Exploring Iran: The Photography of Erich F. Schmidt, 1930-1940, a new exhibition of more than 50 archival photographs from Iran, complemented by a representative sampling of ancient artifacts, including painted pottery, alabaster and copper/bronze figurines from the archaeological excavations at the Bronze Age site Tepe Hissar, opens at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology October 2 through December 9, 2007.

A major new production of Verdi's tragic masterpiece Rigoletto opens the Opera Company of Philadelphia's 2007-2008 Season with performances on October 5, 7m, 10, 12, 14m and 17, 2007 at the Academy of Music.

The Philadelphia Orchestra announces the addition of seven musicians to its roster: José Maria Blumenschein, associate concertmaster; Dara Morales, assistant principal second violin; Marc Rovetti, violin; Kirsten Johnson, associate principal viola; Kerri Ryan, assistant principal viola; and Marvin Moon, viola. Jeffrey Lang, formerly acting associate principal horn, joins the Orchestra as associate principal horn/horn.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art's holdings in modern and contemporary sculpture are the product of years of ambitious collecting in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, a particularly radical period in the history of sculpture. Because of limitations in gallery space in the main Museum, many of the masterworks of this collection are not always on view, and some have only rarely been exhibited.

The many sounds, sights, tastes, arts and traditions of Japan come together on Saturday, September 29, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., when the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology offers Celebrate Japan!

River of Gold: Precolumbian Treasures from Sitio Conte opens on Sunday, September 23, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the University of Pennsylvania Museum with an afternoon public celebration, free with Museum admission donation, featuring music and dance of Panama, modern metal jewelry-making demonstrations, plus "golden" jewelry-making opportunities for children and their families.

InterAct Theatre will present 'Last Of The Boys', written by Steven Dietz, directed by Paul Meshejian, running from October 19 to November 18, 2007.

With over 1.2 million tickets sold to date and approximately one month remaining in the exhibition run, “Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs” at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia is on pace to break the U.S. traveling exhibition attendance record. The previous record of 1.3 million visitors was set in 1977 when the “Treasures of Tutankhamun” visited The Field Museum in Chicago.

Philadelphia Theatre Company will host a Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony and Open House at their new home, the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, at Broad and Lombard Streets on Sunday, October 21 at 1:00PM.

Philadelphia Theatre Company takes center stage on the Avenue of the Arts with its inaugural season in its new home, PTC's Suzanne Roberts Theatre.

The Philadelphia Orchestra kicks off the 2007-08 season on Saturday, September 29, 2007, with an Opening Night Concert and Gala at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. Following recent tradition, the concert will be broadcast free on a giant outdoor screen for the general public outside of the Kimmel Center.

The Philadelphia Orchestra Association and Music Director Christoph Eschenbach have announced the continuation of Mr. Eschenbach's relationship with The Philadelphia Orchestra beyond the conclusion of his tenure as music director at the close of the 2007-08 season.