ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

Those looking for blockbuster entertainment this summer should look no further than the local movie theater.

Mitchell Theaters owner Brian Mitchell said this summer is coming off of a good fall and winter.

“The first quarter of 2026 was up more than 30 percent from the first quarter of 2025, which we were pleased to see. There was a much better selection of movies for the moviegoing public, and that’s what we needed, a steady stream of good movies,” Mitchell said. “The holiday season ended up being really good for us, we had movies like ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ and ‘Wicked: For Good’ and ‘Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere,’ among many others, and we were glad to see that success too. Then, starting with this first quarter, we had ‘I Can Only Imagine 2,’ ‘Hoppers,’ ‘Project Hail Mary,’ and ‘The Super Mario Galaxy.’ We had some really strong movies the first quarter of 2026, so everybody's very, very pleased with that.”

ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

Those looking for good entertainment coming to the local area will have that starting later this year thanks to Community Concerts of Liberal.

The 2026-27 season will start with It Takes Two – A Legendary Revue, who will be performing at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, followed by ArcoStrum, which will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21. The season will then continue with comedian Todd Oliver, who will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, 2027, followed by Nu-Blu, which will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 16, 2027. The season will conclude with the One of These Nights tribute to The Eagles, which will be at at 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 24, 2027, and all the concerts will take place in Maskus Auditorium at Liberal High School. 

ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

Jon Bernthal’s tenure as Marvel Comics favorite Frank Castle/The Punisher has been met with a lot of praise since his debut in the original Netflix run of “Daredevil” and then his own solo show later on. Earlier this week, fans got the chance for more of Bernthal’s run with the Marvel Special Presentation of “The Punisher: One Last Kill.”

The hour-long Disney+ special sees our antihero trying to find some equilibrium (if you’re at all familiar with the character, you know why I can’t exactly say ‘happiness’) in his life only to be drawn back into unexpected conflict with crime lord Ma Gnucci (Judith Light).

ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

Spring is officially in the air, and a local musical group is looking to help celebrate that.

The Liberal Community Singers Association (LCSA) will be hosting its spring concert at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 16 at the First United Methodist Church at 116 W. 3rd Street. Admission is a free-will donation.

Director Timothy Smith said the group is excited for the upcoming concert.