Bethlehem Press

Monday, October 22, 2018

The Family Project: First-grader reading

Thursday, October 11, 2018 by CAROLE GORNEY in Focus

Q. My six-year-old daughter entered first grade this year. By the end of the first week of school, my daughter started becoming tearful at home, right in the middle of fun activities. When I ask her what is wrong, she says things like, “Who is going to play games with me when you die?” I had no idea where this is coming from. I reassure her that I’m not going anywhere, and she calms down. But the next day, it happens again. It is really upsetting me that she is so consumed with thoughts of...

Movie Review: ‘Smallfoot’ small

Thursday, October 11, 2018 by PAUL WILLISTEIN in Focus

“Smallfoot” is “Frozen” without the ice-skating.

And also without Olaf.

“Smallfoot” has gorgeous animation of snow-laden landscapes of mountains and trees. The detail of artistry is impressive. For example, the hair on Migo, a Yeti (voiced by Channing Tatum) is incredible, as is the animation of the face, eyes, mouth and physical movements of the character.

A Yeti is also known as the Abominable Snowman, a mythical apelike creature said to be taller than humans. The Yeti...

State Theatre 2018-19 season mixes new with tried and true

Friday, October 5, 2018 by KATHY LAUER-WILLIAMS in Focus

Coming off a season that boasted the highest numbers in seven years, the State Theatre Center for the Arts, Easton, is trying a couple of new things, as well as bringing back some surefire hits in 2018-2019.

“We’re pumped.” says State Theatre president and CEO Shelley Brown. “We had a really good year. Since our 90th anniversary we have seen an uptick in attendance. The anniversary gave the theater a lot of visibility and the enthusiasm is contagious. When people are excited about...

Movie Review: Running out the ‘Clock’

Friday, October 5, 2018 by PAUL WILLISTEIN in Focus

You’ve heard the term “clock-watcher.” It’s when an employee has his or her eye on the clock on the wall at work and his or her mind on the door. He or she is deemed a “clock-watcher.”

The clock on the wall is “in” the wall in “The House With A Clock In Its Wall” and the eyes of Uncle Jonathan (Jack Black); his nephew, Lewis (Owen Vaccaro), and the uncle’s platonic friend, Florence (Cate Blanchett), are trying to watch the clock, if they could only find it. This is not from lack of...

Jewish Community Center of Lehigh Valley marks 100th year

Friday, October 5, 2018 by STEPHEN ALTHOUSE in Focus

Enter the front door of the Jewish Community Center of the Lehigh Valley and make the first right. Head down the hall and you’ll see them on your left. Literally hundreds of class photos dating back more than half a century. Smiling children with their classmates and teachers.

“Let me see where mine is,” says Amy Sams, JCC adult program and event coordinator. “Oh, here it is.”

There in a small frame is a class photo of when she was a young girl. Just like it is for thousands of...

Parker Quartet

Friday, October 5, 2018 by The Press in Focus

chamber music:

The Chamber Music Society of Bethlehem begins its 2018-19 season with the Parker Quartet, 3 p.m. Oct. 7, Foy Hall, Moravian College, Church and Main streets, Bethlehem.

The program is: Debussy, Quartet in G Minor, Op. 10; Paul Wiancko, “Strange Beloved Land,” 2013, and Beethoven, “Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 74, “The Harp.”

The Grammy Award-winning string quartet has been in residence at Harvard University, performs in the United States and Europe, and...

8 DAYS A WEEK:

Friday, October 5, 2018 by The Press in Focus

“Early Elton”: The “Stage on Stage” series continues at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 5 with “Early Elton: A Tribute to the Trio Tours of ’70-’72,” State Theatre Center for the Arts, Easton. The main stage is transformed into a “club” atmosphere, with band and audience on stage. A cash bar is available on stage. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. “Early Elton” is a tribute to the Elton John, Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson trio tours. With only two years since its inception, the “Early Elton” show is playing to capacity...