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Music Under the Stars with the Wheeling Symphony set to return Sunday

The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra (WSO) returns to Oglebay Park for Music Under the Stars, an annual Labor Day concert, at 7:30 p.m. Sunday.  An evening of Broadway, Disney and classical music, this year’s featured guest artists include WSO Principal Trumpet John Winkler, Broadway star Siri Howard and local talent Amanda McGovern.   Music Under the Stars is free to attend.   “Music Under the Stars is one of my favorite WSO traditions, and this year is extra special because it marks the symphony’s 95th anniversary,” said WSO Music Director John Devlin. ...

‘The Deliverance’ fails to deliver

The first horror novel I ever read was William Peter Blatty’s “The Exorcist” and the first horror movie I ever watched was “The Omen,” so possession horror holds a special place in my heart. I like the way  possession can be a stand-in for different personal, societal or religious ills. And it generally has some of the gnarliest-looking visual elements. Lee Daniels hasn’t worked in this genre before, but nevertheless, I was interested to see his take in the new Netflix film, “The Deliverance.”   Ebony (Andra Day) and her mother Alberta (Glenn Close) ...

‘My Penguin Friend’ is a film about bonds

I don’t know if penguins are the most popular animal, but I imagine they’re up there, following household pets like cats and dogs. In 2005, “March of the Penguins” was a massive commercial success, something that rarely happens for documentaries, and there is no shortage of funny videos featuring these odd little birds. I expect the appeal of the penguin, combined with his love for Brazil, to be what led director David Schurmann to create the film “My Penguin Friend,”  which is based on a true story.  When João (Jean Reno) discovers a lost, oil-covered penguin, ...

‘The People’s Joker’ meets definition of art

Heath Ledger’s Joker quipped, “Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stranger.” Vera Drew has internalized that line in her outrageous parody of Todd Phillips’ “Joker,” “The People’s Joker,” which is now available on VOD and for purchase on Blu-ray, DVD and VHS.  I wasn’t sure what to expect from this movie, only knowing that after its premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, it has been playing on the independent scene to critical and audience praise.  When the Young Joker (Griffin Kramer) suggests that “boy” is not the correct ...

Viral sensation Jake Kohn performs Sunday at 123 Pleasant St.

If you search for Jake Kohn reaction videos on YouTube, you will find one person after another watching this young singer-songwriter in disbelief. And it’s easy to understand why —  it is hard to square his young, 17-year-old face with the raspy, deep baritone  you hear.   However, that does not negate the power of his performance. This Sunday, he brings his distinctive voice to 123 Pleasant St. in Morgantown.  You can purchase tickets for his show at 123pleasantstreet.com.  Kohn came onto the scene when a YouTube video of his song “Frostbite,” ...

Filmmaker portrays struggle with invisible illness in latest project

Zach Kornfeld has been making videos with The Try Guys for a decade on YouTube, and they have been viewed by millions of people. But premiering his short film “OUCH!” at the Fantasia Festival in Montreal feels much more intense.  “It’s funny to me. I’m used to 100,000 people seeing something, but the idea of 200 people in one room scares me,” Kornfeld said.   In 2017, Kornfeld was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, an autoimmune disease that causes significant pain to those suffering from it.   In “OUCH!” he uses a variety of visuals to ...