The Weekend Out: 7 reasons to leave the house
What to do this weekend in Lancaster and Lititz, Oct. 9 to 11: "Ragtime" at the Fulton, the symphony's 80th season opener, and 25 years of chocolate in Lititz.
The Fulton and the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra both have big productions on stage this weekend, and Lititz turns its downtown into a chocolate tasting on Saturday. Here are seven things worth the trip, from a free blues night to a $105 orchestra seat.
Theater: "Ragtime" at the Fulton
Sneak peek of "Ragtime" at the Fulton Theatre. Video: Fulton Theatre
The musical, adapted from E.L. Doctorow's novel, follows three fictional families chasing the American dream at the dawn of the 20th century, through the stories of Coalhouse Walker Jr., Tateh, and Mother's wealthy white household. It has a book by Terrence McNally and a score by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens. Alton Fitzgerald White directs, with Erick D. Patrick as Coalhouse, Ben Fankhauser as Tateh, and Laurie Veldheer as Mother.
BroadwayWorld critic Rich Mehrenberg wrote that the production "sets a sky-high bar as the Fulton's season opener." The run ends Oct. 18.
Where: Fulton Theatre, 12 N. Prince St., Lancaster
When: Friday at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday at 2 p.m. About 2 hours, 35 minutes, with intermission.
Tickets: Prices vary by date and seat. Students and anyone 17 and under can buy $10 rush tickets at the box office starting one hour before curtain. Buy tickets
Classical: The symphony opens its 80th season
"Where Music Meets Community." Video: Lancaster Symphony Orchestra
The Lancaster Symphony Orchestra's "Festivals & Folklore" program is built on folk tunes and street fairs: Anna Clyne's "PIVOT," Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor, and Stravinsky's "Petrushka." Jeri Lynne Johnson is the guest conductor. The soloist in the Grieg is Jon Nakamatsu, a gold medalist at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Four performances give you a matinee option on both weekend days.
Where: Gardner Theatre at Lancaster Country Day School, 725 Hamilton Road, Lancaster
When: Friday at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday at 2:30 p.m. About 2 hours, with intermission.
Tickets: $25 to $105. Buy tickets or call 717-291-6440.
Festival: The Lititz Chocolate Walk turns 25
The Kiwanis Club of Lititz Area runs its 25th Chocolate Walk on Saturday, with chocolate samples at more than 25 downtown stops from regional chefs, bakers, ice cream shops, and candy makers, plus live music along the way. Ticket money goes to children's causes, including the Lancaster Cleft Palate Clinic, Schreiber Pediatric, and the Lititz and Manheim Township public libraries. Tickets are limited.
Where: Downtown Lititz. Online buyers pick up tickets Saturday morning at the entrance to Lititz Springs Park, 24 N. Broad St.
When: Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tickets: Buy online, or pay cash or check at Wilbur Chocolate, Purple Robin Reserve, Aaron's Books, or the Lititz or Manheim Township public library.
Harmony: DEK of Hearts at the Ware Center
DEK of Hearts' blind audition on "The Voice." Video: NBC's The Voice
This Nashville trio mixes country, pop, and bluegrass in tight three-part harmony. Their blind audition on NBC's "The Voice" turned all four chairs, and they finished third.
Where: Millersville University's Ware Center, Steinman Hall, 42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
When: Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m.
Tickets: $29, $21 for students. Buy tickets
Strings: Vitamin String Quartet and Girl Named Tom
Vitamin String Quartet and Girl Named Tom perform Duran Duran's "Ordinary World." Video: Vitamin String Quartet
Vitamin String Quartet turns pop and rock hits into instrumentals for strings. Girl Named Tom, a trio of siblings from Ohio, became the first group to win "The Voice" in 2021. Together they are touring as the Crazy Ordinary World Tour, and the clip above shows what that sounds like.
Where: American Music Theatre, 2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster
When: Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $39, $49, $59, and $69; a $149 VIP package adds a soundcheck and meet-and-greet. Buy tickets
Comedy: Nick Griffin at Tellus360
Nick Griffin on "The Late Show." Video: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Griffin has done stand-up for about three decades, came up in late-night sets in Greenwich Village, and has been on David Letterman's show 11 times. He is a regular at New York's Comedy Cellar.
Where: Tellus360, 24 E. King St., Lancaster
When: Sunday at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. Ages 21 and older.
Tickets: $20.75 in advance, fees included. Buy tickets
Rock: Pearl Jam and Nirvana night in Lititz
The Ledbetters cover Pearl Jam's "Even Flow." Video: The Ledbetters
Two tribute acts split the bill: the Ledbetters, who play Pearl Jam's catalog close to the records, and Live & Unplugged, a full band that recreates Nirvana's "MTV Unplugged" set.
Where: Mickey's Black Box, 101 Rock Lititz Blvd., Lititz
When: Saturday at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. All ages; 21 and older with ID to drink.
Tickets: $32.65 plus fees, standing or reserved balcony seat; $5 more on the day of the show. Buy tickets
Free
The Mystic Alpacas play blues, jazz, and old-school R&B at Tellus360 on Friday at 8 p.m., no cover, 21 and older. On Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m., musicians can bring an instrument to Matt Wenger's open jam in the Tellus360 pub.
Coming up
The Fulton opens "Murder at Ackerton Manor," a comedy in which three actors play seven characters in a send-up of Agatha Christie, in its fourth-floor studio on Oct. 16. Indian classical musician Sandeep Das is at the Ware Center on Oct. 17 and 18. Downtown Lititz holds trick-or-treating on Oct. 24, and the Lititz Lions Halloween Parade steps off on Main Street on Oct. 26 at 7 p.m.
Details are as listed by the venues and organizers on Thursday, Oct. 8, and can change. Check with the venue before you go.
