On Stage: Get ‘Slammed’ to ring in the new year

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times The Slambovian Circus of Dreams Music acts in all genres have special holiday shows and tours. Smooth jazz saxman Dave Koz is known for his seamless Christmas shows. Horror hip hop duo Twiztid shine through the darkness with their Halloween shows. Country acts go all out with Independence Day Weekend shows. Laura Cheadle, a rocker from New Jersey, slams...

On Stage (Holidays edition): The Nutcracker, Scrooge and so much more

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Brandywine Ballet Company With all the holiday craziness going on all around you – crowded stores, long waits at restaurants, heavy vehicular traffic, ridiculous lines at checkouts, Santa showing up everywhere and, of course, guys with cauldrons ringing bells to solicit donation everywhere you turn – it’s a normal reaction to seek respite. One...

On Stage Extra: Briscoe brings a bit of Texas to Philly

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Briscoe Get ready, Philly – here come a pair of “Good Ole Texas Boys” – make that “Good Young Texas Boys.” Briscoe, which is headlining a show on September 27 at World Café Live (3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, www.worldcafelive.com), is making it area debut. Briscoe is Truett Heintzelman and Philip Lupton. Briscoe traces its roots back...

On Stage Extra: People’s Light opens ’23-’24 season with ‘Bonez’

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Keith A. Wallace This weekend, People’s Light (39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, www.peopleslight.org) is celebrating the opening weekend of its 2023-2024 season. From September 22-October 15, People’s Light opens the new season with the world premiere of “Bonez” by acclaimed actor, director, and playwright Steve H. Broadnax III. An Associate Artistic...

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: Blue Man Group comes to Kimmel

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Blue Man Group Back in the late 1960s when a lot of British bands were playing songs by blues masters such as Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson, a question frequently asked was “Can white men sing the blues?” In 1968, a British music group called the Bonzo Dog Band countered with a song called “Can blue men sing the whites?” Years later, there...

On Stage: Stomp returns to Philly at Kimmel

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Stomp The musical stage show “Stomp” has been playing to packed houses for almost 30 years and its popularity is showing no signs of waning. The energetic and highly percussive show is coming back to Philadelphia from December 28-January 2 for an eight-show run at the Merriam Theater (250 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, 215-893-1999, www.kimmelculturalcampus.org)...

What To Do: As area opens, a few more options for outings

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Car Concert: The Big Takeover As we head into July, many of the restrictions caused by COVID-19 have been removed or at least relaxed – just as the pandemic’s numbers are starting to surge in the wrong direction. Still, you people who have been waiting to get out for months can now get out. You can break the chains and finally get “out and go.” You...

On Stage: Little Red Robin Hood at People’s Light

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Little Red Robin Hood: A Musical Panto! Now is a great time to take a break from the holiday frenzy and enjoy a few hours of watching a stage production. It’s a great time because there are great options – several classic ballet productions of “The Nutcracker,” two holiday-themed stage shows and a brand-new panto. Now through January 5, People’s...

A Single Shard opens at People’s Light, April 27

A Single Shard opens April 27 at People’s Light. MALVERN — People’s Light will present the regional premiere of A Single Shard, a highly theatrical adaptation of Linda Sue Park’s Newbery Award-winning novel by Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winner Robert Schenkkan. Celebrated theatre artist Seema Sueko directs an all-star cast that includes Broadway veterans Thom Sesma and Greg Watanabe. PNC...