Top Cinema 21

A glistening modern jewel is envisioned as a new hub for theater, music, and dance in the heart of Penn’s campus for West Philadelphia — and all of Philadelphia.

And now the soaring space may soon become a reality.

On Monday, the University of Pennsylvania announced it will build a new 3,100 square-foot theater to adjoin the Annenberg Center, a glitzy venue with a glimmering glass facade, towering ceilings and walls that open up onto Annenberg Center plaza for both indoor and outdoor shows .

» READ MORE: Luxury shoe designer Stuart Weitzman is the new namesake of University of Pennsylvania’s design school

The new theater represents the cornerstone project of a $25 million capital renovation plan at expanding the historic headquarters of Penn Live Arts into a more flexible and inviting space for students, residents, and the 80,000 guests and members who attend shows, said Christopher Gruits, executive and

Patrons will likely first notice the higher prices. Then they’ll notice the movies being shown, like “Black Adam” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” are the same ones the chain theaters in Salem are showing.

The city’s only second-run movie theater, Northern Lights Theater Pub, is switching formats to become a first-run movie theater beginning Friday.

Ticket prices will go up to $9 — $7 for matinees before 5 pm — from the current $5. But the theater owners believe it is the only way to keep one of Salem’s two independent theaters open amidst a changing movie-viewing landscape.

“We still are Salem’s most affordable place to go see a movie, but we have to do this and we’re trying to meet in the middle somewhere and hopefully choose us,” co-owner Kevin Roudebush said. “Now that we have first run, we hope to do really well.”

Tickets will still be $5

Penn announced Monday that it will be building a new performing arts theater next to the Annenberg Center.

The new theater will be named after the Wharton Class of 1963 graduate and luxury footwear designer Stuart Weitzman as part of a “transformative gift” to the University, Penn Today reported. The 3,100-square-foot building, which is part of a $25-million renovation plan, is expected to have an audience capacity of 300 to 350 people and will connect to the south side of the Annenberg Center using a portion of the plaza between Locust Walk and Walnut Street.

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“This is a pivotal project for the performing arts,” Penn President Liz Magill told Penn Today. “Naming the theater for Stuart honors his enduring commitment to Penn students, his love of the performing arts, and our shared desire to make the performing arts