Entertainment

Box office looking for successful run for rest of 2025

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

The season is officially changing, and that includes upcoming movie releases.

As Mitchell Theaters owner Brian Mitchell tells it, this past spring and summer saw multiple very successful releases.

“The spring started off a little slow, but then everything really ramped up when we saw the release of 'A Minecraft Movie' and 'Sinners' and the 'Lilo & Stitch' remake. There was 'Jurassic World Rebirth,' that did really well, and 'The Last Rodeo' also played really well for us. The 'How To Train Your Dragon' remake also saw some really good numbers, as did 'F1 The Movie,' 'Superman,' 'Weapons' and 'The Bad Guys 2,' so we were happy with all of that,” Mitchell said. “Throughout the summer, we had some movies overperform and some movies underperform, but all in all, this season did end up slightly better than last year. A lot of people were expecting more, and August slowed down slightly quicker than expected, but we were happy with how the season ended up.”

Margo Price inspires with ‘Hard Headed Woman’ album

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

Many members of my family can attest when I was growing up, I was a rather stubborn child. It’s a trait I definitely inherited from my late dad, and that has helped me grow into a hard-headed woman when it comes to particular topics.

Singer Margo Price recently released her newest album, “Hard Headed Woman,” and while I was listening to it while working on some other work recently, there were multiple times where I couldn’t help but think ‘I feel SEEN right now!” Ultimately, the album ended up being a very smart click.

Cicchini talks upcoming book ‘The Central Park Irregulars’

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

Young readers looking for a good mystery will soon have just that chance thanks to author Paul Cicchini.

Cicchini recently announced the upcoming release of his newest book “The Central Park Irregulars,” which follows a group of children who form a detective club in Central Park to solve the mystery of a stolen artifact and clear leader Harper Jensen's mother's name. The newly-formed group of friends follow clues throughout the famous park, uncovering a dangerous plot involving international smuggling and family secrets.

The Sidekicks to kick off 2025-26 Community Concerts series

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

Those looking to go back in time through music will soon have just that opportunity.

The Sidekicks will be performing Monday, Sept. 8 in Maskus Auditorium at Liberal High School to kick off this year's Community Concerts of Liberal series. The show will start at 7:30 p.m., and tickets will be available at the door that evening. The group specializes in paying tribute to the 1970s and early 1980s, and the show will also feature musical hits and pop-culture tidbits.

2025 High Plains Music Fest coming Sept. 13 to Dirtona Raceway

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

Those looking for some good music and an evening out will soon have just that opportunity in Hugoton.

This year’s High Plains Music Fest will be Saturday, Sept. 13 at Dirtona Raceway just outside Hugoton, with the gates opening at 5:30 p.m. and the music lasting from 6 p.m. to midnight. This year's music lineup will include Hayden Graber, Gannon Fremin & CCREV, Sterling Elza, and the headliner will be Kolby Cooper. The charities that will be benefitted from this year's proceeds are Project Hope, Peace House Ministries, the Rolla Fire Department, Southwest Miracles, Hands of Hope, Panhandle Partners, the Stevens County Fire Department, Love From Above (which is part of Pheasant Heaven Charities), Hugoton After Prom, Boy Scouts Troop 198, and the Dust Bowl Riders.