A look ahead at regional entertainment in 2025

The region’s entertainment outlook for 2025 includes the return of some traditional favorites, classic musicals, rock music and theater with a darker tone.

There are good options even in the dead of winter.

The annual Disney on Ice show at Mohegan Arena, Wilkes-Barre Twp., is Jan. 9-12. This year’s show, “Let’s Dance,” remixes songs from musicals, such as “Frozen,” “Lion King,” “Moana” and “Wish.” Stitch will also take control of the DJ booth. Tickets at moheganarenapa.com/disney-on-ice.

Comedian Earl David Reed, a former radio host who lives in York County, comes to the Majestic  Theater in Pottsville on Jan. 11 at 8 p.m. Tickets: majestictheater.net.

The Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic will spotlight the wind instruments at a chamber music concert Jan. 16 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Scranton at 7 p.m. Tickets and the rest of the schedule: nepaphil.org. Phone: 570-270-4444.

William Shakespeare’s tragedy “Macbeth,” by  Actors Circle, at Providence Playhouse in Scranton,  is Jan. 16-19 and Jan. 24-26. Tickets: actorscircle.com.

“The Pillowman,” a dark play about an author in a totalitarian country interrogated because his work resembles real crimes against children, is scheduled for the weekends of Jan. 31 through Feb. 2 and  Feb. 7-9, at Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre. Tickets: ltwb.org.

KC and the Sunshine Band comes to the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts, Wilkes-Barre, on Jan. 31 at 7:30 p.m. The R&B and funk band’s 1970s hits included: “Get Down Tonight,” “That’s The Way (I Like It)” and “Shake, Shake, Shake Your Bootie.” Tickets: kirbycenter.org.

Here’s a sampling of what’s known to be coming later in the new year:

Rock band Filter, which canceled an earlier concert date, will be at The Ritz Theater in Scranton, on Feb. 9 at 7 p.m., with guests Above Snakes. Tickets: theritztheater.com.

The Hazleton Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra plans to return to a focus on classical composers in concerts set in area churches. The spring schedule has not been set.

The Scranton Shakespeare Festival, which does more than Shakespeare, presents “Shadow of a Gunman,” Feb. 28 through March 2 in the Shakes Space in the Marketplace at Steamtown, Scranton. The mistaken identity drama is set in Dublin during the Irish war for independence. Tickets: scrantonshakes.com.

Three musical theater tours come to the Scranton Cultural Center in the spring under the auspices of Broadway in Scranton on three weekends: “The Addams Family,” beginning  March 7; “Dear Evan Hansen,” beginning April 4 and “Mean Girls,” starting May 16. Tickets: broadwayinscranton.com.

Phish founder Trey Anastasio plays the Kirby Center on March 11 at 7:30 p.m., but tickets for the sold-out show are only available on resale sites.

“Jekyll and Hyde” is the first show of the season at Music Box Dinner Playhouse, Swoyersville, beginning March 14, for three weekends. Tickets: musicbox.org.

Not all St. Patrick’s Day parade dates have been announced, but Pittston’s parade is March 1, Scranton’s is March 8 and Pottsville’s is March 15.

The massively popular children’s book character Dog Man comes to the Kirby Center in musical theater form Thursday, March 20.

Cirque du Soleil returns to Mohegan Arena after a decade, April 3-6, with a show called “Ovo” set in the land of insects. Tickets: moheganarenapa.com.

“Kirby Fest: A Night of Pints, Pinot and Performing Arts,” a Kirby Center fundraiser that presents local entertainers and artists in a festive atmosphere, is April 26 at 5 p.m. Tickets and information about becoming a vendor at kirbycenter.org.

Two rock shows at the Pavilion at Montage Mountain, Scranton, were recently announced. Coheed and Cambria, with Mastodon, is May 31. Creed will be there July 16.

“Simply the Best: A Tribute to Tina Turner,” by the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic is June 7 at Mohegan Pennsylvania Casino, Plains Twp.

The Scranton Jazz Festival, at many venues, is Aug. 1-3.

The Scranton Fringe Festival, which fills downtown with entertainment of all kinds, traditionally begins at the end of September.

Disney on Ice will include numbers from “Moana” (Feld Entertainment)

Disney on Ice returns to Arena (Feld Entertainment)

Joshua Butcher plays bassoon with the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic (Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic)

KC And The Sunshine Band pose for a portrait on stage at Hard Rock Live held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Feb. 24, 2023 in Hollywood, Florida. ( Larry Marano)

“Dear Evan Hansen” among shows this spring. (Broadway in Scranton

Scranton Jazz Festival Big Band

Scranton Jazz Festival Big Band (Scranton Jazz Festival Big Band)

Cirque du Soleil coming to arena (Cirque du Soleil)

Trey Anastasio (F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts.)

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Disney on Ice will include numbers from “Moana” (Feld Entertainment)

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