A new year introduces new possibilities with new goals to strive towards and the F.M. Kirby Center is here to help with those resolutions.

Did you resolve to be happier? Studies show that patronizing the arts improves personal happiness.  Is your goal to see friends more often or experience something new? Each of our performances provides a unique night out with lasting memories as your eternal souvenir. Did you promise to hit the gym? We don’t have a gym, but singing and dancing to live music is great for your cardio.

Over the next few months, our calendar features plenty of ways to keep up with your resolutions and spend an enriching, entertaining night at the theater.

From dogs and trombones to blues guitar and rock, awesome talent comes to Wilkes-Barre

Puppy Pals Live! Thursday, Jan. 18 at 6:30 p.m.

Usually, our performers have talents like singing, acting, and dancing. On January 18, we welcome a group of professionals more likely to sit, stay, and roll over.

Don’t expect the ordinary from the pups of Puppy Pals Live, though— their comedic stunt dog show features feats impressive enough to land them on the stage of NBC’s hit competition show America’s Got Talent! The canine cast of this family-friendly performance is made mostly of rescue dogs that left the shelter for the stage. Now, they’re touring the country entertaining fans of good dogs and great experiences.

A portion of each ticket sale will go towards Blue Chip Farm Animal Refuge. You can learn more about Blue Chip and other local dog-centric organizations at tables in our main lobby. It’s all part of our commitment to supporting our community—and the four-legged friends we cherish.

We don’t host animal-centric shows often, so take this chance to see some of the amazing things our furry friends are capable of!

An Evening of Love Songs feat. Tim Husty and Erin Malloy – Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m.

This Valentine’s Day, treat your special someone to an intimate performance in our beautiful Chandelier Lobby.

During An Evening of Love Songs, you’ll uncover the timeless ruminations on romance found inside classic tunes chosen by Lush Life Ensemble and vocalists Tim Husty and Erin Malloy. Whether you’re stoking the fires of a new love or writing the next chapter in your ongoing love story, An Evening of Love Songs turns our beautiful Art Deco gathering place into a magical, romantic memory for you and yours to hold onto forever.

The Fab Four – Sunday, Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m.

This isn’t the first time we’re hosting The Fab Four, but it may be the best time to see them.

During their February 25 show, the Beatles tribute will play every song on Rubber Soul, the album that signaled a shift in John, Paul, George, and Ringo’s musical style. The hit-heavy record will make up part of The Fab Four’s setlist, with other recognizable tracks from the band’s career played throughout the night. This rare full album play may not happen again, so don’t miss your chance to see the acclaimed record live!

Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue with The Soul Rebels – Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 8 p.m.

Listening to Trombone Shorty is like dancing your way through the last century of popular music.

With his crisp, clear singing voice propped up by the players in Orleans Avenue, Shorty travels through time piecing together a patchwork sound made from soul, swing, big band, doo-wop, funk, and rock. It comes together to form something uniquely his—something you shouldn’t miss when he celebrates Shorty Gras here February 27.

He’ll be joined by The Soul Rebels, a New Orleans brass ensemble that’s played with everyone from Green Day and Metallica to Snoop Dogg and Lauryn Hill. Together, this one-two punch is bringing Bourbon Street to our theater!

Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band with Ally Venable – Tuesday, March 12 at 7:30 p.m.

Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band’s Dirt on My Diamonds Tour is coming straight for the Diamond City!

The award-winning blues guitarist returns to Wilkes-Barre for another can’t-miss engagement at the F.M. Kirby Center. He’s bringing tracks from the new album Dirt on My Diamonds Vol. 1 along for the ride, as well as other favorites plucked from his catalog of crowd pleasers.

Shepherd is joined on tour by fellow blues player Ally Venable. Once listed as one of the genre’s rising stars, Venable turned premonition into reality with a handful of albums that showcase why she and her band were named 2016 blues band of the year. Her latest, Real Gone, garnered rave reviews for its infectious songs that beg to be heard live.

This is a big one for blues fans, and we couldn’t be more excited.

Disco Biscuits – Thursday, March 28 at 8 p.m.

Why do you dance? Are your movements for the moment, or are you shaking off the dust of the day? Either way, Disco Biscuits provide the music for your motion on their Why We Dance tour, stopping at the F.M. Kirby Center March 28!

The Biscuits are a Philadelphia jam institution, but like any good thing, they grow as they go. The band’s current iteration pulls freely from the worlds of jam rock and electronic music, creating a sonic concoction that combines the former’s energy with the lush soundscapes of the latter. The band calls it trancefusion. We call it irresistible.

If you’re here to dance on March 28, you’ll want to grab a general admission ticket for our floor. If you’d rather sit and take it all in, you may choose a seat in our mezzanine or balcony.

Get Your Show Tickets

At the F.M. Kirby Center, our resolution remains the same: provide our community with enriching and accessible performing arts experiences. Over the next few months, we hope you’ll find multiple reasons to patronize our theater—and we can’t wait to say hello. To purchase tickets, visit kirbycenter.org, visit us on Public Square in downtown Wilkes-Barre, or call our box office at 570-826-1100. Happy New Year!