Lord of the Dance, Allman Betts Revival added to Santander Performing Arts Center lineup [Spotlight]

Aug. 13—Tickets are on sale at ticketmaster.com for two new shows booked for the Santander Performing Arts Center, Reading: Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance on Nov. 19 and the Allman Betts Family Revival on Nov. 30.

For 25 years, Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance has dazzled audiences around the world with its combination of high-energy Irish dancing, original music, storytelling and sensuality. The show transcends culture and language, soaring into the soul on astounding aerial moves, precision dancing and state-of-the art theatrical effects.

The Allman Family Revival initially began as a one-off concert in 2017 at The Fillmore in San Francisco to celebrate the late Gregg Allman's life on what would have been his 70th birthday. Now in its seventh year, it has since expanded into a full tour.

This year the tour is officially rebranding The Allman Family Revival as the Allman Betts Family Revival. Devon Allman (son of Gregg) and Duane Betts (son of Dickey) have hand-picked an array of guests who will perform two sets — one featuring songs by Gregg Allman and one featuring songs by Dickey Betts.

Fans will hear the hits along with the deep cuts from their legendary Allman Brothers catalog performed by Anders Osborne, Luther Dickinson & Cody Dickenson (North Mississippi Allstars), Jimmy Hall (Jeff Beck, Wet Willie), Jackie Greene, Larry McCray, Alex Orbison, Ally Venable, Devon Allman, Duane Betts and The Allman Betts Band featuring Tal Wilkenfeld on bass (Jeff Beck).

Guest artists, including Sierra Hull, G. Love and more to be added, will join the tour in select cities.

Theater

The Reading Theater Project has announced the next season of new and locally inspired theater and performance, all centered around the theme of "Wonder."

Highly theatrical and beautifully told, "Silent Sky" by Lauren Gunderson opens the season, running from Nov. 2-5 at the Yocum Institute of Arts Education in West Lawn. The true story of 19th-century astronomer Henrietta Leavitt explores the idea that social

progress, like scientific progress, can be hard to see when one is trapped among earthly complications. Leavitt and her female peers believe in both, and their dedication changed the way we understand both the heavens and Earth. This production will be directed by Andrea Kennedy Hart.

Following is the ninth annual 5-Minute Fringe Festival, with the theme of "Wonder" to match the season theme. Performers and playwrights from around the region will push their personal creative boundaries to create new works around this theme, presented in one show, opening Feb. 29 running through March 3 at the Yocum Institute. The director of this year's Fringe is Vicki Haller Graff, and the stage manager is Sean Sassaman.

Next spring's Play Reading Series also will connect to the season's theme of "Wonder" and will feature three plays by local and regional playwrights. Each is performed as a staged reading followed by a talkback with the playwright, director and actors. Literary Manager Adam Richter will coordinate the series, which will be held on three Thursday evenings, April

11, April 25 and May 16, at GoggleWorks' Boscov Theatre.

RTP's BCTV show, "Reading Reading," featuring talks with local playwrights and new play readings, will continue in the odd months on the third Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

Auditions for "Silent Sky" will be held Aug. 29 at 6:30 p.m., with callbacks scheduled for Aug. 31 at 6:30 p.m. Auditions will be at Holy Cross United Methodist Church, 529 N. Fifth St., Reading. Free parking and the entrance are available at the back of the building, off the Church Street alley.

More information about the roles, plays, director and overall production, and the audition sign-up form are available at readingtheaterproject.org. All actors are paid a stipend.

Books

"Living the Cuban Missile Crisis: An American Teacher's Memoir," a new book by Honey Brook author Donna Searle McLay, has been released by Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc.

In her vivid first-hand account, Searle McLay recounts the uncertainty, the confusion and the intimate details of the voyage of several thousand civilians as the families of U.S. Navy and Marines stationed in Cuba were evacuated to Norfolk, Va., in October 1962, at the beginning of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

President John F. Kennedy and Russian Premier Nikita Khrushchev agreed that nuclear war was not an option, and thus ended an international crisis, but only after days and weeks of behind-the-scenes meetings and concurrent wide-spread concerns by all.

"Living the Cuban Missile Crisis: An American Teacher's Memoir" is a 102-page hardbound with a retail price of $26 (eBook $21) at bookstore.dorrancepublishing.com.