By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
A very special musical event is taking place at the Lansdowne Theater (31 North Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, thelansdownetheater.com) this weekend.On November 29, the popular venue in Delaware County is hosting symphonic rock pioneers Annie Haslam and Jim McCarty performing “The History of Renaissance.”
The two music veterans have a mutual music history that goes back more than 50 years.
Jim McCarty was the drummer of the Yardbirds – one of the premier bands during the initial “British Rock Invasion” in the mid-1960s.
Any credible list of the 10 all-time best rock guitarists should – without question – include Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page.
Amazingly, three of them got their starts in the same band – the Yardbirds
The Yardbirds are like the Energizer Bunny – they just keep going and going.
Original lead guitarist Top Topham left and was replaced by Clapton, and then Beck replaced Clapton two years later. It was this line-up that recorded the group’s signature hits “Heart Full of Soul”, “I’m a Man” and “Shapes of Things.”
In 1966, bassist Paul Samwell-Smith left the group. Jimmy Page joined, and the band used a double-lead guitar format for a brief while. Then, Beck left, and Page remained – but only for a short while before leaving to form Led Zeppelin.
In 1976, vocalist Keith Relf died in an accident leaving the band with just a pair of original members – drummer McCarty and rhythm guitarist/bassist Chris Dreja. The group seemed to quietly fade into history.
Rising from the ashes of the Yardbirds, McCarty and Relf envisioned a Renaissance as fusing folk and classical influences with the bluesy rock they’d been playing and giving birth to a new musical direction.
When Haslam joined the band in 1971 to sing with her ethereal five-octave voice, the group became more popular, especially with the progressive rock scene.
After McCarty departed the band, the line up continued notably with Haslam, this combined the poetic emotional words of Betty Thatcher and the timeless musical masterpieces that were created by Michael Dunford, John Tout, Jon Camp and Terry Sullivan.
McCarty carried on writing songs for the revised band and collaborated with poet Betty Thatcher, with both providing imaginative lyrics for the songs.
Renaissance was reborn in 2009 with Haslam and Dunford at the helm, along with keyboard player/musical director Rave Tesar, and a new generation of musicians.
From 1972 to 1979 Renaissance released seven studio albums, toured extensively, and sold out three nights at Carnegie Hall with Tony Cox conducting the New York Philharmonic.
Renaissance has toured throughout the world and has performed at Carnegie Hall with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and at the Royal Albert Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Chorale Society.
Over the years, the band released a number of classic, well-received albums, including “Turn Of The Cards” (1974), “Scheherazade And Other Stories,” (1976), “Novella” (1977), “A Song For All Seasons” (1978), “Azur D’Or” (1979), “Camera Camera” (1981) and “Time Line” (1983).
Renaissance enjoyed a hit single with ‘Northern Lights’, that got to Number 10 in the UK charts in July 1978.
After their great success both recording and touring in the 70s, the band experienced several lineup changes in the 80s, parted ways with its label, and eventually called it quits in 1987.
The group reformed in 1998, and in 2001 the band were back on the road with a U.S. tour fronted by Haslam. In 2024, the band did a well-attended farewell tour, “In Gratitude.”
The current lineup of Renaissance is Haslam (lead vocals), McCarty (acoustic guitar and lead vocals), Tesar (keyboards), Mark Lambert (guitars, vocals), Geoffrey Langley (keyboards, vocals), John Galgano (bass, vocals), and Frank Pagano (drums, percussion, vocals).
Presently, the current Renaissance lineup will end 2025 with their “History of Renaissance Tour.”
The catalyst for this tour was a show promoter from the Midwest.
“On the Renaissance farewell tour last year, we did the last two shows at the Wildey Theatre in Edwardsville, Illinois,” said Haslam, during a phone interview Tuesday evening form ger home in Upper Bucks County.
“The promoter of the shows was a guy named Greg Moulden. In September, I got a call from him. He said – when you were down here last year, you really made people happy with your stories.
“He wanted me to come back and do a one-woman show. He wouldn’t let me go. I said that I wanted music with it.
“All of a sudden, I thought of Jim, so I contacted him. He had free time off from Yardbirds’ touring and was up for it. Greg was a big fan of Renaissance and also liked Jim’s bands Illusions and Shoot.”
The current mini-tour – two shows in Illinois, one in Newtown, N.J. and one in Lansdowne – has a show with three segments.
“It’s a three-hour show that starts with Annie and I talking – conversing about the band,” said McCarty, who was at Haslam’s house Tuesday.
“We chat about the history of Renaissance and then, I do a couple of my songs. The band comes out, and we do a couple Illusion’s songs — ‘Isadora,’ ‘Madonna Blues,’ ‘Ghost,’ — my songs ‘Face of Yesterday’ and ‘On The Frontier’ and a few Shoot songs including ‘Sepia Sister.’ We close with the song, ‘Island,’ which was the song Annie sang when she first auditioned for Renaissance 50 years ago.”
Then, the show takes a much-needed intermission – much appreciated by older audiences.
“After the break, we come back with the full Renaissance band,” said Haslam. “It’s a great show. There’s never been anything like it.
“When we agreed to do the first two shows in Illinois, we realized it would be really silly to just do two shows. So, we added two. And we’re going to film the Lansdowne show.
“The set list for the Renaissance segment includes ‘Prologue,’ ‘Ashes Are Burning,’ ‘Carpet of the Sun,’ ‘I Think of You,’ ‘Mother Russia,’ ‘Midas Man,’ ‘Day of the Dreamer’ and ‘Northern Lights.’”
Next year, Haslam might just do more “History of Renaissance” shows. Meanwhile, McCarty will resume work with the Yardbirds.
“The Yardbirds are coming back in March,” said McCarty. “We’ll be doing the Flower Power Cruise and probably some dates on the East Coast.”
And Haslam and McCarty will likely be doing some work in the studio together.
“Jim and I are working on a new song – that we started in the 90s,” said Haslam. “I found it on a cassette, and we’ll be recording it next year. It’s magical.”
The show on November 29 in Lansdowne will start at 8 p.m.
Ticket prices start at $47.90
A great way to get into the holiday spirit is to visit the Candlelight Dinner Theatre (2208 Millers Road, Arden, Delaware, www.candlelighttheatredelaware.org).
The Candlelight just celebrated Opening Night for its annual holiday show, “Christmas by Candlelight,” which is running now through December 21.For a month-and-a-half, the Candlelight is treating audiences to its heartwarming celebration of the yuletide season, which is back by popular demand this year.
Max Redman, a longtime Candlelight veteran, is both the writer and director of the new show. The last show that Redman directed was “It’s A Wonderful Life.”
Over the years, he has acted on stage and, for other shows, worked in the tech booth. He is currently Technical Director for the theater.
“I’ve been with Candlelight since 2014,” said Redman, during a phone interview last week. “The show was ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ in fall 2014.
“The current show is my 61st show here. I started as an actor, and I’ve been the Technical Director since 2016. This is only the second production that I’ve been the show’s Director.”
“Christmas by Candlelight” has been around even longer than Redman.
“My first ‘Christmas by Candlelight’ was in 2016 under the direction of Bob Kelly,” said Redman. “I was the stage manager.
“The second was in 2019. I played a father in the show as well as being the stage manager.
“My next holiday show was ‘Christmas Carol by Candlelight.’ That was our first post-COVID production, and I was an actor in the show.
“The other holiday shows I was involved in were ‘White Christmas’ in 2022, ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ in 2023 and ‘Holiday Inn’ in 2024.”
This year’s 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.
Candlelight fans’ favorites in the cast are Jared Calhoun, Maurene Cotellese, Tina Gabriella Delano, Erin Lunde, Tim Moudy, Cody Palmer, Samatha Ricchiuti, Tess Sinatra, Shawn Weaver, Shaun Yates, and Anthony Connell, a longtime actor who also has been Props Master for shows this year.
The cast also has a family vibe. One of the cast members is Tori Healy, a mainstay in Candlelight productions for more than a decade, and her siblings Heather Healy and Dan Healy, who is also the Candlelight’s bartender. Oh yeah – Tori Healy is Max Redman’s wife.
“We keep it in the family,” said Redman with a chuckle.
The production team features Julia Kershetsky (Music Director), Jody Anderson (Choreographer), Anthony Connell (Properties & Set Dressing), Jeff Reim (Set Designer), Matthew J. Kator (Lighting Designer), Dennis Mahoney (Sound), Timothy Lamont Cannon (Costumes), Clayton Stacey (Wigs/Hair/Makeup), and Michelle Mattera (Production Stage Manager).
“The whole cast is diving into this show headfirst until Christmas,” said Redman. “It doesn’t stop.
“We opened a week earlier than usual because Thanksgiving is late this year. Usually, we start the week before Thanksgiving. After Black Friday, the whole energy changed. Everyone gets more into the holiday spirit.”
Redman’s work as the show’s writer started a long time ago.
“I started working on the premise for Act One initially about a year ago,” said Redman. “I started putting it on paper in May. In August, I started working with the cast – turning it into reality.”
The show has two very distinct halves.
According to Redman, “The first act of our show is meant to be a cozy, comfortable and Familiar holiday story with loads of classic Christmas songs to brighten he spirits of actors and audiences alike.
“Set in a Christmas lodge with two large trees and a beautiful fireplace, the joy of the season comes through in visuals, the story and the music.
“Sticking with tradition, the second act is when we no longer elan on a story to create a through line for the songs. We just present to you our version of a Christmas revue.
“The songs range from a capella versions of famous songs to comedic numbers, upbeat holiday tunes and classic Christmas songs you may hear sung at church services.”
Some of the showcase songs in Act One are “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “It’s Beginning To look A Lot Like Christmas,” “Jingle Bells,” “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” and two rockers – “Santa Baby” and “Run Run Rudolph.”
Act Two highlights include “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” “The Little Drummer Boy,” “Do You Hear What I Hear,” “Joy To The World,” “The Christmas Song,” “O Come All Ye Faithful” and, of course, “White Christmas.”
“Act One is more of a story – but without too much drama,” said Redman. “I didn’t want too complicated a plot.
“I wanted to feel nostalgic and comfortable. Even the set in a lodge with a fireplace is leaning on nostalgia. It’s a cute story that incorporates parts of traditional stories.
“Starting Act Two a capella was a new thing. Act Two is more into traditional songs.
“Audience members with season passes love it. There is just something about this show – Act Two in particular. And it’s always fun for season passers to see all their favorite actors.”
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.
Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Peabo Bryson celebrates his life and 50-year musical legacy on the Golden Touch Tour through 2026.
Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Bryson will fold the “Golden Touch Tour” into the “Home For the Holidays Tour.”
The tour stops at Scottish Rite Auditorium (315 White Horse Pike, Collingswood, NJ, scottishriteauditorium.com) on November 30.
Music fans can kick off the holiday season with an incredible night of music from four world-renowned artists.
“Home for the Holidays” stars two-time Grammy Award winner and two-time Academy Award winner Peabo Bryson; two-time Grammy Award winner Sheena Easton; American Idol winner and Grammy Award nominee Ruben Studdard; and world-renowned trumpet player Ilya Serov.
“Home for the Holidays” will feature both holiday favorites plus a selection of each artist’s biggest hits.
With a soulful voice and romantic duets with Celine Dion, Roberta Flack and Regina Belle amongst others, Bryson became known as “King of the Balladeers,” winning two Grammy Awards: “Beauty and the Beast” (1992) and “A Whole New World” (1993).
But it almost came to an end in 2018 when Peabo suffered a massive heart attack. Saved by the heroic actions of his wife, who performed CPR for twenty minutes until help could arrive, Bryson has a second chance and lease on life.
According to Bryson, “It’s surreal. Most people don’t get to say they’ve had a five-decade career in anything, let alone music. But what makes it even more special is that I almost didn’t make it to see this milestone.
“‘The Golden Touch Tour’ is a celebration — of survival, of 50 years of music, and of the incredible fans who have supported me through it all. We’ll span my entire career, but with a new energy that comes from knowing how precious each performance really is.”
To celebrate 50 years, Bryson will release a new album, “
Grace,” produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis due in 2026. He will also release a book filled with stories spanning his 50-year career.
Video link for Peabo Bryson — https://youtu.be/Vt9yRFWvY8s.
The show at Scottish Rite Auditorium will start at 4 p.m. on November 30.
Ticket prices start at $49.
This holiday season, People’s Light (39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, peopleslight.org) will share the joy of the season with a new, music-filled production of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” running now through January 4 on the Leonard C. Haas Stage.
With inventive and joyful staging by People’s Light Producing Director Molly Rosa Houlahan (Hurricane Diane, Little Shop of Horrors), the company’s Producing Artistic Director Zak Berkman brings Dickens’ beloved classic to life through the eyes of a child.
In this surprising and whimsical adaptation, audiences follow Ebenezer Scrooge and a gathering of benevolent ghosts on a journey through time showing the redemptive power of kindness, hope, and love.
This imaginative retelling features traditional English carols woven with a Barrymore-nominated original score by Berkman, arrangements by the celebrated “musician’s musician,” Mitch Chakour, and stars Ian Merrill Peakes (Birthday Candles, A Christmas Carol 2021/2023, Ghosts) as Scrooge.
People’s Light’s “A Christmas Carol” will also feature eight talented young artists from the company’s Teen Performance Lab, making their professional theatre debuts and performing in rotating ensembles throughout the run.
People’s Light remains committed to making theatre accessible and welcoming for all. A Relaxed Performance will be offered on Sunday, December 7 at 2 p.m., featuring audio description, American Sign Language interpretation (provided by Hands UP Productions), and a pre-show sensory tour at 1 p.m. where guests can interact with set and prop elements and ask questions.
This inclusive performance offers a “shush-free” environment where audience members are free to move around, vocalize, or step out and return as needed.
Additionally, Open Captioning will be available during all performances from December 30 – January 4, displaying dialogue on an LED screen to support patrons with hearing impairments and English language learners.
“A Christmas Carol” will run now through January 4 on the Leonard C. Haas Stage at People’s Light.
Ticket prices start at $35.
On November 28, Jamey’s House of Music (32 South Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, www.jameyshouseofmusic.com) will host Steve Shanahan an the Hitmen.
On November 29, the stage at Jamey’s will belong to Doctor Harmonica and Rockett 88.
On November 30, the “Sunday Blues Brunch & Jam” will present the Philly Blues Kings featuring Kate Gaffney. The free event will run from noon-3 p.m.
Elkton Music Hall (107 North Street, Elkton, Maryland, www.elktonmusichall.com) will present Mysterious Ways: The U2 Experience” on November 28, “Mamma Mania! ABBA Tribute!” on November 29, Son Little with Candi Jenkins on December 1 and Gwenifer Raymond with special guest Christo Graham on December 3.
The Colonial Theater (227 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, thecolonialtheatre.com/events) will host “Mamma Mania! ABBA Tribute!” on November 28 and “Boat House Row – The Yacht Rock Experience” on November 29.
