On Stage Spotlight: John Kim Faye is a true Renaissance man

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times John Kim Faye John Kim Faye is a modern-day Renaissance Man. He is a singer. He is a guitarist. He is the founder of a band. He is a drummer. He is a songwriter. He is a producer. He is a front man for a rock band.  He is a mentor. He is one of Delaware’s All-Star musicians. He is a vocal coach. He is the creator and presenter of a podcast. Now, after...

On Stage: Beloved local improv troupe ‘Better Than Bacon’ to debut at Colonial

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Better Than Bacon What is Better Than Bacon? With breakfast in mind, some will say “nothing.” Some will say sausage or pork roll — or even scrapple. An Amish person might say “Pannhaas” (ponhoss/panhaus) but that breakfast meat dish is definitely an acquired taste (look it up). On the flip side, Hindus, vegetarians, Jews, pollotarians,...

On Stage: Two very different musicals come to the Delaware Valley

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Book of Mormon There are two national tours of Broadway hit musicals that are making return visits to the area this week – one which is definitely not geared for children and one that is geared for an audience that can look at the show through the eyes of a child. The show that is basically “for adults only” is “Book of Mormon” which is running...

On Stage: ‘Thurgood’ comes to People’s Light

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Thurgood Over the last few weeks, there have been two shows at area theaters with a focus on civil rights leaders. The first was “The Mountaintop,” a show about Martin Luther King, Jr. that just finished a run at the Uptown Knauer in West Chester. Now through March 19, People’s Light (39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, www.peopleslight.org) is presenting...

On Stage: Wolf makes Philly debut at The Foundry

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Julia Wolf In this era of cookie-cutter copy-cat modern pop, finding an original artist is a rarity. Finding something that makes the ears perk up and the brain smile is like buying a lottery scratch-off with a six-figure payoff. Thankfully, every once in a while, a singer comes along who doesn’t follow the pack. Fortunately, 2023 is a year when there...

On Stage: Chesco native has key role in ‘Anastasia’

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Madeline Raube When the national tour of the hit musical “Anastasia” visits Wilmington this week for a four-day run at The Playhouse on Rodney Square (1007 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware, www.thegrandwilmington.org/venues/the-playhouse/), an actress from Chester County will be playing one of the lead roles. The show, which is running...

On Stage: Deni Bonet brings special violin skills to Jamey’s

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times  Deni Bonet Deni Bonet takes the violin to places most musicians don’t even dream about – and gladly takes listeners along for the ride. On January 14, Bonet will be taking the audience at Jamey’s House of Music (32 South Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, 215-477-9985, www.jameyshouseofmusic.com) along for the ride – a thrilling ride that spans...

On Stage ‘Jagged Little Pill’ comes to Philly

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Jagged Little Pill The first touring Broadway presentation of 2023 has arrived – and it’s a good one. Now through January 15, the Kimmel Cultural Campus (250 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, www.kimmelculturalcampus.org) is presenting the Philly premiere of the hit Broadway musical, “Jagged Little Pill” at the Academy of Music. “Jagged Little...

On Stage: Blue Man Group comes to Kimmel

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Blue Man Group Back in the late 1960s when a lot of British bands were playing songs by blues masters such as Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson, a question frequently asked was “Can white men sing the blues?” In 1968, a British music group called the Bonzo Dog Band countered with a song called “Can blue men sing the whites?” Years later, there...

On Stage: ‘Tina’ tops wide rage of theater options in the area

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Tina – the Tina Turner Musical The calendar for late November and December each year always features a plethora Christmas and holiday events. Fortunately, for those who seek a brief respite from the full onslaught of holiday activities, special sales and the endless ringing of Salvation Army bells, there are several top-flight theater productions scheduled...