Free Shakespeare will be arriving at a park near you when Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival’s “Play On!” community tour stages free performances of William Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” at libraries, parks, and community centers all over the region.
The festival launched its tour in 2023 with “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,,” which played to more than 1,100 people in 13 locations. The tour, which is presented by the festival’s young company, furthers PSF’s goal of increasing accessibility to theater for under-resourced populations in the region.
Shakespeare’s spirited comedy offers a tale of two courtships. Beatrice and Benedick elevate the art of the quarrel in their duel of glittering wordplay, while Claudio and Hero have their true love put to the test by the villain Don John. Plots are challenged by comical officers, as honor and desire collide to create much ado about laughter and love.
The cast includes India Proffit as Beatrice; Ryan Plunkett as Benedick; Ian Higgins as Claudio; Sophia Twohig as Hero; and Shawn Laub as Don John. Also featured are Maya Jean Marino Cappello, Jamir Fisher, Relena Kiser, Teddy Novak, and Isabella Stevens. Jason King Jones, PSF’s artistic director, directs.
Performances will be at:
3 p.m. on Friday at Emmaus Public Library, 11 E. Main St., Emmaus, Lehigh County;
11 a.m. on Saturday at National Museum of Industrial History, 602 E. Second St., Bethlehem;
6 p.m. on June 3 at Emmaus Performing Arts Pavilion, Emmaus Community Park, 1356 Shimersville Road, Emmaus;
6 p.m. on June 4 at St. James Lutheran Church, 333 Oxford St., Coopersburg, Lehigh County;
6:30 p.m. on June 5 at Hills at Lockridge Park band shell, 7100 Scenic View Drive, Lower Macungie Township, Lehigh County;
11 a.m. on June 7, Easton Farmer’s Market, 128 Larry Holmes Drive, Easton;
6 p.m. on June 11, Bethlehem Area Public Library, 11 W. Church St., Bethlehem;
6 p.m. on June 12, Kutztown Bandshell, 439 E. Main St., Kutztown, Berks County;
7 p.m. on June 13, Union United Church of Christ, 5550 Route 873, North Whitehall Township, Lehigh County;
3 p.m. on June 14, 15, Peddler’s Village, 100 Peddlers Village, Buckingham Township, Bucks County.
Classic musical at playhouse

Pennsylvania Playhouse will stage the beloved movie-turned-musical “Singin’ in the Rain.”
The production will run Friday through June 15 at the playhouse, which is located at 390 Illick’s Mill Rd. in Bethlehem.
Based on the classic 1952 MGM film, “Singin’ in the Rain” is the story of a movie studio and its leading actors navigating the new talking-picture technology.
The stage musical features a story by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, lyrics by Arthur Freed, and music by Nacio Herb Brown.
It takes place in 1920s Hollywood when the “Jazz Singer” and talking pictures became all the rage, and silent film actors and actresses suddenly found themselves learning to enunciate for the camera.
The story follows the dashing Don Lockwood, a silent film star, and his on-screen partner Lina Lamont, who has a less-than-perfect voice for the new era of sound films. As the studio scrambles to adapt, Don meets and falls for the charming Kathy Selden, a talented young actress who becomes the secret voice behind Lina's character. With iconic songs like “Good Morning,” “Make ‘Em Laugh,” and, of course, “Singin’ in the Rain,” this musical is a delightful celebration of romance, comedy, and the golden age of Hollywood.
The cast features Salem Perez Torres as Don Lockwood; Joey Troiano as Cosmo Brown; Lucy Moore as Kathy Selden; and Zoe Mulze as Lina Lamont. Deanna Mogianesi will step into the role of Kathy Selden for the June 6 performance.
The cast also features Charlie Dalrymple, Thomas McElhinny, Joseph Mowad, Melissa Dorflinger, Charlotte Korrapati, Kayli Silimperi, Zoli Heft, Meg Grogan, Andrew Maldonado, Hannah Zarate, Ashlee Wagner, Dominick Dinzey, Rebecca McCall, Johanna Snyder, Salem Perez Torres, Deanna Mogianesi, Cara Padilla Jensen, Mya Detweiler, Abbey Gildner, Maricel Wheatley, and Elyn Millheim.
Directed by Rachel Lutz, the creative team includes Jessica Sturm, choreographer; Amanda Haag, music director; Brett Oliveira, set and lighting design; Todd Burkel and Nate Kuhns, costume designers and Braden Drake, videography.
The June 7 performance will be pay-what-you-are-able.
Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and June 6, 7, 13, and 14; and at 6 p.m. on Sunday and June 8 and 15.
THON fundraiser

Between the Lines Studio Theatre will host “Not for School: A Cabaret” at 6 and 8 p.m. on Thursday at Between the Lines, which is located at 725 N. 15th St. in Allentown.
The evening will feature talent, heart, and music — all for a cause.
Performers include Jacob Klinedinst, Maeve Yanes, Anthony Bodenstein, Jillian Petrie, Emily Novak, Elisa Osorto, Jack Warnke, Myra Kelly, and Charles Kenney.
All proceeds will benefit Penn State THON. In 1977, THON partnered with Four Diamonds at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital. Since then, THON has raised more than $236 million for Four Diamonds and its efforts to conquer childhood cancer.
Tickets cost $10 and will be available at the door.
Staged reading

Adam Richter
The Reading Theater Project will present “Hero Work” by Adam Richter, the final staged reading in the Play Reading Series: Revelation.
The reading will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday at GoggleWorks Center for the Arts’ Boscov Theatre, which is located at 200 Washington St. in Reading’s Entertainment Square.
Julia Matthews directs Richter’s play.
In “Hero Work,” mild-mannered reporter and copy-desk scourge Josh Watkins moonlights as a superhero. His biggest nemesis is finding a work-life balance, especially when a disaster strikes the city and Josh must decide which of his identities will do the most good.
The cast features Alex Dorsheimer as Josh Watkins, Sandi Trait as Blair, Richard Bradbury as Gordon, Cat Whelan as Phoebe, John Gancar as Townes, Kevin Wade as the mayor, Michael Shott as the teenager/victim, and Deb Brubaker as the security guard. Brubaker will also read the stage directions. The reading will be followed by a facilitated talk back with the playwright, director, and actors.
Free parking is available behind the building.
The Play Reading Series will be pay-what-you-will with a recommended price of $10.
Reading Theater Project’s final performance in its 2024-2025 season, “In Nature’s Studio: Toytopia,” will take place at 4 p.m. on July 27 at the Reading Public Museum arboretum.
Colonial crafts

Colonial Craft & Demonstration Day will feature 18th-century craft demonstrations at Conrad Weiser Homestead, which is located at 28 Weiser Lane, Womelsdorf, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Visitors will have the opportunity to see craft demonstrators, from cordwainers to weavers. They can learn about the historical context, materials, and equipment of the mid- to late-18th century. Some of the demonstrators will have their materials for sale.
The program is made possible by the Friends of Conrad Weiser Homestead. It is free and open to the public.
The homestead is a Pennsylvania state historic site that interprets the life of Conrad Weiser, an 18th-century German immigrant who served as a native American interpreter and who helped coordinate the state’s native American policy.
The homestead is located on 26 acres of land. Seven buildings exist on the property; three are open for touring. Two large monuments, a gazebo, the Weiser Family Cemetery, and a pond are also on the site. Two picnic areas are present in the western section of the park and can be utilized at any time without reservation. Public restroom facilities are available. Dogs are permitted, but they must remain on a leash.
New Emmaus festival

Craig Thatcher
The Emmaus Rotary Club will hold its first Emmaus Summer Festival from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday at Emmaus Community Park in Lehigh County.
The free festival will feature music, crafts, food trucks, and children’s activities.
The event supports East Penn Feeding Program, which was established in 2019 in conjunction with the East Penn School District to address the food insecurities of children and families in the East Penn region. To date, more than 18,000 bags of food have been distributed in the community.
Highlights include goat snuggling, beer by Shangy’s Beer Distributor, and wine from Tolino Vineyards; games, arts and crafts for kids; vendors, businesses and artisans; and live entertainment.
Stone Farmstead Mini Nubians and Nigerian Dwarf Goats will offer a chance to cuddle with their goats for $5.
The performance schedule is Cumulus radio from 10 a.m. to noon; Scott Marshall and The Highway Souls from 1 to 3 p.m.; Flirting with the Mob from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.; and the Craig Thatcher Band from 6 to 8 p.m.
New film festival
A new film festival in the Lehigh Valley promises to showcase some of the best work from talented filmmakers around the world. The Eleanor Rose International Film Festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday at the historic Roxy Theater in Northampton, Northampton County.
Block 1 films, being screened from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., will be “Moving Parts” by Graceann Mattair; “Always” by Peyton Carson; “A Fast Stop” by Hunter Wilde; “There is no Word for Depression” by Anaya Kulkami Brainich; “Body Count” by J.C. Mckearnin; “Fingerprints” by Andrea Knapp; “Remembrance” by Huzzah Entertainment; “My Next Guest” by Lucas Hydock; “Away, Away, Away” by Elle Guengo; “Talk” by Ethan Baron; “Abandominium” by Dominick Lopez; “Cupcake” by Natalie Mahone; “Late September” by Joey Tangradi; “In Half” by Jorge Morais Valle; and “Nostril” by Michael Dondero and Shengnan Dong.
Block 2 films, being screened from 1 to 3:30 p.m. will be “The Girl Who Walked on Snow” by Bruno Carnide; “Mr. Davey” and “Blindside” by Charlie Morton; “P” by Stelios Koupetoris; “Catabasis” by Thomas Dionosi; “A Wednesday in Hershey” by Matt Ward; “For You” and “Eric & Oliver” by Dylan Baker; “The Bomb” by Emily Fortney; “Rivercobble” by Burls & Bramble; “You Stole my Boyfriend” by Jeffery Harvey; “House Rules” by Jeffery Harvey and Melanie Rosedale; “Sana” by Manuel Larios; “Reborn” by Arian Smith; and “Behind the Signal: The Making of Blood Signal 4G” by Jason Taylor.
An award ceremony will take place at 3:30 p.m.
Tickets are $10. For information, g.