EIGHT EIGHT TIME

Journey Arts welcomes you to Eight Eight Time. We hope the following information will help you plan your visit.

ABOUT EIGHT EIGHT TIME 

Eight Eight Time unites four fiercely talented composer-pianists—Kendrah Butler-Waters, Sumi Tonooka, Suzzette Ortiz, and Terry Klinefelter—to premiere a unique suite inspired by real-life stories shared by Philadelphians. Written for eight hands on four grand pianos, with poetry by Yolanda Wisher, Eight Eight Time is both intimate and epic, honoring the profound intricacy of life's pivotal moments.

Eight Eight Time has four grand pianos on the stage, and all audience seating is on the stage with the pianos. During the performance, there will be projected visual elements, lights that go up and down on the pianos, and poetry that is read and projected.

The performance lasts for approximately 85 minutes. You are welcome to get up and move if you need to, or to take a break in the cool down room and come back when you’re ready.

PREVIEW VIDEO

If you’d like to see the four pianists in action, we invite you to watch a 5-minute video about the making of Eight Eight Time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj9GmbUAMgA

LOCATION

Mandell Theater: 3220 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104


ENVIRONMENT

You will give your name to a member of our Box Office Team, who will be seated at a table in the lobby. If you have a printed ticket, you can show it, but it is not necessary.

Description of performance space

An usher will direct you into the performance space. You will walk down a hall, and turn right to walk directly onto the stage. There will be risers with seats on three sides of the stage, and there will be four pianos in the middle of the stage. You will be seated on stage with the pianos.

Because this performance takes place onstage, and audiences will be seated on risers, no stairs are necessary to enter the theater! Front row seats that do not require climbing any riser stairs can be reserved in advance for those who need them.


Description of cool down space













ACCESSIBILITY

Eight Eight Time is held in a wheelchair accessible space that welcomes all music lovers. There is also a ramp leading into the Mandell Theater.

RESTROOMS

Restrooms are located on the first floor, close to the theater. An usher will be able to show you the way to the restroom when you are inside the building.

Multi stall gendered restrooms can be found to the left of the Mandell Theater. Keep going until you see the blue and yellow wall with a dragon. The women’s room, which contains an accessible stall as well as other stalls, is right there. Go a little farther, wrapping around the wall, and you will find the men’s room which has the same layout.

Gender neutral, accessible, single use bathrooms are near the Lockheed Martin Room (the cool down room). To the left of the Lockheed Martin Room is a little lounge set up of armchairs. The nook in the back left corner leads to the two bathroom doors.

TRAVEL

For parking, there are multiple paid parking garages nearby, as well as street parking near the theater. Public transportation is also readily available!

The Mandell Theater is within 10 minutes of:

  • The 33rd street trolley station, reachable by all 5 trolley lines. This is the closest

  • public transit station.

  • 34th Street Station (Market Frankford Line)

  • 30th Street/Drexel Station (Market Frankford Line and trolley). This is a wheelchair accessible station.

  • 30th Street Station (Regional Rail). This is a wheelchair accessible station.

NEAR THE THEATER

The Mandell Theater is in the middle of a street with lots of dining options:

  • LaScala’s Fire, a modern Italian restaurant

  • The Co-op, a modern American restaurant

  • Board and Brew, a restaurant and coffee shop where you can play board games at your table for an extra fee

  • Shake Shack, a classic spot for burgers on the go

  • Boba King, if you like bubble tea and desserts

  • There are Wawas located on both 36th and Chestnut, and 34th and Market

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Performing onstage are the composer-pianists:

Kendrah Butler-Waters

Terry Klinefelter

Suzzette Ortiz

Sumi Tonooka

Poet: Yolanda Wisher

Visual Design: Lunise Cerin and Gabrielle Patterson


Production Stage Manager: Katy Bagli

Technical Director and Lighting Designer: Isabella “Izzie” Gill-Gomez

Audio Technician: Rick Rein

FUNDERS

Eight Eight Time has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, with additional support from the Musical Fund Society of Philadelphia, Settlement Music School, Cunningham Piano, Creative Philadelphia, and Mid Atlantic Arts.

The view of the front doors of Mandell Theater. There is a sign next to the doors reading James Macalister Hall.
The view of the Mandell Theater from the street. A yellow sign reads Chestnut Square. There our outdoor tables and chairs and a ramp leading up to many full-length glass windows and glass doors on the first floor.
This image shows the pianos on stage, with all of the house lights on. Audience members are seated onstage with the pianos.

The cool down space is called the Lockheed Martin Room, and it is a short walk from the performance space. To reach the cool down space from the lobby, you will go through the brown double doors on the right.

The view of the entrance to the hallway to access the Lockheed Martin Room, serving as the cool down space for the performance.

After the double doors, you will turn right down a short hallway.

The view of the hallway immediately outside the Lockheed Martin Room. There is a small shop selling technical needs on the left and the Lockheed Martin Room is on the right.

The cooldown space (called the Lockheed Martin room) will be on your right, and has glass doors for the entrance. 

The inside of the cooldown space has several areas with different types of seating. There will be fidget spinners, paper, and things to draw with in the space. You will also be able to listen live to the concert while you are in the room.