Entertainment
FENDER RELEASES THE PLAYER II SERIES, A CATALYST TO UNITE THE NEXT-GENERATION OF PLAYERS
The World’s Best-Selling Guitar Series Just Got Better: Player II Boasts Premium Specs and Never-Released Vintage Car-Inspired Colorways
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. /PRNewswire/ — Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) today announces the arrival of the Player II Series – an update to Fender’s long-standing best-selling electric series, the Player Series – designed for musicians ready to take the next step in their creative journey.
Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9221551-fender-releases-the-player-ii-series/
Since its inception in 2018, the Player Series has shown nearly 30% consecutive year-over-year growth globally and holds rank as Fender’s best-selling range of electric guitars of all time due to its accessible features that both capture the imagination of new players and satisfy the demands of more experienced guitarists alike. Available now, the Player II Series takes the best of its predecessor’s features and improves them with upgraded specs like rosewood fingerboards, modern “C” necks with rolled edges, and new vintage colors from the vaults exemplifying the innovation, culture, community, and lifestyle synonymous with Fender® Electrics.
At a time when data1 shows the global music industry is booming, with revenue at its highest since 1999 – the Player II series continues to inspire the next generation of musicians, ushering in a new kind of guitar player that takes creativity to a new level. The just-released lineup of models up the ante on the previous range with numerous innovative details and specs, new options for chambered ash and chambered mahogany bodies and never-released vintage colorways – Coral Red, Aquatone Blue, Hialeah Yellow and Birch Green – ’50s and ’60s vintage car colors pulled from the archives.
The 2024 campaign for the Player II Series, “The All New Player II” marks one of Fender’s most significant debuts yet. It begins with an electrifying hero film blending four distinctive renditions of The Kinks’ timeless hit, “All Day & All of the Night,” set in unique environments. For the film, All Day and All of the Night: The All New Player II Series | Fender®, Fender has partnered with acclaimed artists Julien Baker, singer-songwriter from Memphis and 1/3 of boygenius, DIIV, influential indie rock band, content creator and touring bassist (Fever 333) April Kae and alternative rock trio Wallows. The campaign includes four product marketing vignettes with the same artists and environments, skillfully highlighting key features of the Player II Series.
In addition to the hero film and ten product demo videos, Exploring the Player II Series, the multi-pronged campaign debuts various content pieces:
- Player II Sessions, featuring performances and interviews with the four campaign artists, Julien Baker, DIIV, Wallows and April Kae, each showcasing an original performance. Watch the first Fender Session, featuring interview and performance by Wallows: Wallows Sessions | The Player II Series | Fender
- New Fender series featuring Fender Next artists – Militarie Gun (Los Angeles), Joy Oladokun (Nashville), English Teacher (Leeds), Vacations (Australia), and additional content with artists based in Japan and China. Each docu-style episode will capture a “day in the life” of being a Player with the artists as they prepare for a show.
- The Modern Creator, campaign series features stories through the eyes of four content creators, Monica Valli, Mary Spender, Gabriel Takei and Dovydas, as they share their unique musical journeys.
- Player I vs. Player II Side By Sides, engaging select channels, such as Andy Ferris, for side-by-side comparisons highlighting the improvements from Player to Player II guitars and bases.
“The Player II Series represents our continued evolution in design and functionality,” said Justin Norvell, EVP of Product, FMIC. “We listened to the feedback from musicians around the world and incorporated their insights to refine and innovate our instruments. The re-introduction of rosewood fingerboards is a restoration of the ‘original Fender recipe’ and will no doubt be a fan favorite – but we didn’t want to stop there. We’ve also incorporated our rolled fingerboard edges for a broken-in feel, upgraded hardware, and have some new body options as well- which underscores our commitment to providing players and creators with the tools they need to express their unique sound and style. The Player II Series is not just an upgrade, it’s a detailed re-imagining of our core silhouettes, highlighting our dedication to quality and the continuous refinement of our instruments.”
Additionally, Player II offers new options for chambered ash and chambered mahogany bodies for the Player II Stratocaster and Telecaster models, which will be available in October. Designed for musicians ready to elevate their craft, the Player II Series sets a new standard for quality and performance in the mid-price range. Series includes:
- Player II Stratocaster®
- Player II HSS Stratocaster®
- Player II Telecaster®
- Player II Jazzmaster®
- Player II Jaguar®
- Player II Mustang®
- Player II LH Stratocaster®
- Player II HH Telecaster®
- Player II LH Telecaster®
- Player II Precision Bass®
- Player II Jazz Bass®
- Player II Mustang Bass®
“Music is about a multisensory experience and the P-Bass provides that. It feels great to wear, it sounds great and it looks incredible. It’s classic but always feels current. It always feels relevant and that’s not something that can be said about any product let alone a guitar.” April Kae.
“This guitar feels like a magic guitar that fell into my hands and it’s perfect. I feel like I’m constantly chasing that one guitar and this is just perfect.” Zachary Cole Smith, DIIV
“The Player II Series Stratocaster feels like a great guitar and I was impressed by how it played very easy and simple. The tones are great. I think people are going to enjoy it.” Braeden Lemasters, Wallows
High-resolution artist, lifestyle, and product images can be found HERE.
For technical specs, additional information on new Fender products and to find a retail partner near you, visit www.fender.com. Join the conversation on social media by following @Fender.
1 Billboard states the music industry’s total revenue in 2024 is $28.6 billion, which is the highest it’s been since 1999, not accounting for inflation.
PLAYER II SERIES MODELS:
Player II Stratocaster® ($799.99 – $899.99 USD, £739.00 – £809.00 GBP, €869.00 – €949.00 EUR, $1,299.00 – $1,449.00 AUD, ¥104,500 – ¥121,000 JPY) The Player II Stratocaster® radiates timeless Fender charm, but under the hood, it’s primed for today’s players. Everything about the neck is designed for fast and fluid playability, from the Modern “C”-profile with silky satin urethane finish on the back to the comfy 9.5″-radius slab rosewood or maple fingerboard with smooth rolled edges and 22 medium jumbo frets. Choose from alder, chambered ash or chambered mahogany bodies available in both classic Fender finishes and never-before-seen colors unearthed from the archives. Player Series Alnico V Single-Coil Strat® pickups offer crystalline highs, musical mids and tight lows that elevate any genre. The 5-way blade switch lets you dial in everything from glassy neck pickup cleans to rowdy bridge pickup snarl and all points in between, while a 2-point tremolo and ClassicGear™ tuners ensure precise tuning stability for the flexibility to explore endless sonic possibilities. Available in LH model. Offered in Chambered Ash and Chambered Mahogany bodies.
Player II HSS Stratocaster® ($829.99 – $929.99 USD, £759.00 – £829.00 GBP, €889.00 – €969.00 EUR, $1,349.00 – $1,499.00 AUD, ¥108,900 -126,500 JPY ) The Player II Stratocaster® HSS radiates timeless Fender charm, but under the hood, it’s primed for today’s players. Everything about the neck is designed for fast and fluid playability, from the Modern “C”-profile with silky satin urethane finish on the back to the comfy 9.5″-radius slab rosewood or maple fingerboard with smooth rolled edges and 22 medium jumbo frets. Choose from alder, chambered ash or chambered mahogany bodies available in both classic Fender finishes and never-before-seen colors unearthed from the archives. Player Series Alnico V Single-Coil Strat® pickups and a Player Series Alnico II humbucker offer crystalline highs, musical mids and tight lows that elevate any genre. The 5-way blade switch lets you dial in everything from glassy neck pickup chime to rowdy bridge pickup roar and all points in between, while a 2-point tremolo and ClassicGear™ tuners ensure precise tuning stability for the flexibility to explore endless sonic possibilities.
Player II Telecaster® ($799.99 – $899.99 USD, £739.00 – £809.00 GBP, €869.00 – €949.00 EUR, $1,299.00 – $1,449.00 AUD, ¥104,500 – ¥121,000 JPY) The Player II Telecaster® radiates timeless Fender charm, but under the hood, it’s primed for today’s players. Everything about the neck is designed for fast and fluid playability, from the Modern “C”-profile with silky satin urethane finish on the back to the comfy 9.5″-radius slab rosewood or maple fingerboard with smooth rolled edges and 22 medium jumbo frets. Choose from alder, chambered ash or chambered mahogany bodies available in both classic Fender finishes and never-before-seen colors unearthed from the archives. Player Series Alnico V Single-Coil Tele® pickups offer crystalline highs, musical mids and tight lows that elevate any genre. The 3-way blade switch lets you dial in everything from smooth neck pickup chime to cutting bridge pickup twang and all points in between, while a 6-saddle bridge, block steel saddles and ClassicGear™ tuners ensure precise tuning stability for the flexibility to explore endless sonic possibilities. Available in LH model. Offered in Chambered Ash and Chambered Mahogany bodies.
Player II HH Telecaster® ($829.99 USD, £769.00 GBP, €899.00 EUR, $1,349.00 AUD, ¥108,900 JPY) The Player II Telecaster® HH radiates timeless Fender charm, but under the hood, it’s primed for today’s players. Everything about the neck is designed for fast and fluid playability, from the Modern “C”-profile with silky satin urethane finish on the back to the comfy 9.5″-radius slab rosewood or maple fingerboard with smooth rolled edges and 22 medium jumbo frets. A classic alder body is available in both timeless Fender finishes and never-before-seen colors unearthed from the archives. Player Series Alnico II humbuckers offer articulate highs, muscular mids and chunky lows that elevate any genre. The 3-way blade switch lets you dial in everything from creamy neck pickup warmth to rowdy bridge pickup roar and all points in between, while a 6-saddle bridge, bent steel saddles and ClassicGear™ tuners ensure precise tuning stability for the flexibility to explore endless sonic possibilities.
Player II Jaguar® ($829.99 USD, £759.00 GBP, €889.00 EUR, $1,349.00 AUD, ¥108,900 JPY) The Player II Jaguar® radiates timeless Fender charm, but under the hood, it’s primed for today’s players. Everything about the neck is designed for fast and fluid playability, from the Modern “C”-profile with silky satin urethane finish on the back to the comfy 9.5″-radius slab rosewood fingerboard with smooth rolled edges and 22 medium jumbo frets. A classic alder body is available in both timeless Fender finishes and never-before-seen colors unearthed from the archives. Player Series Alnico V (Bridge) and Alnico II (Neck) Single-Coil Jaguar® pickups offer crystalline highs, musical mids and tight lows that elevate any genre. The 3-way blade switch lets you easily dial in everything from glassy neck pickup chime to cutting bridge pickup bite and all points in between, while a 6-saddle Jaguar bridge with Floating Tremolo, upgraded Mustang® saddles and ClassicGear™ tuners ensure precise tuning stability for the flexibility to explore endless sonic possibilities.
Player II Jazzmaster® ($829.99 USD, £759.00 GBP, €889.00 EUR, $1,349.00 AUD, ¥108,900 JPY) The Player II Jazzmaster® radiates timeless Fender charm, but under the hood, it’s primed for today’s players. Everything about the neck is designed for fast and fluid playability, from the Modern “C”-profile with silky satin urethane finish on the back to the comfy 9.5″-radius slab rosewood fingerboard with smooth rolled edges and 22 medium jumbo frets. A classic alder body is available in both timeless Fender finishes and never-before-seen colors unearthed from the archives. Player Series Alnico V Single-Coil Jazzmaster pickups offer crystalline highs, musical mids and tight lows that elevate any genre. The 3-way toggle switch lets you easily dial in everything from glassy neck pickup chime to cutting bridge pickup bite and all points in between, while a 6-saddle Jazzmaster bridge with Floating Tremolo, upgraded Mustang® saddles and ClassicGear™ tuners ensure precise tuning stability for the flexibility to explore endless sonic possibilities.
Player II Mustang® ($799.99 USD, £619.00 GBP, €729.00 EUR, $1,299.00 AUD, ¥104,500 JPY) The Player II Mustang® radiates timeless Fender charm, but under the hood, it’s primed for today’s players. Everything about the neck is designed for fast and fluid playability, from the Modern “C”-profile with silky satin urethane finish on the back to the comfy 9.5″-radius slab rosewood or maple fingerboard with smooth rolled edges and 22 medium jumbo frets. A classic alder body is available in both timeless Fender finishes and never-before-seen colors unearthed from the archives. Player Series Alnico V Single-Coil Mustang® pickups offer crystalline highs, musical mids and tight lows that elevate any genre. The 3-way toggle switch lets you easily dial in everything from glassy neck pickup chime to cutting bridge pickup snarl and all points in between, while a 6-saddle hardtail bridge, bent steel saddles and ClassicGear™ tuners ensure precise tuning stability for the flexibility to explore endless sonic possibilities.
Player II Precision Bass® ($799.99 USD, £839.00 GBP, €979.00 EUR, $1,299.00 AUD, ¥104,500 JPY) The Player II Precision Bass® radiates timeless Fender charm, but under the hood, it’s primed for today’s players. Everything about the neck is designed for fast and fluid playability, from the Modern “C”-profile with silky satin urethane finish on the back to the comfy 9.5″-radius slab rosewood or maple fingerboard with smooth rolled edges and 20 medium jumbo frets. A classic alder body is available in both timeless Fender finishes and never-before-seen colors unearthed from the archives. Player Series Alnico V Split-Coil P Bass® pickups offer sweet highs, musical mids and seismic lows that elevate any genre. An adjustable 4-saddle bridge, single-groove steel saddles and open-gear tuners ensure precise tuning stability for the flexibility to explore endless sonic possibilities.
Player II Jazz Bass® ($799.99 USD, £839.00 GBP, €979.00 EUR, $1,299.00 AUD, ¥104,500 JPY) The Player II Jazz Bass® radiates timeless Fender charm, but under the hood, it’s primed for today’s players. Everything about the neck is designed for fast and fluid playability, from the Modern “C”-profile with silky satin urethane finish on the back to the comfy 9.5″-radius slab rosewood or maple fingerboard with smooth rolled edges and 20 medium jumbo frets. A classic alder body is available in both timeless Fender finishes and never-before-seen colors unearthed from the archives. Player Series Alnico V Single-Coil J Bass® pickups offer sweet highs, growling mids and seismic lows that elevate any genre. An adjustable 4-saddle bridge, single-groove steel saddles and open-gear tuners ensure precise tuning stability for the flexibility to explore endless sonic possibilities.
Player II Mustang® Bass ($799.99 USD, £679.00 GBP, €799.00 EUR, $1,299.00 AUD, ¥104,500 JPY) The Player II Mustang® Bass PJ radiates timeless Fender charm, but under the hood, it’s primed for today’s players. Everything about the neck is designed for fast and fluid playability, from the Modern “C”-profile with silky satin urethane finish on the back to the comfy 9.5″-radius slab rosewood or maple fingerboard with smooth rolled edges and 20 medium jumbo frets. A classic alder body is available in both timeless Fender finishes and never-before-seen colors unearthed from the archives. Player Series Alnico V Split-Coil P Bass® and Single-Coil J Bass® pickups offer sweet highs, growling mids and seismic lows that elevate any genre. The 3-way toggle switch lets you easily dial in everything this versatile pickup set has to offer, while an adjustable 4-saddle bridge, single-groove steel saddles and open-gear tuners ensure precise tuning stability for the flexibility to explore endless sonic possibilities.
ABOUT FENDER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION:
Since 1946, Fender has revolutionized music and culture as one of the world’s leading musical instrument manufacturers, marketers and distributors. Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC)–whose portfolio of owned and licensed brands includes Fender®, Squier®, Gretsch® guitars, Jackson®, EVH®, Charvel®, Bigsby® and PreSonus® – follows a player-centric approach to crafting the highest-quality instruments and digital experiences across genres. Since 2015, Fender’s digital arm has introduced a new ecosystem of products and interactive experiences to accompany players at every stage of their musical journey. This includes innovative apps and learning platforms designed to complement Fender guitars, amplifiers, effects pedals, accessories and pro-audio gear, and inspire players through an immersive musical experience. FMIC is dedicated to unlocking the power of musical expression for all players, from beginners to history-making legends. In 2021, Fender celebrated 75 years of giving artists “wings to fly,” carrying on the vision of its founder, Leo Fender, and connecting players through a shared love of music.
Fender (standard and stylized), Stratocaster, Strat, Telecaster, Tele, Jazzmaster, Jaguar, Mustang, Precision Bass, P Bass, Jazz Bass, J Bass are trademarks of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation and/or its affiliates, registered in the U.S. and other countries. ClassicGear is a trademark of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation and/or its affiliates.
All other product and company names may be trademarks of their respective owners and may be used herein under license. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by or of the respective owners.
SOURCE Fender Musical Instruments Corp.
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Discord Launches Teen-by-Default Settings Globally: What’s Changing (and Why It Matters)
Discord is launching teen-by-default settings globally in early March, adding privacy-forward age assurance, tighter access to age-gated spaces, and new default messaging and content filters.
Discord is rolling out a major shift in how its platform handles teen safety: teen-appropriate settings will become the default experience for all new and existing users worldwide, with age verification required to unlock certain settings and access sensitive or age-gated spaces.
The update is set to begin as a phased global rollout in early March, and Discord says the goal is to strengthen age-appropriate protections while still preserving the privacy, community, and meaningful connection that have made the platform a go-to for gaming and interest-based groups.
Teen-by-default, globally (starting in March)
Discord says the new defaults will apply to all users, not just new signups. In practice, that means accounts will start with a more protective baseline, and verified adults will have more flexibility to adjust settings or access age-restricted content.
Discord is also introducing an age-verification (age assurance) step that may be required to:
- Change certain communication settings
- Access sensitive content
- Enter age-restricted channels, servers, or commands
- Use select message request features
“Nowhere is our safety work more important than when it comes to teen users,” said Savannah Badalich, Head of Product Policy at Discord, adding that the company is building on its existing safety architecture with teen safety principles at the core.
Privacy-forward age assurance: how Discord says it will work
A big part of the announcement is Discord’s attempt to thread the needle between safety and privacy.
Users will be able to choose from multiple methods, including:
- Facial age estimation (video selfie)
- Submitting identification to vendor partners
Discord also says it will implement its age inference model, a background system designed to help determine whether an account belongs to an adult without always requiring users to verify their age. Some users may be asked to use multiple methods if more information is needed to assign an age group.
Discord highlighted several privacy protections in its approach:
- On-device processing: Video selfies for facial age estimation never leave a user’s device.
- Quick deletion: Identity documents submitted to vendor partners are deleted quickly (in most cases, immediately after age confirmation).
- Straightforward verification: In most cases, users complete the process once and their Discord experience adapts to their verified age group.
- Private status: A user’s age verification status cannot be seen by other users.
After completing a chosen method, Discord says users will receive confirmation via a direct message from Discord’s official account. A user’s assigned age group can also be viewed in My Account settings, and users can appeal by retrying the process.
Discord also notes it prompts users to age-assure only within Discord and currently does not send emails or text messages about its age assurance process or results.
What’s changing in the default safety settings
Starting in early March, Discord says it will assign new default settings designed to support age-appropriate experiences while keeping privacy front and center. Highlights include:
- Content filters: Users must be age-assured as adults to unblur sensitive content or turn the setting off.
- Age-gated spaces: Only age-assured adults can access age-restricted channels, servers, and app commands.
- Message Request Inbox: DMs from people a user may not know are routed to a separate inbox by default; only age-assured adults can modify this setting.
- Friend request alerts: People will receive warning prompts for friend requests from users they may not know.
- Stage restrictions: Only age-assured adults may speak on stage in servers.
Discord notes it previously launched a teen-by-default experience in the UK and Australia last year, and says this global rollout builds on that approach to deliver consistent protections worldwide.
Giving teens a seat at the table: Discord Teen Council
Along with the safety updates, Discord also announced recruitment for its inaugural Discord Teen Council, a teen advisory body intended to bring authentic teen perspectives into how Discord shapes their experience.
Discord says the Teen Council will consist of 10–12 teens and will help inform future product features, policies, and educational resources.
- Who can apply: Teens ages 13–17
- Apply by: May 1, 2026
The bigger picture
Discord says these updates build on its broader safety ecosystem, including tools and resources such as Family Center, Teen Safety Assist, a Warning System, and more.
Whether you’re a parent, a teen user, or an adult who uses Discord for gaming communities and group chats, the headline is simple: the default experience is becoming more restrictive, and adult access will increasingly depend on age assurance.
Source: PRNewswire
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Google Reclaims No. 1 in Kellogg’s 2026 Super Bowl Ad Review
Google’s “New Home” ad topped the Kellogg School’s Super Bowl Advertising Review, praised for its emotional storytelling and clear product value. It marks Google’s fourth win. Other notable performers included Anthropic and Novartis. In contrast, Coinbase and ai.com struggled due to unclear brand connections. AI and health advertising trends emerged prominently in 2026.
Google is back on top in one of the most-watched postgame scorecards in marketing.
The Kellogg School of Management announced that Google Gemini earned the No. 1 ranking in the 22nd Kellogg School Super Bowl Advertising Review, thanks to its emotional “New Home” spot—an ad built around the idea that AI can support life transitions through creativity and human connection. Kellogg says this marks the fourth time Google has taken the top spot in the panel’s rankings.
Not every advertiser had a good night. Kellogg’s review also called out Coinbase and ai.com for low grades, with panelists criticizing unclear brand linkage and fuzzy value propositions.
Why Google’s “New Home” ad won
According to Kellogg, Google’s top-ranked spot stood out for balancing two things that are hard to pull off in a Super Bowl window:
- Emotional storytelling that feels human
- A clear demonstration of product value
“This ad captures what Google has historically done best: pairing genuine emotional storytelling with a clear illustration of how the product fits naturally into people’s lives,” said Tim Calkins, clinical professor of marketing and co-lead of the Kellogg School Super Bowl Advertising Review. Co-lead Derek Rucker added that it feels like a modern evolution of that approach rather than a departure.
The review also notes the ad echoed the spirit of Google’s iconic “Parisian Love” spot from 2009—offering a nostalgic reminder of what has long defined the brand while updating it for a new era of AI-powered tools.
Other top performers (and why they landed)
Kellogg’s panel also gave strong marks to:
- Anthropic’s Claude for “Can I get a six pack quickly?”
- Novartis for “Relax Your Tight End”
Rucker highlighted Anthropic’s advantage in a crowded AI category: the message was simple and clearly differentiated, which made it easier for viewers to understand what the brand is and why it matters.
The ads that fumbled: Coinbase and ai.com
On the other side of the rankings were ads that grabbed attention but didn’t connect the dots.
Kellogg said Coinbase aired a spot built around a karaoke-style use of a Backstreet Boys song, but the creative failed to establish a clear connection to the brand or its value proposition, resulting in a low rating from the panel.
ai.com also received a low grade, with panelists left unclear on what the product actually offered. “When you’re advertising new technologies, there’s a lot to learn from classic brand building,” Calkins said, adding that ai.com is a good example of what can go wrong when viewers are still wondering what the product is after the ad ends.
The bigger trend: AI wasn’t just a theme—it was the stage
Kellogg’s review makes it clear that artificial intelligence dominated Super Bowl advertising in 2026, both as a subject of brand storytelling and as a creative tool.
Brands including Microsoft, Amazon, and Genspark used the Super Bowl stage to define how their technologies fit into everyday life, ranging from emotional narratives to more functional demonstrations of performance and productivity. Meta returned with two spots highlighting its AI-powered eyewear, emphasizing the product’s “athletic intelligence.”
AI also played a role behind the scenes: Svedka said its spot featuring dancing robots was primarily created using AI.
Celebrity + nostalgia still work—if the brand is clear
As has become tradition, celebrity power was on full display, with brands stacking household names to break through the clutter. Kellogg also noted that nostalgia continued to be a reliable creative lever, with several brands tapping into 1990s pop culture to connect with millennial audiences.
“Many advertisers appeared to be playing it safe this year. Nostalgia and well-liked celebrities are two of the most reliable ways to do that,” Calkins said. The catch: familiar faces and throwback references can be a shortcut to attention, but they still need to be paired with a clear brand message to be truly effective.
Health advertising surged (including GLP-1 debuts)
Another shift Kellogg highlighted: a remarkable number of health-focused Super Bowl spots, covering everything from hydration and fiber intake to caffeine consumption and access to care.
Weight-loss medications were especially prominent, with Novo Nordisk (Wegovy), Ro, and Eli Lilly (Zepbound) all spotlighting their GLP-1 offerings. Rucker said Super Bowl ads have to entertain and educate at the same time—and he credited Novartis with striking that balance particularly well.
How Kellogg grades the ads: ADPLAN
The Kellogg School Super Bowl Advertising Review uses an academic framework known as ADPLAN to evaluate the strategic effectiveness of Super Bowl spots. The acronym helps viewers grade ads based on:
- Attention
- Distinction
- Positioning
- Linkage
- Amplification
- Net Equity
A full list of the rankings is available through Kellogg. To learn more, visit https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/news-events/super-bowl.aspx.
Source: PRNewswire
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Entertainment
Philly theaters unite to stage 3 plays by Pulitzer-winning playwright James Ijames
James Ijames, 2022 Pulitzer Prize winner for “Fat Ham,” is celebrated with a Citywide Pass in Philadelphia, offering access to three of his plays across different theaters. This initiative fosters collaboration among local theaters and showcases Ijames’ unique ability to create nuanced, character-driven narratives that explore complex queer and Black identities.
Bess Rowen, Villanova University
Most theater subscriptions offer a patron access to a single theater’s season. But Philadelphia’s new Citywide James Ijames Pass provides tickets to three James Ijames – pronounced EYE-ms, rhymes with “chimes” – plays at three theaters in Philadelphia. Subscribers will also get one mustard-colored beanie, one of Ijames’ signature accessories.
The full pass, which costs US$130, includes tickets for the Arden Theatre’s “Good Bones,” which premiered Jan. 22 and runs through March 22, the Wilma Theater’s “The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington,” which runs March 17 to April 5, and the Philadelphia Theatre Company’s “Wilderness Generation,” a world premiere that runs April 10 to May 3. There is also a two-show pass for $90 without “Good Bones.”
I’m a theater theorist, historian and practitioner who has written about Ijames’ work before and after his 2022 Pulitzer Prize. I believe this landmark collaboration between three important Philadelphia theaters is a fitting celebration of a multi-hyphenate theater artist who continues to champion his longtime artistic home.
Actor, playwright, director
Ijames, 46, was born in North Carolina and attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. He earned his Master of Fine Arts degree at Temple University and stayed in Philadelphia after graduating.
Notably, this playwright’s MFA is in the study of acting. Ijames is also a talented director, and he performed and directed at multiple theaters around Philadelphia before starting to work as a playwright. He was also a tenured professor of theater at Villanova University, where I had the privilege to work with him and watch his creative process before he moved to New York City in 2025 to run the playwriting concentration at Columbia University.
Ijames was already a local celebrity in Philly before winning the Pulitzer Prize for drama for “Fat Ham,” his Hamlet adaptation centered on a queer Black Hamlet named Juicy and the legacy of his father’s barbecue joint. The New York theater scene took notice of him when the National Black Theatre staged “Kill Move Paradise” in 2017. This haunting piece is set in limbo, where unarmed Black men who have been killed by police examine how they have come to this place and how society continues to enable this pattern.
Other Ijames plays include “White,” a satire of the art world that tells the story of a gay white male artist who hires a Black woman actor to pretend to have done his work to see if that makes a difference in how his art is viewed. “TJ Loves Sally 4Ever” sets Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings’ relationship on a college campus where “TJ” is a dean and Sally is a student. And “Reverie” is a chamber play, which is an intimate meditation with an earnest and somber tone. In it, the father of a recently deceased Black gay man comes to meet the man he believed was his son’s partner.
Most recently, in 2025, Ijames partnered with the Australian pop singer Sia on a musical called “Saturday Church.” It is a story about reconciling queer community and Christian faith, and relying on the support of family, both biological and chosen.
Charting new dramatic territory
Although his theatrical styles and genres vary, at his core, Ijames writes nuanced, character-driven works that revolve around interpersonal relationships. His plays are playgrounds for performers, particularly due to his ability to write complex queer Black characters.
Influential American playwright Suzan-Lori Parks notes in her 1994 essay “Elements of Style” that the conflict between Black people and white people is the default trope of how Black people have been represented onstage – by almost exclusively white playwrights – for most of U.S. theater history. Parks posits that a way to avoid this centering of white conflict in Black lives comes from new dramatic territory that depicts conflicts between Black people and anything else.
Ijames never sets his Black characters in opposition to white society alone. He also refuses to take up the tropes of LGBTQ identity as incompatible with religion, or the idea that characters can be only gay or straight. Instead, Ijames creates narratives with queer religious people and pansexual men whose identities are not sources of conflict.
The citywide pass
The plays in the citywide pass offer an exciting cross section of what makes Ijames’s work so vibrant.
“Good Bones” is the story of a now-affluent Black woman, Aisha, who moves back to her blue-collar hometown. Aisha might be from this working-class neighborhood, but her elaborate renovations and white-collar sensibilities make her return seem more like gentrification than homecoming, at least as far as her local contractor can see.
“Miz Martha” follows the titular Martha Washington through a fever-dream-inspired trial in her final moments, as enslaved people care for her while knowing her death means their freedom.
And “Wilderness Generation” follows five cousins reunited in the U.S. South after many years apart, ready to talk about the secrets from their pasts.
With theater’s ever-changing and unstable financial landscape, I believe the Citywide James Ijames Pass is an exciting new subscriber model. The collaboration highlights Philadelphia’s theatrical talent and banks on local theaters working together to build audiences instead of treating each other as competition – a new development that could change how regional theater scenes operate.
Bess Rowen, Assistant Professor of Theatre, Villanova University
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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