LOS ANGELES — As Usher prepares to launch a stadium tour with Chris Brown, he says the criticism and legal troubles surrounding the singer never factored into his decision to embark on the tour. “Absolutely not,” Usher told The Associated Press. “He’s my brother, and he’s amazing ...

The World Ballet Company will bring its production of “The Nutcracker” to Packard Music Hall on Dec. 1. The performance will feature Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s score performed by a live orchestra and 150 hand-crafted costumes. Tickets for the 7 p.m. performance go on sale 10 a.m. ...

Staff report Tickets go on sale Friday for “Pagliacci,” which will be Opera Western Reserve’s fall production. “Pagliacci” (The Clowns) is a verismo-style opera, featuring realistic characters thrust into everyday life crises. Italian composer Ruggero Leoncavallo wrote both the ...

Staff report Rapper Nelly, who drew a huge crowd at the Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre in 2021, returns to the Mahoning Valley for a Sept. 13 concert at the Covelli Centre. In 2000 Nelly released his debut album, “Country Grammar,” which sold more than 10 million copies and ...

1-4 — 80th Newton Falls 4th of July Festival at community park 1 — TLC Acoustic and Sandy’s Melt Down at Kinsman Free Public Library at 5:30 p.m. 1 — Lit Youngstown First Wednesday Reader Series: Meredith Doench and Erin Flanagan at Westside Bowl, Youngstown, at 7 p.m. 1 — ...

Simply Slavic turns 15 — and three — this year. It’s the 15th anniversary for the festival created to celebrate the traditions of the European countries and their immigrants that make up Slavic culture. It’s also the first time the festival has expanded to three days, running this ...