In the upcoming movie, Alden Ehrenreich will play a young Han Solo.

John Williams, who has written the score for eight "Star Wars" films, has agreed to compose the theme for the standalone movie "Solo: A Star Wars Story."

"The present plan is that I'm writing a theme for Han Solo, and John Powell is going to write the score, which he'll do brilliantly," Williams told Variety. "What I will do is offer this to John, and to (director) Ron Howard, and if all parties are happy with it, then I will be happy. ... John will complete the score. He will write all the rest of the themes and all of the other material, which I'm going to be very anxious to hear."

The 85-year-old Oscar winning composer and laureate conductor of the Boston Pops has written the scores for all of the live-action trilogy films, except the 2016 standalone film "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story."

"Rogue One" was scored by Michael Giacchino, best known for his work on the Disney-Pixar films "Ratatouille" and "The Incredibles."

In the upcoming movie, Alden Ehrenreich will play a young Han Solo, the character played by Harrison Ford in the original trilogy and again in 2015's "The Force Awakens."

"Solo" arrives in theaters on May 25, 2018.

Band will play Bull Run in Shirley, MA Watch video

Western swing band Asleep at the Wheel has set a date for the Worcester area.

The group will play the Bull Run Restaurant in Shirley, MA on April 22 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are available at the venue website at bullrunrestaurant.com.

Asleep at the Wheel formed in 1970 and has won nine Grammy Awards. The country group's highest charting single "The Letter that Johnny Walker Read" was released in 1975.

The Bull Run is at 215 Great Road in Shirley.

On the last day of the calendar year, "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" has surpassed "Beauty and the Beast" as the top grossing film in North America in 2017.

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- On the last day of the calendar year, "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" has surpassed "Beauty and the Beast" as the top grossing film in North America in 2017. It also topped the charts for the weekend for the third time, but just barely -- Dwayne Johnson's "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" is close on its tail.

According to studio estimates on Sunday, "The Last Jedi" will add $52.4 million over the weekend bringing its domestic total to $517.1 million. "Beauty and the Beast," also a Disney release, netted out with $504 million for the year.

With the weekend's earnings, "The Last Jedi" will also cross the $1 billion mark globally -- even before it opens in China on Jan. 5.

But "Star Wars" is facing some hefty competition still, from the likes of The Rock, Jack Black and Kevin Hart, whose "Jumanji" sequel took in $50.6 million in its second weekend in theaters to take second place. The Columbia Pictures film has earned a stunning $169.8 million to date and could even reach $300 million domestically by the end of its run.

The acapella franchise "Pitch Perfect 3" took third place in weekend two, with $17.8 million, bringing its total to $64.3 million -- still less than what "Pitch Perfect 2" earned on its opening weekend alone in May 2015 ($69.2 million).

Another musical, "The Greatest Showman," with Hugh Jackman as P.T. Barnum, came in fourth place with $15.3 million after adding 310 screens. The animated kids film "Ferdinand" took fifth with $11.7 million.

In its first weekend in theaters after debuting on Christmas Day, Ridley Scott's "All the Money in the World" took in $5.5 million, bringing its total to $12.6 million. The film got some added recognition when Scott replaced Kevin Spacey with Christopher Plummer and reshot portions of the film only 6 weeks before it was set to hit theaters. But the hype of the impressive feat hasn't translated into big earnings.

Another adult-targeted film, Alexander Payne's "Downsizing," is struggling in theaters, taking in $4.6 million in its second weekend in theaters. The Matt Damon-starrer has earned only $17.1 million to date against a $68 million production budget.

In limited release, Aaron Sorkin's "Molly's Game," starring Jessica Chastain, earned $2.33 million. The film about the "poker princess" Molly Bloom expands on Jan. 5. And Paul Thomas Anderson's "Phantom Thread" earned $220,000 from four theaters over the weekend after its Christmas opening. Starring Daniel Day-Lewis as a designer, "Phantom Thread" has grossed $531,000 to date.

"As end of year marketplaces go, this is a great time to be a moviegoer," said Paul Dergarabedian, a senior media analyst for comScore. "There are so many movies out there, the only trick is how do you see all of them."

10 movies to get excited about in 2018

The year as a whole will surpass $11 billion again, with comScore projecting $11.12 billion, which is down 2.3 percent from last year's record-breaking grosses ($11.4 billion), and almost on par with 2015's $11.14 billion.

"We actually had a really great end of year surge," Dergarabedian said. "'Star Wars' adding about a half billion dollars didn't hurt. But 'Star Wars' didn't do this alone. It's not just about the big movies at the top, it's also about the smaller movies that provided a really great foundation. Every dollar counts."

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to comScore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1."Star Wars: The Last Jedi," $52.4 million.

2."Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle," $50.6 million.

3."Pitch Perfect 3," $17.8 million.

4."The Greatest Showman," $15.3 million.

5."Ferdinand," $11.7 million.

6."Coco," $6.6 million.

7."All the Money in the World," $5.5 million.

8."Darkest Hour," $5.3 million.

9."Downsizing," $4.6 million.

10."Father Figures," $3.7 million.

--By Lindsey Bahr, AP Film Writer

I have reviewed more than 50 flavors of ice cream this year. Which ones were your favorites?

Thanks to the Times Square Alliance and Countdown Entertainment, the co-organizers of the Times Square New Year's Eve celebration, we have live stream coverage of the party.

As the world prepared to ring in the New Year, there were hundreds of children already celebrating as part of the 21st annual First Night Jr. in Holyoke.

HOLYOKE - As the world prepared to ring in the New Year, there were hundreds of children already celebrating as part of the 21^st annual First Night Jr. in Holyoke.

Sunday's six-hour event centered around the Children's Museum of Holyoke, The Holyoke Merry-Go-Round, The DCR Massachusetts Visitor's Center and the Volleyball Hall of Fame.

A pay-one-price $8 ticket entitled the bearer to all activities and admissions to all buildings. The afternoon celebration included face painting stations, a chance to meet the Trolls, glitter tattoos, storytelling, and a visit with Moana, Belle, Spiderman, and Lewis the Duck.

A special 30-minute informational seminar and demonstration was supplied by members of The Zoo in Forest Park and Education Center Zoo on the Go, and a hands-on demonstration featuring Mad Science.

Other activities included an arts and craft station located in the DCR Visitors Center and a musical performance by Roger Tincknell prior to a countdown of the ceremonial ball drop.

A handcrafted ice sculpture by Mike Rondeau, of Palmer, was displayed at the entrance of the Merry-Go-Round where visitors enjoyed unlimited rides with their paid admission ticket. 

The glittering crystal ball dropped with a burst of confetti and dazzling fireworks as revelers rang in 2018 in frigid Times Square -- the second-coldest celebration there on record.

NEW YORK -- The glittering crystal ball dropped with a burst of confetti and dazzling fireworks as revelers rang in 2018 in frigid Times Square -- the second-coldest celebration there on record.

It was only 10 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 12 Celsius) in the city, and the celebration was less crowded than other years. Some of the metal pens, usually packed with people, were only half-full. Some revelers, bundled up in hats, gloves, face masks and numerous layers of clothing, jogged to keep warm, others bounced and danced. Some stood and shivered.

Mariah Carey made it through her set on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest" after bungling the performance last year. She dressed in a floor-length gown that exposed skin and a furry white coat, performing her 1990s hits "Vision of Love" and "Hero."

Carey asked for hot tea between songs -- and joked that it was "a disaster" that there wasn't any. But a year ago she stumbled through her short set, failing to sing for most of it despite a pre-recorded track of her songs playing in the background. She was visibly upset during the performance a year ago and blamed the show's production team, but they ultimately buried the hatchet.

She's Back! Mariah Carey Returns to the New Year's Rockin' Eve Stage with a Flawless Performance https://t.co/vKusalYlDx

-- People (@people) January 1, 2018

Oh, Mariah [?] [?] [?] she really has a good sense of humor #RockinEve pic.twitter.com/gnDLtTRvRR

-- Shauntell (@ShayLanise) January 1, 2018

The dazzling finale of the show was the traditional drop of a Waterford Crystal ball down a pole atop 1 Times Square.

This year, the ball was 12 feet (3.5 meters) in diameter, weighs 11,875 pounds (5,385 kilograms) and was covered with 2,688 triangles that change colors like a kaleidoscope, illuminated by 32,256 LED lights. When the first ball drop happened in 1907, it was made of iron and wood and adorned with 100 25-watt light bulbs. The first celebration in the area was in 1904, the year the city's first subway line started running.

After two terrorist attacks and a rampaging SUV driver who plowed into a crowd on the very spot where the party takes place, police were taking no chances.

Security was tighter than ever before. Garages in the area were sealed off. Detectives were stationed at area hotels working with security officials to prevent sniper attacks.

Thousands of uniformed officers lined the streets. Concrete blocks and sanitation trucks blocked vehicles from entering the secure area where spectators gathered. Partygoers passed through one of a dozen checkpoints where they were screened and then screened again as they made their way to the main event.

At 48th Street and Seventh Avenue, Chris Garcia, his girlfriend, Zayra Velazquez, and her brother Edgar Valdez stood rigidly, having waited in the cold for almost six hours. Valdez said he felt "pretty safe" at the event.

"They checked us pretty good," he said. "Police checked what we had, and another scanned us with metal detectors."

Give it up for 2018! [?] [?] [?] HAPPY NEW YEAR, everyone! #RockinEve pic.twitter.com/kf1B4xtx91

-- New Year's Rockin' Eve (@NYRE) January 1, 2018

The police department estimates that it costs $7.5 million to protect the event.

The frostiest ball drop on record was 1 degree Fahrenheit (minus 17 Celsius) in 1907. In 1962 it was just 11 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 12 Celsius) outside, and in 1939 and 2008 it was 18 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 8 Celsius).

Happy New Year! Welcoming 2018 around the world: photos

Remle Scott and her boyfriend, Brad Whittaker, of San Diego, arrived shortly after 9 a.m., saying they were trying to keep a positive attitude as temperatures hovered in the teens. Each was wearing several layers of clothing.

"Our toes are frozen, so we're just dealing with it by dancing," Scott said.

Some wore red scarfs that read "Happy New Year" and others donned yellow and purple hats as a pizza deliveryman sold pies to the hungry crowd.

-- By Rebecca Gibian and David James Jeans, Associated Press

A new brew is always exciting to try.

As we begin a new year, I'm digging into something old.

Or rather, some things old.

We all like new things, and beer fans are no different. A new brew is always exciting to try, but that's not the type of new/old paradigm I'm addressing today. No, today, I'm taking a look at the idea of drinking certain beers while they're still young and fresh. Most of these are IPAs, especially the super hoppy ones that brewers encourage you to consider as soon as possible after purchase.

This make sense, of course, as the beer's hop profile is the one aspect that will definitely degrade over time. Other facets of a brew's flavor will also change as the beer ages, but the diminishing of the hop aspect is the most noticeable, especially in hoppy beers.

So today I'm looking at three local hoppy IPAs that I allowed to age for a few months just to see how they evolved: Tree House's Alter Ego, Building 8's The IPA, and Brewmaster Jack's Hoppiness is a Warm Pun.

In no way am I trying to compare these three beers either in their fresh form or in their aged form. They are all unique in their own way. And since these beers have been sitting for different lengths of time, it would be unfair even if I decided to do an A/B/C comparison. So here we go:

Alter Ego:

One thing laying a beer down doesn't seem to do is clarify it. This brew retained the most of its cloudiness as a New England-style IPA. The aged version's nose was much softer to the point of being virtually nonexistent compared to the rich citrus of a fresh can. The hops in the flavor profile definitely mellowed, and revealed a moderate and tasty biscuit malt vein.

When consumed fresh, the beer is pretty smooth upfront and this became even more the case with an aged sample. It definitely a smoother finish, with less of the mango aftertaste. In some ways, I almost liked the aged version a little better than when it's fresh. It came across as a slightly hoppier-than-normal blonde ale. The uber hopheads who buy it for what it supposed to be probably won't enjoy it nearly as much, but it was still quite good.

Hoppiness is a Warm Pun:

This one was almost nine months old and because it is a double IPA, it probably had more malt to reveal as it aged. This was apparent in the nose which was very mild in terms of hops after the aging. The fresh version has a fantastic pine-citrus combo aroma.

The malt that blossomed here in the aged version was a little toastier than Allter Ego
The back end retained enough hops to make it resemble an old-school IPA from, say, maybe 12 or 15 years ago. Think of the original days of Racer 5, etc. (I'm not saying it tastes like Racer 5 - I'm just saying it's in that general category as far as hoppiness.) The aged version also somewhat of a nutty finish.

The IPA:

Like the other two, and the nose was almost imperceptible after aging. This one still had a bit of have a bite upfront, but nowhere near as much as when it's fresh.

There was a bit more interplay between the hops in the malt remaining after aging, so the malt didn't assert itself the way it had in the other cases. It was still very tasty and as good as a lot of other beers on the market when they're fresh. But this is one I definitely prefer to drink within days of it being canned. (Side note: Building 8's double IPA is another matter altogether. While I haven't aged it like I did with these three, I usually wait a week or two after I get a can to drink it. It mellows it just enough to reduce the green hop bite -- not that it needs to do that.)

Have you ever laid down a beer that is supposed to be consumed while fresh?

The event is set for Jan. 27.

Building on a successful series of "Downton Abbey"-themed events, WGBY in Springfield is once again offering area supporters of public television the chance to step out and socialize in style.

This season it's the popularity of the Masterpiece Theater series "Victoria" on which WGBY is relying. Planned for Saturday, Jan. 27 at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meetinghouse in Holyoke, the 2018 Masterpiece Ball draws its inspiration from the manners and traditions of 1840s England, the early years of Queen Victoria's reign. WGBY's staff has made special efforts to incorporate as much of the era's decorative and menu sensibilities as possible into their planning for the event.

The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with a "Drawing Room" reception. A five-course candlelit dinner is to follow, with wines provide by Humboldt Imports of Sharon, MA.

After a short waltz performance by the Vintage Dance Society, those attending will have the opportunity to take to the dance floor. The WGBY Ballroom Orchestra under the direction of Jeffrey Holmes will be providing music for the evening.
The ball will also have live and silent auction segments.

Two participation levels are available for the ball. Gentry ($125) gain admission to the event; Royalty ($200) receives special seating and a swag bag.

Tickets may be purchased on line at wgby.org/masterpieceball or by calling (413) 781-2801, Ext. 1547.

Side Dishes:

The Gill Tavern in Gill has announced that it will be closed for a winter break from Wednesday, January 3 through Sunday, January 7. Normal operating hours will resume on Wednesday, January 9. The Gill Tavern answers at (413) 863-9006.

January also brings the start of a winter schedule at the Salem Cross Inn in West Brookfield, with the restaurant open Fridays for lunch and dinner, Saturdays for dinner starting at 4 p.m., and Sundays for dinner starting at 12 noon. The Hexmark Tavern will be serving dinner on Fridays from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The hours listed above continue through the month of February; in March Thursday get added back into the mix.
Fireplace Feast evenings will be held most Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons during the winter months.
For more details contact the Salem Cross Inn at (508) 867-2345.

On January 14 Figaro Restaurant in Enfield, CT will be hosting an interactive comedy-drama, "Mafia Murders Mystery Show."
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. For more details or to reserve tickets, contact the restaurant at (860) 745-2414.

For this month's Beer Dinner at the Hofbrauhaus, Joe Stevens has organized "A Taste of Summer" event featuring Carlsberg Lager.
Planned for January 10 at 6 p.m., the "Taste" is designed to evoke the lazy days of July and August. The dinner's menu starts with seafood salad and clam cakes before going on to feature fried shrimp, clam strips, fried fish filets, and calamari marinara.
The side dishes will include summer classics such as coleslaw, french fries, potato salad, and mixed greens; rolls and butter will be offered as well.
A dessert table is also planned.
The ticket price of $19.95 per person covers the buffet dinner and a half-liter stein of the evening's featured beer. Taxes and gratuity are additional, and reservations are required.
Call (413) 737-4905 to have a place at the table held.

On Wednesday, January 17 at 6:30 p.m. the Student Prince Cafe and Fort Restaurant in downtown Springfield will be presenting a "Winter Wunderland" Beer Dinner.
Priced at $55 per person, the evening will feature six dark craft-brewed beers paired with a six-course menu created by the Fort's talented kitchen team.
Featured breweries include Jack's Abby, Spencer Trappist, and Berkshire Brewing Company.
Tickets can be ordered by calling (413) 734-7475.

January's Learn to Drink Like a Pro event at the Delaney House in Holyoke will be reprising some of the menu items from last year's sessions in what's being billed as a "Best Food of DLAP 2017" dinner.
A first course of shiitake and bok choy broth will be paired with Domaine Chandon Blanc de Noirs, while the second remove will bring back sweet potato crostini topped with fig preserves, goat cheese, candied walnuts, and a balsamic drizzle. Domain Vincent Delaporte Sancerre will be the featured wine.
Sage and apricot meatballs will be the main course, with a Batasiolo Barbera D'Alba being poured alongside.
For dessert the kitchen will recreate the sombero, a cinnamon-dusted corn tortilla filled with chocolate mousse and fresh berries. Domaine Chandon Sweet Star is to be the dessert course wine.
Drink Like a Pro evenings begin at 6 p.m. and cost $35, tax and gratuity extra. Contact the Delaney House at (413) 532-1800 for additional information or reservations.

Poland Culinary Vacations has announced its first itinerary for 2018. "Cooking Your Way from Krakow to Zakopane" will explore the culture and culinary traditions of Lesser Poland, the southeastern region of the country that surrounds Krakow.
Like all Poland Culinary Vacations, the tours focus on food and culture, with tastings, cooking lessons, and visits to food-related attractions.
Two trips are scheduled, one from May 27 to June 2 and a second, which includes Krakow's annual Pierogi Festival, runs August 12 through August 18.
More information is available at polandculinaryvacations.com or by calling (888) 703-8130.

Starting January 2, Olive Garden Italian Kitchen locations are adding two new items to their "Tastes of Mediterranean" menu.
The "Tastes" menu is Olive Garden's collection of healthy eating options, featuring under-600 calorie entrees inspired by the flavors of Italy. Current selections from that lineup include chicken margherita and shrimp scampi; the new dishes debuting this month are spiralized veggie pasta and chicken giardino.
Spiralized veggie pasta features spaghetti-cut zucchini, squash noodles, and whole grain linguine, all of which are tossed with tomatoes and garlic in a scampi herb sauce. The veggie pasta weighs in at around 560 calories.
Created from grilled chicken and fresh veggies tossed with pappardelle, chicken giardino is sauced with a light lemon-chicken-herb reduction. It's estimated per-portion calorie count is 600.
There are Olive Garden Italian Kitchen restaurants on Boston Road at Parker Street, on Riverdale Street in West Springfield, and on Hazard Road in Enfield, CT.

Hugh Robert is a faculty member in Holyoke Community College's hospitality and culinary arts program and has over 40 years of restaurant and educational experience. Please send items of interest to Off the Menu at the Republican, P.O. Box 1329, Springfield, MA 01101; Robert can also be reached at OffTheMenuGuy@aol.com

Former President Barack Obama unveiled his favorite books and music from 2017.

John Beattie | jbeattie@masslive.com 

John Beattie | jbeattie@masslive.com 

John Beattie | jbeattie@masslive.com 

Hint: The answer involves one of the most unfairly maligned kinds of wine - box wine.

Many people make New Year's resolutions this time of year. And losing weight often appears near the top of many people's list. But just because you're trying to lose weight doesn't mean you have to stop drinking wine.

Several years ago, I wrote about which wines have the fewest calories. And over the years, I have written about some of the best low-calorie wines out there, including low-calorie red wines and low-calorie white wines.

This year, I decided to do something different. I decided to write about low-calorie box wines. At least, that was the plan. But I had trouble finding box wines featuring some of the grapes that have the fewest calories. Those grapes are:

• Gamay (114 calories per 5 ounce glass)
• Gewurztraminer (118 calories per 5 ounce glass)
• Chenin Blanc (118 calories per 5 ounce glass)

But not to worry. That's because I have a theory about box wines. I believe people drink less when they drink wine out of a box. Or to put it another way, they don't have to drink wine as quickly when the wine comes in a box. That's because box wine stays fresher longer.

In contrast, many people drink wine from bottles quicker because they're afraid the wine will go bad in a day or two. That's why there are all sorts of gadgets designed to keep wine fresh beyond a few days. (One of my favorite is the Corarvin Model Two Wine System, which allows you to extract wine from a wine bottle without opening the bottle.)

On a side note, I also have a theory about why people seem to have larger and larger glasses of wine (with more calories) these days, especially at home. I blame many restaurants.

While what passes for a glass of wine at home has gotten steadily larger, the opposite seems to be happening at many restaurants in recent years. I remember the rule of thumb used to be that one, 750 ml bottle of wine contained four glasses of wine. Now, many restaurants try to squeeze five or sometimes six, stingy glasses out of a single bottle.

As a result, when many people are at home, they make up for those puny restaurant wine glasses by pouring massive glasses of wine at home.

So here's my advice. Have a smaller glass of wine at home. And if you're worried about your wine going bad, give a good box wine a try.

So that finally gets us around to my recommended wine for this week - 2015 Les Costieres de Pomerols Sud de France Saint-Peyre Picpoul de Pinet ($21.98 for 3 liter box at Table & Vine in West Springfield) Based on that price, that works out to $5.49 per bottle of wine, an incredible value for an outstanding wine.

I'm not sure how many calories are in each 5 ounce glass of this wine. That's because this white wine from France's Languedoc region is made with a very unusual grape: Piquepoul.

This grape reminds me in many ways of a Chenin Blanc, which is a low-calorie white wine grape. But I could not confirm whether these two grapes have anything in common.

One thing I do know is this Piquepoul wine is made in the Picpoul de Pinet style, a type of white wine made with Piquepoul Blanc grapes in Languedoc.

Another important fact about this wine - it's made by the same winery that makes one of my favorite box wines. In fact, the other box wine made by the same winery made my list of the Top 10 Wines Under $10 for 2017. That wine was Cheval Gris, Gris De Gris Rose ($24.99 for 3 Liter box at Table & Vine)

So how does the 2015 Les Costieres de Pomerols Sud de France Saint-Peyre Picpoul de Pinet taste? This dry, refreshing white wine has a clean, crisp finish. There's also a hint of green apples and lemon in the wine's flavor and aroma.

The wine also has a beautiful golden color and a light, floral fragrance and aftertaste. In short, it's an absolutely outstanding wine at an incredible price. And maybe, just maybe, you'll lose weight drinking this wine - if you can resist pouring a larger glass or two.

Cheers!

(Next Week - First in a series about wineries in Burgundy, France.)

Wine Press by Ken Ross appears on Masslive.com every Monday and in The Republican's weekend section every Thursday.

Follow Ken Ross on Twitter

The "American Idol" winner needed more than 40 stitches after a fall seven weeks ago.

Carrie Underwood needed more than 40 stitches after a fall outside her Nashville home on Nov. 10.

In a letter to her fan club members obtained by E! News on Monday night, the country music superstar said she received between 40 to 50 stitches on her face the night of the incident.

"Most of you know that I tripped and fell and broke my wrist in November. I'm still doing regular physical therapy for that, but all is coming along. There is also another part of the story that I haven't been ready to talk about since I have still been living it and there has been much uncertainty as to how things will end up," Underwood wrote. "It's crazy how a freak random accident can change your life."

The 34-year-old  "American Idol" winner continued: "In addition to breaking my wrist, I somehow managed to injure my face as well. I'll spare you the gruesome details, but when I came out of surgery the night of my fall, the doctor told (my husband)  Mike that he had put between 40 and 50 stitches in. Now, here we are 7 weeks later and, even though I've had the best people helping me, I'm still healing and not quite looking the same." 

"I honestly don't know how things are going to end up but I do know this: I am grateful," she stated. "I am grateful that it wasn't much, much worse. And I am grateful for the people in my life that have been there every step of the way."

If you're you're looking to make the new year a blue year, Theodores' has a great start during 2018's first weekend.

If you're you're looking to make the new year a blue year, Theodores' has a great start during 2018's first weekend.

Of course, by "blue," I mean the musical mood, not the emotion.

On Jan. 6, Springfield's renowned blues club will bring in The Juke Joint 5, a self-described "down-home, old school, no-nonsense, house-rocking rhythm & blues" combo. The Juke Joint 5 recreates sounds that were heard emanating in the early 1950s from late-night broadcasts: jumped-up rhythm and blues, raw Delta country sounds that were just getting electrified in Chicago, Memphis rockabilly, and the primitive beginnings of rock 'n' roll.

Formed in Boston several years ago, the Juke Joint 5 features drummer Richard Malcolm, guitarist Silvertone Steve, singer Gretchen Bostrom, saxophonist Dick "The Poet" Lourie, and and bassist John Bunszell. Bostrom's vocals set the edge for the band, which plays everything from originals to songs by Ruth Brown, Louis Jordan, Big Mama Thornton, Little Richard, Slim Harpo, and other performers.

Both Malcolm and Bunszell have also played with some of the area's finest musicians including Matt Stubbs, Racky Thomas and others. Bunszell has toured with Luther "Guitar" Johnson and has performed with a variety of Boston-based groups.

Theodores' is at 201 Worthington St. in Springfield.

Scouting Report

Bon Appetit Burlesque will do a "Best of 2017" show at the Florence VFW on Jan. 13 at 8 p.m. The show will feature 12 of the series most popular acts: Dot Mitzvah, Jane Doe, Blitzen Von Schtupp, Bettysioux Tailor, Sherman, Lezzie Borden, Chocolat Chaud, Mistress Leona Star, Ruby Solitaire, Vivienne LaFlamme, Dahlia Strack, and Bonanza Jellybean. The evening will be emceed as usual by Hors D'oeuvres, with music from DJ Cajar. There will also be the usual games and prizes. Patrons should be aware that the VFW is cash only and the venue is only accessible by stairs, so if you cannot easily use stairs, it will be difficult to attend the show.

The Rendezvous in Turners Fall said farewell to its longtime co-owner, manager and booker Jaime Berger, who said he will be focusing on other projects in the coming year. Berger was largely responsible for booking the cornucopia of entertainment at The 'Voo, which featured such acts ranging from renowned comedian/writer John Hodgman to local bands of all stripes. In a Facebook message about his departure, Berger thanked the community for its support and wished the venue well in its future endeavors. I send my best wishes to Berger as he moves on after helping to create a truly singular venue in Franklin County.

Do you have a cool event coming up at a local club? Send me a note about it via geolenker@yahoo.com at least two weeks in advance and I'll try to get it in this space.

She has been an advocate for women's rights in the workplace.

Gretchen Carlson, a former Miss America and Fox News host, has been elected chairman of the Miss America Organization Board of Directors after an email scandal forced a change in leadership.

The board also approved the addition of Laura Kaeppeler Fleiss, Miss America 2012;  Heather French Henry, Miss America 2000; and Kate Shindle, Miss America 1998 to its ranks on Monday.

"Everyone has been stunned by the events of the last several days, and this has not been easy for anyone who loves this program. In the end, we all want a strong, relevant Miss America and we appreciate the existing board taking the steps necessary to quickly begin stabilizing the organization for the future," Carlson said in a statement.

Published emails two weeks ago revealed that pageant bosses referred to past winners with a sexually demeaning vulgarity, criticized a former titleholder's weight and sex life and made other disparaging comments.

Carlson has been an advocate for women's rights in the workplace.

In July 2016, she accused Roger Ailes, Fox News' powerful CEO and chairman, of sexual harassment and retaliation.

Within months, Ailes was ousted from Fox News. The network apologized to Carlson and reportedly paid her $20 million in damages.

Taylor will bring his well-honed act to the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton on Jan. 5-6.

Livingston Taylor, who has been performing almost as long as his more famous and slightly older brother James, says that his five decades of playing music have taught him two main things:

"First, that life isn't about you, it's always about them," he said. "Can you make others brighter, smarter, better? And then, for all you creators out there... you have to watch your creativity land. You have to see what effect it's having on people."

Taylor will bring his well-honed act to the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton on Jan. 5-6 for his annual two shows to kick off the new year. Both concerts start at 7 p.m.

Of course, Taylor's approach to songwriting has evolved over the years. He feels he now has "more colors on the palette."

"I've practiced and studied enough that I can do Jerome Kearns, I can do Julie Stein, I can do Richard Rodgers, or Carole King," he said. "So it gives me a vastly broader palette."

Taylor mixes some satisfying new original tunes with a handful well-chosen cover songs on his latest record, "Safe Home." He includes a jazzy instrumental version of The Beatles' classic "Penny Lane," ("It's a song I've loved a long and one I've played along time," he said) and a revamped version of "Over the Rainbow," which he also did on his 1973 album of that name. This time, however, he let his friend, vocalist Chelsea Berry, sing it.

"She has such beautiful voice; I wanted to do it with her,"he said. "And with the players I had in there, it really gave it a different flavor. It was just another take on a song that I've lived with for 50 years."

Taylor has a very straightforward method for choosing cover tunes.

"My process is as simple as "Does it amuse me?" he said. "It's no more complicated than that."

Taylor also said his overall musical sojourn is a trip he is going on, and wants his audience to come with him, but if they don't feel like it, he's not going to just go somewhere else.

"It's not that I don't ask other people about things, but I'm not crowdsourcing my creative output. I want people to like it, but I don't need their opinion as to what I should do," he said.

The album was recorded with the musicians singing and playing live around one microphone as part of a Chesky Recording series that employs that methodology. Taylor has recorded for Chesky before, and enjoys recording that way and that it's not only a quick way to record, but also one that suits him very well.

"I really enjoy playing in the moment," he said. "But it does require you know the material, which means rehearsal time before going in goes way up. And we would usually do an average three takes for a song, but it could be as few as one."

The play runs through Feb. 11 at the West Springfield theater.

Two rabbits with not a single line of dialog in "Alabama Story," opening Thursday at The Majestic Theater in West Springfield, set the stage for the humor-laced social-justice drama earning rave reviews around the country.

 The play tells the true story of the state librarian of Alabama, Emily Wheelock Reed, who was persecuted for protecting books in the South during the days of the Jim Crow laws. In 1959, Garth Williams, a well-known writer and illustrator, had just published a children's book entitled "The Rabbit's Wedding," in which a black rabbit marries a white rabbit. State Sen. E. W. Higgins is outraged, certain that the book promotes race-mixing, and mounts a crusade to have it removed from the shelves and banned.

 "Alabama Story" has been hailed as a social justice drama that's "a vest-pocket cousin" to "To Kill a Mockingbird." It has been described as a "love letter to reading," and productions have garnered both critical praise and standing ovations wherever it's been produced.

 Playwright Kenneth Jones was inspired by a 1959 news clip from The New York Times entitled "Children's Book Stirs Alabama: White Rabbit Weds Black Rabbit," that offered a whole world of drama for the theatrical stage.

 "In the piece, its two main characters are at odds with each other. You have a librarian who is passionate about the free-flow of information and who wants to keep the status quo, and a senator who wants to limit that free-flow of information. I knew there was something whimsical about the story - two people haggling over a children's book about an innocent story of a black rabbit marrying a white rabbit - and wondered if there was a way I might present a political story interwoven with a children's story," said author Kenneth Jones in an interview with The Republican.

 "So, I introduced a presentational storytelling format that might remind you of a children's story hour set in a library, where the librarian reads a book to kids in the children's section. I wanted to have Garth Williams be the main character in the play telling the story to the audience, and he talks directly to the audience about writing his book and why he wrote it," he added.

  Author Jones has introduced another story of childhood friends -- an African-American man and a woman of white privilege, reunited in adulthood in Montgomery that same year -- into his play, providing private counterpoint to the public events of the play.

 "Because the political story focused on woman versus man, insider versus outsider, conservative versus liberal, I wanted to introduce a love story into the play to add some poetry to it. So, I devised a fictional story about a black man, Joshua, and white woman, Lilly, who are trapped by roles in the Jim Crow South, with almost every other scene charting their relationship," Jones said.

 "Most of the story between Lilly and Joshua happens outdoors, so there is a lot of contrast between  the sensuous world of the South such as trees, romance, and food, alongside the indoors of politics with desks, cigars, files, newspapers and the Capital," he added.

 The Majestic's producing director, Danny Eaton, invited Siragusa to direct "Alabama Story" after seeing a play she directed last summer at New Century Theatre.

 "What attracted me to direct the play - my first time with The Majestic Theatre - was its similarity to Thornton Wilder's play 'Our Town,' which had a narrator just as playwright Kenneth Jones introduced into his story with Garth Williams, addressing the audience," Siragusa said.

 "The author has written a story about love, race and heritage and made it really understandable. He has done something exceptional with this very interesting story and I hope audiences will love it as much as we do," she added.

 A finalist in the 2014 Eugene O'Neill National Playwrights Conference and a 2016 nominee for the Steinberg/American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award, "Alabama Story" had its world premiere Jan. 9-24, 2015, at Pioneer Theatre Company in Salt Lake City, UT. It enjoyed five regional productions in 2016 in Cape Cod, Florida, Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan, with at least 11 more scheduled for the 2017-18 season theater season, including Massachusetts at The Majestic.

The play runs through Feb. 11.

She won a Daytime Emmy Award in 2010 as part of the "Today" show team.

Hoda Kotb has been named to replace longtime "Today" co-host Matt Lauer, who was fired on Nov. 29 amid sexual harassment allegations.

Kotb, 53,  won a Daytime Emmy Award  in 2010 as part of the "Today"  show team. She has been a correspondent for "Dateline NBC."

Co-host Savannah Guthrie made the announcement at the start of Tuesday morning's broadcast, calling it "the most popular decision NBC News has ever made."

"Hoda, you are a partner, and a friend and a sister and I am so happy to be doing this," Guthrie said.

Kotb told Guthrie there is no one she would rather be co-hosting with in 2018.

No mention was made of the scandal that forced Lauer from the post he had held for 20 years.

In the weeks since Lauer's departure, Kotb has hosted "Today" with Guthrie and the show has overtaken rival "Good Morning America" in the ratings.

Beyond thrilling! #SavannahHodaTODAY https://t.co/S5Cj9x8pTu

-- Savannah Guthrie (@SavannahGuthrie) January 2, 2018

Congratulations @hodakotb Just officially named new co-host of @TODAYshow along side @SavannahGuthrie What a great team to wake up to!

-- Lester Holt (@LesterHoltNBC) January 2, 2018

So happy for my dear friend @hodakotb !! Congratulations on being named the new Co Anchor of @TODAYshow !! Nobody does it better!!

-- Kathie Lee Gifford (@KathieLGifford) January 2, 2018

What a way to start 2018! So so happy for my friend and colleague @hodakotb as she sits alongside another friend and colleague @SavannahGuthrie Two of the brightest stars to wake up to on @TODAYshow every morning! #SavannahHodaTODAY https://t.co/KxFGanvTcP

-- Dylan Dreyer (@DylanDreyerNBC) January 2, 2018

A hearty #congratulations to @hodakotb officially our new @TODAYshow #cohost with @SavannahGuthrie #SavannahHodaTODAY pic.twitter.com/SNNZ2y8Zko

-- Al Roker (@alroker) January 2, 2018

Reviews of recent movies. Watch video

FAMILY FOCUS

• "Coco" (PG)
• "Ferdinand" (PG)
• "The Greatest Showman" (PG)
• "The Star" (PG)
• "Wonder" (PG)

BLADE RUNNER 2049 - THREE AND A HALF STARS - (R) Thirty years after the events of the first film, a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K (Ryan Gosling), unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what's left of society into chaos. K's discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former LAPD blade runner who has been missing for 30 years. The film deepens and expands its predecessor's story while standing as an impressive filmmaking achievement in its own right. (164 min.)

COCO - THREE AND A HALF STARS - (PG) Despite his family's baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. "Coco" is adeeply affecting -- approach to questions of culture, family, life, and death. (109 min.)

DOWNSIZING - TWO STARS - (R) When scientists discover how to shrink humans to five inches tall as a solution to over-population, Paul (Matt Damon) and his wife Audrey (Kristen Wiig) decide to abandon their stressed lives in order to get small and move to a new downsized community--a choice that triggers life-changing adventures. (135 min.)

FERDINAND - THREE STARS - (PG) . After being mistaken for a dangerous beast, Ferdinand the bull is captured and torn from his home. Determined to return to his family, he rallies a misfit team to help him. (107 min.)

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN - TWO STARS - (PG)  Inspired by the imagination of P.T. Barnum, "The Greatest Showman" is an original musical that celebrates his rise to fame.  (105 min.)

JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE - THREE STARS - (PG-13) An entertaining remake with Dwayne Johnson. When four high-school kids discover an old video game console with a game they've never heard of--Jumanji--they are immediately drawn into the game's jungle setting, literally becoming the avatars they chose. What they discover is that you don't just play Jumanji--you must survive it. (112 min.)

JUSTICE LEAGUE - TWO AND A HALF STARS - (PG-13) Inspired by Superman's selfless act at the end of "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice," Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Wonder Woman, to recruit a team to battle a new threat. An improvement over "Batman v. Superman," but not a top-notch superhero offering. (110 min.)

MOLLY'S GAME - THREE STARS - (R) Based on the true story of Molly Bloom, an Olympic-class skier who ran the world's most exclusive high-stakes poker game for a decade before being arrested in the middle of the night by 17 FBI agents wielding automatic weapons. Her players included Hollywood royalty, sports stars, business titans and finally, unbeknownst to her, the Russian mob. (140 min.)

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS - TWO AND A HALF STARS - (PG-13) Stylish production and an all-star ensemble keep this Murder on the Orient Express from running off the rails, even if it never quite builds up to its classic predecessor's illustrious head of steam. (114 min.)

ROMAN J. ISRAEL ESQ. - TWO STARS - (PG-13) Roman J. Israel, Esq. is a dramatic thriller set in the underbelly of the overburdened Los Angeles criminal court system. Denzel Washington stars as a driven, idealistic defense attorney whose life is upended when a turbulent series of events challenge the activism that has defined his career. (117 min.)

THE STAR - TWO STARS - (PG) Bo, a small but brave donkey, yearns for a life beyond his daily grind in this animated tale. One day he finds the courage to break free, and finally goes on the adventure of his dreams. (86 min.)

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI - THREE STARS - (PG-13) A welcome disturbance in the Force, Rian Johnson's "The Last Jedi" is, by wide measure, the trippiest, scrappiest and most rule-breaking "Star Wars" adventure yet. Not the exercise in nostalgia that was J.J. Abrams' "The Force Awakens," Johnson's Episode VIII takes George Lucas' space opera in new, often thrilling, and sometimes erratic directions while finding the truest expression yet of the saga's underlying ethos of camaraderie in resistance to oppression. Though there are countless familiar broad strokes -- rebel escapes, Jedi soul-searching, daddy issues -- "The Last Jedi" has discovered some new moves yet, in the galaxy far, far away. (152 min.)

THOR: RAGNAROK - THREE STARS - (PG-13) Thor is imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his mighty hammer and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok--the destruction of his homeworld and the end of Asgardian civilization--at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela. (130 min.)

WONDER - THREE STARS - (PG) Based on the New York Times bestseller, "Wonder" tells the inspiring and heartwarming story of August Pullman. Born with facial differences that, up until now, have prevented him from going to a mainstream school, he becomes the most unlikely of heroes when he enters the local fifth grade. (113 min.)

(Star ratings based on The Washington Post, Associated Press, Rotten Tomatoes aggregation and Advance Digital reviews)

The 34-year-old singer looks unchanged, though not all of her face is visible in the photograph posted on Dec. 12 by "Below Deck" actress Adrienne Gang.

A photograph of country singer Carrie Underwood taken a month after a fall reportedly resulted in more than 40 stitches to her face was posted to Twitter.

The 34-year-old singer looks unchanged, though not all of her face is visible in the photograph posted on Dec. 12 by "Below Deck" actress Adrienne Gang. She appears to be wearing a wrist brace.

Gang met up with Underwood at a Tennessee gym, where the pair posed for a picture together.

After fans pointed out it was the first time Underwood had been photographed since the Nov. 10 accident, Gang reassured them that the former "American Idol" winner looked "amazing," adding she had "no clue" Underwood was injured.

In a letter to her fan club members obtained by E! News on Monday night, the country music superstar said she received more than 40 stitches on her face  after a fall on the stairs outside her Nashville home.

"In addition to breaking my wrist, I somehow managed to injure my face as well," Underwood wrote. "I'll spare you the gruesome details, but when I came out of surgery the night of my fall, the doctor told (my husband)  Mike that he had put between 40 and 50 stitches in. Now, here we are 7 weeks later and, even though I've had the best people helping me, I'm still healing and not quite looking the same." 

Just worked out next to @carrieunderwood NBD... she is adorable and so gracious... LOVE HER! #BelowDeck pic.twitter.com/scDPGudEe3

-- Adrienne Gang (@AdrienneGang) December 12, 2017

Ticket demand called "overwhelming" for stadium tour Watch video

Taylor Swift has added an unprecedented third show to her stay at Gillette Stadium this summer.

Swift's "reputation" tour, already scheduled for concerts on July 27 and July 28, will also take the stage in Foxboro on Thursday, July 26.

Tickets for the third concert will go on sale Jan. 31 at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster's Verified Fan program. Ticket information is available through taylorswift.com.

Swift releases her sixth studio album "reputation" in November.