{"id":27020,"date":"2022-12-01T09:39:42","date_gmt":"2022-12-01T14:39:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/?p=27020"},"modified":"2022-12-01T09:39:45","modified_gmt":"2022-12-01T14:39:45","slug":"on-stage-hairspray-returns-to-delaware-valley-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/?p=27020","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: ‘Hairspray’ returns to Delaware Valley"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff<\/strong>, Entertainment Editor, The Times<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"

Hairspray<\/p><\/div>\n

Prior to May 2022, it had been more than a decade since \u201cHairspray\u201d went on a National Tour and played a run in the area. The show, which is filled with fun numbers and poignant messages, is a delight that shouldn\u2019t be missed.<\/p>\n

The National Tour touched down at the Miller Theater (formerly the Merriam Theater) in Philly in May. Now, it\u2019s back to visit Delaware.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Playhouse\u00a0on Rodney Square (1007 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware,\u00a0www.thegrandwilmington.org\/venues\/the-playhouse\/<\/a>)\u00a0is presenting \u201cHairspray\u201d from December 1-4.<\/p>\n

The show\u2019s 20th\u00a0Anniversary is this year, and this is the first time\u00a0\u201cHairspray\u201d has toured since 2009. The show\u2019s messages of inclusivity are as timely and relevant as ever, whether it be about self-acceptance and body positivity or the resonance with the experiences of people of color today. <\/p>\n

\u201cHairspray\u201d started out many years ago as a John Waters movie \u2013 a typically off-beat Waters piece that eventually became a cult favorite.<\/p>\n

Set in 1962\u00a0in Baltimore,\u00a0Maryland (Waters\u2019 hometown), the production follows teenage Tracy Turnblad’s dream to dance on\u00a0The Corny Collins Show, a local TV dance program based on the real-life\u00a0Buddy Deane Show.<\/p>\n

When Turnblad wins a role on the show, she becomes a celebrity overnight, leading to social change as she campaigns for the show’s integration.<\/p>\n

In 2002, the musical version of \u201cHairspray\u201d made its debut at Seattle\u2019s 5th Avenue Theatre. Two months later, it opened on Broadway to rave reviews and went on to win eight 2003 Tony Awards \u2013 including \u201cBest Musical.\u201d It ran for\u00a02,642 performances and closed on January 4, 2009.<\/p>\n

\u201cHairspray\u201d\u00a0has also had national tours, a West End production, and numerous foreign productions. It was also adapted as a\u00a02007 musical film. The London production was nominated for a record-setting eleven\u00a0Laurence Olivier Awards, winning four, including\u00a0\u201cBest New Musical.\u201d<\/p>\n

The show is a lavish production with great singing, sparkling dance routines, top-notch acting and colorful sets and costumes. It is also a thought-provoking story that is set in the early 1960s and deals with prejudices against blacks and fat people.<\/p>\n

The story has a lot of messages \u2013 especially about discrimination and desegregation. But it\u2019s not a heavy show \u2013 it\u2019s a feel-good show. The main thing is that people have a good time when they come to this show.<\/p>\n

Turnblad, an overweight teenager with all the right moves, is obsessed with the Corny Collins Show. Every day after school, she and her best friend Penny run home to watch the show and drool over the hot Link Larkin, much to Tracy\u2019s mother Edna\u2019s dismay.<\/p>\n

After one of the stars of the show leaves, Corny Collins holds auditions to see who the next person on the Corny Collins show will be. With all of the help of her friend Seaweed, Tracy makes it on the show, angering the evil dance queen Amber Von Tussle and her mother Velma.<\/p>\n

Tracy then decides that it’s not fair that the black kids can only dance on the Corny Collins Show once a month. With the help of Seaweed, Link, Penny, Motormouth Maybelle, her father and Edna, Turnblad sets out to integrate the show.<\/p>\n

The cast will be led by\u00a0Greg Kalafatas as Edna Turnblad,\u00a0Niki Metcalf\u00a0as Tracy Turnblad and\u00a0Sandie Lee\u00a0as Motormouth Maybelle.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been with the show since last year \u2013 including the Philly stop in May,\u201d said Kalafatas, during a recent phone interview from a tour stop in Durham, North Carolina.<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw the original cast on Broadway in 2002. I was in college at the University of New Hampshire at the time and was in New York for spring break.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really loved it. I loved the score \u2013 especially since I listened to a lot of oldies when I was young. When I saw the Broadway production, I thought \u2013 I could do that show. I wanted to do Edna, but I was too young at that time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, 20 years later, that is not a problem.<\/p>\n

\u201cEdna starts off the show not comfortable in her skin \u2013 not comfortable with her weight,\u201d said Kalafatas, whose previous National Tour experience includes \u201cSomething Rotten,\u201d \u201cBuddy: The Buddy Holly Story\u201d and \u201cThe Drowsy Chaperone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the top of the show, she is a little brash \u2013 not happy with her life. The thing I like about her is to see the journey of accepting herself and how she looks. Also, she is an endearing tender mother.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked what he likes most about \u201cHairspray,\u201d Kalafatas replied, \u201cEverything, honestly. It\u2019s a really well-constructed musical and a fun comedy. It\u2019s fast-paced and the costumes are great. Overall, it\u2019s just a really good show.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for \u201cHairspray\u201d — https:\/\/youtu.be\/1wO6h8AuOks<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This new touring production reunites Broadway\u2019s award-winning creative team, led by Director\u00a0Jack O\u2019Brien\u00a0and Choreographer\u00a0Jerry Mitchell.<\/p>\n

\u201cHairspray\u201d will run through December 4 at the Playhouse. Ticket prices start at $48.<\/p>\n

On December 1, the\u00a0Candlelight\u00a0Theater (2208 Millers Road, Arden, Delaware,\u00a0www.candlelighttheatredelaware.org<\/a>) is presenting the December edition of its monthly\u00a0Candlelight\u00a0Comedy\u00a0Club.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Carole Montgomery<\/p><\/div>\n

The headliner is Carole Montgomery, and the feature is Linette Paladina. The emcee is Justin Gonzalez.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m originally from Brooklyn,\u201d said Montgomery, during a phone interview Tuesday evening from her home in New York.<\/p>\n

\u201cI went to Brooklyn College and decided it wasn\u2019t for me. I started doing theater when I was 20 and comedy when I was 21.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started comedy in 1979. There were no open mics. It was very different from the way it is now.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt first, I did audition night at a comedy club called Pits. Eventually, I became a regular at Catch a Rising Star. Then, I went to Who\u2019s On First and was a regular there.<\/p>\n

\u201cI lived in New York and was doing comedy there most of the early 80s. I moved to L.A. in 1987 and that\u2019s when comedy started to explode. I worked in L.A. and also went on the road.\u201d<\/p>\n

When a family addition arrived, it altered the course of Montgomery\u2019s comedy career.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had a son in 1992,\u201d said Montgomery. \u201cI got a residency in Las Vegas when he was four. There were burlesque shows in Vegas, and I was the comic. I was in \u2018Crazy Girls\u2019 at the Riviera and \u2018Midnight Fantasy\u2019 at Luxor. I was the comic and then there were the dancers.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter Vegas, I moved back to New York. It\u2019s been 15 years now. Around the time I reached 50, I realized standup was a young people thing. When I was 54, I started to teach and developed a show \u2013 \u2018Funny Women of A Certain Age.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFunny Women of A Certain Age\u201d premiered on the Showtime Network in March 2019. It made history as the first TV comedy special to feature female comics over the age of 50.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor TV specials, I use women over 50,\u201d said Montgomery. \u201cWhen I tour the show, I use women over 40.<\/p>\n

\u201cI try to keep work for older women. There are more than 100 female comics over the age 50 and more than 500 over the age 40. For my shows, I try to rotate three women including myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

A few months ago, Montgomery played the Sellersville Theater with \u201cFunny Women of A Certain Age.\u201d At the Candlelight, it will be a solo show.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t do politics in my show,\u201d said Montgomery. \u201cI want to make people laugh. Laughter is the one thing that can unite people.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy show is a lot about life. When I first started, I was a single woman, so I talked about dating. Later, I got married and I talked about being married. Then, I had a son and I stuck to family life.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s interesting is that back in the day, I was considered blue. I\u2019m not considered as edgy now. I haven\u2019t changed but the environment has.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gonzalez, who is a stand-up comedian and magician, is a local Renaissance Man. He is an independent musician based in Philadelphia who travels throughout the tri-state area and beyond.<\/p>\n

Gonzalez, who began performing professionally at the age of 11, now performs with a repertoire that includes classical, big band, Broadway and opera. Most recently, he added a new genre when he assumed the role of lead vocalist for \u201c33 1\/3 LIVE\u2019s Killer Queen Experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m originally from Northeast Philly,\u201d said\u00a0Gonzalez. \u201cI went to school in South Philly at GAMP.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Girard Academic Music Program (GAMP) is a college preparatory school for students in grades 5 through 12 that provides a unique educational environment, focusing on college and career readiness, while allowing all students to pursue music as a major subject.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was at GAMP for eight years,\u201d said\u00a0Gonzalez. \u201cI studied voice and instruments starting with lower brass. Voice was a large chunk of it. I got my first professional performance in Europe.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the age of 13,\u00a0Gonzalez\u00a0was asked to join a chorus as a soloist on its two-week tour of Germany and France. On that trip, he had the opportunity to perform in many castles, mansions, and historic houses of worship. The most memorable moment for him was singing in the Cathedral Notre Dame in Paris, France.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was amazing,\u201d said\u00a0Gonzalez. \u201cI was 13 and I was singing at the Cathedral Notre Dame. I was just a poor Puerto Rican kid from North Philly, and I was singing in places like a castle in Germany and a cathedral in Berlin.\u201d<\/p>\n

After years of laying the groundwork for a promising career as an opera singer,\u00a0Gonzalez\u00a0was diagnosed at the age of 18 with Multiple Sclerosis, an autoimmune disease. One of the symptoms of MS is memory loss. His opera career was over just as quickly as it began.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt affected my brain\u2019s ability to memorize,\u201d said\u00a0Gonzalez. \u201cI still sing classically at venues around the East Coast and on Broadway.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today, 20 years since that first tour,\u00a0Gonzalez\u00a0is still a sought-after classical music soloist. He is also a practitioner of the American Song Book and the music of Broadway. He uses all of this music to entertain, educate, and share his story.<\/p>\n

\u201cI also have several music projects,\u201d said\u00a0Gonzalez. \u201cThere is the Little Big Band Lounge Revival, which does\u00a0lounge and popular standards along with classic love songs, and the Justin\u00a0Gonzalez\u00a0Jazz Trio, which is a pop trio that uses classical instruments.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is also \u201833 1\/3 LIVE\u2019s Killer Queen Experience.\u2019 And I also sing with the Philadelphia Chorus.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Carole Montgomery — https:\/\/youtu.be\/A3FSKozxNHg<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Video link for Justin\u00a0Gonzalez\u00a0— https:\/\/youtu.be\/kNtcF4Z5aqQ<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Show at the\u00a0Candlelight\u00a0Theater on December 1 will start at 6:30 p.m. Tickets, which include complimentary snacks, iced tea, lemonade and coffee, are $30. There will be a full-service bar open throughout the show.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Candlelight\u00a0Theatre (2208 Millers Road, Arden, Delaware,\u00a0www.candlelighttheatredelaware.org<\/a>) is\u00a0just beginning performances of its annual tradition of presenting a holiday production.<\/p>\n

Now through December 23, The Candlelight is presenting \u201cIrving Berlin’s White Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n

The successful song-and-dance act of army buddies Bob Wallace and Phil Davis follow a duo of singing sisters en route to their Christmas show at a Vermont lodge, which just happens to be owned by Bob and Phil’s former army commander. Filled with laughter, romance, spectacular dance numbers and the unforgettable songs of Irving Berlin, it\u2019s clear to see why this is a holiday favorite for the whole family.<\/p>\n

Now through December 4, \u201cTina \u2013 the Tina Turner Musical\u201d is running on Philadelphia\u2019s Kimmel Cultural Campus at the historic Academy of Music. This engagement is hosted by the Kimmel Cultural Campus and The Shubert Organization.<\/p>\n

\u201cTina — The Tina Turner Musical\u201d\u00a0is a\u00a0jukebox musical\u00a0featuring the music of\u00a0Tina Turner\u00a0and depicting her life from her humble beginnings in\u00a0Nutbush, Tennessee, to her transformation into a\u00a0rock and roll\u00a0star. It is the story of the life journey of Anna Mae Bullock.<\/p>\n

Anna Mae Bullock was born on November 26, 1939 in\u00a0Brownsville, Tennessee and was the youngest daughter of Zelma and Floyd Bullock. Two years after her mother left the family, her father married another woman and moved to\u00a0Detroit\u00a0in 1952. Bullock and her sisters were sent to live with their maternal grandmother, Georgeanna Currie in Brownsville, Tennessee.<\/p>\n

Bullock and her sister began to frequent nightclubs in St. Louis and\u00a0East St. Louis. She first saw\u00a0Ike Turner\u00a0perform with his band the\u00a0Kings of Rhythm\u00a0at the\u00a0Manhattan Club\u00a0in East St. Louis.<\/p>\n

Bullock was introduced to the public as Tina Turner with the single, \u201cA Fool In Love,\u201d in July 1960. It reached No. 2 on the\u00a0Hot R&B Sides\u00a0chart and No. 27 on the\u00a0Billboard\u00a0Hot 100. After the release of \u201cA Fool in Love,\u201d Ike created the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, which included the Kings of Rhythm and a girl group,\u00a0the Ikettes, as backing vocalists and dancers. He remained in the background as the\u00a0bandleader.<\/p>\n

Anna Mae Bullock was on her way to a roller coaster ride of a music career as Tina Turner.<\/p>\n

Now, Turner\u2019s life and career is being celebrated with \u201cTina — The Tina Turner Musical.\u201d<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Broadway\u00a0production opened in November 2019 and was nominated for 12 Tony\u00ae Awards, including Best Musical. The production reopened at Broadway\u2019s Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in October 2021 following the 18-month industry wide shut down due to the COVID 19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

The cast is led by Naomi Rodgers (Frozen) and Zurin Villanueva (The Lion King, Mean Girls, Shuffle Along, The Book of Mormon), who will evenly share the role of Tina Turner, each playing four (of eight) performances a week. Also starring are Garrett Turner as Ike Turner, Roz White as Zelma Bullock, Ann Nesby as Gran Georgeanna, and Lael Van Keuren as Rhonda.<\/p>\n

The production at the Academy of Music has a great story \u2013 and great music performed by highly talented actors. The sets are colorful and inspiring, and the audience responds energetically to such classic hits as \u201cA Fool in Love,\u201d \u201cProud Mary,\u201d \u201cPrivate Dancer,\u201d \u201cWhat\u2019s Love Got to Do With It,\u201d \u201cWe Don\u2019t Need Another Hero\u201d and, of course, \u201c(Simply) The Best.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Tina Turner, \u201cIt has been years since I toured the U.S., and I am very excited that my own musical can now bring my music and story to my fans in their home cities across America. It\u2019s a homecoming and that is very special to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for \u201cTina — The Tina Turner Musical\u201d — https:\/\/youtu.be\/Q4xlsuaZ6To<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cTina — The Tina Turner Musical\u201d is running now through December 4 at the Academy of Music.<\/p>\n

Ticket prices start at $20.<\/p>\n

People\u2019s Light (39 Conestoga Road, Malvern,\u00a0peopleslight.org<\/a>) is presenting \u201cAlice in Wonderland: A Musical Panto,\u201d which is running now through January 1, 2023.<\/p>\n

Each year, the People\u2019s Light holiday panto transforms a beloved children\u2019s story into a musical extravaganza filled with outrageous characters, toe-tapping original music, slapstick comedy, and topical humor for both kids and adults.<\/p>\n

The beloved holiday tradition returns to People\u2019s Light with the world premiere of \u201cAlice in Wonderland: A Musical Panto.\u201d The show, which is directed by Bill Fennelly, features book by Jennifer Childs and music and lyrics by Alex Bechtel.<\/p>\n

People\u2019s Light has adapted the theatrical form of British pantomime into its own unique brand of holiday hilarity. Audiences of all ages gather to partake in the songs, dances, topical jokes, and jovial camaraderie of this longstanding tradition.<\/p>\n

This year, People\u2019s Light is welcoming two Philadelphia icons to the panto family — comedy legend Jennifer Childs writes the book and award-winning drag performer Eric Jaffe is the audience\u2019s new guide through the magical mayhem \u2013 and two veterans — Bill Fennelly, who also directed 2019\u2019s\u00a0\u201cLittle Red Robin Hood<\/a>,\u201d and composer\/lyricist Alex Bechtel, who penned the music and lyrics for 2016\u2019s\u00a0\u201cSleeping\u00a0<\/a>Beauty<\/a>\u201d\u00a0and has appeared as an actor in multiple past pantos.<\/p>\n

The People\u2019s Light panto is entertainment for the entire family, and the audience is part of the action.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a family event,\u201d said Childs, during a phone interview last week. \u201cIt has something for all ages. There are opportunities in panto for audience interaction. There are contemporary references. It keeps it very live.\u201d<\/p>\n

The show at People\u2019s Light will run now through January 1. Ticket prices start at $47.<\/p>\n

Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center (226 North High Street, West Chester, www.uptownwestchester.org<\/a>) is bringing live theater to its stage with a rarely seen production of \u201cThe Butterfingers Angel.\u201d<\/p>\n

The official opening night for the comedic show is December 3. The show will run through December 23.<\/p>\n

Created by William Gibson (The Miracle Worker),\u00a0one of America\u2019s major dramatists, this touching, funny and highly imaginative retelling of the Nativity story is presented from a fresh and richly creative point-of-view.<\/p>\n

The action follows a free-spirited Mary who had decided that men and marriage were not for her, a suddenly cautious Joseph who contends that he is too old for his intended, and a flustered boy-angel who directs each scene from a prompt book and can only manage to get the most strangled, bleating sounds from his trumpet.<\/p>\n

Enhanced by a talking tree, sheep and a donkey, along with traditional Christmas music, this wholly original theatre piece is both secular and sacred – often antic, but the spirit of reverence, joy, and the true significance of the occasion is never lost.<\/p>\n

Ticket prices start at $40.<\/p>\n

Dar Williams, who will be performing on December 2 at City Winery (990 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, citywinery.com<\/a>), is out on support tour \u2013 but not a tour in support of a new album.<\/p>\n

Williams has been touring in support of a newly released book,\u00a0\u201cHow To Write A Song That Matters,\u201d which was released on September 9 via Hachette Books.<\/p>\n

The veteran singer\/songwriter will be live at City Winery in Philadelphia this weekend for an all-request show.\u00a0 Fans can request songs here — https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/59hny6n8<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had a really busy fall,\u201d said Williams, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon from her home in New York\u2019s Hudson Valley. \u201cI was all over the country. These are my last few shows of the year.<\/p>\n

\u201cI put out my latest book in September and then did a book tour all fall. I did concerts because it\u2019s a book about songwriting. A big theme of the book is that we all have a song we could write. I did three-hour workshops in four or five cities.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe last time I was in the studio was 2020 and I put the album out in 2021. I don\u2019t think I\u2019ll be going back in the studio for a while. I don\u2019t have an album yet. But I\u2019m always courting inspiration. I have five or six songs I\u2019m working on currently.\u201d<\/p>\n

Williams, who has recorded more than 20 albums, released her most recent album, \u201cI\u2019ll Meet You Here,\u201d in October 2021 on BMG\u2019s recently launched Renew label. Her most recent album prior to this was \u201cEmerald,\u201d which came out in 2015.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was a gap between albums because I did a book,\u201d said Williams, a well-respected speaker\/author\/singer-songwriter.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter I released \u2018Emerald\u2019 in 2015, I stopped writing songs for a while. I didn\u2019t start writing songs again until 2017. Then, I recorded \u2018I\u2019ll Meet You Here\u2019 in 2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was going to release it in 2020. But because of the pandemic, I moved the entire release up a year. It was just a year off and now it\u2019s really full out.<\/p>\n

\u201cI recorded the album in North Jersey at a studio near Weehawken with producer\u00a0Stewart Lerman. The core of the recording was done in a couple weeks in November 2019. Then, I did an intensive week in January 2020 with Stuart Smith, who plays with the Eagles.<\/p>\n

\u201cI sent a scratch track of the title song to Larry Campbell in Woodstock. I wanted to do it as a duet with bassist\u00a0Gail Ann Dorsey\u00a0and\u00a0Larry Campbell.\u201d<\/p>\n

Campbell produced the track and played\u00a0guitars, pedal steel and twangy baritone guitar. Later, they had to postpone a mid-March mixing date because Campbell said he wasn\u2019t feeling well anyway which turned into a serious case of COVID-19.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had a schedule conflict, so we had to postpone the mixing date with Larry for day,\u201d said Williams. \u201cHe was getting really sick and then found out he had COVID. He got very sick with COVID. We were very lucky because if we had done the mixing session, a lot of people could have contracted the disease.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite encountering some speed bumps along the way, Williams finally able to put the album out.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe album officially came out on October 1,\u201d said Williams. \u201cWe had a few singles that came out prior to the album release and that helped.\u201d<\/p>\n

The album has 10 songs including nine originals.<\/p>\n

One song isn\u2019t her own, but she loves the melody and message of \u201cSullivan Lane,\u201d a retro-poppy tune about finding kindred vulnerable spirits. It was written by one of her neighbors \u2013 Philadelphia native Joziah Longo, leader of one of America\u2019s most underappreciated folk-rock bands\u00a0Slambovian Circus of Dreams.<\/p>\n

Even when Williams isn\u2019t focusing on music, she still stays very busy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just taught a college course at Wesleyan University,\u201d said Williams, who also handles the duty of being as mother to a young child. \u201cTeaching at a university was great. I\u2019ve also done some songwriting retreats and that\u2019s been great too. I like to have different avenues rather than just recording and touring.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of those avenues has been writing books. Williams published two young-adult novels with Scholastic in the mid-2000s, along with a green blog for Huffpost, before she tackled her urban-planning study, published in 2017 \u2013 \u201cWhat I Found in a Thousand Towns: A Traveling Musician\u2019s Guide to Rebuilding America\u2019s Communities \u2014 One Coffee Shop, Dog Run & Open-Mike Night at a Time.\u201d<\/p>\n

In that book, Williams muses on why some towns flourish while others fail, examining elements from the significance of history and nature to the uniting power of public spaces and food. Drawing on her own travels and the work of urban theorists, Williams offers real solutions to rebuild declining communities.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I Found in a Thousand Towns\u201d is more than a love letter to America\u2019s small towns, it\u2019s a deeply personal and hopeful message about the potential of America\u2019s lively and resilient communities.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not a memoir,\u201d said Williams. \u201cIt\u2019s what I had seen from tours in my travels at towns that had found a way to be resilient \u2013 hometown pride and a world welcome. I followed that thread and tried to figure out what it was.<\/p>\n

\u201cI call it \u2018positive proximity\u2019 \u2013 a state of being in a town where people know that living side-by-side is beneficial\u2026that the more they follow that proximity, the better life can be.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wrote about how to build positive proximity, how to maintain the benefits of positive proximity and how to sustain positive proximity.\u201d<\/p>\n

In her book, Williams looks at two area towns \u2013 Phoenixville and Wilmington.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Phoenixville chapter is about what happens when a town digs into its history and builds on that,\u201d said Williams. \u201cIt is a town that has become a vibrant place because of that. The Wilmington chapter is about waterfronts \u2013 about how towns can come back to life by developing their waterfront areas with parks, restaurants and public spaces.\u201d<\/p>\n

Williams headed in an entirely different direction on her new book, \u201cHow To Write A Song That Matters.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to write a book that was written by a performing songwriter,\u201d said Williams. \u201cThere is a broad and magical way that songs live in the world. Songs bring people back to times in their lives with new eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been doing all-request shows to go along with the book. It\u2019s been fun. Usually, all the requests are in a few days before the show but there are times I\u2019ll play a request that was handed in on a cocktail napkin at the show.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have gone back and relearned a lot of songs. It\u2019s nice to see that songs I thought weren\u2019t popular were wanted by people. I play some deeper cuts and some that are really familiar to me. It\u2019s been a lot of fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Dar Williams \u2013\u00a0https:\/\/youtu.be\/4-0tPKPbypk<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at City Winery on December 2, which has Jesse Terry as the opening act, will start at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n

Ticket prices range from $35-$55.<\/p>\n

If you want a living musical example of \u201cless is more,\u201d then you should attend Yarn\/Wire\u2019s upcoming\u00a0Bowerbird<\/a>\u00a0concert on\u00a0December 2 at 8 p.m. at University Lutheran Church (3637 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia,<\/p>\n

The percussion and piano quartet, which is based in Queens, New York, will be performing the\u00a0Philadelphia premiere of\u00a0\u201ccurvo totalitas\u201d\u00a0by Catherine Lamb.<\/p>\n

In\u00a0\u201ccurvo totalitas,\u201d\u00a0which is written for two synthesizers, steel sheet, and tam tam, Lamb creates a sound world that is at once meditative and intense, focusing the listener\u2019s attention on the resonant metals played by the percussionists. The two keyboard players act as live sound engineers, creating introspective melodies and slowly changing colors drawn directly from the percussion instruments\u2019 sounds.<\/p>\n

The Yarn\/Wire quartet features Laura Barger, synthesizer; Julia Den Boer, synthesizer; Russell Greenberg, percussion; and Sae Hashimoto, percussion.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe formed in 2005,\u201d said Barger, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon from her home in Queens. \u201cWe still have two original members \u2013 Russell Greenberg and me.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe group started when four of us were grad students at Stony Brook University in Long Island. We were all working on our own masters and doctoral projects.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe found each other when working on late 20th<\/sup>-century and 21st<\/sup> century compositions. We started with just student recitals.<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo composers we came together rover were Steve Reich and George Crumb. Reich was centered around percussion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Like all musicians, Yarn\/Wire had to adapt to life during a pandemic.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had no performances during the pandemic,\u201d said Barger. \u201cIt was sad because we had several 15th anniversary events scheduled and those events couldn\u2019t take place.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe two new members came on after COVID. We still kept busy. We did present a web series called, \u2018Feedback,\u2019 It featured 50 episodes on Livestream.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFeedback\u201d arose out the uncertainty that existed for performers and presenters about the state of artistic programming and educational activities during the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. In order to address this in a constructive way that would have an impact beyond the virus, Yarn\/Wire decided to produce its own online web series that centered on the\u00a0process\u00a0of making new music.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe average two or three live performances a month,\u201d said Barger. \u201cSometimes, it\u2019s more. We just came back from a European tour where we did 12 performances in 14 days.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yarn\/Wire previously performed the 45-minute piece \u201ccurvo totalitas,\u201d which means \u201ccurved totality,\u201d back in 2018 at Columbia University\u2019s Miller Theatre. The on-stage audience sat in six tight rows with a musician at each of the corners of the square formed by the rows. The synthesizer players were placed catty-corner from percussionists. The music was intended to be heard from within its geographical middle.<\/p>\n

The two keyboard players act as live sound engineers, creating introspective melodies and slowly changing colors drawn directly from the percussion instruments\u2019 sounds. The shimmering expansiveness of the piece provides space for audiences to enjoy a highly personal listening experience, finding moments of calm or tension in any given moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cPerforming in a square is definitely the goal,\u201d said Barger. \u201cIt should be a surround-sound experience. There is no improvisation. Everything is specifically notated for the piece.\u201d Video link for Yarn\/Wire — https:\/\/youtu.be\/11LBfmirlvA<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at University Lutheran Church on December 2 will start at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n

In consideration of the ongoing pandemic and the safety of those in our community, Bowerbird is requiring all audience members, staff, and performers to wear a mask while inside the venue (please note that musicians will have the option to perform without masks once on stage).<\/p>\n

Ticket prices range from $12-$20.<\/p>\n

On December 2 at the Keswick Theater (291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 215-572-7650,\u00a0www.keswicktheatre.com<\/em><\/strong><\/a>), there will be a show featuring a \u201cBattle of the Bands.\u201d<\/p>\n

But it won\u2019t just be any bands \u2013 it will be the Beatles and the Rolling Stones (sort of). The show is billed as \u201cBeatles vs. Stones \u2013 A Musical Showdown.\u201d<\/p>\n

The debate between the Beatles and the Rolling Stones has been going on ever since they first crossed paths on the charts 55 years ago. The argument at the time, and one that still persists, was that the Beatles were a pop group, and the Stones were a rock band.<\/p>\n

According to Beatles fans, the Stones had no class. According to Stones fans, the Beatles had no balls.<\/p>\n

In a modern-day alternate universe, these two legendary bands will engage in an on-stage musical showdown courtesy of tribute bands Abbey Road and \u201cSatisfaction – The International Rolling Stones Show.\u201d
\nTaking the side of the Fab Four is Abbey Road, one of the county’s top Beatles tribute bands. With brilliant musicianship and authentic costumes and gear, Abbey Road plays beloved songs spanning the Beatles\u2019 career.<\/p>\n

With their tight harmonies, flawless note for note renditions of Beatles hits, custom\u2013tailored costumes, vintage instruments, Liverpudlian dialect and precise attention to every detail, Abbey Road has honed their show to become one of the most musically and visually satisfying Beatle tribute acts in the world.<\/p>\n

Abbey Road recreates the magic, music, wit and charm of the Beatles, including the Fab Four\u2019s cheeky personalities, familiar onstage banter and patter between songs.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoth bands on this show are separate functions entirely,\u201d said\u00a0Axel\u00a0Clarke, Abbey Road\u2019s Ringo, during a phone interview Tuesday from his home in Long Beach, California.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re from Southern California. A few years ago, we experimented with a Beatles vs. Stones show but didn\u2019t find what we were looking for here.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe decided it was a good project. We searched for the best Stones cover band and got this band — Satisfaction – The International Rolling Stones Show \u2013 to come to SoCal. Now, we\u2019ve been touring with them for six years.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSatisfaction – The International Rolling Stones Show\u201d presents a faithful rendition of the music and style of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and the bad boys of the British Invasion. This touring tribute show to the Rolling Stones is entering its 19th year in production with more than 3,500 performances to date.<\/p>\n

Performing up to 150 shows a year, this music act showcases the most authentic cast and costuming of its kind. The lineup of Stones tribute performers brings a colorful performance to more than 50 years of\u00a0classic hits. The cast now has four successful projects including \u201cA Symphony For The Devil\u201d and \u201cBeatles vs. Stones-A Musical Showdown.\u201d<\/p>\n

The project was put together by Chris LeGrand, who also plays the role of Mick Jagger.
\n\u201cThis is the 21st\u00a0year for \u2018Satisfaction\/The International Rolling Stones Tribute\u00a0Show,\u2019\u201d said LeGrand, during a recent interview.<\/p>\n

\u201cI put the show together in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. It took a while to find the right group of musicians. So, it started small as a night club act. Now we do 125-150 shows a year so it\u2019s a very demanding schedule. I never saw a Stones show doing 100-plus shows a year.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bands alternate time on stage as the \u2018battle\u2019 evolves \u2013 each with three mini-sets.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Beatles had three distinct eras,\u201d said\u00a0Clarke. \u201cThe first was the Ed Sullivan time up to the \u2018Rubber Soul\u2019 album. The second was \u2018Sgt. Peppers\u2019 and the third was the era of \u2018Abbey Road\u2019 and the \u2018White Album.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the pandemic, we\u2019ve had more than a year off, so we\u2019ve updated some songs and worked on our multi-media show.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s still broken into three eras but there is a whole lot of stuff to cover. With the downtime, we\u2019ve tried to mix and match songs. We\u2019ve got some new more things we\u2019re doing \u2013 new stuff from each era.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a Beatles fan, I think \u2013 what would I want to hear. We play hits and deep cuts. We try to strike a balance between what is wanted by hard-core fands and casual fans. Beatles filler is like any other band\u2019s greatest hits.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSatisfaction\/The International Rolling Stones Tribute\u00a0Show\u201d looks at the Stones career from the early 1960s to the start of the 1980s.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur first set in the 1965 era with Brian Jones in the band,\u201d said LeGrand. \u201cThe next set is 1969-1972 \u2013 the Mick Taylor years. The third part is the Ron Wood era from 1975-1981.<\/p>\n

The show offers fans a chance to travel back in time to London in the 1960s and 1970s. During the two-hour show, the bands perform three sets each, trading places in quick set changes and ending the night with an all-out encore involving both bands.<\/p>\n

According to LeGrand, \u201cMusic fans never had a chance to see the Beatles and the Rolling Stones perform on the same marquee. Now, music aficionados can watch this debate play out on stage.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for \u201cBeatles vs. Stones \u2013 A Musical Showdown\u201d — https:\/\/youtu.be\/ibGtk0WbDbY<\/a><\/p>\n

The show at the Keswick will start at 8 p.m. Ticket prices start at $38.50.<\/p>\n

Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center (226 North High Street, West Chester, www.uptownwestchester.org<\/a>) is presenting The Cartoon Christmas on December 6, and The Last Big Band Holiday Show on December 20.<\/p>\n

Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295,\u00a0http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org<\/a>) is hosting Dead Flowers on December 3, and Bryan Tuk Project on December 10.<\/p>\n

Phantom Power (121 West Frederick Street, Millersville, www.phantompower.net<\/a>) will have Local H on December 3, Maya de Vitry on December 9, and Aunt Mary Pat on December 29.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Prior to May 2022, it had been more than a decade since \u201cHairspray\u201d went on a National Tour and played a run in the area. The show, which is filled with fun numbers and poignant messages, is a delight that shouldn\u2019t be missed. The National Tour touched down […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27018,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[10816,3162,4823],"class_list":["post-27020","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-carole-montgomery","tag-featured","tag-hairspray"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27020","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=27020"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27020\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27021,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27020\/revisions\/27021"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/27018"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=27020"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=27020"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=27020"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}