{"id":27022,"date":"2017-12-21T06:00:04","date_gmt":"2017-12-21T11:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=27022"},"modified":"2017-12-20T14:01:32","modified_gmt":"2017-12-20T19:01:32","slug":"on-stage-the-illusionists-comes-to-wilmington","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=27022","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: ‘The Illusionists’ comes to Wilmington"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff<\/strong>, Staff Writer, The Times<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

The Illusionists<\/p><\/div>\n

Magicians seem to be omnipresent and magic shows pop up on entertainment calendars on a regular basis. Some of the shows make you shake your head in amazement \u2013 not at the complexity of the act but rather that venues would even book the act.<\/p>\n

There are some good shows featuring magic acts but it\u2019s safe to say that they all pale in comparison to \u201cThe Illusionists – Live From Broadway.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Illusionists – Live From Broadway\u201d will have a three-day run from December 21-23 at the Grand Opera House (818 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-652-5577, www.thegrandwilmington.org<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The highly-entertaining show is produced by Simon Painter, Tim Lawson and MagicSpace Entertainment. Conceived by Simon Painter, the show\u2019s creative team also includes executive producer Tim Lawson, director Neil Dorward and creative director Jim Millan.<\/p>\n

Full of hilarious magic tricks, death-defying stunts and acts of breathtaking wonder, \u201cThe Illusionists\u201d has shattered box office records worldwide and thrilled audiences of all ages with a mind-blowing spectacular showcasing the jaw-dropping talents of five of the most incredible illusionists on earth.<\/p>\n

The tour cast features five acts, including \u201cThe Futurist\u201d — Adam Trent shatters stereotypes and brings a new generation of magic to fans fusing technology illusions, dancing and comedy with classic techniques; \u201cThe Inventor\u201d — Kevin James is known for innovative illusions, is an inventor, comedian and collector of the strange and unusual. James is one of the most prolific inventors of magic in the world and has created some of the most celebrated illusions of the last century; and \u201cThe Weapon Master\u201d — Ben Blaque has established himself as America\u2019s foremost master of the crossbow after appearing four times on America\u2019s Got Talent. He performs incredibly dangerous acts of dexterity using highly powerful crossbows to shoot various objects supported by his assistant.<\/p>\n

The roster also includes \u201cThe Manipulator\u201d — Florian Sainvet began his career in magic at the age of sixteen, but it was while devouring his favorite science fiction films and universes at his beloved neighborhood cinema that he discovered his true calling as a futuristic manipulator and illusionist; and \u201cThe Escapist\u201d — Krendl has passion and drive for entertaining which started at the early age of 10. By age 12 he was already performing regularly. From even his humble beginnings as a child performing magic, Krendl was fascinated with Houdini\u2019s most infamous escapes.\u00a0 The challenge of doing things, that are said to be impossible, has been the true heart and soul behind all of his work.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe tour starts in mid-December and we finish the tour at the end of June,\u201d said James, during a recent phone interview from his home in Las Vegas, Nevada. \u201cI\u2019m prepping all the props right now.\u00a0 I have three new big things this time. The amount of numbers in the show varies.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll probably be on stage six times. \u201cI\u2019m always trying to get new things in the show. I get inspired by a lot of things \u2013 sometimes just walking through a hardware store.\u201d<\/p>\n

James became interested in the art of magic at a very early age. He remembers seeing his first magic performance and, more importantly, how it made him feel. He decided early on that performing magic for the world was going to be his life\u2019s calling.<\/p>\n

His style of performance is anything but conventional. His unique comedy and magic has gained him a reputation as a world-class visual artist. He has headlined in such venues as the famous Crazy Horse in Paris, and done Royal performances for the Prince of Monaco, Prince of Bahrain and the Sultan of Dubai. In Las Vegas he has headlined in almost every major casino. A few years ago, he did a command performance for President Obama at the White House.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be doing my classics,\u201d said James, is related to the legendary P.T. Barnum and has succeeded in keeping the tradition alive.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be doing everything I did on the last tour \u2013 making it snow on the audience, operating with a chainsaw, floating a rose over the audience. And, I\u2019ve got some new stuff I\u2019m excited to try out.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis show has a really good cast. The producers reduced it to five acts from seven. I think it\u2019s going to be a better format.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for \u201cThe Illusionists – Live From Broadway\u201d \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/SdSyTvP6z-A<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show will be presented at the Grand at 7:30 p.m. on December 21, at 2 and 8 p.m. on December 22, and at 10 a.m., 2 and 8 p.m. on December 23. Tickets start at $40.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Jim Brickman<\/p><\/div>\n

Jim Brickman’s music always has a warm, soothing quality. His current tour might just be his warmest, most familiar ever. It\u2019s a holiday tour that includes both Christmas music and songs from his new album \u2013 which just happens to be a Christmas album.<\/p>\n

\u201cA Joyful Christmas\u201d is the name of Brickman\u2019s current tour. It is also the name of his new album, which was released a few weeks ago.<\/p>\n

Brickman will bring his \u201cA Joyful Christmas Tour\u201d to the area for a show on December 22 at the Keswick Theater (291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 215-572-7650,\u00a0www.keswicktheatre.com<\/a>). It marks the 21st<\/sup> year Brickman has taken a holiday show on the road.<\/p>\n

Brickman, a Grammy-Nominated artist, has also just released a holiday single. He and Grammy-Nominated artist John Ondrasik aka Five For Fighting have a special collaboration to send a message of thanks, love, and support to the troops this holiday season with the song, \u201cChristmas Where You Are?\u201d<\/p>\n

The song is available across all digital platforms including iTunes<\/a> as well as on the \u201cA Joyful Christmas\u201d album.<\/p>\n

A percentage of the proceeds of the song will go to the Gary Sinise Foundation<\/a>, which honors defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need by creating and supporting unique programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen, and build communities as well as What Kind Of World Do You Want<\/a>, an initiative Ondrasik created which raised more than $250,000\u00a0for five designated charities \u2014 Augie\u2019s Quest, Autism Speaks, Fisher House Foundation, Save the Children and Operation Homefront.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do a lot of songwriting collaborations,\u201d said Brickman, during a phone interview last week from a tour stop in Cleveland, Ohio. \u201cI look for people I admire.<\/p>\n

\u201cJohn and I started to meet to write together and one of the times we talked about Christmas. I have a lot of Chroistmas songs but there has never been a patriotic Christmas song \u2013 a song for those who are far away from home.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany of the men and women in our military are really far from home. We just felt that making a song likre this was a really wonderful thuing to do.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re seasoned enough to write a pop hit if we want to. But, if you\u2019re an artist, you want to write something you care about.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe got together back in June in L.A. at John\u2019s home studio. We did a lot of work on it \u2013 play and record for an hour and then listen back. We cut it over a period of time in late summer. It came out in October and then I did a concert special that was a DVD and a CD.<\/p>\n

According to Ondrasik, \u201cThe holidays can be an especially hard time for our troops and their families. \u2018Christmas Where You Are\u2019 is a thank you and reminder to soldiers that we are with them in heart and spirit, wherever they stand, in service and sacrifice to our nation. We hope that no matter where these brave men and women are stationed, the warmth and love of family transcends the miles. We want them to know that a grateful nation holds them close to our hearts.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brickman said, \u201cWe also got involved with the USO and \u2018Operation Care Package.\u2019 \u00a0We did a couple USO shows and they meant a lot to us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brickman is the best-selling solo pianist of our time earning 21 Number One albums and 32 Top 20 Radio Singles in the industry bible, \u201cBillboard Magazine.\u201d He\u2019s garnered two Grammy nominations, gospel music\u2019s Dove Award, two SESAC Songwriter of the Year Awards, and the Canadian Country Music Award. He also has a music scholarship at the prestigious Cleveland Institute of Music & is an ambassador of Roland piano products and passionate advocate for young musicians.\u00a0 He\u2019s written three best-selling books and is in the 20th season of hosting the popular radio show \u201cThe Jim Brickman Show.\u201d<\/p>\n

This year, Brickman has released three albums. In addition to the new holiday disc, he released \u201cWedding Songs\u201d and \u201cSoothe Vol. 3: Music for Peaceful Relaxation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t really plan on releasing three albums this year \u2013 but I\u2019m always writing,\u201d said Brickman. \u201cAt this time in the music world, there are no regular album cycles. Fortunately, I have a vehicle to get the music to the people. In part, to get the music to the people, you have to play live shows.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn this tour, because my holiday music has become popular, I can play my holiday hits. I play some of my regular songs, some of my holiday songs and some traditional Christmas songs. I\u2019m a fan of the hymns and of songs such as \u2018What Child Is This,\u2019 \u2018God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,\u2019 and \u2018Do You Hear What I Hear.\u2019 The show has a nice balance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Jim Brickman \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/tsvK1aGp8xo<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at the Keswick Theatre on December 22 will start at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices start at $38.50.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Nicole Zell<\/p><\/div>\n

Another show on December 22 will feature Chester County\u2019s own Nicole Zell sharing the bill with the DuPont Brothers at Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295,\u00a0http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Zell is a multitalented musician \u2013 singer, songwriter, guitarist, keyboardist \u2013 who has a dual career going. She records and performs as a solo artist and also records and performs as part of the alternative pop trio Thrillchaser.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith Thrillchaser, we just wrapped up the recording of our debut album,\u201d said Zell, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon from her home in Lower Merion.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s our first full-length and it\u2019s self-released. The title of the album is \u2018A lot Like Love.\u2019 We recorded it with Taylor Larson at Oceanic Recording Studio in Bethesda, Maryland. It will be released in February 2018.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight now, we\u2019re getting ready for the release. We\u2019ve been putting out singles and videos every month.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thrillchaser features Zell on guitar and vocals along with two musicians from Providence, Rhode Island \u2013 Rod Pires on vocals and Rob Lundy on bass and synthesizer.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe met online three years ago through Facebook,\u201d said Zell, who was born and raised in Honey Brook. \u201cIt was just kinda meant to be. They were looking for a female guitarist. I went to Rhode Island to meet them and we instantly connected.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Zell, pursuing a career in music was natural. Born into a musical family, she grew up singing, songwriting, and playing instruments from an early age. Since then, she has established a successful career\u00a0for herself as a solo artist \u2013 as former guitarist for alternative rock band, American Wolves \u2013 and as guitarist\/vocalist for Thrillchaser.<\/p>\n

In late 2014, Zell released her EP, \u201cTake Heart,\u201d and followed in early 2016 with her single, \u201cHeart Open Wide,\u201d which premiered on Fuse TV. Since 2013, Zell has been a radio host for\u00a0SoundStage\u00a0on West Chester radio station WCHE 1520.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor my original music, I\u2019ve been recording in my home studio with Rod Pires,\u201d said Zell. \u201cIt\u2019s been very relaxed with no solid plans for an album release.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m starting to get my feet wet. It takes me a long t time to develop what I\u2019m doing. I have a little apartment outside Philly and we set up there and record using Logic.<\/p>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t released any solo stuff in years. \u2018Heart Open Wide\u2019 was my last single and that was a while ago. Next year, I\u2019ll probably start releasing songs \u2013 single by single.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn my live show this week, I\u2019m just doing my originals \u2013 old stuff and new stuff. I got sick of playing acoustic guitar so now I\u2019m playing electric guitar. Lately, I\u2019ve forced myself to write in a different way \u2013 a more synth-based way.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an honor for me to open for the DuPont Brothers. I\u2019ve opened for them before and they\u2019re great. Since it\u2019s a few days until Christmas, I\u2019m going to play some holiday songs and then we\u2019ll probably do some holiday songs together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Nicole Zell \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/fnwvORUowZ0<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at Kennett Flash, which also features the DuPont Brothers, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $<\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at Kennett Flash are Calabrese Performing Arts Youth Choirs on December 21, and Vinyl Artifacts and Blues Reincarnation Project on December 23.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

A Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play<\/p><\/div>\n

The Resident Theatre Company (RTC) at Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center (236 North High Street, West Chester, http:\/\/www.rtcwc.org\/a-christmas-carol.html<\/a>) is presenting a special holiday show now through December 31 \u2013 a holiday show with a difference titled \u201cA Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play.\u201d<\/p>\n

Audiences will be in a theater in 2017 watching a stage production but they will feel like they are in the studio of a radio station back 70 years ago watching the live broadcast of a radio play. The cast from RTC will recreate what entertainment was like in an era before YouTube\u2026before streaming on the internet\u2026. even before television.<\/p>\n

\u201cA Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play\u201d is a play written by Kevin Connors that has been adapted for the stage by Joe Landry.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Charles Dickens novella, which has become a holiday classic, comes to life as a live 1940s radio broadcast, complete with vintage commercials for fruitcake (extra-fancy), and the magic of live sound effects and musical underscoring. A handful of actors bring dozens of characters to the stage, as the familiar story unfolds — Three ghosts take Ebenezer Scrooge on a thrilling journey to teach him the true meaning of Christmas.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis part of our first full season at Uptown,\u201d said The Resident Theatre Company\u2019s Director of Operations and Marketing Lance Knickerbocker during a phone interview earlier this week.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast year, we did one show \u2013 \u2018Monty Python\u2019s Spamalot.\u2019\u00a0 This year, we have a three-show series that stared with \u2018Next to Normal\u2019 back in the fall and also includes \u2018Bullets Over Broadway\u2019 that we\u2019ll present in the spring of 2018.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018A Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play\u2019 has a cast of six. There is Scrooge, a sound effects engineer and four other actors. Together, they form a live radio production team from 1940.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe show is set in the studio of radio station WBFR. It\u2019s a full show. It\u2019s 90 minutes without an intermission and the actors never leave the stage.\u201d<\/p>\n

The radio station WBFR in the show is a fictional one. In 1940, WBFR did not exist. Ironically, there now is a WBFR.<\/p>\n

WBFR (89.5 FM) is a radio station licensed to serve Birmingham, Alabama. The station is owned by Family Stations and airs a religious radio format.\u00a0 WBFR broadcasts the English version of programming from Family Radio Worldwide. The station was assigned the WBFR call letters by the FCC in 1987.<\/p>\n

The radio station setting in \u201cA Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play\u201d adds an extra layer of nostalgic interest to a story that mixes riches and poverty, greed and goodness, dire apparitions and joyful redemption. Dickens\u2019 timeless piece has been in print continuously since Christmas 1843.<\/p>\n

Audiences at Uptown will be privy to watching the story develop behind the scenes at the small-time radio station — just as old time radio plays were produced nearly a century ago.<\/p>\n

When plays were aired on the radio \u2013 or weekly serials like \u201cThe Lone Ranger\u201d or \u201cHopalong Cassidy\u201d — announcers didn\u2019t just read the story. Instead, a few actors played multiple roles and acted out the script with a variety of accents, costumes and creative sound effects in front of a live studio audience.<\/p>\n

RTC\u2019s new production of \u201cA Christmas Carol\u201d is a fresh, playful, joyful production for everyone over the age of five. Everyone in the audience at Uptown gets caught up in the action at every performance.<\/p>\n

The RTC cast features Alex G. Kunz (Jake Laurents\/Others), Mark Woodard (Freddie Filmore\/Scrooge), Hanna Gaffney (Lana Sherwood\/Others), Rajeer Alford<\/strong> (Harry Haywood\/Others), Michaela Shuchman (Sally Applewhite\/Others) and West Chester\u2019s Tom Wang (Sound Effects Engineer).<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a play with music,\u201d said Knickerbocker. \u201cThere are a half-dozen jingles and Christmas tunes such as \u2018Harry Holiday\u2019 and \u2018Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.\u2019 It\u2019s just a really fu, really nice Christmas show.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play\u201d will be performed now through December 31 at Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center. Ticket prices range from $25-$53.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

STOMP<\/p><\/div>\n

The musical stage show \u201cSTOMP\u201d has been playing to packed houses for nearly 25 years and its popularity is showing no signs of waning.<\/p>\n

The energetic and highly-percussive show is coming back to Philadelphia from December 26-31 for an eight-show run at the Merriam Theater (250 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, 215-893-1999,\u00a0www.kimmelcenter.org<\/a>) as part of the Kimmel Center\u2019s Broadway season.<\/p>\n

The stage show \u201cSTOMP\u201d has its origins in busking, a British custom that dates back hundreds of years and features street performers. The show’s creators Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas updated the tradition and created a theater piece that is very loud and very intense.<\/p>\n

\u201cSTOMP\u201d has been visiting the area for well over a decade-and-a-half but this time arrives with some new additions. Some sections of the show have been updated and restructured. And, the program features the addition of new routines utilizing unusual props.<\/p>\n

The structure is always there but approximately 30 per cent of each performance is improvised. The cast of the national tour has the versatility \u2014 and the experience with the structure of the show \u2014 to keep it fresh and new for every performance.<\/p>\n

\u201cSTOMP\u201d is a wordless show featuring an eight-member cast with energy to burn \u2014 a cast that creates beautiful music and sly humor with found objects such as Zippo lighters, push brooms, wooden poles, hammer handles, garbage cans, inner tubes, matchboxes and even the kitchen sink. It is a journey through sound, a celebration of the everyday and a comic interplay of characters wordlessly communicating through dance and drum.<\/p>\n

The eight cast characters are Ringo, Particle Man, Doctor Who, Cornish, Bin Bitch, Sarge and Potato Head. One of the two performers in the role of Potato Head is Steve Weiss.<\/p>\n

Hailing from the Philadelphia area, Weiss now lives in Las Vegas and recently concluded a three-year run performing in the headline show \u201cRecycled Percussion\u201d on the Las Vegas strip. During the day he teaches fitness classes and loves eating well.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbout two years ago, I had just finished with Recycled Percussion,\u201d said Weiss, during a phone interview Wednesday morning after a red-eye flight from Vegas.<\/p>\n

\u201cI went to New York to audition for \u2018Stomp\u2019 and made it to the final round. It was a week-long, very intense audition. I didn\u2019t get the role. Earlier this year, they were doing more auditions.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, I called the casting department and said \u2013 do you remember me? They were surprised I hadn\u2019t been hired. So, I came to the auditions at the final callback and then got offered the role a half-hour later. I joined the company four months ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

Weiss has a long background in percussion. He has drummed in bands since his teen years. Growing up in Broomall, he was a member of the marching band at Marple-Newtown High School and then later was a member of the drum line for Penn State\u2019s Blue Band.<\/p>\n

\u201cSTOMP\u201d runs for just over an hour-and-a-half with no intermission. It features non-stop intensity, lot of movement and a whole lot of noise. To get an idea of what\u2019s happening in the show, picture a group of athletic dancers acting like a group of young kids left unsupervised in a kitchen after drinking a 16-ounce glass of Jolt (a soda that pre-dated energy drinks and boasted \u201call the sugar and twice the caffeine\u201d)<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are a lot of noisy parts in \u2018STOMP\u2019 but there are also quiet numbers \u2013 like the one with matchbooks,\u201d said Weiss. \u201cTghere are always subtle changes in the show. There is so much room for improvisation. No two shows are ever exactly alike.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the newer pieces is \u2018Trolley,\u2019 which uses shopping carts. \u2018Paint Cans\u2019 is the most dangerous number. There are more cans in the air than people catching then \u2013 and the cans are real metal.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy favorite number is \u2018Paint Cans.\u2019 I like the element of danger. There is no turning back once it starts. There is something Zen about it. It reminds me of the Bellagio fountains in Vegas.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for \u201cSTOMP\u201d — https:\/\/youtu.be\/UGK60qdptp8<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at the Merriam will run from December 26-31. Ticket prices start at $40.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Marcus King<\/p><\/div>\n

Marcus King is a musician who likes to stay busy.<\/p>\n

On December 27, The Marcus King Band will headline a show at the Theatre of the Living Arts (334 South Street, Philadelphia, 215-222-1011, http:\/\/www.lnphilly.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The band \u2013 Marcus King ~ Guitar\/Vocals; Jack Ryan ~ Drums; Stephen Campbell ~ Bass; Justin Johnson ~ Trumpet\/Trombone\/Background Vocals\/Tambourine; Dean Mitchell ~ Saxophones; Deshawn Alexander ~ Organ\/Keyboards — is touring in support of its new EP \u201cDue North,\u201d which was just released on Fantasy Records.<\/p>\n

During a phone interview a few weeks ago from his home in Greenville, South Carolina, King said, \u201cI\u2019ve been in the studio in Memphis the last eight days. We\u2019ve been recording at Royal Studio with Eric Krasno producing. This is going to be our third album.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to be back in the studio early next year in Nashville. We\u2019ll do one more session and then we\u2019ll be ready to release the album. Eight tracks are done already.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do most of the writing on all our records \u2013 and I do some co-writing with Krasno. And, we\u2019re doing a couple songs that he wrote on his own. He and I met a few years ago when we opened for the Eric Krasno Band. We\u2019ve been working together for about a year.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe worked on a lot of tunes when we were in Memphis. He\u2019d have an idea and then I\u2019d go in the lobby and write some verses. And, there were other songs that he had written already.\u201d<\/p>\n

More immediate is the new EP.<\/p>\n

The digital-only EP consists of three songs the band recorded during their sessions at The Carriage House Studio in Stamford, Connecticut, for their sophomore album,\u00a0\u201cThe Marcus King Band\u201d (which was recorded\u00a0with producer\u00a0Warren Haynes), and a fourth live recording — an epic 15-minute medley of the band\u2019s \u201cSharry Barry,\u201d \u201cSliced Milk,\u201d \u201c25 Or 6 To 4,\u201d \u201cI’ll Stay,\u201d \u201cand \u201cGloomy Sunday.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to King, \u201cThe \u2018Due North\u2019 EP is a love note from the band of words we didn’t get to say — songs that are a big part of our live repertoire that we would like to share with everyone. Also included is a recording of the \u2018Sharry Barry\u2019 medley from Chicago last winter to give a taste of MKB recorded live.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe new EP was done at The Carriage House, which is a wonderful place. We all lived together in the apartment above the studio when we were making the record. And, having Warren Haynes producing was a wonderful experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Recently, The Marcus King Band hosted their own music festival, The Marcus King Band Family Reunion, which took place on October 6 and 7 at Pisgah Brewing in Black Mountain, North Carolina and featured artists like Blackberry Smoke, Jaimoe\u2019s Jasssz Band, David Shaw, and Muddy Magnolias.<\/p>\n

Late last year, The Marcus King Band released its sophomore, self-titled album on\u00a0Fantasy Records. This year, the band made their network television debut on\u00a0CBS This Morning Saturday. Additionally, King made the cover of Guitar Player Magazine in August of 2017 as one of \u201c10 Young Players Spreading The Gospel of Kick-Ass Guitar.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis tour we\u2019re going on is just a four-date run,\u201d said King. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be an end-of-the-year tour for us. We\u2019ve been on the road for the last two years so we\u2019ve been taking a little down time the last two months \u2013 getting some breathing done.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn our live show, we\u2019re doing some songs from the albums but we\u2019re playing mostly new material. In some cases, road testing is the best way to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for the Marcus King Band \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/jvxoqNXJ9SM<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at the TLA, which has The National Reserve as the opening act, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20.<\/p>\n

Video link for the Marcus King Band \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/jvxoqNXJ9SM<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at the TLA, which has The National Reserve as the opening act, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20.<\/p>\n

Another upcoming show at the TLA is \u201cThe White Panda: Winter is Here Tour\u201d on December 26 featuring The White Panda, Cade, and Brandyn Burnette.<\/p>\n

The Steel City Coffee House (203 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, 610-933-4043, www.steelcitycoffeehouse.com<\/a>) will host Ben Arnold on December 22<\/p>\n

The Colonial Theatre (Bridge Street, Phoenixville, 610- 917-1228, www.thecolonialtheatre.com<\/a>) will present Charlie Brown Jazz on December 21.<\/p>\n

Chaplin\u2019s (66 North Main Street, Spring City, 610-792-4110,\u00a0http:\/\/chaplinslive.com<\/a>) will host Vocal Fusion and Alex Allegra on December 22.<\/p>\n

The Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610-649-8389,\u00a0www.ardmoremusic.com<\/a>) will present Tim Reynolds (Dave Matthews collaborator): Solo Acoustic, Christie Len\u00e9e, and Time Relapse on December 21; Badfish, a Tribute to Sublime, Kings & Comrades, and Suburban Sensi on December 22; Electron (Marc Brownstein & Aron Magner of The Disco Biscuits, Mike Greenfield of Lotus, Tom Hamilton), The Heavy Pets, and Eat Your Beats om December 23, and Splintered Sunlight on December 27.<\/p>\n

The Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808,\u00a0www.st94.com<\/a>) will have Divine Hand Ensemble on December 21; The Stray Birds and<\/p>\n

Kyle Swartzwelder on December 22; Real Diamond (Neil Diamond Tribute) on December 23; Raymond The Amish Comic and Michael Aronin on December 26; and Enter The Haggis on December 27.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times Magicians seem to be omnipresent and magic shows pop up on entertainment calendars on a regular basis. Some of the shows make you shake your head in amazement \u2013 not at the complexity of the act but rather that venues would even book the act. There are some […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27024,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7529],"tags":[9828,6518,9826,9829,9827,5664,9825],"class_list":["post-27022","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-a-christmas-carol-a-live-radio-play","tag-featured","tag-jim-brickman","tag-marcus-king","tag-nicole-zell","tag-stomp","tag-the-illusionists"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27022","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=27022"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27022\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27023,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27022\/revisions\/27023"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/27024"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=27022"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=27022"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=27022"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}