Muhlenberg College will premiere a musical version of a Shakespeare comedy, “Twelfth Night,” composed by a rising Broadway star.
It’s one of Shakespeare’s classic comedies, and this production is a contemporary musical version conceived by Kwame Kwei-Armah and Shaina Taub with music and lyrics by Taub.
The show was performed by The Public Theatre in 2018, when it was named one of the best new theatrical works of the year.
Director James Peck was looking for a little joy when he selected “Twelfth Night” for the final production of Muhlenberg College’s 2025-26 theater and dance season. The musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s gender-bending comedy offers all the heart and humor of the original, Peck said, overflowing with a spirit of community and celebration, just what he was looking for.
“Illyria is a kind of magic place, where extraordinary things happen,” said Peck, Muhlenberg theater professor. “I thought it would be a gift to the cast and to the community to work on a show where joy was the predominant experience.”
“Twelfth Night” tells the story of Viola (Iris Jordan), a young heroine who washes up on the shores of Illyria, which is a bustling 21st-century beach town in this staging, and disguises herself as a man, is sent to court a countess and falls hard for a Duke. As she navigates this strange and wonderful new land, she finds her true self and true love in the process.
Jordan said the show brings a contemporary lens to Viola’s journey, as she navigates identity and gender.
“Viola has to jump through all these hoops as an independent woman in Illyria,” Jordan said. “There’s a lot of confronting the patriarchy and asking, ‘Why am I treated differently when I look like a man, versus when I look like a girl?’”
While the show is filled with comedy, mistaken identities, and romance, choreographer Noel Price-Bracey said that it also asks audiences to look beyond themselves. She cited the show’s closing number, “Eyes of Another,” which invites audience members to see the world around them from a different perspective.
Price-Bracey’s choreography blends a range of movement styles, pulling from both traditional and contemporary forms to create something that feels layered and intentional. The influence of Black dance and the diaspora can be seen throughout the show, not just in specific movements, but in the way choreography carries history and cultural memory.
With a large and diverse cast, an energetic score, and a story filled with humor and passion, this show invites audiences into a world where everyone belongs and is celebrated. For one night in Illyria, love takes center stage.
“Love is the most powerful force in the world,” Peck said. “The musical is a celebration of that truth. At the end of the day, the musical means ‘love wins.’ And it’s about as simple as that.”
This adaptation features a score that blends Shakespeare’s language with a jazz-funk sound. Taub, who wrote the book, music, and lyrics, and also starred as Alice Paul in “Suffs,” won Tony Awards for best book and best score for the show in 2024. She is currently performing on Broadway as Emma Goldman in “Ragtime.”
The show runs 90 minutes and is appropriate for all ages.
Performances will be at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, at Baker Theatre, which is located at 2400 Chew St. in Allentown.
Musical based on hit film
DeSales University Act 1 will present a musical inspired by the hit movie “9 to 5” at Main Stage Theatre, which is located at 2755 Station Ave. in Upper Saucon Township, Lehigh County.
American singer and songwriter Dolly Parton wrote the music and lyrics for the Tony-nominated musical, which is based on the hit 1980 film starring Parton, Lili Tomlin, and Jane Fonda. It opened on Broadway in 2009.
Set in the late 1970s, the story follows three working women who band together to take down their egotistical boss and reimagine their workplace. What unfolds is a fast-paced, comedic, and empowering journey that remains strikingly relevant today.
Directed by returning guest artist Valerie Joyce, associate professor and theater department chair at Villanova University, this production continues a dynamic artistic collaboration with DeSales.
“I’m thrilled to return to DeSales after having such a great time with ‘The Drowsy Chaperone,’” Joyce said. “Working on ‘9 to 5: The Musical’ has been a joy, because the students are so talented and they bring their best to every rehearsal. It’s been fun to watch them discover the America of the late 1970s. It’s also great to look back at this material and relish their vision of how organizations would function when women run the world. Of course, there is also amazing singing and dancing to Dolly Parton’s wonderful music!”
The production team includes choreography by Karen Getz, music direction by Nathan Diehl, scenic design by David Gallo, costume design by Janus Stefanowicz, lighting design by Eric T. Haugen, and sound design by Vinny Pruchnick.
Tickets range from $32 to $38, with $6 for students.
Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and April 29 and 30 and May 1; at 2 p.m. on Sunday and May 3; at 9:45 a.m. on April 28; and at 2 and 7:30 p.m. on May 2.
There will be talk-back sessions with the cast after the April 26 and 28 shows.
There will be an audio-described and open-captioned performance for patrons who are blind or visually impaired and deaf or hard of hearing at 2 p.m. on May 2.
The 7:30 p.m. performance on May 2 will be pay-what-you-will.
The May 1 audience can join the cast for a Clock Out & Cut Loose After Party. This playful post-show soirée will feature a themed photo booth, crafty activities, a raffle, and plenty of “working 9 to 5”–worthy treats, including themed drinks and snacks. Guests can celebrate with Violet, Judy, and Doralee as they swap the office grind for games, creativity, and a well-earned good time.
ASO’s ‘Requiem’
The Allentown Symphony Orchestra will present “Mozart’s Requiem” at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday at Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown.
Jalayne Mitchell
The concerts will feature Mozart’s “Requiem Mass in D minor, K. 626,” renowned for its profound emotional depth. Also on the bill is a new cello concerto by rising composer Joe Jaxson, written for cellist Jalayne Mitchell. Jaxson described the piece as a “vehicle for Jalayne,” aiming to channel her personal journey into a performance that embodies possibility, hope, and optimism amidst life’s chaos. The concert also will include Autumn Maria Reed’s “Mental Health Suite,” a poignant composition that reflects on the complexities of mental health, offering a space for reflection and understanding.
Diane Wittry will conduct the orchestra.
Jaxson was commissioned by the Allentown Symphony Orchestra to compose “Anchored,” “Raging Tides,” and “Dreams,” which is having its world premiere.
“Requiem” will feature the Allentown Symphony Chorus, led by Eduardo Azzati, chorus master and soloists Amanda Russo Stante, mezzo-soprano; Emilie Kealani , soprano; Erik Tofte, baritone; and Ethan Burck, tenor.
Tickets cost $30 to $81.
On the Friday before each classical concert, Miller Symphony Hall will open its doors to the public for a free in-depth talk about the weekend’s event. Wittry will lead the discussion, sharing her thoughts when putting the concert together as well as biographical information about the composers. She will share brief recordings from the program and also allow each guest artist or conductor to individually contribute to the conversation. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions.
Quartet returns to Reading
The internationally acclaimed Aeolus Quartet will return to Reading with a special guest violinist for its 16th appearance at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at WCR Center for the Arts, which is located at 140 N. Fifth St.
The quartet is made up of Isabelle Ai Durrenberger, violin; Rachel Kitagawa Shapiro, violin; Caitlin Lynch, viola; and Jia Kim, cello.
The first half of the program will feature Mozart’s “String Quartet in D minor, K. 421” and “String Quartet No. 3” by Polish composer Grażyna Bacewicz, who was awarded the Polish Ministry of Culture Award. The quartet will be joined for Dvorak’s “String Quintet No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 97” by the venerable violinist and pedagogue Donald Weilerstein, performing on viola.
The concert will be presented free of charge by Friends of Chamber Music of Reading.
Cinematic music
Kyle Wernke
The Lehigh University Philharmonic will conclude its season with “Music for Imaginary Movies,” featuring the world premiere of a work by director Kyle Wernke at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at Baker Hall at Zoellner Arts Center in Bethlehem.
In this imaginative program, the philharmonic will invite audiences to experience music inspired by the cinematic world of storytelling and visual imagination. The highlight of the concert will be the premiere of Wernke’s “Music for Imaginary Movies,” a composition that explores the powerful relationship between orchestral music and the narratives we create in our minds.
Through sweeping orchestral textures, dramatic themes, and evocative musical imagery, the program offers listeners the opportunity to imagine their own stories and cinematic moments while experiencing the expressive range of a live symphonic performance.
The philharmonic brings together talented student musicians from across campus to perform a wide-ranging orchestral repertoire. Under the direction of Wernke, the ensemble continues to explore both classical masterworks and new compositions while sharing vibrant musical experiences with the community.
Tickets cost $18.
Lehigh symphonic band
Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh University in Bethlehem invites audiences to the Lehigh University Symphonic Band Spring Concert at 3 p.m. on Sunday at Baker Hall. The concert is free and open to the public, and no tickets are required.
Under the direction of Darin Lewis, the band performs an engaging program featuring both beloved band repertoire and contemporary works. Highlights include selections such as “The Clapping Song,” “Seven Years in Tibet,” and a new composition for tuba and band, alongside traditional marches and spirited ensemble pieces. Bringing together talented student musicians from across the university, the concert celebrates the expressive power and versatility of the wind band tradition.
The band provides student musicians with the opportunity to explore a wide range of band literature, from classic works to contemporary compositions. Through collaborative rehearsal and performance, the ensemble continues to enrich the cultural life of the university and the surrounding community.
Spring vocal concert
The Wheatland Chorale, the area’s premier choral ensemble, under the direction of artistic director David J. Fitzpatrick, will present “Spring is Here!” at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Immanuel United Church of Christ, which is located at 99 S Waverly Street, Shillington, Berks County, and at 3 p.m. on Sunday at Lancaster Church of the Brethren, which is located at 1601 Sunset Ave. in Manheim Township, Lancaster County.
“Spring is Here!” will celebrate the season of renewal and growth, featuring a diverse array of composers and offering a vibrant mix of timeless melodies and fresh, uplifting harmonies. It will explore the beauty of nature, the joy of new beginnings, and the uplifting spirit that comes with the arrival of spring.
General admission tickets cost $25 and student tickets cost $10.
Exhibit opens at Studio B
Studio B, which is located at 39 E. Philadelphia Ave. in Boyertown, Berks County, will open an invitational exhibition entitled “Form & Fiber: 3-Dimensional Expression in Art” from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday. It will feature a show of 3-D and fiber art. The exhibit is free and open to the public. It will run through June 21.
Participating artists are Michael Biddison, Tom Cook, Caren Cornman, Allan Cornman, Rhonda Counts, Ellen Finks, Sunny Finley, Bob Hakun, Kachina Leigh, Sharon McGinley, Anne Mitchell Reid, Kathryn Morgan, Martha Ressler, Max Rhoads, Bob Wood, and Linda B. Wood.
3-D art and fiber art are both rich, hands-on creative worlds. 3-D art refers to artwork that exists in physical space. It is artwork—sculptures in clay, stone, and metal including assemblage, ceramics, and pottery–that one can walk around and view from multiple angles. Blending craft and fine art, fiber art focuses on materials like fabric, yarn, thread, and textiles, created by weaving, knitting and crochet, embroidery, quilting, and macrame. Fiber art becomes 3-D art when it moves beyond flat surfaces.
Studio B, located in the heart of historic Boyertown, is the home of the Arts and Activities Alliance, a committee of Building a Better Boyertown, a nonprofit Main Street program dedicated to revitalizing small towns.