By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
The Brandywine Valley Symphony
There is an event in the area on Sunday afternoon that will provide treats for four of the five human senses – sight, hearing, taste, and smell.
The Brandywine Valley Symphony (bvsymphony.org) will present the second concert in its debut season on November 23 at 3 p.m. The Salon Concert will be held in the Grand Ballroom of Mendenhall Inn, which is located at 323 Kennett Pike in Mendenhall.
In addition to the music, the event offers hors d’oeuvres and one beer, wine or other beverage.
The 2025-2026 season is a debut season in name only — because of the orchestra’s new name.
A few months ago, the orchestra performed its final concert as the Kennett Symphony with an outdoor show at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square.
This weekend’s concert will be the second performance of the orchestra’s 85th season.
It features Tchaikovsky’s “Serenade for Strings,” light appetizers, and drinks. The performance is hosted by Michael Hall with stories, musical examples, and multimedia projections that bring the work to life.
Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for String Orchestra in C major, Op. 48 was written and orchestrated in September and October 1880.
The Serenade is scored for violins I, violins II, violas, cellos, and double basses. In the score Tchaikovsky noted: “The larger number of players in the string orchestra, the more this shall be in accordance with the author’s wishes”.
There are four movements:
Pezzo in forma di sonatina. Andante non troppo—Allegro moderato (C major, 295 bars)
Valse. Moderato. Tempo di Valse (G major, 223 bars)
Elegia. Larghetto elegiaco (D major, 162 bars)
Finale (Tema russo). Andante—Allegro con spirito (C major, 406 bars)
A complete performance lasts approximately 30 minutes.
Kennett Symphony, which began in 1940 as a small volunteer community orchestra in Kennett Square, has evolved a lot over the last eight decades and had two other monikers – Kennett Symphony Orchestra and Kennett Symphony of Chester County.
The ensemble has steadily grown by using professional musicians and talented conductors. The Symphony embraces its proud legacy of presenting timeless classics to audiences in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Main Line, and Chester County.
From 1988-2013, the orchestra, which then was known as the Kennett Symphony of Chester County, blossomed under the leadership of Mary Woodmansee Green, Pennsylvania’s first woman to be appointed conductor of a professional symphony.
When Green retired, she was succeeded by current Artistic Director Michael Hall.
The 2025–2026 season features one special event, one salon concert with food and spirits, three full-orchestra Masterworks concerts, and three chamber music performances highlighting brass, woodwind, and string ensembles.
According to Hall, “Our orchestra continues to thrive, deepening its artistic excellence while strengthening connections throughout the Brandywine Valley.
“This season honors the great symphonic tradition while embracing new perspectives and innovative experiences. From the intimacy of chamber concerts to the grandeur of our season finale beneath the stars at Longwood Gardens, we welcome audiences of all ages to experience the power, beauty, and inspiration of live orchestral music.”
The new BVS season continues next month.
The Holiday Concert with the BVS Brass Quintet is scheduled for December 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the Chester County History Center in West Chester.
Surrounded by over 300 years of history, audiences will enjoy arrangements celebrating the holidays with the joyful sounds of carols and festive classics.
The 2026 portion of the 2025/2026 season includes the Family Concert with the BVS Woodwind Quintet on February 28,
“Masterworks 2: Songs Without Borders” on March 22 at the Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center in West Chester, the Mother’s Day Concert with the BVS String Quartet on May 9 in the Copeland Lecture Hall at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library and “Masterworks 3: Made in America” on June 25 in the Open Air Theatre at Longwood Gardens.
Video link for Brandywine Valley Symphony — https://youtu.be/7Jbrh567kFI.
The performance on November 23 will start at 3 p.m.
This welcoming setting is perfect for first-time attendees and seasoned patrons seeking a deeper connection to and understanding of classical music.
Tickets are $75 and include hors d’oeuvres and one beer, wine or other beverage, with a cash bar available.
The joint will be jumpin’ over the next week at the Candlelight Dinner Theatre (2208 Millers Road, Arden, Delaware, www.candlelighttheatredelaware.org) with a comedy show tonight, three performances of its holiday show over the weekend and a rock concert next Wednesday.
Last weekend, Candlelight celebrated Opening Night for its annual holiday show.
“Christmas by Candlelight” opened on November 15 and is running now through December 21.
There’s no place like home for the holidays, so the Candlelight is thrilled to welcome audiences “home” to the barn for its heartwarming celebration of the yuletide season back by popular demand.
The show features favorite seasonal and sacred tunes, as well as some new surprises, brought to life by some of the theater’s most popular cast and staff.
Some of the timeless holiday classics featured in this year’s show are “We Wish You A Merry Christmas,” “Jingle Bells,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “The Christmas Song,” “Santa baby” and, of course, “White Christmas.”
Tickets, which include dinner and show, are $77.50 for adults and $35 for children (ages 4-12). “Show Only” tickets, which have limited availability, cost $35.
Brian Scolaro
The November edition of Candlelight Comedy Club will be held on November 20 starting at 7:30 p.m.
The show features Brian Scolaro as headliner, Joe Pontillo as feature and Shari Franklin as emcee.
Both Scolaro and Pontillo are natives of Queens, New York. And both are successful actors as well as in-demand standup comedians.
“I grew up in New York – in Queens,” said Scolaro, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon from his home in the New York borough.
“I lived in L.A. for 21 years where I worked mainly as an actor. I moved back to Queens in 2022 to take care of my mom.”
Scolaro went to SUNY-New Paltz, where he graduated with a degree in communication.
“I had my own TV and radio shows when I was in college,” said Scolaro. “Acting was my first love, but comedy was big too. When I was a kid, I loved George Carlin and Bill Cosby.
“Standup is fun, but I preferred acting. As a kid, I watched actor/comedians like John Belushi and John Candy.
“I started doing comedy in 1995. In 2001, I got hired for a role on NBC’s ‘Three Sisters.’ When I first moved back here, I booked a pilot as a regular, but it didn’t get picked up.
“So, they threw me in another show, ‘Three Sisters.’ Then, I got another show co-starring with Pamela Anderson – ‘Stacked.’”
Scolaro has appeared on “Shameless,” “Abbott Elementary,” “Godfather of Harlem,” “Night Court,” “Dexter,” “Law and Order: SVU,” “Bones,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Night Court,” “Castle” and “Girl Meets World.”
He also has had recurring roles as Brian on “A Million Little Things,” Uncle Bill on “Ten Year Old Tom,” Doug on “Sullivan and Son,” Sergio on “Kroll Show,” Goblin on “Wizards of Waverly Place,” and many roles on “Life and Times of Tim.
Scolaro is widely known as Stuart, a regular cast member, on FOX’s “Stacked” and Gordon on NBC’s “Three Sisters.” He has also appeared in the films “Alto Knights”, “Screamboat,”and “The Brothers Solomon.”
“The Alto Knights” is a 2025 American biographical crime drama film directed by Barry Levinson and written by Nicholas Pileggi. The film stars Robert De Niro in a dual role as 1950s mob bosses Vito Genovese and Frank Costello.
“Screamboat” is a 2025 American comedy horror film directed by Steven LaMorte. It is a reimagining of Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks’s 1928 animated short film, “Steamboat Willie.” The plot follows a group of New Yorkers who are terrorized by a monstrous mouse named Steamboat Willie.
“I did a lot of TV shows – and a few movies,” said Scolaro. “I did the movie ‘Alto Knights’ with Robert De Niro. I had a guest spot in ‘Screamboat’ where I had my head cut off by Mickey Mouse.
“I always knew that I wanted to do acting. Now, I do a lot of dramas. My favorite thing is to do comedy in a drama.”
Scolaro has had three specials — his “Dry Bar Special: Trouble,” his Amazon special “I Don’t Know Who I Am Either,” and his half-hour Comedy Central special “Comedy Central Presents: Brian Scolaro.”
He has also performed stand-up on a number of TV shows including “Conan,” “Gotham Comedy Live,” “Comics Unleashed,” and “The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson.”
“With comedy, it took five years to get my set correct and eight years until I was starring,” said Scolaro.
“I’ve always been able to read the room and to make audiences laugh. I like to be silly and not deal with politics, dating or family.
“When I’m doing a show, I want to just be silly. I’ve played 46 state sand my material works everywhere.”
Pontillo also started in Queens, moved west (slightly) and then came back.
“I was born in Queens and grew up in Long Island,” said Pontillo, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon from his home in Long Island.
“I moved to Brooklyn and lived there for over a decade. Then, I moved back to Long Island.
“I started doing comedy when I was in college at Hofstra University. I was studying television – the behind-the-scenes part. I got sick of it and switched to film.
“I tried comedy for the first time when I was in college. Dave Chappelle was headlining a show at Hofstra, and they had a student comedy challenge to pick the opener.
“I won. I thought I’d just go onstage and be funny. It didn’t happen. I did a few jokes and the place was quiet. So, I decided to fart into a microphone.
“About a year-and-a-half later, I started doing it for real. I was performing at comedy clubs in Long Island and then New York City.”
Pontillo slowly built his reputation and his audience grew.
“Comedy is all about playing the long game – and it’s a long game. I never did a lot of open mics. I did do a lot of new talent nights. That was the first time at a big comedy club where people came to see me.”
Pontillo appeared on AXS TV’s Gotham Comedy Live, Sirius XM, MTV, MeTV, Amazon Prime and most recently Tubi.
In 2023, he released his second comedy special, “No One Asked For This,” which is currently streaming on YouTube.
His first special, “Delete Your Account,” is also available as an album on Spotify and iTunes.
When he’s not touring the country doing stand-up, Pontillo is a content creator with a variety of short sketches on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
He also has some self-produced films under his belt such as “Street of the Dead,” a zombie comedy, and “Social Media Killed The Super Villain,” which ran in several festivals.
“I’ve been doing the TV thing,” said Pontillo. “I’ve just finished a pilot which I’m self-producing. We’ll see where that goes.
“Also, some of my jokes have been featured in publications such as Timeout NY, Washington Post, the Daily News and on ESPN.com.”
Pontillo also has a solid career as a stand-up comedian.
“I got into comedy because I want to create,” said Pontillo. “My comedy is whatever mood I’m in that day.
“I do biography and some topical stuff. Once in a while, I’m a bit of a ranter. I only have a couple R-rated jokes. I’m pretty clean.
“I vary my show a lot. If you see me multiple times, you’ll see me doing things differently from my last show. Actually, I have no idea what I’m doing the next night.
“I mostly avoid politics. I want to be there for every side of the aisle. I want to appeal to everyone.”
The show at Candlelight on November 20 will start at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $40.
The show features cash bar (no minimum), complimentary heavy snacks and free parking.
On November 26, Candlelight Dinner Theatre will host a concert by New Jersey-based rocker Joe Grasso & The Ramblers.
The show will start at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door.
The Secret Cinema will return to Glen Foerd (5001 Grant Ave, Philadelphia, www.glenfoerd.org) on November 21 for a one-night-only presentation of “Early Educational: Classroom Films of the Silent Era,” a rare screening of century-old classroom films that once taught students about history, science, and the natural world.
The event will take place from 7:30-10 p.m. at Glen Foerd, Philadelphia’s public park and nonprofit cultural site along the Delaware River.
Doors open at 7 p.m. for visitors to explore the historic mansion and its grounds before the program begins in the second-floor art gallery (stair access only).
Reviving a program not shown in 16 years, the Secret Cinema will showcase an array of ultra-rare 16mm films — many believed to exist only in its private archive.
These reels, produced by pioneering companies such as Kodascope Libraries, Eastman Classroom Films, and Urban-Kineto, remain in exceptional condition and often feature original tinted stock.
They will be screened at authentic silent-era speeds with live musical accompaniment by Don Kinnier, Pennsylvania’s foremost silent film organist.
General admission is $25, and $20 for students and seniors.
“Wishing to Grow Up Brightly” is a new musical from Amanda Morton (“KPOP,” “The Who’s Tommy,” “Gutenberg! The Musical!”) and Matthew Decker (“La La Land” Broadway adaptation) that is being presented at Theatre Horizon (401 DeKalb Street, Norristown, www.theatrehorizon.org).
The show, which opened this week and runs through November 23, is supported by the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.
The play blends humor, heart, and imagination in exploring adoption, family, and the stories that shape who we become.
At once hilarious and heartfelt, the musical follows Amanda Newton, a Korean-born woman adopted by white parents in the U.S., as she returns home to help her mother pack up their house after the death of her father.
Amidst the clutter and grief, Amanda stumbles upon reMEMOREX™, a futuristic company that promises families a way to reconnect with the past.
Amanda sifts through boxes both real and virtual, and the boundaries between memory and imagination blur, revealing a story about family, loss, and the inheritance of identity.
Powered by a genre-defying score that spans satirical pop and choral requiems, “Wishing to Grow Up Brightly” explores how we search for connection in the fragments left behind.
Morton, a three-time Barrymore Award-winning Korean-American composer and adoptee, draws from her own experience to tell a universal story about memory and belonging.
Several cast and creative members are also Korean adoptees, giving the piece rare authenticity and depth.
“Wishing to Grow Up Brightly” is running now through November 23 at Theatre Horizon.
Ticket prices start at $25.
On November 20, Jamey’s House of Music (32 South Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, www.jameyshouseofmusic.com) will host “JUST GUITARS!” featuring AC Steel and the Perpetrators along with a Les Paul Guitar Giveaway.
A partnership between MelodyVision, Films 4 Good, Jamey’s House of Music, and Superior Guitar Works, the podcast provides an in-depth exploration of guitars, guitar players, and the music for which each guitar is renowned.
Tonight’s selected guitar is the ubiquitous world favorite, the Les Paul.
AC Steel and the Perpetrators will be the special musical guest, performing a full set to show what that guitar can do. Guitar and guitar gear manufacturers will take questions and comments from the audience.
The venue will highlight the evening with a special guitar riff-off competition among the guitar players present in the audience, with the winner taking home AC Steel’s personal tricked out Les Paul guitar.
The hosts are Rodney Whittenberg, Emmy award-winning composer, songwriter, producer, guitarist, and filmmaker, and Tim Huenke, a guitar luthier and TEDx presenter. They will discuss the history of the instrument, share anecdotal stories, and offer guitar maintenance tips.
Tickets are $25. Showtime is 8 p.m.
On November 21, Jamey’s will host Alexis P. Suter and the Billy Price Band will headline on November 22.
On November 23, the “Sunday Blues Brunch & Jam” will feature the Philly Blues Kings with Clarence Spady. The free event will run from noon-3 p.m.
Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295, http://www.kennettflash.org) is hosting “Singer/Songwriter Showcase: Silver, Dunbar, Smucker” on November 20, The Low Sundays and Wash Re-Wash on November 21, Raymond the Amish Comic (with Lamarr Todd and Carla Ulbrich) on November 22 and Fat Refund, Ty Mathis, and Rew on November 23.
Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center (226 North High Street, West Chester, www.uptownwestchester.org) will present “Listening in! presents: Dreams – a chamber concert on baroque instruments” on November 21, “In the Key of Stevie Wonder: Re-Imagined by Lynn Riley & The World-Mix” on November 21, “Listening In! Family Concert – Dreams” on November 22, and Better Than Bacon on November 22.
Elkton Music Hall (107 North Street, Elkton, Maryland, www.elktonmusichall.com) will have Jesse Garron’s Tribute to Elvis on November 20, The Nashville Nights Band on November 21, The High & Wides + Wicked Sycamore on November 22, and Turkey Trot with The Sunset Riders! on November 26.
