Arts & Culture

Isavel Mendoza will study theater at Pace University in the fall. He began writing poetry in first grade and comes from a family of artists in the Dominican Republic.

Tyler Rothrock is coming to Godfrey Daniels to film his first-ever comedy special, which he said he plans to distribute on YouTube.

Joyful Noise Music Festival is set for 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. June 14 at Univest Performance Center, 501 W. Mill St. Doors will open at 10 a.m. Lehigh Valley guitar favorite Craig Thatcher, who will play at Bethlehem's Musikfest festival in August, will perform

Dorney Park opens for its 141st season on Friday. Here's a look at the entertainment offerings for the season.

A handful of bands scheduled to perform on the free Plaza Tropical Stage during Musikfest were chosen by high schoolers from Bethlehem Area School District.

The awards show is now in its 23rd year and will take place on May 22 at the State Theatre.

ArtsQuest will hold an online ticket sale starting at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 8, with discounts of up to $39 per ticket to shows at Musikfest, Musikfest Cafe and SteelStacks festivals.

Wilson Phillips, whose 1990 self-titled debut disc sold five times platinum with the hits "Hold On" and "Release Me" — both gold — and "You're in Love," will perform at 8 p.m. July 25.

More than 50 local landmarks, restaurants, and shops are featured in a new TV and streaming platform commercial. The ad will air in households in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey.

Montgomery Gentry featuring Eddie Montgomery will be the supporting act on the show at the fair's Grandstand stage at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28.

The Black Crowes, best known for its No. 1 hits "Hard to Handle" and "She Talks to Angels" will perform on the festival's main Steel Stage at 7 p.m. Aug. 4.

Alabama, which has sold more than 75 million albums and charted 43 No.1 hits to become the most successful band in the history of country music, will headline the Allentown Fair's Grandstand stage on Thursday, Aug. 28.

William Donner, an anthropology professor at Kutztown University, led a presentation over the weekend on the history of what was once known as the country's oldest folk festival. He lectured at the Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum.

Surrounded by family, friends and fans, Eagles running back Saquon Barkley addressed an enthusiastic and raucous crowd at the PPL Center. It came a month after winning the Super Bowl and days after signing a contract extension that made him the highest-paid running back in NFL history.

Cavalera is taking its music with Sepultura back to fans in a tour that stops tonight, March 8, at Allentown's new Archer music hall — the first national act to perform at the venue.

Friday evening welcomed the reopening of The Gap Theatre in Wind Gap, where Harry Guerro launched the event with a showing of the first two Indiana Jones films.

Formed in 2008, local weekend event in May features separate day of beer and wine tastings, followed by a for-kids-only day of art and science fun.

Americus Nights will be on the lowest level of the Americus Hotel at Sixth and Hamilton streets. It will hold a grand opening at 8 p.m. March 14 with DJ Jon Gosselin, formerly a star of the reality TLC TV show, "Jon and Kate Plus 8."

Archer Music Hall, Allentown's downtown entertainment venue is brand new — so new, it had its official ribbon-cutting and first concert Thursday. But its roots in the city go extremely deep, officials said in a ceremony to open the venue.

Daryl Hall, who with John Oates made up Hall and Oates, a vocal duo that had 19 songs hit the Top 10 on various charts, will perform at 7:30 p.m. July 19.

Alan Doyle's music is heavily influenced by his Irish heritage and the Celtic sea shanties, filled with the sounds of accordions, whistles, fiddles and barons. He will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 6, at Musikfest Café at ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks in Bethlehem.

Partnering with Moravian University, ArtsQuest will hold summer art camps on the south campus of the college.