Mann Center's Summer Series - 6abc Loves the Arts

Mann President & CEO Catherine Cahill says they've put on a new roof, made improvements to the lawn and added two state-of-the-art jumbo screens to ensure guests can enjoy the full concert-going experience no matter where they're sitting.

"It translates what's going on on the stage in a much more meaningful way because you can see up close and personal shots of the artist," says Cahill, "then the sound is as if you were sitting in the front row or halfway in the house. You feel almost like you're on stage with them."

The Philadelphia Orchestra is back this year with three performances in June.

"We're bringing back the ever popular All Tchaikovsky spectacular with fireworks on June 23, and that will be with the famous 1812 Overture with fire cannons and all the spectacle that goes with it," says Cahill, "an all Gershwin program, which promises to delight with some of our most favorite Gershwin numbers from Porgy and Bess, Rhapsody and Blue, among others."

Cahill says Movies at the Mann is also making a triumphant return, featuring the sights and sounds from The Godfather.

"What happens is the actual music is stripped out of the movie and the orchestra plays live with the movie."

Ingrid Michaelson, John Fogerty and Barenaked Ladies are also taking the Mann stage in June, and in early July, you can catch NPR's award-winning quiz show Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!

"It's a really rich season," says Cahill, "many more performances to be coming and to be announced."

The Mann Summer Season runs through September. For tickets go to www.TheArtsinPhilly.org.