On Stage: Cirque Dreams Holidaze comes to Philly

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Cirque Dreams Holidaze Chester County will be in the house – and on the stage — when the Kimmel Cultural Campus and The Shubert Organization present “Cirque Dreams Holidaze,” a brilliant and whimsical holiday spectacular at the Campus’ Miller Theater (230 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, www.kimmelculturalcampus.org), from December 26-31. As...

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: Laura Cheadle rocks holiday tunes at Jamey’s

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Laura Cheadle If you like Christmas music but would like to hear something other than the same old traditional songs done the same old traditional way, there is a show for you this weekend. If you want to enjoy the traditional songs and rock out at the same time, plan a trip to Lansdowne. On December 16, Jamey’s House of Music (32 South Lansdowne Avenue,...

On Stage: Mary Fahl sings the songs of the season

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Mary Fahl Once you’ve heard Mary Fahl sing, you have her voice etched permanently into your memory bank. From that point on, if you hear a song by Fahl, you immediately know who is singing. When Fahl performs her annual Christmas shows, which she has been doing for more than a decade, those in the audience hear holiday music in a whole new way. On...

On Stage: ‘Company’ returns to local stage

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Company There’s a new show in town that’s not really a new show. The original production was in 1970 but this will be the first time this show has played Philadelphia. Now through December 10, The Kimmel Cultural Campus and The Shubert Organization is presenting the Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim’s and George Furth’s “Company” at the...

On Stage: Turkey’d out? Now feast of great music

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Gretchen Emery Band The day after Thanksgiving often demands extra motivation from those who are prone to sitting around the house recovering from the day before. November 24 is the day after Thanksgiving this year and there is definite motivation to get out and hear live music performed by a pair of top-flight acts — the Gretchen Emery Band and...

On Stage Extra: Mia X Ally put their twist on traditional instruments

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Mia X Ally If someone told you to check out an interesting music act – a duo featuring two young women playing violin and bagpipes – you’d probably envision a folky duo playing an acoustic blend of Celtic tunes and traditional Appalachian songs. If the group was Mia X Ally, you’d be in for a surprise. Mia X Ally, who are headlining a show at...

On Stage: Reverend Peyton overcame a lot to become a blues guitar ace

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band If it’s country blues and top-flight fingerpicking you’re looking for, then look in Reverend Peyton’s direction. Reverend Peyton has performed many times at the Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808, www.st94.com) and he’s coming back again on November 16. The Reverend Peyton’s...

On Stage: Nellie McKay returns to area for show at Arden Gild Hall

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Nellie McKay Nellie McKay is a talented singer/songwriter from the Poconos who has been making impressive albums for more than three decades. Fortunately, she heads south on the Pennsylvania Northeast Extension now and then to perform shows in this area – including a spell-binding show at Longwood Gardens, a show at Rrazz Room in New Hope, and an intimate...

On Stage: ‘Wicked’ returns for shows at Academy of Music

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Wicked Did you ever wonder what the witches of Oz were doing before the time they encountered Dorothy and her entourage? Many questions that were left unanswered in “The Wizard of Oz” were answered at a later date — questions such as what the witches of Oz were doing before they encountered Dorothy and how they got to be the way they were. They...