Films, comedy top entertainment this week
BY JIM RADENHAUSEN
TNEDITOR@TNONLINE.COM
The Jim Thorpe Independent Film Festival, in its seventh year, leads the parade of entertainment coming to local and regional venues over the next two weeks.
Filmmakers Nicole Riegel and Annick Blanc will attend the festival, held at Mauch Chunk Opera House. The opera house also welcomes comedian Tom Green for two performances.
Over in Bethlehem, Wind Creek Event Center hosts shows by Dionne Warwick- the voice of countless Burt Bacharach/Hal David classics - plus The Temptations and The Four Tops.
PENN’S PEAK
325 Maury Road, Jim Thorpe
866-605-7325, pennspeak.com
• Get the Led Out, 8 p.m. April 19 and 20. The group performs the music of English rock band Led Zeppelin.
• Vyntyge Skynyrd, 8 p.m. April 26. The act plays the music of rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd.
• Todd Rundgren, 8 p.m. April 27. Born in Philadelphia, Rundgren - leader of rock bands The Nazz in the 1960s and Utopia from 1974 to 1985 - has released two-dozen-plus studio albums. The musician’s hit singles include “I Saw The Light” and “Hello It’s Me.”
• Saxon and Uriah Heep, 8 p.m. May 2. Formed in 1975 in England, heavy metal band Saxon released its 24th studio album “Hell, Fire and Damnation” in January. Rock band Uriah Heep, formed in 1969 in England, released 25th studio set “Chaos & Colour” in 2023.
MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE
14 W. Broadway, Jim Thorpe
570-325-0249, mcohjt.com
• Jim Thorpe Independent Film Festival, April 18-21. The seventh festival features six films making their Pennsylvania premiere. Such films include: Nicole Riegel’s 2024 drama “Dandelion” at 7 p.m. April 18, Annick Blanc’s 2024 Canadian mystery/thriller “Hunting Daze” at 8 p.m. April 20 and Damian McCarthy’s 2024 Irish horror entry “Oddity” at 10 p.m. April 20. Other festival highlights include live music, a gala and an awards ceremony.
• Classic Stones Live, 8 p.m. April 26. The act, hailing from Philadelphia, features Keith Call and Bernie Bollendorf as The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, respectively.
• Tom Green, 6 and 8:30 p.m. April 27. Born in Ontario, Canada, the comedian starred in 1990s series “The Tom Green Show.” The filmmaker - also an actor, podcaster and rapper - directed, co-wrote and starred in 2001 cult comedy “Freddy Got Fingered.” Green’s filmography also includes 2000’s “Road Trip” and “Charlie’s Angels.”
VIC’S JAZZ LOFT
AT THE STABIN MUSEUM
268 W. Broadway, Jim Thorpe
570-325-5588, vicsjazzloft.com
• Dan Wilkins Trio, 7 p.m. April 20. Wilkins, a saxophonist raised in the Emmaus/Macungie area, has recorded albums with father Skip and various ensembles. Wilkins, set to release new set “Moonglow” soon, will perform with Lucas Brown and Byron Landham.
PPL CENTER
701 Hamilton St., Allentown
610-224-4625, pplcenter.com
• Jordan Davis, 7 p.m. April 25. Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, the country singer-songwriter released the first of his two studio albums in 2018. Davis’ hit singles include “Buy Dirt,” “What My World Spins Around” and current hit “Tucson Too Late.”
• “Sesame Street Live! Say Hello,” 6 p.m. May 2. The show features “Sesame Street” characters such as Elmo, Abby Cadabby and Cookie Monster.
WIND CREEK EVENT CENTER
77 Wind Creek Blvd., Bethlehem
610-297-7414, windcreekeventcenter.com
• Dionne Warwick, 8 p.m. April 19. Born in East Orange, New Jersey, the soul/pop singer has released 40 studio albums since 1963. Among her hits: “Don’t Make Me Over,” “Walk on By,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again,” “Then Came You” and “That’s What Friends Are For.” The latter raised awareness and funds for AIDS research.
• Ben Folds and a Piano, 8 p.m. April 20. Born in Greensboro, North Carolina, the singer-songwriter has released four solo studio albums and four with rock trio Ben Folds Five.
• The Concert, 8 p.m. April 21. The act performs the music of Swedish pop group ABBA.
• Drag Queen Fight Night with Carson Kressley: Round 2, 8 p.m. April 26. Brooke Lynn Hytes takes on Naysha Lopez, with Silky Nutmeg Ganache battling Amanda Tori Meating.
• The Temptations and The Four Tops, 8 p.m. April 27. The groups, formed in Detroit and each featuring one original member, helped define 1960s Motown music. The Temptations’ hits such as “My Girl” and “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone,” with The Four Tops scoring hits such as “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” and “Reach Out I’ll Be There.”
• Supreme Reflections, 3 p.m. April 30. The show celebrates Diana Ross and The Supremes.
ARTSQUEST CENTER
101 Founders Way, Bethlehem
610-332-1300, steelstacks.org
• The British Invasion Years: A ‘60s Musical Revolution, 7:30 p.m. April 19, Musikfest Café. The show, featuring music from the British Invasion era, closes with a Beatles finale.
• Greater Lehigh Valley Filmmaker Festival, April 26-28, Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas. The event includes screenings of top submissions, plus films from the festival’s 48-Hour Film Challenge. The April 28 awards ceremony will honor standout selections.
• Joe Pera, 7 p.m. May 1 and 2, Musikfest Café. Born in Buffalo, New York, the comedian and podcast host starred in the 2018-2021 Adult Swim series “Joe Pera Talks With You.” Pera, also a writer and filmmaker, voiced Fern in 2023 Disney/Pixar film “Elemental.”
STATE THEATRE
453 Northampton St., Easton
800-999-7828, statetheatre.org
• “Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue,” 7:30 p.m. April 20. The show, based on classic sitcom “The Golden Girls,” finds Sophia out on bail after her arrest for running a retirees drug ring. Blanche and Rose have founded seniors sex app CreakN, while Dorothy tries holding it all together. Robert Leleux wrote the show, with Eric Swanson directing.
• “Feelin’ Groovy,” 7 p.m. April 21. The show, celebrating Simon & Garfunkel, takes its name from the folk-rock duo’s 1966 track “The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy).”
SHERMAN THEATER
524 Main St., Stroudsburg
570-420-2808, shermantheater.com
• Jimmy Dore, 8 p.m. April 19. Born in Chicago, the comedian - also a political commentator, podcaster and YouTube personality- started his career in the late 1980s. Dore’s specials include 2000’s “It’s Not Brain Surgery” and 2015’s “Sentenced to Live.”
• A Brother’s Revival, 8 p.m. April 20. David “Rook” Goldflies, Allman Brothers Band bassist from the late 1970s to early 1980s, formed the group in 2019. A Brother’s Revival plays the Southern rock of Allman Brothers Band, plus music from Goldflies’ career.
• Fusia Dance, 2 p.m. April 21. Fusia Center for the Arts will present “Nuances.”
• Smash Into Pieces, 7 p.m. April 25. Formed in Sweden in 2008, the rock band released its debut studio album in 2013, with its eighth, “Ghost Code,” out earlier this month. “Ghost Code” includes tracks such as “Trigger,” “Heroes Are Calling” and “Six Feet Under.”
• Zoso, 8 p.m. April 26. The group performs the music of English rock band Led Zeppelin.
• Brad Williams, 8 p.m. May 2. Born in Orange, California, the comedian’s stand-up specials include 2015’s “Fun Size” and 2016’s “Daddy Issues.” Williams, who headlined the Cirque de Soleil show “Mad Apple” in 2022, has numerous TV and film credits.