Delco Collage

   Oblivious to the relentless sun bearing down on them, the players dodged, jumped, struck, yelled and ran as they competed to be the “last person standing.”    “The kids love the game,” said Max McGovern, 15, a sophomore at Malvern Preparatory School.    Last month McGovern, a member of Boy Scout Troop 144 in Havertown, built a gaga pit at Aronimink Swim Club in Drexel Hill as part of his service project to achieve Eagle Rank.    Gaga, a popular game for kids of all ages at nearby swim clubs and schools, is a form of dodge ball played in an octagon-shaped structure, or pit. Players hit the ball at each other with their hands,  and are eliminated and must jump out of the pit if the ball strikes them on or below the knee.    McGovern, a scout since he was seven-years-old, was required to plan, develop and lead a project which would be helpful to his community.    “Max worked diligently to design the plans and arrange all t...

The perils of being popular are showcased in the pink, pop-filled musical Mean Girls  now onstage at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia through Dec. 1. The stage show is based on the hit 2004 movie of the same name written by and starring Upper Darby’s own Tina Fey. Danielle Wade (Cady), Megan Masako Haley (Gretchen), Mariah Rose Faith (Regina) and Jonalyn Saxer (Karen Smith) in "Mean Girls." Photo by Joan Marcus.  This national tour, the show's first since debuting on Broadway just two years ago, features Philadelphia native Mary Kate Morrissey who plays Janis Sarkisian. Morrissey attended Bishop Shanahan High School in Downingtown and was a member of the Philadelphia All-Catholic Chorus and was a former Kimmel Center programming intern. Her family has resided in South Philly and Upper Darby, and now live primarily in Downingtown. The much-loved movie, which starred a teenage Lindsey Lohan, matches the musical with a few updates and tweeks. Cady Heron (Daniell...

Adventurous stories mixed with the sentimental tugs of fatherhood and forgiveness, take the stage in Upper Darby Summer Stage’s “Big Fish." Based on the novel by Daniel Wallace and the 2003 film directed by Tim Burton, "Big Fish" tells the story of Edward Bloom (Chris Monaco of Drexel Hill), a charming traveling salesman who has shared his wild stories of giants and witches to his wife Sandra (Sarah DeNight of Philadelphia) and their son Will (Chris Murphy Smith of Philadelphia) for years. Now grown, Will is somewhat embarrassed by his father, whose tales of mermaids and werewolves have become more tiresome than treasured. Recently married and expecting a child with his wife, Josephine (Sabrina Follo of Springfield), Will is distancing himself from his dad. The story shifts between two timelines and during a flashback scene in “Be the Hero,” Edward implores his young son Will (the talented Mickey Geddes) to rewrite his own fate. In the present-day real world, senior...

The crashing of the massive boulder thundering through the collapsing temple filled the TD Pavilion at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts  recently.  The adventures of Indiana Jones were  projected on a 40-foot-high screen as part of the Mann Center’s “Raiders of the Lost Ark in Concert.” "Raiders," the summer blockbuster and top-grossing film of 1981, kicked off this season's Movies @ the Mann series. With the Reading Symphony Orchestra performing the score live, it brought a new found excitement to re-watching Steven Spielberg's classic about the archaeology professor and his quest to recover the legendary Ark of the Covenant before it falls into the hands of the Nazis. Audience members were part of a full sensory experience as the orchestra, conducted by  Andrew Constantine,  heightened the excitement and anxiety as they performed the Academy Award-nominated score by John Williams. Even though I’ve seen the movie many times, listening to the...

With twinkling lights, classic Christmas carols and even a visit from Santa, the audience was swept up in the holiday spirit watching  “A Philly Pops Christmas Spectacular Sounds of the Season!”  last weekend at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia. Broadway legend Todd Ellison conducted the sensational show featuring over 300 musicians and singers, including the 65-piece Pops orchestra, guest vocalist Mandy Gonzalez, organist Peter Richard Conte, the Philly POPS Festival Chorus, the Philadelphia Boys Choir and the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas Gospel Choir. The Pops sounded exquisite as they performed amongst the twinkling trees on the stage and sparkling lighted snowflakes above. Every year The Pops invite a guest vocalist to perform with during their holiday shows, and Gonzalez was an exceptional choice this season. Currently starring as Angelica Schuyler in "Hamilton" on Broadway, she appeared so comfortable as she strolled onstage in...

The Philadelphia Eagles have a Pep Band, a drum line and for a few hours recently Eagles Nation had an official band - an orchestra, in fact. The world renown Philadelphia Orchestra performed at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts for the NFL Films presentation of “A Championship Season.” Eagle fans from all around the Delaware Valley flocked to the venue to continue the celebration of the first Super Bowl win (a celebration that in some ways may never end). The Venue The echoes of E-A-G-L-E-S - some joining late - others out of rhythm, as some always are - just made you feel like you were actually at Lincoln Financial Field awaiting kick-off. The tone was set early on as some rainy weather (no problem for die-hard Eagles fans) wet the freshly cut grass of the lawn area. Inside the covered shell of the Mann Music Center - more comfortable but still very humid because of the rain - the fans were abuzz chants, cheers and murmurs about what they were going to see. The Fans All the E...