Ryan Zickafoose
MunOpCo Music Theatre will present “Godspell,” its first full-length musical in two years, at Between the Lines Theater, which is located at 725 N. 15th St. in Allentown.
“Godspell” is a musical in two acts, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by John-Michael Tebelak. The show is structured as a series of parables, primarily based on the Biblical book of Matthew, interspersed with music mostly set to lyrics from traditional hymns.
The production is directed by Rody Gilkeson, who said he will retire from directing after the show.
“It’s my very last show as a director, and I am hoping to deliver a fun, meaningful production,” Gilkeson shared. “My first directorial effort was ‘Godspell’ in 1993 , so it makes sense to bring it full circle 33 years later.”
The cast features Ryan Zickafoose as Jesus, Colin Sergent as John the Baptist/Judas, and Rob Adams, Matt Redline, Elizabeth-Marsh Gilkeson, Lori Sivick, Moriah Faith, Lisandra Espiritusanto, Deb Jacoby, and Tracy Weaver.
The show features musical direction by Nancy Shumaker, choreography by Kayla Courtney, lighting and sound design by Jon Tobias, and stage management by Michelle Cerrone.
Performances will be at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and Sept. 18 and 19 and at 2 p.m. Sunday and Sept. 20.
Tickets cost $25.
The show is a welcome return for Allentown’s oldest community theater, which has been on hiatus since it staged “Rock of Ages” in September 2024. MunOpCo postponed its production of “Urinetown, The Musical,” which was scheduled for February 2025, because of “financial impacts and timing considerations,” according to the board of directors. The company staged musical revues in December 2025 and April.
MunOpCo, established in 1927, is the sixth-oldest municipal opera company in the country and the oldest linked to a recreation commission.
Free happy hour and jazz at ASO
Jorge Vera
The Allentown Symphony Orchestra will present a free evening with Jorge Vera, the Allentown Symphony Association’s musician-in-residence, on Thursday in the Lyric Room at Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown.
Guests can enjoy a relaxed happy hour with hors d’oeuvres followed by a performance featuring Vera on violin and Owen Dodds on piano. The program will offer a taste of the ASO’s upcoming season, with music by Mozart, Clarice Assad, Saint-Saëns, Tchaikovsky, and Brahms. Vera will perform Clarice Assad’s “Emotiva,” Saint-Saëns’ “Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 28,” and Tchaikovsky’s “Pas de Deux from The Nutcracker, Op. 71” on violin.
After the performance, guests can stay to meet and mingle with Vera and learn more about his work as a performer, educator, and community ambassador through the ASA’s musician-in-residence program.
The happy hour is at 5 p.m.; the performance at 6 p.m.; and the meet-and-mingle at 7 p.m.
Hors d’oeuvres and one complimentary beer or wine are included. A cash bar will be available.
Admission is free, but tickets are required.
The Anderson Brothers
ASA also is kicking off its Jazz Upstairs Series with the return of The Anderson Brothers at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The Journey of Jazz with The Anderson Brothers is a vibrant musical exploration of jazz through the decades. From the roots of swing and blues to the cool sophistication of bebop and beyond, the Anderson Brothers bring history to life with masterful musicianship, engaging storytelling, and infectious energy. This dynamic concert will celebrate jazz’s evolution while honoring the artists and styles that shaped America’s most enduring art form.
Tickets cost $33 and $38 in advance and $38 and $43 at the door.
Jazz Upstairs takes place in the Rodale Community Room on the third floor of Miller Symphony Hall, which is located at 23 N. Sixth St. There will be a cash bar and concession items for purchase.
RSO opening
Philippe Quint
John Gress Media Inc.
The Reading Symphony Orchestra will begin its 2026/2027 season with “Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 2” at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Santander Performing Arts Center, which is located 136 N. Sixth St. in downtown Reading.
Rachmaninoff was a Russian composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor known for his richly expressive, Late Romantic-era music. He is best remembered for works such as his piano concertos and “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini,” which remain among the most popular pieces in the classical repertoire. Rachmaninoff’s “Symphony No. 2” doesn’t whisper, it pours its heart out. Lose yourself in sweeping melodies, soaring strings, and one of the most intoxicating symphonies ever written.
The program also will include violinist Philippe Quint on Mendelssohn’s “Violin Concerto in E Minor.”
Praised for his “searingly poetic lyricism,” Quint stands as one of America’s leading violinists, captivating audiences with his “breadth of tone and passion.” With Grammy Award nominations for several of his recordings, Quint is consistently recognized for his innovative performances of classical repertoire, advocacy for contemporary music.
Andrew Constantine conducts the Reading Symphony Orchestra.
Tickets start at $25.
Neighborhood Saturday at AAM
CharlyAnn Acosta
The Allentown Art Museum will hold Neighborhood Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday as part of Verano Vibrante, its season-long celebration of Hispanic culture, tradition, and community related to the arrival of three works by artists of Puerto Rican heritage.
On the second Saturday of each month through October, people can meet local artists, hear poetry and music, tour galleries, make art, and much more. Gallery tours and storytelling sessions are offered in both English and Spanish, and all artmaking takes place in a bilingual setting (English and Spanish). No reservation is necessary.
From 11 a.m. to noon, guests can enjoy artmaking during the program Art from the Heart in the Community Gallery downstairs, where young artists can create connected-thread art inspired by the artwork Atabey by Glendalys Medina.
From 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., CharlyAnn Acosta will lead all-ages artmaking during ArtVentures in Crayola Classroom. Guests can make a pinch pot while learning about Taíno symbols from Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.
There will be an English-language tour of the American galleries from 1 to 1:30 p.m. and a Spanish-language tour from 1:30 to 2 p.m. Those who are interested should meet at the welcome desk.
New one-acts at Civic
Civic Theatre of Allentown will stage two original one-act plays — “In Tandem: The Salacious Sins of Sister Cuthberta & Sheep!” — at Theatre514, which is located at 514 N. 19th St.
Two strange and wildly imaginative one-act plays by playwright J. Gulotta will be presented on stage for an evening of dark comedy, absurdity, and unexpected heart.
In “The Salacious Sins of Sister Cuthberta,” two grieving nuns are determined to bring their beloved cat back from the dead, leading them down a hilariously unholy path involving secrets, schemes, and a little bit of satanic intervention.
Then, in “Sheep!,” the audience will step inside a rundown theater populated by animals of all kinds, where a human narrator reveals the origin story of two circus sheep dreaming of freedom from their cruel ringleader and searching for a life beyond the confines of the circus ring.
Presented together, these two original works celebrate the imagination of local theater, blending sharp humor, theatrical chaos, and surprising moments of humanity and show great stories can come from the most unexpected places.
“In Tandem: The Salacious Sins of Sister Cuthberta & Sheep!” is directed by Rae Labadie, Civic’s associate artistic director.
Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and Sept. 18 and 19 and at 3 p.m. Sunday and Sept. 20.
Tickets cost $35 for adults; $30 for seniors, students, and members of the military; and $13 for children under age 13.
West Reading goes western
West Reading shops and businesses will host 2nd Friday on the Avenue, transforming Penn Avenue into the Wild West.
Hosted by the West Reading Community Revitalization Foundation, 2nd Friday on the Avenue celebrates and recognizes the area’s independent shops and restaurants.
Those who go are encouraged to grab their boots and hats and spend a fun-filled evening with friends.
From 5 to 8 p.m., they can attempt to stay on the mechanical bull at 433 Penn Ave. or try their luck at the prize wheel at the American Diner, where a D.J. will be spinning tunes.
Trucks will be on display at 433 Penn Ave., and vintage cars can be seen on South 6th Avenue.
There also will be live music from 6 to 8 p.m. by Longshot Larry at North Sixth and Penn avenues.
Wine auction
The Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society will host the Lehigh Valley Wine Gala & Auction on Saturday in downtown Easton.
The auction will include a curated selection of wines, beer, and spirits; food from restaurants and vendors; and silent and live auctions packed with getaways, dinners, wine, spirits, experiences, and more. The event will take place at the Sigal Museum and on the 300 block of Northampton Street. It will start at 6 p.m.
The museum will be open, so guests can take a stroll through the galleries and enjoy local history between sips and bites.
They can also enjoy an after-hours experience at the Easton Public Market, reserved for auction guests. With the market closed to the public, they’ll have the rare opportunity to explore, mingle, and enjoy the evening in an intimate setting.
All event proceeds will benefit the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society and the Children’s Home of Easton.
Tickets cost $150.