The merchandise might be gone, but the iconic Wanamaker Building in Philadelphia, most recently the home of Macy’s, will come alive again during the 2025 Philadelphia Fringe Festival.

The Bearded Ladies Cabaret will present The Layaway, a series of intimate cabaret performances that take place inside the famous building from Sept. 13 to 28. The shows are in partnership with Opera Philadelphia’s “Pipe Up!” series.

Tickets available at PhillyFringe.org.

“When FringeArts had the opportunity to partner with longtime collaborators The Bearded Ladies Cabaret and Opera Philadelphia’s ‘Pipe Up!’ program to present live performances at the Wanamaker Building, we immediately knew we had to jump at the opportunity,” said Nell Bang-Jensen, FringeArts CEO and Producing Director. “This new festival offering continues FringeArts’s longstanding tradition of resurrecting and repurposing great Philadelphia spaces as sites for live performance.”

The Layaway is a vibrant hideaway where art, music, and mischief come together in unexpected harmony.

Audiences can expect an eclectic lineup of cabaret experiences, from stripped-down acoustic reveries to soaring organic ecstasies, from genderqueer tomfoolery to tailor-made programming crafted just for the Kids Department.

“We’re thrilled to be in this signature Philadelphia landmark which has long been a unique performance site,” said Sally Ollove, director of The Layaway and Bearded Ladies Cabaret associate artistic director. “It is such a gift to be able to play here. We hope audiences come ready to put their feet up and wrap themselves in queer joy and gorgeous performance. If you are someone who needs a soft place to land for a moment or a place to let your hair down, we invite you to join us at The Layaway.”

“Whether you’re stopping by for a quick burst of joy or settling in for a soul-stirring evening, this one-of-a-kind series is designed to recharge your batteries, refill your cocktail, and spark a little wonder in your week. Meet us at The Layaway, where joy stored today becomes a little sparkle for the coming season.”

Opera Philadelphia has partnered with the developer that became the sole owner of the Wanamaker Building last month, to reactivate the space with “Pipe Up!,” a performance series that aims to bring together some of Philadelphia’s greatest cultural creators and organizations and provide programming that will fill the Wanamaker with life and beauty and welcome the public back into the space through the end of the year.