Delco Collage

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...

The classic tale of love, jealously and the draw of the bright lights of Broadway takes the stage in Upper Darby Summer Stage’s “42nd Street" this weekend. The musical tells the story of bright-eyed Peggy Sawyer (Meghan Dietzler) of Allentown, who arrives in the Big Apple and hopes to land a role in a new Broadway show. Set in the 1930s, Peggy might have a shot at stardom after the leading lady, Dorothy Brock (Rachel Medori) breaks her ankle. The Mainstage show features a wide range of talents to close out Summer Stage's 43rd season. I can't imagine a Mainstage show without Dietzler or Chris Monaco (Julian Marsh). Over the years, the talented Dietzler has portrayed everyone from hyper Penny in "Hairspray" to dignified Princess Fiona in "Shrek the Musical." In this show she displays her amazing tap dancing skills as the optimistic Peggy. As Marsh, the serious and diligent director, Monaco strives to save the production when his leading lady Brock...

T he crushing tear of the mighty Orca's bow rang through  The Mann Center for the Performing Arts   in Philadelphia last Saturday. The Great White's destruction was projected in high definition as part of The Mann Center’s “Jaws in Concert.” "Jaws," the original summer blockbuster, kicked off this season's Movies @ the Mann series. With the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia performing the score live, it brought a new found excitement to re-watching Steven Spielberg's 1975 classic about a Great White Shark marauding off the coast of Amity, which according to Mayor Vaughn (Murray Hamilton) means friendship. Audience members were part of a full sensory experience as the Orchestra, conducted by Dirk Brossé, heightened the excitement and anxiety as they performed the Academy Award-winning score by John Williams. Even though I’ve seen the movie many times, listening to the memorable music being performed live made it feel like I was watching the movie f...

Giant smiling pandas, a 200-foot fire breathing dragon and a serene blue elephant greet visitors to this year's impressive Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival in Franklin Square. This celebration of light and culture features artisans from China creating magnificent steel-framed and silk-wrapped giant lighted sculptures, using traditional Chinese methods. Now until June 30, Franklin Square will glow with 28 larger-than-life illuminated groupings of 1,500 individual works of art with more than 15,000 LED lights in brilliant colors. New technology and engineering will be utilized to bring an endangered species gallery to life for the first time in the United States.  Other highlights include celebrating the Year of the Dog, tropical birds and fish, mythological animals, the world premiere of a new Fairy Tree, a walk-through Great White Shark Tunnel, and an interactive elephant lantern where visitors pedal a bicycle to change its colors. As guests gaze at all the colorful...

Located just a few miles southeast of our nation’s capital, Alexandria, Va., offers a pleasant respite from the busy political hustle of Washington, D.C. Alexandria is a vibrant destination in its own right. Flags decorate Alexandria's colorful homes. This city was the launch point for Major Gen. Edward Braddock’s infamous Wilderness Campaign during the French and Indian War (Carlyle House) and the site of one of the first casualties of the Civil War (now a Marriott Hotel). The city itself has also been indirectly affected by history. It became one of the major slave markets for Maryland and D.C. (even when the slave trade was outlawed D.C.) and was embroiled in recent news as Christ Church has long displayed plaques honoring past parishioners George Washington and Robert E. Lee. With warmer weather right around the corner, this is a great time to visit such a walkable city. Visit the waterfront, which offers countless activities including boat cruises, kayaking, festivals...

The cast of "Something Rotten!" “Something Rotten!” is a zany mashup that has a grand time with Shakespeare and the Renaissance. It showcases why audiences love musical theater. Set in the 1590s, this hilarious musical, now at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, tells the story of Nick and Nigel Bottom (Tony nominee Rob McClure and Broadway’s Josh Grisetti), two brothers who are desperate to write their own hit play while the "rock star" Shakespeare (Adam Pascal) keeps getting all the hits. Conceived by brothers Wayne and Karey Kirkpatrick, this musical brings us to the Renaissance but it's’ edgy comedy, asynchronous dance numbers and quick-witted dialogue keeps the audiences in the spirit of today. The Bottom brothers, although talented in their own right, can’t seem to get ahead in the theater world because of “The Bard’s” popularity and their frustration is brought out in song frequently. This Broadway production keeps all the irreverent humor, a...