Can we find peace and goodwill this Christmas?

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa “Peace on Earth, good will toward men.” Those words should – and I hope will — describe our interactions with friends and family over the holidays. But, with so much division and anger, I suspect for some folks that will prove difficult. We’ve never been a perfect people, racism, imperialism, sexism, religious discrimination and corruption have...

On Stage: “Lettie’ derailed by COVID finds new life at People’s Light

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Abigail Adams The play “Lettie” had its premiere in Chicago in 2017. The show received rave reviews and appeared destined to have a long and successful run on Broadway. Then, COVID-19 changed all that – a pandemic that closed everything down. When the original production ran at the Victory Playhouse in Chicago, Broadway World described the show...

On Stage: Chesco resident Giddings made the journey from the UK and to the stage

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Some years ago, Susan Giddings made the 3,500-mile journey from the London area of England to the Philadelphia area – more specifically from Hartfordshire to Chester County. Once in America, Giddings became involved with theater. Now, she is playing one of the major roles in the production of “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” which is running...

On Stage: Jesse Ruben comes home for show at World Cafe Live

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Jesse Ruben For Brooklyn based singer/songwriter Jesse Ruben, his show on May 12 at the World Café Live (3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, www.worldcafelive.com) is a much-anticipated homecoming. Ruben, who moved to New York 12 years ago, grew up in Maple Glen and graduated from Upper Dublin High School. He went on to earn a degree in songwriting at...

On Stage Spotlight: Matt Pond finds a new start with The Natural Lines

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Area music fans may not be familiar with the name of the band that is headlining a show on May 9 at Johnny Brenda’s (1201 North Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, www.johnnybrendas.com) – The Natural Lines. However, most area music fans know the leader of The Natural Lines very well – Matt Pond. Matt Pond is a musician from New York who formed his...

On Stage: STYX celebrates 50 years with show at Xcite Center

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times STYX STYX is not unfamiliar with gold. The band has reached golden status or better on nine of its albums. Now, STYX is touring to celebrate its golden anniversary. The tour, which is also a support tour for its most recent album, “Crash of the Crown,” visits the area on May 5 for a show at the Xcite Center at Parx Casino (2999 Street Road, Bensalem,...

On Stage Plus: Jesus Christ Superstar comes to Kimmel

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Jack Hopewell as Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar Hershey High School is a four-year high school in Dauphin County – a public school that is consistently ranked as one of the top public schools in the state of Pennsylvania. The school also has the distinction of being the alma mater of two highly regarded young talents in the world of sports and entertainment...

On Stage Extra: Phoneboy comes to the Foundry at Fillmore

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Phoneboy In the early 1980s, there was a British ska-pop-punk band called Fun Boy Three which was actually a trio of singers and percussionists performing along with a six-piece backing group that included a cellist and a trombone player. One of their UK hits was “Our Lips Are Sealed,” which was a chart song for The Go-Go’s in the...

On Stage: on 4/20, a celebration female singer/songwriters

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Julia Othmer Today, April 20, is a holiday of sorts. It is 420. 420 used to be an underground holiday. However, with the ever-expanding list of states that have legalized recreational marijuana, 420 is not so underground anymore. 420, 4:20 or 4/20 (pronounced four-twenty) is cannabis culture slang for marijuana and hashish consumption, especially smoking around...

On Stage Extra: Jordy brings new music to the Fillmore

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Jordy April 21 is a day pop music fans have been looking forward to for quite some time. It is the release date for Jordy’s sophomore album, “Boy.” Jordy is already touring in support of the new album – a tour that makes a local stop on April 18 at Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal Street, Philadelphia, www.thefillmorephilly.com). “My first...