Entertainment for everyone
BY JIM RADENHAUSEN
TNEDITOR@TNONLINE.COM
Drake Bell, known for teen roles on Nickelodeon’s “The Amanda Show” and “Drake & Josh,” leads the entertainment pack set for local and regional venues in the next two weeks.
The actor/musician, who released his latest album “Non-Stop Flight” in 2024, will play the Signature Event Center. Among other area shows, Penn’s Peak will host Rolling Stones and Beatles tributes, plus bands Umphrey’s McGee and Ricky Medlocke’s Blackfoot.
In the Lehigh Valley, Cirque du Soleil brings its “Crystal” production to the PPL Center. “Dancing with the Stars Live” and an Elvis Presley 90th birthday celebration, meanwhile, rank among the shows coming to Wind Creek Event Center.
Gamers will bask in the return of Sherman-Con, set for its third go-around at the Sherman Theater. The latter will also host Beerfest, plus a wine and food festival.
PENN’S PEAK
325 Maury Road, Jim Thorpe
866-605-7325, pennspeak.com
• “Satisfaction/The International Rolling Stones Show,” 8 p.m. Jan. 18. The production, which debuted in the Las Vegas “Legends in Concert” show in 2005, performed concerts promoting 2008 Stones concert film “Shine a Light.” The act also stages the productions “A Symphony for the Devil,” “Gimme Abbey” and “Beatles vs. Stones: A Musical Showdown.”
• “All You Need is Love: All-Star Celebration of The Beatles,” 8 p.m. Jan. 19. The tribute, named after The Beatles’ same-titled 1967 single, features musicians who have performed with artists such as Todd Rundgren, Hall & Oates, Joan Jett and George Harrison.
• Umphrey’s McGee, 8 p.m. Jan. 24. Formed in South Bend, Indiana, the jam band released debut studio album “Greatest Hits Vol. III” in 1998. Umphrey’s McGee released its 14th studio set, “Asking for a Friend,” in 2022.
• Rickey Medlocke’s Blackfoot, 8 p.m. Jan. 25. Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Medlocke recorded 10 studio albums as frontman of Southern rock band Blackfoot. The group, which formed in 1970, scored hit singles such as “Highway Song,” “Train, Train” and “Fly Away.” Medlocke was a session musician for Lynyrd Skynyrd in the early 1970s, rejoining the band in 1996. Peacemaker, a Southern rock band from South Carolina, will also perform.
MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE
14 W. Broadway, Jim Thorpe
570-325-0249, mcohjt.com
• The Rush Experience, 8 p.m. Jan. 17. The tribute act performs the music of Canadian rock band Rush.
• Mamma Mania, 8 p.m. Jan. 18. The act, paying tribute to Swedish pop group ABBA, includes, among others, current or former stars of the “Mamma Mia” North American tour.
• Superunknown, 8 p.m. Jan. 25. The act pays tribute to Chris Cornell and his music with Soundgarden, Audioslave and Temple of the Dog. Superunknown takes its name from the 1994 Soundgarden album of the same name.
VIC’S JAZZ LOFT
AT THE STABIN MUSEUM
268 W. Broadway, Jim Thorpe
570-325-5588, vicsjazzloft.com
• Cabin Fever Series: Folk Night, 7 p.m. Jan. 18. Walter Bevilacqua and father Ron, the latter hailing from Bucks County, will perform from 7 to 8 p.m. Melody Cruz, born and raised in Catasauqua, follows from 8 to 10 p.m.
SIGNATURE EVENT CENTER
137 Erin Lane, Brodheadsville
570-872-1444, secpoconos.com
• Drake Bell, 7 p.m. Jan. 17. Born in Newport Beach, California, the singer-songwriter started out as a child actor in the 1990s. Series credits include Nickelodeon comedies “The Amanda Show” and “Drake & Josh,” plus the network’s TV film series “The Fairly OddParents.” Bell, who voiced Peter Parker/Spider-Man on the 2010s Disney XD series “Ultimate Spider-Man,” contributed three songs to the 2005 “Drake & Josh” soundtrack. He released his first album “Telegraph” in 2005, with latest “Non-Stop Flight” out in 2024.
PPL CENTER
701 Hamilton St., Allentown
610-224-4625, pplcenter.com
• “Cirque du Soleil Crystal,” Jan. 29-Feb. 2. The production, featuring ice skaters and acrobats, follows protagonist Crystal’s journey toward empowerment, where her imagination fuels a dreamlike world.
WIND CREEK EVENT CENTER
77 Wind Creek Blvd., Bethlehem
610-297-7414, windcreekeventcenter.com
• “The Greatest Love of All,” 8 p.m. Jan. 18. Born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Belinda Davids was cast in Whitney Houston tribute show “The Greatest Love of All” in 2013. Davids’ other career highlights include winning the BBC’s “Even Better Than the Real Thing” program in 2017 and making it to the semifinals on “Britain’s Got Talent” in 2020.
• Voyage, 8 p.m. Jan. 24. The act performs the music of rock band Journey.
• “Dancing with the Stars Live,” 3 and 7 p.m. Jan. 25. The show, featuring Mirrorball winners Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson and co-host Stephen Nedoroscik, stars pros such as Emma Slater, Alan Bersten, Brandon Armstrong, Britt Stewart and Daniella Karagach.
• The Three Kings Ultimate Elvis 90th Birthday Experience, 8 p.m. Jan. 30. Award-winning Elvis Presley tribute artists Moses Snow, Ryan Pelton and Shawn Klush will pay tribute to Presley, who would have turned 90 on Jan. 8. Klush was born and raised in Pittston.
MUSIKFEST CAFÉ
101 Founders Way, Bethlehem
610-332-1300, steelstacks.org
• Damn the Torpedoes, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 17. The group pays tribute to rock act Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Damn the Torpedoes takes it name from Petty’s same-titled 1979 album.
• The Brit Pack, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 18. T he act, featuring British musicians, performs music by artists such as The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Queen, David Bowie and Elton John.
• Home Again, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 25. Deb De Lucca leads a tribute to singer-songwriter Carole King. Home Again takes its name from King’s same-titled 1971 track.
• “Dry Humor: Standup for Recovery,” 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30. The event celebrates 14-plus years of continuous sobriety for Liz Russo, comedian and Easton-based “Dry Humor” producer.
The show features headliner and longtime comic Nick Griffin, and Mike Earley, who created a YouTube series portraying life as a Minnesotan construction worker.
STATE THEATRE
453 Northampton St., Easton
800-999-7828, statetheatre.org
• “The Sleeping Beauty,” 7:30 p.m. Jan. 17. The State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine performs the classical ballet, in which evil fairy Carabosse curses Princess Aurora to a 100-year slumber.
SHERMAN THEATER
524 Main St., Stroudsburg
570-420-2808, shermantheater.com
• Pocono Winter Beerfest, 1 p.m. Jan. 18. The event will feature 100-plus craft beers.
• Pocono Winter Wine & Food Festival, 1 p.m. Jan. 19. The festival features wines and culinary creations from local vendors, plus artisan crafts and wine-related goodies.
• Sherma-Con Gaming Convention, 2 p.m. Jan. 25. The third event includes Dungeons and Dragons and Warhammer demos, board games, video games, virtual reality games, a Magic: The Gathering tournament, a cosplay competition, panels, vendors and artists.