Philadelphia Weekly

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William Shakespeare’s Land of the Dead

Fri., March 13, 8pm. $20-$25. Through March 28. Plays and Players, 1714 Delancey St. 800.595.4TIX. www.playsandplayers.org

Zombies meet the world’s greatest playwright in John Heimbuch’s outrageous comedy William Shakespeare’s Land of the Dead, which gets its East Coast premiere in a production from Plays and Players. The top-selling show at the 2008 Minneapolis Fringe Festival, Dead is set in Elizabethan England, where Shakespeare has a falling-out with actor Will Kemp over Kemp’s undisciplined portrayal of the famous prankster Falstaff. Sensing an opportunity, playwright Francis Bacon quickly hires Kemp to star in Falstaff in Love, an inferior play that Bacon attempts to passes off as belonging to the Bard. But when the cast of Falstaff is suddenly transformed into zombies, Billy S. discovers he’s got more on his hands than just a renegade actor and forged script. Both clever and ridiculous, Dead features enough painstakingly researched historical details to satisfy Bard buffs and sufficient gore to thrill fans of the zombie-feasting flicks Dawn of the Dead and 28 Days Later. (J. Cooper Robb)

Bluebeard’s Castle

Thurs., March 12, 8pm. Free. Andrew’s Video Vault, Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St. www.arcmcinema25.com/AVV.html

After 1960’s Peeping Tom, disgraced filmmaker Michael Powell headed to West Germany. There, he adapted Béla Bartok’s sole opera into a cinematic riot of colorful sets and hypnotic camera prowls. A dilly to find—the copy shown has no subtitles—Castle will be paired with Der Rosenkavalier, a silent film opera. (Matt Prigge)

Doggie Draught

Wed., March. 11, 5pm. Pay as you go. St. Stephen’s Green, 1701 Green St. 215.769.5000; and Bishop’s Collar, 2349 Fairmount Ave. 215.765.1616.

Even our four-legged friends are getting into the act during Beer Week, when two pubs host Doggie Draught, a fundraiser benefitting the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society. Canine-themed beers will be on tap at both bars, so expect plenty of Dogfish Head. (Tim McGinnis)

Great Philly Skyline Chili Cookoff

Wed., March 11, 8pm. $5. Tritone, 1508 South St. 215.545.0475. www.tritonebar.com

When it comes to food, Philadelphia’s home to an assortment of bitter rivalries: Pat’s vs. Geno’s. John’s vs. Tony Luke’s. The Independence Mall Cosi vs. the Headhouse Square Cosi. In recent years, though, a culinary battle has been raging over chili. At Tritone’s third annual Great Philly Skyline Chili Cookoff, a selection of the city’s finest indie bean-slingers will unveil their secret creations—all in hopes of gaining Philadelphia’s highly coveted chiliweight title. Fittingly, in the birthplace of democracy, the winner will be decided not by a preening LaBan, but by popular, sizzle-mouthed vote. To avoid vegetarian ballot-stuffing, there’s only one rule: Each cook’s recipe must contain meat. Carnivores, bring a lucky spoon, an iron stomach and a desire to help crown Philly’s new King of Spicy. (Jacob Lambert)

Edie Weinstein-Moser’s Cuddle Party

Sat., March 14, 1-4:30pm. $40-$60. Personal Growth Alternatives, 2411C Patane Ave., Abington. 215.738.8668. www.cuddleparty.com

Let’s be honest: When was the last time you spooned, cuddled, dispensed massages or rubbed feet without an ulterior motive? But your intentions better be pure to participate in Edie Weinstein-Moser’s Cuddle Party. She’s very firm about the fact that she’s not throwing a cuddle orgy. Pajamas are required while attendees learn “to say yes to what [they] want in life, and no to what [they] don’t want.” Weinstein-Moser also says Cuddle Parties help people learn how to feel comfortable in their own skin, feel more plugged into their community and to open themselves to better communication and boundary setting. If you should happen to get a little too excited midclutch, take a breath, grab some Cheetos and get over it. It’s not the time. (St. John Barned-Smith)