Berks Ballet Theatre presents its 50th anniversary production of “The Nutcracker” Saturday and Sunday at Kutztown University’s Schaeffer Auditorium. Performances are Saturday at 1 and 6 p.m. and Sunday at 2. The production features more than 70 performers, including BBT company dancers, conser vatory students and professional guests. The ballet will be accompanied by the Reading Pops Orchestra led by Dr. Willis M. Rapp. Go to berksballettheatre.com/tickets/ for tickets. Rod Wave concert Hip-hop and RB star Rod Wave is bringing his Redemption Experience tour to the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia on Friday at 8 p.m. For tickets and information, see www.xfinitymobilearena.com/. Ensemble Arts Philly Ensemble Arts Philly is presenting the following events: Violinist Mark Steinberg and pianist Jonathan Biss perform tonight at 8 in the Perelman Theater at the Kimmel Center. The Philadelphia Orchestra performs its “The Glorious Sound of Christmas” concert today through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Marian Anderson Hall at the Kimmel Center. The Philadelphia Orchestra’s “Children’s Holiday Spectacular” takes place Saturday at 11:30 a.m. in Marian Anderson Hall at the Kimmel Center. Cirque Dreams Holidaze runs Tuesday through Dec. 28 at the Miller Theater. This holiday theatrical event brings a cast of holiday characters to life in a show featuring dazzling, gravity-defying circus arts. Tuba Christmas, a free concert, takes place Sunday at 1 and 6 p.m. in Commonwealth Plaza at 300 S. Broad St. Learn more at www.ensembleartsphilly.org/. Reading shows The following events are coming up at the Santander Performing Arts Center: A Celtic Christmas by A Taste of Ireland comes to the center Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Irish dancers and musicians bring the spirit of Christmas to life. World Ballet Company presents “The Nutcracker” on Christmas Eve at 1 p.m. For tickets and more information, see www.santander-arena.com/. Expo Center A gun show presented by Eagle Shows takes place Friday through Sunday at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks, Montgomery County. Hours are Friday from 1 to 7 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 9 to 4 p.m. Gather with local and regional vendors, national suppliers and manufacturers and your neighbors to enjoy food, make new friends and browse unique products. For more information and tickets, go to eagleshows.com/all-shows/. The Philadelphia Catstravaganza comes to the expo center on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Highlights include Steven Meserve’s international cat competition featuring all kinds of cats, including household pets and rescues; a chance to discover cats you’ve never seen before; a Vendor Village selling cat products; the Loving Cats Catwalk where cats strut their stuff on stage; and a chance to meet Meserve, founder of Loving Cats Worldwide, and hear his insights on cat breeds and care. There will be opportunities to support local rescue groups and meet adoptable cats. Learn more at lovingcatsworldwide.com/. Cedric Burnside is part of a blues-rock trio coming to the region. (Associated Press) Samantha Fish is one of the headliners in the blues-rock Shake 'Em Down Tour coming to the Keswick Theatre. (Associated Press) Keswick shows The Shake ‘Em Down Tour featuring Samantha Fish, Cedric Burnside and Jon Spencer comes to the Keswick Theatre in Glenside, Montgomery County, on Friday at 7:30 p.m. This night of blues and rock ‘n’ roll features three Grammy-nominated bands. Fish is known for her exceptional guitar skills and captivating vocals. Spencer’s boundary-pushing artistry has redefined rock and blues for decades. And Grammy Award-winning Burnside, grandson of the legendary R.L. Burnside, brings deep-rooted Mississippi blues heritage that shines through in his music. The Keswick hosts An American Celtic Christmas with Jamison Celtic Rock on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The show features a mix of Irish, pop and holiday music set to Irish dance with some of the world’s top Celtic guest musicians, singers and Irish dancers. The show offers high energy sing-alongs, touching ballads and world champion Irish dancing. See www.keswicktheatre.com/ for tickets. Colin Mochrie of "Whose Line is it Anyway" fame is part of a comedy/hypnosis act coming to the Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville. (Associated Press) Colonial Theatre The following events are coming up at the Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville, Chester County: Colin Mochrie and Asad Mecci star in HYPROV: Improv under Hypnosis on Friday at 8 p.m. The show combines hypnosis and improv as 20 volunteers take to the stage to be hypnotized. The most receptive to hypnosis then join Mochrie to improvise the rest of the show, while hypnotized. Each show is an entirely original theatrical experience. Joe DeRosa: Home for the Holidays is set for Saturday at 7 p.m. The comedian has six top-10 charting stand-up albums and a multitude of performances on television, radio and in comedy clubs across the country and around the world. DeRosa’s debut one-hour special, “You Let Me Down,” premiered on Comedy Central in 2017. He appeared on AMC’s “Better Call Saul” and hosts the podcast “We’ll See You In Hell.” Learn more at thecolonialtheatre.com/. Newtown Theatre Christmas Hits All-Time Classics with Chris Pinnella comes to the Newtown Theatre in Bucks County on Friday at 8 p.m. Pinnella, formerly of Trans-Siberian Orchestra, performs with a 12-piece ensemble, bringing Christmas classics and holiday hits to life. The Newtown presents a screening of the 1983 holiday classic “A Christmas Story” on Saturday at 1 p.m. A Very Slambovian Christmas takes the Newtown stage on Tuesday at 8 p.m. The Slambovian Circus of Dreams’ music has been described as “psychedelic folk Americana with an Alice in Wonderland vibe.” Expect Christmas songs with a twist and original seasonal tunes for a fun, outside-the-box holiday show. For tickets and more information, see www.thenewtowntheatre.com/. Gary Puckett is bringing his classic hits and some holiday tunes to Bucks County. (Associated Press) Sellersville Theatre Bucks County’s Sellersville Theatre presents Gary Puckett The Union Gap with Cole Larravide on Thursday at 8 p.m. Puckett returns to Sellersville on Friday at 8 p.m. with a Christmas show. This popular group from the 1960s features Puckett’s powerful and unmistakable voice that produced garnered six consecutive gold records and Top 10 hits. On Saturday at 8 p.m. in Sellersville, T’Tis The Season with The Tisburys and Stella Ruze takes the stage. The show features a pair of indie rock bands from Philadelphia. A show featuring Mary Fahl (formerly of October Project) with Wintersongs comes to the theater on Sunday at 8 p.m. Fahl, known for her expressive, emotional voice, leads an evening of holiday classics and winter songs. The Sellersville Theatre presents a free screening of “Elf” on Monday at 7:30 p.m. An Evening of Charlie Brown Jazz with the Eric Mintel Quartet comes to Sellersville on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. The acclaimed jazz musician Mintel and his group also are performing at the Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville on Saturday. That show is sold out. Singer-songwriter John Flynn is performing a benefit concert in Bucks County. (COURTESY OF LANSDOWNE FOLK CLUB) Folk/Americana singer-songwriter John Flynn’s annual holiday concert to benefit Camp Dreamcatcher comes to the Kennett Flash in Kennett Square tonight at 8. Camp Dreamcatcher provides free therapeutic programs to youth impacted by HIV/AIDS, trauma and mental health challenges. A holiday concert featuring the Lenape Brass Ensemble will be performed Sunday at 7 p.m. at Kennett Flash. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. The ensemble will perform a series of Christmas favorites for the community. Learn more at kennettflash.org/. Celtic Christmas Experience SoulJoel and The Celtic Christmas Experience present Celtic Christmas inside Sunnybrook Ballroom near Pottstown on Sunday at 1 p.m. This music and dance experience, described as “Transiberian Orchestra meets Riverdance,” features an all-star lineup of musicians from the Philadelphia music scene as well as the travel troupe from Celtic Flame School of Irish Dance, the Premier Dance Studio and the Pottstown Dance Academy. See souljoels.com/ for tickets. Dogs in a Pile Eclectic New Jersey quintet Dogs in a Pile begins a four-night stand at the Ardmore Music Hall today and Sunday at 7 p.m. and Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. Saturday’s show is sold out. The group also will perform a WXPN Free at Noon show on Friday at noon (RSVP through WXPN). Merging funk, jazz, and rock and roll with psychedelia, the band presents an original vibe built on kaleidoscopic soundscapes. Learn more at ardmoremusichall.com/. West Chester events Performances of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” continue through Dec. 28 at Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center in West Chester. On Sunday at 7 p.m., Uptown! hosts a screening of “The Man Who Invented Christmas,” which tells the magical story behind “A Christmas Carol.” Nefesh Mountain comes to West Chester on Tuesday at 7:30. This progressive Americana band fuses bluegrass, folk, jazz and Jewish soul. Learn more at uptownwestchester.org/. Christmas concert The Reading Philharmonic Orchestra with Dave Kline will present a free Christmas concert at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 117 E. Arch St., Fleetwood, Berks County, on Friday at 7 p.m. Ukrainian songs A trio of musicians will perform “Good Tidings: Ukrainian Art Songs of Winter Christmas” Friday at 7 p.m. in the Alumni chapel of The Hill School, Pottstown. Andrew Skitko, tenor; Ksenia Stetsenko-Skitko, violinist; and Alina Rabchuk, pianist, will offer a festive evening of Ukrainian music set to winter poems, prayers and sacred and Christmas texts. A suggested donation of $25 may be made at the door or online (bit.ly/3WYNns4). Guests should park at The Hill School’s Center For The Arts at 766 Beech St., Pottstown. A free shuttle will run from the CFTA lot to the chapel, or guests may walk to the chapel through the campus. Toy Drive Breakfast The Reading Fire Department’s Toy Drive Breakfast is set for Friday at 7 a.m. at Trooper Thorns, 451 Morgantown Road, Reading. Community members are invited to enjoy a free breakfast with the donation of a new, unwrapped toy. All toys collected will be distributed to the Salvation Army of Reading to support families in need this holiday season. Official Toy Drive shirts and hoodies are available for purchase, with proceeds used to buy additional toys for local children. Merchandise can be purchased at stores.weikelsportswear.com/toydrive25/shop/home. ...read more read less