On Stage (Holidays edition): The Nutcracker, Scrooge and so much more

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Brandywine Ballet Company With all the holiday craziness going on all around you – crowded stores, long waits at restaurants, heavy vehicular traffic, ridiculous lines at checkouts, Santa showing up everywhere and, of course, guys with cauldrons ringing bells to solicit donation everywhere you turn – it’s a normal reaction to seek respite. One...

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: Eisenhower comes home to star in ‘Into The Woods’

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Shows based on fairy tales can be a welcome alternative to holiday stories in the middle of the Christmas season —  and two of them are running now at theaters in Chester County. The Resident Theatre Company (RTC) at Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center (236 North High Street, West Chester, http://www.rtcwc.org) is presenting the second production...

On Stage: Little Red Robin Hood at People’s Light

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Little Red Robin Hood: A Musical Panto! Now is a great time to take a break from the holiday frenzy and enjoy a few hours of watching a stage production. It’s a great time because there are great options – several classic ballet productions of “The Nutcracker,” two holiday-themed stage shows and a brand-new panto. Now through January 5, People’s...

First State presents Cinderella, Feb. 20 & 21

First State Ballet Theatre, Delaware’s professional ballet company, presents Cinderella on Saturday February 20 at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday February 21 at 2:00 p.m. at the Baby Grand Theater, 818 N. Market Street, Wilmington, DE 19801.  For half price student tickets and senior discounts call 1 800-37GRAND.  Adults $38-48, students $19-24.  Call box office at above number or visit www.ticketsatthegrand.org...

What To Do: Saluting local German heritage folk art

Also: Carmen at First State Ballet, Wyeth exhibit at Brandywine By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library is featuring the opening of a major new exhibition “A Colorful Folk: Pennsylvania Germans and the Art of Everyday Life.” When German immigrants began settling in America in the 1700s, they brought with them a lot of traditions — culinary, religious...

On Stage: ‘Stomp’ away those holiday blues

Also, First State Ballet showcases The Nutcracker By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times Stomp returns to the Delaware Valley, from December 26-30 for an eight-show run at the Merriam Theater in Philadelphia. The musical stage show “Stomp” has been playing to packed houses for more than 20 years and its popularity is showing no signs of waning. The energetic and highly-percussive show is...

Giselle kicks off 2014-15 season for First State Ballet

Performances of First State Ballet’s season opening show, Giselle open Oct. 18 . WILMINGTON, DEL. — First State Ballet Theatre, Delaware’s professional ballet company, opens its 2014-15 season—with five fully-staged ballets, the busiest in its 15-year history—with a spectacular full-length production of Giselle, one of the world’s best known and loved ballets, on the main stage...