Lindsey Stirling bringing Christmas tour to Santander Performing Arts Center [Spotlight]

Aug. 27—Electronic violinist, dancer and artist Lindsey Stirling returns to the Santander Performing Arts Center, Reading, on Dec. 11 with her North American Snow Waltz 2023 tour.

Last year, Stirling released her Christmas album, "Snow Waltz," via Concord Records, featuring whimsical twists on Christmas classics like "Sleigh Ride," "Deck the Halls," "Joy to the World" and "O Holy Night," in addition to originals like "Snow Waltz" and "Ice Storm."

"I always love touring, but touring at Christmas is my absolute favorite, and I think this year's Christmas show is going to be the best one yet," Stirling said.

Tickets are on sale at ticketmaster.com. A dollar per ticket goes toward Stirling's Upside Fund charity, which has helped relieve over $5 million in medical debt.

Theater

Reading Civic Theatre will present "Les Miserables: Student Edition," one of the most well known musical theater pieces with a beautiful score and moving storyline, from Sept. 15-17 and 20-24 at its new theater in the former Fox East, Exeter Township. Show times are 7:30 p.m. except Sundays at 2 p.m.

Under the direction of Jeannette DeAngelo, the cast is made up of 41 students from the Berks, Lancaster and Montgomery counties, ranging in age from 7 to 18, including Edwin Vargas as Valjean, Rogan Mackenzie as Javert, Sheridan Mackenzie as Cosette, Hayden Crist as Marius, Juno Guhl as Eponine, Annika Locke as Fantine, Michael Orth as Mr. Thenardier, Ava Kreiser as Madame Thernardier, Emilio Serio as Enjolras and Paul Head as Gavroche, Lauren Watts as Young Cosette and Kennedy Kegerize as Young Eponine.

Tickets cost $30 for adults and $25 for students and seniors at www.readingcivic.org or at the door on the performance dates.

Art

Clay on Main art gallery, 313 Main St. Oley, presents "Wild Things," a curated group exhibition exploring the untamed and unruly creatures of our world or imagination, through Sept. 17, when a closing reception will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. with light refreshments and the opportunity to meet the artists and curators.

The show is juried by Dolores Kirschner, director of Clay on Main, and Ray Lapinski, a recent graduate of Moore College of Art and Design with a masters in socially engaged art.

Artists were asked to consider the ways in which creatures, real or imagined, express our deeper instincts. The exhibition features 12 unique artists in a playful and whimsical exploration of "Wild Things."

In conjunction with the closing reception, the first edition of Rapid Art Mag, a self published curatorial magazine by Lapinski, will

be launched and available to the public.

Gallery hours are Sundays, 1 to 4 p.m.; Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; Thursdays, 3:30 to 7:30 p.m; Fridays, 5 to 7 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; or by special appointment. Walk-ins during regular hours are welcome. To learn more about other upcoming events, visit www.clayonmain.org.

Music

The WCR Center for the Arts, 140 N. Fifth St. in downtown Reading, will kick off the 2023-24 season with a performance by the Hot Club of Reading at 7 p.m. Sept. 7.

Prior to the performance, local historian Rick Polityka will speak about the building and the nonprofit's history beginning at 6:15 p.m.

Part 1920s New Orleans, part 1930s Paris, the Hot Club of Reading, featuring Josh Taylor, Trey LaRue, Ken Gehret, Chris Heslop and Adam Price, combines gypsy jazz with hot jazz to create an acoustic amalgam that really swings.

Parking is available at Trinity Lutheran Church lot on North Fifth Street between Washington and Walnut streets.

Tickets are $25 in advance at www.wcrcenter.org or $30 at the door. All proceeds benefit the WCR's Accessibility Campaign.

----The Reading Pops Big Band will present a swinging night of music on Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m. at Green Valley Chateau Tent, 160 Green Valley Road, Sinking Spring. Partnering with Veterans Making a Difference, a local organization that helps all veterans, and Green Valley Swim Club Chateau Tent, the band will be celebrating veterans and the end of summer with music of the big band era and patriotic tunes.

The mission of Veterans Making a Difference includes providing items and social events for veterans in our community. Through the Veteran Social Center and Food Pantry items such as laundry soap, dish soap, tissues, paper towels, toilet paper, non-perishable food items, gift cards to Redner's, Giant, Weis, Walmart, cases of water, coffee, Tasty Kakes, sodas are distributed. Donations at this event will be gladly accepted (no glass jars).

The concert is sponsored by the Music Performance Trust Fund as administered through the American Federation of Musicians, Local 135-211.

----The Mohnton Cumru Lions Club is hosting its third annual Berks Blues & BBQ on Sept. 9. The event features blues music by Nate Meyers & the Aces, Bad Influence and Roger Girke from 1 to 7 p.m. at Mohnton Memorial Park. In addition to the music, a competitive pay to play Cornhole Tournament with cash prizes will be held for adults.

Food, beer and wine will be served all day. Children 17 and under are admitted free and can enjoy Magic in Mohnton, Berks County's premier playground.

For more information, or to purchase tickets in advance, visit www.mohntoncumrulions.com. Tickets cost $15 for advance purchases or $20 at the gate.