The region’s entertainment outlook for 2025 includes the return of some traditional favorites, classic musicals, rock music and theater with a darker tone.
There are good options even in the dead of winter.
The annual Disney on Ice show at Mohegan Arena in Wilkes-Barre Township will take place January 9-12. This year’s show, “Let’s Dance,” remixes songs from musicals such as “Frozen,” “Lion King,” “Moana” and “Wish.” Stitch will also take over the DJ booth. Tickets to moheganarenapa.com/disney-on-ice.
Comedian Earl David Reed, a former radio host who lives in York County, will come to the Majestic Theater in Pottsville on Jan. 11 at 8 p.m. Tickets: majestictheater.net.
The Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic will highlight wind instruments in a chamber music concert Jan. 16 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Scranton at 7 p.m. Tickets and rest of the program: nepaphil.org. Telephone: 570-270-4444.
William Shakespeare’s tragedy “Macbeth,” presented by Actors Circle, at the Providence Playhouse in Scranton, will be performed January 16-19 and January 24-26. Tickets: actorscircle.com.
“The Pillowman,” a dark play about an author interrogated in a totalitarian country because his work resembles real crimes against children, is scheduled for weekends Jan. 31-Feb. 2 and Feb. 7-9 at the Little Wilkes Theater. -Rod. Tickets: ltwb.org.
KC and the Sunshine Band will visit the FM Kirby Center for the Performing Arts in Wilkes-Barre on January 31 at 7:30 p.m. The group’s 1970s R&B and funk hits included: “Get Down Tonight,” “That’s The Way (I Like It)” and “Shake, Shake, Shake Your Booty.” Tickets: kirbycenter.org.
Here’s a sample of what’s expected to arrive later in the new year:
Rock band Filter, which canceled an earlier concert date, will be at the Ritz Theater in Scranton on Feb. 9 at 7 p.m., with guests Above Snakes. Tickets: theritztheater.com.
The Hazleton Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra plans to once again focus on classical composers in concerts at area churches. The spring schedule has not been set.
The Scranton Shakespeare Festival, which does more than Shakespeare, presents “Shadow of a Gunman,” February 28 to March 2 in the Shakes area of Steamtown Market, Scranton. The drama of mistaken identity is set in Dublin during the Irish War of Independence. Tickets: scrantonshakes.com.
Three musical theater tours are taking place at the Scranton Cultural Center in the spring under the auspices of Broadway in Scranton over three weekends: “The Addams Family,” beginning March 7; “Dear Evan Hansen,” starting April 4 and “Mean Girls,” starting May 16. Tickets: broadwayinscranton.com.
Phish founder Trey Anastasio is playing the Kirby Center on March 11 at 7:30 p.m., but tickets for the sold-out show are only available on resale sites.
“Jekyll and Hyde” is the first show of the season at the Music Box Dinner Playhouse, in Swoyersville, beginning March 14 for three weekends. Tickets: musicbox.org.
Not all dates for the St. Patrick’s Day parade have been announced, but Pittston’s parade will take place on March 1, Scranton’s on March 8, and Pottsville’s on March 15.
The wildly popular children’s book character Dog Man comes to the Kirby Center in musical theater form on Thursday, March 20.
Cirque du Soleil returns to Mohegan Arena after a decade, April 3-6, with a show called “Ovo” set in the land of insects. Tickets: moheganarenapa.com.
“Kirby Fest: A Night of Pints, Pinot and Performing Arts,” a Kirby Center fundraiser that features local artists and performers in a festive atmosphere, will take place April 26 at 5 p.m. Tickets and information to become a seller at kirbycenter.org.
Two rock shows at the Pavilion at Montage Mountain, Scranton, were recently announced. Coheed and Cambria, along with Mastodon, will be there on May 31. Creed will be there on July 16.
“Simply the Best: A Tribute to Tina Turner,” from the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, will take place June 7 at the Mohegan Pennsylvania Casino, Plains Twp.
The Scranton Jazz Festival, in many venues, will take place August 1-3.
The Scranton Fringe Festival, which fills the city center with entertainment of all kinds, traditionally begins at the end of September.
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