On Stage: Three options to see ‘The Nutcracker’

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Brandywine Ballet Company There are many holiday activities which have become yearly rituals for area families – decorated houses, exchanging presents around the Christmas tree, holiday parties with cookies and eggnog, listening to Christmas carols and, of course, shopping at malls (or Amazon). Another popular family favorite is attending a live...

On Stage Extra: Dreamers hit the road again

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times  Dreamers After sitting back waiting a long time for the pandemic to pass, Dreamers, a pop rock duo featuring Nick Wold and Nelson, has shaken off the rust and is on the road again. They are in the middle of their “The Cameras & Coastlines” co-headlining tour with Smallpools – a tour that touches down locally on November 13 at Brooklyn...

On Stage: ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ opening at the Forrest Theater

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Dear Evan Hansen A nice way to combat a heat wave is to spend an evening inside an air-conditioned venue watching a live theatrical performance. Fortunately, there are several good choices — ranging from a new smash Broadway hit (“Dear Evan Hansen”) to a timeless theater classic (“Sweet Charity’). “Dear Evan Hansen,” which is billed...

On Stage Extra: Sarah Borges rocks, but is hard to define

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times  Sarah Borges When Sarah Borges performs live, she rocks the house. Borges, is a Boston guitarist/vocalist whose music has been described as “walking that fine line between punk and country.” When Borges straps on her guitar and starts to sing, she rocks out. There is country, blues, punk, and rock in her musical DNA, but it is the rock element...

On Stage: Kennett Symphony returns for first concert in more than two years

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Kennett Symphony Music Director Michael Hall leads the kennett Symphony. After a long pandemic-induced hiatus, the Kennett Symphony is back. The orchestra will present its first performance of 2022 on January 30 at Unionville High School auditorium with pieces by Aaron Copland, Joan Tower, Camille Saint-Saëns and Ludwig Van Beethoven. It would be...

On Stage: Brickman brings ‘Gift of Christmas’ to Keswick

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Jim Brickman Jim Brickman’s music always has a warm, soothing quality. His current tour might just be his warmest, most familiar ever. It’s a holiday tour that includes both Christmas music and songs from his vast catalogue “The Gift of Christmas” is the name of Brickman’s current tour. Brickman will bring his “The Gift of Christmas”...

On Stage: Updated Uptown! set to reopen, Friday night

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center It’s time for West Chester to start rocking again. Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center, a chic, 300-plus seat music and entertainment venue located in the heart of West Chester (226 North High Street, West Chester, uptownwestchester.org) is ready to reopen its doors after a shutdown caused by the pandemic. The...

On Stage: Roth, Tuk, Levins featured in Flash Rooptop shows

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Bryan Tuk Complex This will be a big weekend for the Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295, http://www.kennettflash.org) with a trio of shows featuring highly respected veteran music acts – Arlen Roth on June 11, Bryan Tuk Complex on June 12 and Levin Brothers on June 13. It will be a hometown gig for Bryan Tuk, a Bucks...

On Stage: The Crossing finds a safe way to perform together at Bowman’s Hill

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times The Crossing If you go to Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve in New Hope this weekend, you just might hear trees sing – although you’re more likely to hear singing by a choir. But if you tune in spiritually, you probably will be able to hear both human and arboreal singing. On October 3 and 4, GRAMMY-winning new-music choir The Crossing, led...