Comedy leads the local lineup
Comedian Tracy Morgan, slated to perform Feb. 2 at Bethlehem’s Musikfest Café, leads the entertainment highlights coming to local and regional venues over the next few weeks.
Also an actor, Morgan’s TV credits include NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” and the sitcom “30 Rock,” from 1996 to 2003 and 2006 to 2013, respectively. The comic, who earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for playing “30 Rock’s” Tracy Jordan, also has starred in numerous films.
Among other entertainment options, Penn’s Peak will host country singer Chris Janson, while the latest “Dancing With the Stars” tour plays Bethlehem’s Wind Creek Event Center.
PENN’S PEAK
325 Maury Road, Jim Thorpe
866-605-7325, pennspeak.com
• Jimmy Kenny and the Pirate Beach Band: Winter Beach Party Tribute, 8 p.m. Jan. 27.
The group, hailing from Long Island, New York, celebrates the beach-country sounds of Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney and Zac Brown Band.
• Chris Janson, 8 p.m. Feb. 2. Born in Perryville, Missouri, the country singer-songwriter released his debut studio album in 2015. Janson, whose fourth album, “The Outlaw Side of Me,” arrived in 2023, has scored hits such as “Buy Me a Boat,” “Fix a Drink” and “Done.”
• Live and Let Die: The Music of Paul McCartney, 8 p.m. Feb. 3. Tony Kishman, a singer and recording artist, leads the tribute band. He starred in tours of Broadway’s “Beatlemania” and performs in the symphonic Beatles production “Classical Mystery Tour.”
MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE
14 W. Broadway, Jim Thorpe
570-325-0249, mcohjt.com
• Superunknown, 8 p.m. Jan. 19. The band, started in 2018 as a solo venture, pays tribute to Chris Cornell and his music with Soundgarden, Audioslave and Temple of the Dog.
• Meet Loaf, 8 p.m. Jan. 20. The tribute act performs the music of Meatloaf and songwriter/composer Jim Steinman, a frequent Meatloaf collaborator.
• New York’s Finest, 8 p.m. Jan. 26. The group, featuring Mark Rinzel from 1980s tribute act Jessie’s Girl, performs the music of Sting and English rock band The Police.
• Us and Floyd: The Pink Floyd Experience, 8 p.m. Jan. 27. Hailing from New York, the band performs the music of English progressive rock band Pink Floyd.
• Killer Queen Experience, 8 p.m. Feb. 2 and 3. Musical collective 33 1/3 Live, featuring Delaware Valley musicians, will perform a tribute to British rock band Queen.
CAFÉ ARIELLE
AT THE STABIN MUSEUM
268 W. Broadway, Jim Thorpe
570-325-5588, vicsjazzloft.com
• Robert Burns Supper, 6 p.m. Jan. 26. The event, featuring Celtic band The Victors, honors Scottish poet and lyricist Robert Burns. Following his passing at age 37, Burns’ friends initiated a tradition: gathering to share a hearty meal and raise a toast to his memory.
WIND CREEK EVENT CENTER
77 Wind Creek Blvd., Bethlehem
610-297-7414, windcreekeventcenter.com
• Forever Donna, 8 p.m. Jan. 19. Rainere Martin will perform a tribute to Donna Summer. Martin’s cover of Summer’s “Hot Stuff” features on Hot Stuff Wicked Wheel slot machines.
• “Dancing With the Stars Live,” 3 and 7 p.m. Jan. 20. Emma Slater will host the show, set to feature guest Xochitl Gomez and professional dancers from the reality-competition series.
• The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Experience, 8 p.m. Jan. 25. Singers/actors Shawn Klush and Ryan Pelton, award-winning Elvis Presley tribute artists, will perform. Klush, born and raised in Pittston, and Pelton starred in the Las Vegas-founded “Legends in Concert” show.
MUSIKFEST CAFÉ AT ARTSQUEST CENTER
101 Founders Way, Bethlehem
610-332-1300, steelstacks.org
• Damn the Torpedoes, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 19. The act, playing the music of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers since 2007, takes its name from Petty and his band’s same-titled 1979 album.
• The Brit Pack, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 20. The New York City group, formed in 2011, performs music by British acts such as The Beatles, Rolling Stones, and David Bowie.
• Splintered Sunlight, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 26. The Philadelphia-area band, formed in 1992, performs the music of the Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia Band.
• Hollywood Nights, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27. The New Jersey group, performing the music of Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, takes its name from Seger’s same-titled 1978 song.
• Tracy Morgan, 8 p.m. Feb. 2. Born in Brooklyn, New York, the comedian/actor appeared on TV series such as Fox’s “Martin,” NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” and “30 Rock,” and, most recently, TBS comedy “The Last O.G.” Morgan’s filmography includes 2009’s “G-Force,” 2011’s “Rio,” 2019’s “What Men Want” and 2021’s “Coming 2 America.”
• Greggie & the Jets, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 3. The Florida band performs the music of Elton John.
• Souper Bowl XIV, noon Feb. 4. ArtsQuest will present the 14th annual event, with regional restaurants’ and caterers’ soups competing in various categories.
STATE THEATRE
453 Northampton St., Easton
800-999-7828, statetheatre.org
• The Lords of 52nd Street, 7 p.m. Jan. 19. The rock group includes musicians such as Liberty Devitto, Russell Javors and Richie Cannata, former members of the Billy Joel Band.
• “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” 2 p.m. Jan. 20. Classical Arts Entertainment and The State Ballet Theater of Ukraine present the ballet, based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale.
• Ronstadt Revue, 7 p.m. Feb. 3. The show, featuring vocalist Gesenia, celebrates Linda Ronstadt’s 40-plus-year career.
SHERMAN THEATER
524 Main St., Stroudsburg
570-420-2808, shermantheater.com
• Poconos Punk Flea Market, 5 p.m. Jan. 19. The market will include handmade crafts and jewelry, clothing and T-shirts, stickers, vinyl, tattoo artists and acoustic performances.
• Pocono Winter Beerfest, 1 p.m. Jan. 20. The event will feature samples from 100-plus frosty, craft brews.
• Sherma-Con 2024 Presents: “Dark Side Burlesque,” 8 p.m. Jan. 26. The Philadelphia-based “nerdlesque” act will present a “Star Wars”-inspired program for ages 18 and up.
• Sherma-Con, 2 to 10 p.m. Jan. 27. The event will include games of various types, demos cosplay, vendors, guest panels and, at 10 p.m., a rave.
• Pigeons Playing Ping-Pong, 8 p.m. Feb. 2. Formed in 2009 in Baltimore, the jam band features, among others, Greg Ormont and Jeremy Schon. The group released its first full-length album, “Funk EP,” in 2010, and its sixth studio album, “Perspective,” in 2022.
POCONO CINEMA AND CULTURAL CENTER
88 S. Courtland St., East Stroudsburg
570-421-6684, poconocinema.org
• Anniversary Celebration, 6 p.m. Feb. 1. Attendees will journey back in time to “The Grand” opening with 1930s-inspired entertainment, cocktails served in the Speakeasy, hors d’oeuvres, an art exhibition, games, photo ops, and more. Era-inspired attire encouraged.