getting. This entertaining and anecdotal lecture will introduce you to Spinoza's work, his life as a young man in Amsterdam, and his relationship to his Sephardic Jewish community.
In the Lantern Lab; 25min

8:00pm
Performance: New Jerusalem by David Ives
On the Lantern Mainstage; approx. 2hrs 15min

Approved for 1 Substantive PA CLE Credit (Trial) 2:00pm
Panel Discussion: Out of Order! Courtrooms As Theater, Courtrooms In Theater with panelists Vince Regan, Assistant Chief District Attorney of Philadelphia, Jordan Barnett of the Defender Association of Philadelphia, and Philadelphia playwright Bruce Graham. The discussion will offer diverse viewpoints on a popular subject in modern entertainment: the courtroom drama. Whether in world news, television, movies, or the stage, audiences have long been attracted to the drama of the court, both fictionalized and real-life.
On the Lantern Mainstage; approx. 90min

7:00pm
Curtain Raiser/Lecture: Spinoza's Thinking with M. Craig Getting; see Friday at 7:00pm
In the Lantern Lab; 25min

8:00pm
Performance: New Jerusalem by David Ives
On the Lantern Mainstage; approx. 2hrs 15min

1:00pm
Curtain Raiser/Lecture: Spinoza's Thinking with M. Craig Getting; see Friday at 7:00pm
In the Lantern Lab; 25min

2:00pm
Performance: New Jerusalem by David Ives
On the Lantern Mainstage; approx. 2hrs 15min

5:00pm
Keynote Lecture & Closing Reception: How Spinoza Made America Possible with Jonathan Israel, one of the world's leading historians of the Enlightenment. The discussion will compare the philosophies of Baruch de Spinoza and founding father Benjamin Franklin, revealing the impact of Spinoza's thinking on the democratic principles that have shaped the United States and left an indelible mark here in Philadelphia. Followed by a reception in the lobby, with complimentary wine and hors d'oeuvres courtesy of Marathon.
On the Lantern Mainstage; approx. 2hrs