On Stage: The Color Purple returns to Philadephia

By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times The Color Purple For the second time this season, area theater fans are being treated to an inaugural run of a hit Broadway show’s National Tour. The North American Tour of the Tony Award®-winning revival of “The Color Purple” visits Philadelphia from December 12-17 as part of the Broadway Philadelphia series, which is presented collaboratively by...

Super Six: Holidays edition

By Kelly Hockenberry, Columnist, The Times Ho Ho Ho! Ready for the Holiday Super Six? Anyone else in “Present Panic Mode” like I am? While online shopping offers many conveniences, the sheer volume of options has me paralyzed, overwhelmed, and unable to get past “add to cart”. I have a tendency to second guess and I worry that what I see on my computer might not be as awesome in person....

Moore, Trump put local Republicans at severe risk

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times As we head into the 2018 election season, we see that the two major political parties find themselves at crossroads, with one party seemingly finding its roots after years of wandering and pandering and another so lost, to as be unrecognizable from just a few years ago. For Democrats, heading into 2018 with a wind at their back — and locally, the biggest series...

On Stage Spotlight: Ryan Tennis is home for the holidays

By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times Ryan Tennis Ryan Tennis is a Philadelphia musician — a globe-trotting Philly musician. He is a singer/songwriter/guitarist who in last two years has mounted successful tours through Switzerland, Germany, Ireland, Colombia, and Argentina.  He spent February 2017 doing a massive tour in Colombia from Bogota to Barranquilla and from Cali to Cartagena. Tennis...

What To Do: Good Neighbor Christmas in Downingtown

By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at Downingtown’s Good Neighbor Christmas. Downingtown has changed a lot over the years but is still a neighborly town. It always been a neighborly town – so neighborly that it has an annual event schedule that includes Good Neighbor Day each summer and Good Neighbor Christmas (downtown Downingtown, http://www.dtownchristmas.com)...

Two charged in infants’ deaths

Jamal Bailey (left) and William Gardner (right) were charged Thursday in the deaths of two infants under their care. Two county men have been charged in the deaths of infants under their care — one earlier this year and another exactly one year ago —  Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan announced Thursday. Jamal Bailey, 41 of Downingtown, has been charged with homicide for administering...

On Stage: Nothing like The Nutcracker to make it feel like Christmas

By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times The Nutcracker by the Pennsylvania Ballet. The Pennsylvania Ballet’s annual production of “George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker” is one of the most cherished—and longest running—family holiday traditions for families in the region. For many, a visit to Philadelphia to enjoy the lavish presentation by the world-famous Pennsylvania Ballet is a integral...

George withdraws from 16th District race

John George The crowded field to take on freshman Congressman Lloyd Smucker got a little less crowded Wednesday after John George announced he would withdraw from the race, saying he didn’t think he would be able to mount a competitive race. “I have informed the Democratic Committee that I am suspending my campaign for Congress in the 16th District for 2018,” george said in a...

On Stage: Ventura fire forces cancellation of Phillips’ show

By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times Veteran rock and jazz drummer Simon Phillips was forced to cancel his tour — including a local stop tonight — after his Venture County, Cal. home burned in a wildfire. Two British musicians who first arrived on the scene in the late 1970s and have been going strong ever since have concerts scheduled in the area at different venues on December 6 – Gary...

Too many of us with stories to tell, sadly

By Kelly Hockenberry, Columnist, The Times Oh, Matt Lauer. Honestly, as I watched Savannah Guthrie read the prepared statement from NBC executives, I can’t say that I was really that surprised. There have been rumors about him being unfaithful to his wife for years. So, it wasn’t a huge leap to believe that he could be disrespectful to his female co-workers. To me, what is most upsetting about...