Entertainment around the area
BY JIM RADENHAUSEN
TNEDITOR@TNONLINE.COM
Wilson Phillips, whose harmonies on “Hold On,” “Release Me” and other hits ruled early-1990s airwaves, leads the next two weeks’ local and regional entertainment offerings.
The pop trio, playing the Wind Creek Event Center, features descendants of music royalty.
Wilson Phillips consists of Carnie and Wendy Wilson, daughters of The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, and Chynna Phillips Baldwin, daughter of The Mamas & The Papas’ John and Michelle Phillips.
Penn’s Peak, meanwhile, hosts husband-and-wife country-music duo Thompson Square. Over at The Mahoning Drive-In Theater, Lloyd Kaufman — who co-founded Troma Entertainment in 1974 — returns for another round of Troma-Thon. The theater will screen six Troma films over two nights.
Fans of musical theater, meanwhile, have the chance to see shows such as “Hair” and “Grease,” starting runs at Sherman Theater and Shawnee Playhouse, respectively.
PENN’S PEAK
325 Maury Road, Jim Thorpe
866-605-7325, pennspeak.com
• Thompson Square, 8 p.m. July 18. Formed in Nashville, the husband-and-wife duo of Keifer and Shawna Thompson released its debut album in 2011. Thompson Square’s hit singles include “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not,” “If I Didn’t Have You” and “Everything I Shouldn’t Be Thinking About.” The act released its third and most recent album, “Masterpiece,” in 2018.
• Deck Parties, 6:30 p.m. Hunkajunk, playing retro hits, modern classics and original jams, performs July 24. Classic rock act Band of Brothers performing July 31.
MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE
14 W. Broadway, Jim Thorpe
570-325-0249, mcohjt.com
• Nikki Hill, 8 p.m. July 18. Hailing from Durham, North Carolina, the singer-songwriter released her debut studio album “Here’s Nikki Hill” in 2013. Hill’s music encompasses genres such as garage rock, rock “n’ roll, blues and root. Hill’s discography also includes a collaborative EP, “Soul Meets Country,” with Deke Dickerson, plus the albums “Heavy Hearts, Hard Fists” and “Feline Roots.”
VIC’S JAZZ LOFT
AT THE STABIN MUSEUM
268 W. Broadway, Jim Thorpe
570-325-5588, vicsjazzloft.com
• Josh Lawence Quartet, 7 p.m. July 18. Lawrence, a trumpeter, released his sixth album, “Measured Response,” in 2024. The composer has worked with artists such as Erykah Badu and Boyz II Men. Aside from Lawrence, the quartet features Neil Podgurski, Nimrod Speaks and Byron Landham.
• Skyler Stabin, 7 p.m. July 19. Stabin, a pianist/singer-songwriter, hails from Jim Thorpe. She has released singles such as “Skate By” and “Headlines.” Guitarist Melody Cruz will also perform.
THE MAHONING DRIVE-IN THEATER
635 Seneca Road, Lehighton
484-613-1314, mahoningdit.com
• Troma-Thon 2025, 6 p.m. July 18 and 19. Troma-Thon will feature drive-in premieres of “Rise of the Super Tromettes” and the “Mr. Melvin” cut of 1989’s “The Toxic Avenger Part II.” The film lineup also includes, among others, 1986’s “Class of Nuke ’Em High” and 1990’s “Def By Temptation.” The event also features live music, plus appearances by Troma Entertainment co-founder/director Lloyd Kaufman and comic artist Fred Harper, among others. Showtime at sundown.
• Reel Rumble VI, 5 p.m. July 20. The event features live wrestling, a daylight vendor market and, at sundown, a screening of the 1987 film “Over the Top.”
• Wayne Stock ’25, 6 p.m. July 27. The evening includes screenings of 1992’s “Wayne’s World” and 1993’s “Wayne’s World 2,” plus live music and the Mirthmobile in person. Showtime at sundown.
COUNTRY JUNCTION
6565 Interchange Road, Lehighton
610-377-5050, countryjunction.com
• Blueberry Weekend, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 19 and 20. The event features blueberry-themed food and drinks, plus carnival and pony rides, a petting zoo and gem mining.
WIND CREEK EVENT CENTER
77 Wind Creek Blvd., Bethlehem
610-224-4625, windcreekeventcenter.com
• Daryl Hall, 7:30 p.m. July 19. Born in Pottstown, Hall was co-founder and principal lead singer of Philadelphia pop-rock duo Hall & Oates. The latter, formed in 1970, released 18 studio albums through 2006. Hall & Oates scored six No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 singles, including “Rich Girl,” “Private Eyes” and “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do).” Hall has released six solo albums.
• John Lodge, 8 p.m. July 24. The English musician was bassist, co-lead vocalist and songwriter for rock band The Moody Blues. Lodge, a Moody Blues member from 1967 to 2018, penned Moody Blues hits such as “Isn’t Life Strange” and “I’m Just A Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band).” Lodge also has four solo albums to his credits, including 2023’s “Days of Future Passed — My Sojourn.”
• Wilson Phillips, 8 p.m. July 25. Formed in Los Angeles, the pop trio released its debut album in 1990. The set featured Billboard Hot 100 No. 1s “Hold On,” “Release Me” and “You’re in Love,” plus “Impulsive” and “The Dream is Still Alive.” Wilson Phillips’ sophomore set, 1992’s “Shadows and Light,” included the singles “You Won’t See Me Cry,” “Give it Up” and “Flesh and Blood.” The group’s discography also includes two covers albums and a holiday set. In recent years, Wilson Phillips recorded a new version of “Hold On,” finished as season-right runner-up on Fox’s “The Masked Singer” and released a cover of Harry Styles’ “Boyfriends.”
STEELSTACKS
101 Founders Drive, Bethlehem
610-332-1300, steelstacks.org
• Judy Collins, 7:30 p.m. July 20, Musikfest Cafe. Born in Seattle, Washington, the singer-songwriter/musician released the first of her two-dozen-plus studio albums in 1961. Collins’ hit singles include the Joni Mitchell-penned “Both Sides Now,” plus“Amazing Grace” and “Send in the Clowns.” Collins released her most recent set, “Spellbound,” in 2022.
• The Head and the Heart, 7 p.m. July 27, SteelStacks. Formed in 2009 in Seattle, Washington, the indie folk band has scored hits such as “Lost in My Mind,” “All We Ever Knew,” “Missed Connection” and “Honeybee.” The Head and the Heart released its sixth studio album “Aperture” in early May.
SHERMAN THEATER
524 Main St., Stroudsburg
570-420-2808, shermantheater.com
• “Hair,” 8 p.m. July 18 and 19, 2 p.m. July 20. Rebel Stages presents the musical, which explores young hippies’ lives, loves and anti-establishment ideals in 1960s New York City. The show includes songs such as “Aquarius,” “Let the Sunshine In” and “Good Morning Starshine.” “Hair,” which debuted on Broadway in 1968, features a book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Radio, and music by Galt MacDermot.
SHAWNEE PLAYHOUSE
552 River Road, Shawnee-on-Delaware
570-421-5093, shawneeplayhouse.org
• “Grease,” July 18-Aug. 17. The musical, set at Rydell High School in the late 1950s, focuses on the romance between greaser Danny Zuko and sweet Sandy Dumbrowski. Songs include “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightnin’” and “We Go Together.” Debuting on Broadway in 1972, “Grease” features a book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. The 1978 film adaptation added the Barry Gibb-penned title track, “Hopelessly Devoted to You” and “You’re the One That I Want.”
• “Mean Girls JR.,” July 25-Aug. 16. In “Mean Girls,” a homeschooled teenager, navigating the social landscape of a new high school, falls prey to the manipulative “Plastics” clique. The musical, based on the 2004 film, features a book by Tina Fey, lyrics by Neil Benjamin and music by Jeff Richmond.