Lafayette College in Easton will present the world premiere of a new play that tells the true story of David McDonogh, one of two enslaved young men sent from New Orleans to Lafayette College in the 1800s, at the Williams Center for the Arts, which is located at 317 Hamilton St., at 8 p.m. on Saturday.
Written by award-winning playwright Judy Tate, “The Language of Sight” explores power, choice, and the stakes of claiming one’s own future. It celebrates the achievements of Lafayette’s first Black graduate and the first Black eye doctor in the United States.
In 1838 in New Orleans, a wealthy landowner, John McDonogh, sent David and Washington to Lafayette College. A member of the Colonization Society, McDonogh’s plan was to have “his Black family” educated then sent back to Africa, where they would become missionaries. Washington left for Liberia in 1842; David, however, had other plans.
The show is produced by Richard Koplin, a 1964 Lafayette College graduate.
There will be a pre-performance discussion with the creative team at 6:30 p.m. on Friday in Room 108 at Williams Center for the Arts. Guests can join director Kim Sykes, producers Koplin and Russel Arden Koplin, and more of the creative team for a discussion of the creative process developing this new play.
Tickets cost $33 for adults and $6 for students.
Mnozil Brass
Kutztown University Presents will bring the sounds of Mnozil Brass to K.U.’s Schaeffer Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. on Monday.
One of the world’s premier brass ensembles with more than 130 performances a year, Mnozil Brass has sold out houses across Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America, captivating audiences with its blend of immense virtuosity and theatrical wit. Recent returns to North America were hailed as “seriously funny,” “whimsically brazen,” and “so clever that they would be worthy of Monty Python.” From folk to classical to jazz to pop, Mnozil executes all performances with the same fearlessness, immense technical skill, and typical Viennese “schmäh.”
Tickets cost $44 for adults, $42 for seniors, and $19 for students.
There will be an Austrian dinner in honor of Mnozil Brass at 6 p.m. in Schaeffer Little Theater.
Dinner tickets cost $30.
Sweeney Todd
Civic Theatre of Allentown will stage the Stephen Sondheim classic “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” at its 19th Street Theatre, which is located at 527 N. 19th St. in Allentown.
Sondheim’s operatic musical blends lush orchestration, visceral storytelling, unforgettable music, razor-sharp wit, and Black humor into an unforgettable theatrical experience.
Armand Reiser
Once known as the barber Benjamin Barker, Sweeney Todd, played by Armand Reiser, returns to London driven by vengeance. With the help of the cunning Mrs. Lovett, played by Nina Metrick, and her suspiciously popular meat pies, Todd’s obsession spirals into a chilling tale of corruption, obsession, and consequence.
Sondheim’s legendary score features “Epiphany,” “A Little Priest,” and “Johanna,” carried by a haunting chorus and a sweeping, operatic sound that changed musical theater.
The cast features Bob Trexler, Tony Anthony, Jordan Joseph, Maricel Wheatley, Melo Rodriguez, Mason McGowan, Melody Portnoy, Seth Barany, Alejandro Rodriguez, Alex Pizolato, Angelina Dries, Christine Ebert, Connor Simmons, Jillian Petrie, Joey Troiano, Johnny Bertone, Kiernan Ward, Liam Thompson, Lizzie Witek, Marie Ann Sutera-Wendells, Marley Mathias, Matthew Whitley, Mike Firuta, Rose Fortkamp, Samantha Zosky, Sarai Misic, Seiya Sessoms, Seth Barany, Shannon Cornish, and Zoli Heft.
The production is directed by Rae Labadie with music direction by Nick Conti and choreography by Mariel Letourneau.
Tickets cost $35 for adults and $30 for seniors, students, and military.
Saturday’s performance will be pay-what-you-can.
Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and March 6, 7, and 13; at 3 p.m. March 8 and 15; and at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on March 14.
Between the Lines returns
Between the Lines Studio Theatre will premiere a modern exploration of isolation and technology with “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” at the troupe’s theater, which is located at 725 N. 15th St. in Allentown.
Written by Sarah Ruhl in 2007, the play explores themes of people’s dependence on technology, the illusion of intimacy, and the universal longing to be seen and remembered.
Kirsten Almeida
When a lonely woman named Jean, played by Kirsten Almeida, answers a dead man’s ringing cell phone in a cafe, she unexpectedly finds herself entangled in the lives of the strangers left behind.
As she navigates conversations with his grieving mother, played by Genia Miller; his enigmatic widow, played by Lisa Gump; and troubled brother, played by Jeremy Melendez; Jean begins to construct a new narrative about the man, and, in the process, discovers a new sense of purpose in her own life.
The cast also features Jane Steff, and it’s directed by Rachel Williams.
Audiences should be advised that there is a prop gun used in the production.
Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and March 6 and 7 and at 2 p.m. on Sunday and March 8.
Luck of the draw
Those who attend “Everybody” at Muhlenberg College’s Studio Theatre, which is located at 2400 Chew St. in Allentown, will have no idea what to expect from their theatrical experience, and neither will the actors, right down to what role they’ll be playing.
Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ contemporary reimagining of the 15th-century morality play “Everyman” features a lottery system that randomly assigns the company’s members their roles at the start of each performance. It’s a truism of live theater that no two shows are ever alike. But with 120 possible combinations, it’s almost certain that no two performances of “Everybody” will be even remotely the same.
“The play is funny, but I also think it’s really smart,” said Leslie Hill, the production’s director and the chair of Muhlenberg’s Theatre and Dance Department. “It’s a really interesting project, a medieval play that’s been adapted by a young living writer.”
“Everybody” is a provocative dark comedy that grapples with the concept of mortality and invites the audience members to reflect on their own lives. When the title character is unexpectedly summoned by Death to give a presentation of their life to God, Everybody searches for someone to go with them.
The production also features a Danse Macabre choreographed by dance professor Heidi Cruz-Austin.
Five of the show’s nine actors are known as the “Somebodies.” Those five actors have taken on the challenge of learning the 14 separate roles that are assigned by lottery. Each actor must be ready to step into any character, highlighting the show’s emphasis on life’s unpredictability and chance.
Company members and Muhlenberg students had the opportunity to meet Jacobs-Jenkins through the college’s Living Writers course this past fall.
Tickets cost $18 for adults and $8 for students.
Performances will be at 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Brothers Grimm
Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh University in Bethlehem invites families to experience Grimmz Fairy Tales, an energetic new play for children that brings beloved Brothers Grimm stories to life with a modern urban twist, at 4 p.m. on Sunday at Baker Hall.
This one-of-a-kind theatrical concert blends hip-hop, storytelling, and dazzling stage effects in a fun-filled performance for all ages.
Grimmz Fairy Tales follows two contemporary street performers, Jay and Will, who transform timeless Grimm tales into a high-energy urban adventure. Set against a brick-and-graffiti landscape with flashing lights and theatrical effects, the show reimagines classic stories with a fresh beat and modern flair. Featured tales include Cinderella Remix, Rapunzel, and Snow White & the Seven Shawties, all told through rhythm, music, and playful performance.
There will be pre-show activities in Butz Lobby and healthy eating activities (with free snacks) starting at 3:20 p.m. The End Bookstore will have children’s books for purchase.
Tickets cost $18 for adults and $12 for students.
Black history film
Marking the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, Sigal Museum will present an evening of film, reflection, and community at the Sigal Museum in Easton.
The museum will host a screening of “Echoes of Freedom: The African American Experience in the Lehigh Valley” at 6:15 p.m. on Friday.
This 30-minute film brings to light the often-untold stories of African Americans who helped shape the Lehigh Valley and those who continue to shape it today. Through archival footage, oral histories, and new interviews, Echoes of Freedom explores themes of freedom, belonging, resilience, and community across generations.
Audiences can join a Q&A with Lindsey Watson, associate producer of the film, who will share insights into the filmmaking process and the importance of preserving and amplifying local history.
Admission is $10.
5-Minute Fringe Festival
The Reading Theater Project will host the 11th annual “5-Minute Fringe Festival: Legacy” on Saturday and Sunday at the Yocum Institute for Arts Education’s black box Schumo Theater, which is located at 3000 Penn Ave. in Spring Township, Berks County.
This live theater production will feature new work by 12 playwrights and performers from around the region.
Each year, the festival features new and exciting work; this year audiences can look forward to short plays, monologues, dance, and music, as well as pieces that intermix performance genres.
“For me, the 5 Minute Fringe is about possibility,” said artistic director Jody Reppert. “New theater doesn’t begin fully formed, but it begins with a spark. A spark can catch in 5 minutes. It opens the door for more artists to experiment, to discover, and to tell stories that might not otherwise find a stage. That spirit of shared creation is at the heart of what we do.”
Each night of the performance will be followed by a talkback so audience members can share observations and ask questions of the performers and writers.
Playwrights and performing artists selected for the production are Andrew Pochan, Nadia Pochan, Joel Lesher, Elaine Soltis, David Hall, Santo D. Marabella, Mike Shott, Adam Richter, Alison Lines, Tony Quinones, Cat Whelan, Beth Toner, Rebeccca Dunn, Kevin Wade, Kimberly Patterson, Crux (Rob Rodriguez), Jacquelynee Conyers-Jordan, Tara Mitchell, Daphnee McMaster, Sophia Stopper, Jessica C. Warchal-King, Marty Bonk, Sarena Gable, Arielle Ridley, Megan Zalek, and Matt and Jeanette Fotis.
Pianist Andy Roberts will play throughout to link one piece to the next. The production will be directed by Jewell A. Brown.
All tickets are pay-what-you-will, with a recommended price of $20.