Downstage @ the Mann places both audience and artists together on the Presser Foundation Stage in our TD Pavilion in an up-close performance setting. This intimate, in-the-round series offers a new level of performance, engagement, and immersion. Downstage debuted in 2022, earning a 'Best of Philly' award from Philadelphia Magazine. The 2025 season builds on that momentum, expanding the series’ signature intimacy and deepening the immersive connection between artists and audiences.
A Taste of Home with Chef Cristina Martinez | June 4
The Mann is pleased to present A Taste of Home with Chef Cristina Martinez on June 4, part of the Downstage @ the Mann series. This one-of-a-kind event features award-winning cuisine, live music, and cultural storytelling as the Presser Foundation Stage is transformed into an intimate, dynamic dining experience for one night only.
Acclaimed chef and James Beard Award winner Cristina Martinez, the visionary behind South Philly Barbacoa and Casa México, will showcase her signature take on authentic Mexican cuisine, deeply rooted in the rich traditions of her hometown, Capulhuac, Mexico. Her passion for food and storytelling has captivated both local diners and national critics, earning her a devoted following and recognition from the James Beard Foundation, Bon Appétit, Eater, Chef’s Table (Netflix), and more.
Throughout the evening, patrons will enjoy a multi-course meal prepared by Chef Cristina as she shares the inspiring journey that has shaped her culinary career. The night will also feature a live performance from Interminable, a Philadelphia-based band blending jazz, rock, and traditional Mexican influences. Following dinner, local son jarocho collective Son Revoltura will lead a traditional fandango, bringing everyone together for a final dance party accompanied by Mexican folk music.
Your ticket includes admission to the event plus a multi-course meal prepared by Chef Cristina, featuring tacos, esquites, tres leches, chips & guacamole, and aguas frescas.
Jazz Under The Stars: Kim Waters feat. Gerald Veasley Band | July 11
Experience the enchantment of jazz like never before with the Mann’s Jazz Under The Stars series! Taking place on the Presser Foundation Stage in the TD Pavilion, the series highlights contemporary jazz artists, a beloved subgenre for enthusiasts and the perfect introduction for newcomers. Jazz Under The Stars is curated by the Mann’s first ever Jazz Curator-In-Residence, Gerald Veasley. Join us for a performance by chart-topping saxophonist Kim Waters on July 11 and again on August 23 for celebrated pianist and composer Keiko Matsui.
Heralded as “simply one of the planet’s best saxophonists” by JazzTimes Magazine and the “pied piper of Smooth Jazz” by Upscale Magazine, the prolific chart-topping saxophonist, composer, and producer has enjoyed a career longevity that is rare in the music business. For three decades, Waters has reigned as one of the premier architects of Urban Smooth Jazz and a beacon of light in Contemporary Jazz. He's garnered praise from critics and fans alike, ranking among the top five best-selling instrumentalists in jazz.
Born in Maryland into a musical family, Kim Waters picked up his first instrument, the violin, at the age of eight, and later found his calling on the alto and soprano saxophones at age 13. Shortly afterwards he began playing in a band with his brothers James (who he still performs with) and Eric and his old friend, pianist Cyrus Chestnut. Kim Waters has been called on to perform with or open shows for the best including Al Green, Isaac Hayes, Phyllis Hyman, Teddy Riley and Guy, and Gerald Albright to name a few. Through the years Kim Waters has recorded a string of successful and chart-topping albums on Shanachie.
Jazz Under The Stars: Keiko Matsui feat. Gerald Veasley Band | August 23
Heralded as “simply one of the planet’s best saxophonists” by JazzTimes Magazine and the “pied piper of Smooth Jazz” by Upscale Magazine, the prolific chart-topping saxophonist, composer, and producer has enjoyed a career longevity that is rare in the music business. For three decades, Waters has reigned as one of the premier architects of Urban Smooth Jazz and a beacon of light in Contemporary Jazz. He's garnered praise from critics and fans alike, ranking among the top five best-selling instrumentalists in jazz.
Born in Maryland into a musical family, Kim Waters picked up his first instrument, the violin, at the age of eight, and later found his calling on the alto and soprano saxophones at age 13. Shortly afterwards he began playing in a band with his brothers James (who he still performs with) and Eric and his old friend, pianist Cyrus Chestnut. Kim Waters has been called on to perform with or open shows for the best including Al Green, Isaac Hayes, Phyllis Hyman, Teddy Riley and Guy, and Gerald Albright to name a few. Through the years Kim Waters has recorded a string of successful and chart-topping albums on Shanachie.
Downstage @ the Mann is presented in part by the William Penn Foundation.