U.D. Summer Stage adds extra performance of ‘Beauty and the Beast Jr.’
UPPER DARBY » Upper Darby Summer Stage wraps up its 42nd season with the Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast Jr.” Due to its popularity, all four “Beauty and the Beast” performances have sold out and a fifth show has been added. Get remaining tickets now for the Aug. 8 performance at 10:30 a.m.
“Beauty and the Beast, Jr” is based on the Academy award-winning motion picture and celebrated Broadway production. The stage performance features some of the most popular songs ever written by Alan Menken (“Wicked,” “Aladdin,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Pocahontas”) and the late Howard Ashman including “Human Again” and “Be Our Guest.”
Upper Darby Summer Stage will transform into a bucolic French small-town where the studious Belle lives a simplistic life with her father, an eccentric inventor. When Belle’s (Lauren Dietzler of Glenolden) father doesn’t return home from a local fair, she sets out on a search to find him. Belle discovers her father has been held captive in a castle owned by a cursed Beast (Mike Weir of Drexel Hill). Discouraged by what she’s come upon, she trades her freedom for her father’s and finds herself trapped in a magical world with talking and dancing dinnerware. As the town favorite and obnoxious villain, Gaston (Joe Matthews of Havertown) tries to win Belle over, will she be able to help transform the Beast into the prince he once was?
Performances are at the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center, 601 N. Lansdowne Ave., Drexel Hill. Tickets costs are $8-$12. For tickets, www.udpac.org or call the box office at 610622-1189. The performance is 60-70 minutes with no intermission. Parking is free. The show is recommended for ages four and up with free babysitting in the lobby.
Marcus Hook concerts continue
MARCUS HOOK » The Marcus Hook Summer Festival celebrates its 31st year with its 2017 concert series. Come out to relax and enjoy music on the banks of the Delaware River at Market Square Memorial Park, Market Street and Delaware Avenue. Concerts follow on consecutive Tuesdays at 7 p.m.
The opening concert features the John Clark Big Band, comprised of 13-17 pieces and featuring vocalist Paula Johnson. Hear the sounds of the Big Band era that all ages can enjoy. Upcoming concerts are: • City Rhythm Orchestra on Aug. 1, playing pop/rock and jazz/swing
• Texas Heat/Scott Brady make their Marcus Hook debut Aug. 8. They deliver their modern country sound with over 100 years combined stage experience.
• Tongue N Groove return by popular demand Aug. 15 to close out the series, playing 1970s and ‘80s rock.
Light refreshments are available for purchase at each concert. No alcohol for pets are permitted.
Visit Phila. for Bug Fest
PHILADELPHIA » The 10th annual Bug Fest, a festival that celebrates insects of all kinds with hundreds of live critters, roach races, bug walks, and even insect-tasting, is held Saturday, Aug. 12-Sunday, Aug. 13, at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University.
Hundreds of millipedes, centipedes, scorpions, stick insects, caterpillars, tarantulas, live beetles — including one of the world’s longest — and more wiggle around the museum during the academy’s most popular festival.
Visitors are be able to hold a cockroach, count the legs on a centipede, witness insects walking on water, examine insect decomposers up close, and talk with Academy entomologists about their favorite bugs. Chocolate chirp cookies, made with nutritious crunchy crickets, will be among the buggy cuisine available to sample.
Bug Fest is a great opportunity to learn the science behind the news headlines and talk with academy experts about mosquitoes and invasive (and sometimes destructive) species including lanternflies and ash borer beetles. Some of these insects that can wreak havoc in the backyard will be on display as part of the museum’s research collection of more than 4 million insects. Despite the more than one million insects that scientists have already identified, experts estimate there are millions more to be discovered. Activities include: • “Predator or Pollinated?” Celebrate the unique connections between bugs and plants. See plants that eat bugs and learn how to make your backyard a paradise for local pollinators.
• “Roach Race 500.” Guests cheer on their favorite roach as it tries to conquer three different tracks in the famous Roach Race 500.
• “Bug Picasso.” Watch as creative cockroaches and maggots crawl and scurry across paper to create oneof-a-kind works of art. Take home a unique piece of art.
• “Live Invertebrate Stage Show.” See bugs magnified on the big screen.
• “Bedbug-sniffing Dog Demonstrations.” Meet the canines and their companions that help sniff out bugs that bug us at home.
• “Bug Walks.” Join Academy entomologists on an expedition outside the museum to see what species of invertebrates live there.
• “Crafty Critters.” Create a bug-themed craft to take home.
Bug Fest is held 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 12-13. For information, call 215-299-1000. Discount tickets and a full list of events are available at www. ansp.org To submit community news, email Colin Ainsworth at delcocommunity@21stcenturymedia.com.