Jennifer Higdon may be Brooklyn-born and Tennessee-raised but it’s Philly, where she’s lived for three decades with partner-turned-wife Cheryl Lawson, that has provided the backdrop for her biggest musical moments — like writing her violin concerto, for which she won a 2010 Pulitzer Prize, or her percussion concerto, for which she snagged a 2009 Grammy Award for best contemporary classical composition.

An inspiring documentary portrait of an unexpected queer activist, “An Act of Love” recounts the heartfelt and impassioned story of United Methodist Church (UMC) pastor the Rev. Frank Schaefer. In November 2013, Schaefer was put on trial in a church court at Camp Innabah in Spring City, Pa., for violating the covenant of the Book of Discipline. He had officiated at his son Tim’s same-sex wedding ceremony in Massachusetts in 2007.

Drag star, TV personality and musician Sharon Needles is plunging into Philadelphia as part of her national tour in support of her latest album, “Taxidermy,” which was released this past fall.

Christian de Medici is a funny guy -- not one you'd necessarily connect to Christmas, Hanukkah or the holy holidays, per se, but certainly a sparkly gent always up for a celebration with glitter, tinsel, gold metal and such. So there he was then, in his glory on Nov.  21 – the evening of the Shampoo nightclub reunion in Kensington – as he re-introduced the world/city/block/building to the work of his youthful self, the fashion designer self, with the runway debut of XES (M/W SS 2016) by Xtian de Medici. The launch of his luxury brand by the House of Medici, featuring the XES collection and XESsories by Exotic Hands & Feet for Xtian de Medici, tore down the house with its leather kink, sex-soldier gild and silver-surfer sleekness. If Xena the Warrior Princess joined Daft Punk, that – perhaps – could give you an idea of what de Medici the designer was looking to accomplish: a look perfect for drag doyens and strippers, real or imagined.