The Arden’s latest offering is Superior Donuts, a gritty but funny play about a donut shop and its proprietor, Arthur. Both Arthur and the shop are past their prime and struggling to adapt to the rapidly changing neighborhood. A young shop clerk shakes things up, forcing Arthur to finally move on. Precisely rendered and touching, the play was written by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright Tracey Letts (August: Osage County), and directed by Edward Sobel.   

The pre-show libations for Superior Donuts included three types of beer from nearby Triumph Brewery: a sweet and malty Amber Ale, Jewish Rye brewed with rye grain and "dry hopped" with caraway seeds, and an Old City Lager, which is a tribute to Ungespundet Lagerbier from Wagner-Brau in Fronconia, Germany. All three are currently available on tap at Triumph, and are discounted to $3 during happy hour from 5pm-7pm, Monday through Friday. They were accompanied by tasty sandwiches from Campos, and of course, donuts from Frangelli's Bakery in South Philly.  

After the show, the audience and members of the cast headed over to Philadelphia Bar and Restaurant. Misleadingly nicknamed PBR, the Old City gastropub serves up an eclectic mix of late night eats ranging from pub food (the fried Oreos!) to more refined fare (duck leg confit). The draft list is extensive, representing locals such as Manayunk Nocturnum, as well as other unique handcrafted beers. The inventive cocktail menu includes a Sweetzel (snap, stoli vanilla, cardamom simple syrup) and a Beatnik (woodford, averna, tawny port wash).

The Arden's next The Scene event will take place on April 15th for Wanamaker's Pursuit, a play about a young department store heir who leaves Philadelphia to discover the intoxicating world of Paris in 1911. Tickets are $30, and can be purchased online. Although the food and drink partners have yet to be determined, previous spots include Drinker's Choice Winner Q BBQ and Tequila, the Plough and the Stars, and Gigi Restaurant and Lounge.