Low Cut Connie Headlines Wilma Theater's Digital Fête

The Wilma Theater has announced that Low Cut Connie will headline their annual Fête fundraising event. The digital party with a purpose, set to take place on Sunday, April 11, 2021 starting at 5:30PM, will celebrate the Wilma's bold and adventurous commitment to presenting groundbreaking art, and serves as the theater's largest fundraiser of the season. This year's Fête is hosted by Wilma HotHouse Company artists and creators of the online talk show POPPAPANK Jaylene Clark Owens (RENAISSANCE IN THE BELLY OF A KILLER WHALE) and Justin Jain (HEROES OF THE FOURTH TURNING, DANCE NATION), who promise an evening of surprises and fun, all while supporting the Wilma.

"The past year has been unprecedented, and the Wilma has been in the forefront of reimagining theater in the digital age," notes Managing Director Leigh Goldenberg. "We hope that audiences will join us to celebrate the Wilma's incredible adaptation and artistic success and help us continue on as we reinvent ourselves for a new artistic era."

The 2021 digital Fête will feature streamed performances, special guest appearances by Wilma HotHouse Company members and the cohort of four Co-Artistic Directors, and more - all topped off by a fabulous virtual dance party. The event serves as The Wilma's main fundraiser for the season, and the company relies on the money raised to support their artistic programming as well as community outreach and educational programs that serve many of the Wilma's Philadelphia neighbors during this difficult and isolating time.

Low Cut Connie first exploded out of Philadelphia roughly a decade ago with the self-released debut, 'Get Out The Lotion.' Crossing the rapturous energy of Jerry Lee Lewis with the flamboyant sleaze of the New York Dolls, the record earned immediate critical raves, with Rolling Stone describing it as "what indie rock might sound like were it invented in Alabama in the late fifties" and NPR's Fresh Air praising it as "both a throwback to early rock and a vital collection of raucous new music." A year later, they followed it up with 'Call Me Sylvia," which the NY Daily News called "Mott the Hoople-style honky-tonk with a hint of garage-punk spunk," and in early 2015, they returned again with 'Hi Honey,' an album dubbed "the essence of what rock 'n' roll should be" by Sound Opinions host and rock critic Greg Kot. Despite all the glowing press, Low Cut Connie still remained something of an underground phenomenon, continuing to build up his cult audience one sweaty show and glorious festival at a time. That all changed in the summer of 2015, though, when a very unexpected co-sign arrived from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

"We got word that Barack Obama had put us on his summer playlist," says Weiner, who was later invited to visit the White House. "Suddenly this vehicle that had been going 40mph lurched forward to 90mph, and that's when things really took off."

Soon the band was counting the likes of Elton John and Bruce Springsteen among their fans as they sold out increasingly larger and larger rooms around the country. With more eyes on them than ever before, the band delivered big in 2017 and 2018, releasing a pair of critically lauded albums-'Dirty Pictures (Part 1)' and 'Dirty Pictures (Part 2)'-and by the time 2019 came to an end, they were sitting pretty on Rolling Stone's Best of the Decade list.

With both 'PRIVATE LIVES,' Low Cut Connie's wild new double-album, and the band's 'TOUGH COOKIES' livestream series, Weiner lands a direct hit. Exploring the discord and alienation between our inward and outward-facing selves, the 17-track collection is as empathetic as it is ambitious. Weiner began broadcasting directly to his quarantined fans with his 'TOUGH COOKIES' livestreams: a live and unscripted variety show where Weiner could pull from his catalog of hundreds of songs, play covers he had learned five minutes before, offer inspirational monologues, strip to his underwear at the piano, and invite his heroes on for intimate conversations.

Tickets to the Wilma Fête are available by visiting wilmatheater.org/event/fete-2021/. Additionally, sponsorships are available. Sponsors receive links for guests, recognition before and during the event, special access, unique Fete-themed treats, and more. To purchase sponsorships, call Rachel Spause at 215-893-9456 ext. 108.

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