Tom Segura, Judas Priest, Staind booked for Santander Arena in 2024 [Spotlight]

Nov. 19—Three new shows have been announced for Santander Arena, Reading, in 2024: comedian Tom Segura is bringing his "Come Together Tour" on Feb. 1; heavy metal titans and Rock and Roll Hall-of-Famers Judas Priest will perform with special guest Sabaton on April 21; and multi-platinum rock band Staind will be joined by longtime friends Seether along with Saint Asonia and Tim Montana on May 1. Tickets are on sale at ticketmaster.com.

Segura is known for his Netflix specials "Ball Hog," "Disgraceful," "Completely Normal" and "Mostly Stories." He co-hosts two of the most popular comedy podcasts, "Your Mom's House," with his wife, comedian Christina P., and "Two Bears, One Cave" with fellow comedian Bert Kreischer.

Emerging from Birmingham in 1969, Judas Priest's impact and influence in the metal genre remain unparalleled. The band originally solidified its place in music history with iconic albums like "Sad Wings of Destiny" and "Sin After Sin" and anthems like "Sinner" and "Hell Bent for Leather" while pioneering the leather-and-studs image now synonymous with the metal culture.

The '80s marked their pinnacle with classic albums "British Steel," '"Screaming for Vengeance" and "Defenders of the Faith," generating timeless hits like "Breaking the Law." Despite lineup changes and various challenges, the band's resilience remained unwavering. In 2018, Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, Richie Faulkner, Ian Hill and Scott Travis released "Firepower," which became one of their most successful albums.

"Trial By Fire," the second song from their highly anticipated new album "Invincible Shield," was released Friday.

Staind recently released their first studio album in 12 years, "Confessions of the Fallen," to rave reviews. The band's latest single, "Here & Now" and powerful video has just entered Top 5 on the active rock chart, the second Top 5 single from the new album.

Staind is comprised of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Aaron Lewis, lead guitarist Mike Mushok, bassist and backing vocalist Johnny April, and drummer Sal Giancarelli. The band was formed in 1995 in their hometown of Springfield, Mass. Over the course of their career, the band has released seven studio albums and eight Top 10 singles, selling over 15 million albums worldwide.

"Break The Cycle," released in 2001 and RIAA certified 5 times platinum, featured the smash single, "It's Been Awhile," one of the most played songs in modern rock radio history, spending 20 weeks at Number 1.

----Under the direction of Dr. Graham Bier, Reading Choral Society will present Handel's Messiah on Dec. 3 at 5 p.m. at the Scottish Rite Cathedral, West Reading.

At this Messiah Community Sing, the audience will be able to sit in among the members of Reading Choral Society and sing with them. The accompaniment will be a 19-piece orchestra. This free event is part of the Scottish Rite Holiday Happenings.

This will be at least the 66th time that the Reading Choral Society has undertaken the Christmas portion of Handel's Messiah, dating back to December 1897. Founded in 1875, the Reading Choral Society has a long and proud tradition of presenting vocal music, particularly symphonic choir masterworks, but also exploring and interpreting other genres.

The Reading Choral Society is comprised now, as it has always been, of dedicated semiprofessional singers from all walks of life with no minimum or maximum age.

For more information, see readingchoral.org.

----Reading A Cappella Voices, a group of female singers who enjoy finding four-part harmony without accompaniment, is looking for more voices to join them.

Visitors are welcome at practices held Mondays at 6:45 p.m. in the basement of BVM Ukrainian Catholic Church, 300 Grace Street, Reading. Weekly practices, where they perfect their art, are both serious and fun.

They have sung the National Anthem at the Reading Phillies and Reading Royals games and have performed at churches, nursing homes, Berkshire Country Club, Crown Plaza Hotel and the Scottish Rite Cathedral.

They have upcoming performances at four nursing homes: Heatherwood, in Honeybrook, on Nov. 19 at 1 p.m.; Rittenhouse on Nov. 30 at 6:30 p.m.; Country Meadows on Dec 4 at 1:30 p.m.; and Berks Heim on Dec 12 at 7 p.m.

For more information, call 610-921-7989, visit www.readingacappellavoices.org or email readingacvoices@gmail.com.

Theater

Reading Civic Theatre will present the original production "The Christmas Extravaganza," written by local actor/director Brandon Kegerize, from Dec. 1-10 at its theater in the former Fox East, Exeter Township.

"The Christmas Extravaganza" is an interactive, hilarious, family show for all ages. It follows two elves who will take you on a Christmas adventure through Berks County, finding the joy, happiness and love in Christmas.

The show will feature holiday favorites like "Where Are You Christmas?," "White Christmas," "The Prayer," "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," "Believe" from "Polar Express" and many more.

Audience members will be invited to play games, laugh, cry and sing along.

Adult tickets are $20 plus fees and seniors/students are $15 plus fees and can be reserved at www.readingcivic.org.

Books

Spring Township author John Yamrus has released two new books: "The Street," which combines two previously released memoirs into one volume, and "People (and other bad ideas)," a collection of all-new poems.

"The Street" combines "Memory Lane" and "RMA," two memoirs about what it was like growing up less than wealthy in a Pennsylvania coal town in the late 1950s.

"People (and other bad ideas)," published by Meat for Tea Press, showcases Yamrus' trademark snarky humor and neo noir poetry that have made him a favorite on the small press literary scene.

Yamrus has published 38 books and more than 3,000 poems in magazines around the world, and recently had two of his books reissued in Europe in translation, with two more on the way.

Poetry

Alice Petersheim, a sixth-grade student at Wilson West Middle School, was recently honored for her outstanding poetry at the Berks County Federation of Women's Club Fall Luncheon.

Alice was sponsored by the Woman's Club of Spring Township. Initially she won first place at the 37th annual Festival of Arts Program of WCST. Then she went on to win first place for her poetry at the General Federation of Women's Clubs — Pennsylvania Level. Finally, Alice won first place at the GFWC International Level, announced in Louisville, Ky.