{"id":102875,"date":"2026-02-02T12:56:18","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T12:56:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/102875\/"},"modified":"2026-02-02T12:56:18","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T12:56:18","slug":"genesius-theatre-announces-55th-season-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/102875\/","title":{"rendered":"Genesius Theatre announces 55th season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Genesius Theatre in Reading has announced its 55th season, brimming with eight fairies, a vampire, a hobgoblin, two boatloads of pirates, a mess of mermaids and a runaway heiress.<\/p>\n

Artistic Director Douglas Carter Beane has dubbed 2026\u2019s lineup, \u201ca season of adventure,\u201d which is fitting as Genesius embarks on a new journey under his leadership.<\/p>\n

\"DouglasDouglas Carter Beane (Courtesy of Douglas Carter Beane)<\/p>\n

Beane\u2019s vision for the year is exhilarating, eccentric, innovative and accessible to audiences and performers of all ages and backgrounds. This season\u2019s shows blend classic stories, world premieres, family-friendly productions and theatrical reinvention, all infused with humor, heart and imagination.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis season is about leaning into wonder,\u201d Beane said. \u201cIt\u2019s about children and adults performing and sitting side by side, laughing at the same joke for different reasons. It\u2019s about old stories made brash and new again, and new stories discovered together.\u201d<\/p>\n

From Shakespeare in a dance club to swashbuckling young sprites, from a legendary vampire to a runaway heiress straight out of a black-and-white movie musical, Season 55 invites audiences to expect the unexpected.<\/p>\n

Genesius Theatre\u2019s 2026 season lineup:<\/p>\n

\u2022 \u201cThe Behavior of Light,\u201d Feb. 19, 20, 21, 22. Written and directed by Beane: Back by popular demand, this encore engagement of Beane\u2019s acclaimed original play returns after an enthusiastic response in December. \u201cThe Behavior of Light\u201d is both sentimental and self-aware, abstract and accessible, and above all, fast, funny and deeply felt. If you missed it the first time, now\u2019s your chance to experience what everyone\u2019s been talking about.<\/p>\n

\u2022 \u201cPirates of Penzance, Kids Edition,\u201d March 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15. Music, lyrics and libretto by Gilbert & Sullivan, adapted for kids by Beane, directed by Dara Tatarowicz. Enter the topsy-turvy world of Gilbert and Sullivan, lovingly edited for young performers. Packed with patter, pirates and playful wit, this version boasts one bold band of pirates and a whole lot of fun for audiences of all ages.<\/p>\n

\u2022 \u201cPeter Pan,\u201d\u00a0April 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19.\u00a0Written by J.M. Barrie, co-directed by Beane and James Haggerty:\u00a0Presented in the original 1905 American version, \u201cPeter Pan\u201d overflows with imagination: flying children, a fairy, a mess of mermaids and boatloads of pirates. With a cast made up of blended ages and a story that resonates differently but just as deeply across generations, this production is fun for kids and wise for adults.<\/p>\n

\u2022 \u201cRodgers + Hammerstein\u2019s Cinderella: Kids Edition,\u201d world premiere kids edition. Adapted by Beane, directed by Becka Malanios: If you caught Gensius\u2019 sold-out run of \u201cRodgers + Hammerstein\u2019s Cinderella\u201d in 2022, you saw a Beane original script. Now, the Tony-nominated Beane, who got his own start as a child at Genesius, returns to adapt the show once more for the next generation of performers. Magical, quirky and filled with heart, \u201cCinderella\u201d continues Genesius\u2019 commitment to introducing young audiences to great musical storytelling.<\/p>\n

\u2022 \u201cAesop\u2019s Fables,\u201d Aug. 21, 22, world premiere musical.\u00a0Directed by Becka Malanios:\u00a0A world premiere musical that will be created by Genesius Kids in the rehearsal room. Young performers will be encouraged to discover their own artistic interpretations of classic stories, like \u201cThe Tortoise and the Hare,\u201d \u201cThe Ant and the Grasshopper,\u201d \u201cThe Fox and the Sour Grapes\u201d and \u201cThe Country Mouse and the City Mouse.\u201d Immense fun, timeless wisdom and lessons for today, told by the next generation of theater-makers.<\/p>\n

\u2022 \u201cA Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream,\u201d Sept. 25, 26, 27 and Oct. 1, 2, 3, 4.\u00a0Written by William Shakespeare, directed by Beane:\u00a0Shakespeare\u2019s most rollicking comedy gets a Genesius twist \u2014 it\u2019s set in a dance club. Expect troublemakers, crisscrossed lovers, a magic potion and more fairies \u2014 six to be exact \u2014 plus one adorable hobgoblin. Wild, physical, and laugh-out-loud funny.<\/p>\n

\u2022 \u201cDracula,\u201d\u00a0Oct. 23, 24, 25, 29, 30, 31.\u00a0Adapted by Hamilton Dean and John L. Balderston from the novel by Bram Stoker, directed by James Haggerty:\u00a0The original stage adaptation that made Bela Lugosi a star and Frank Langella a sensation returns to chill audiences this Halloween. Gothic, romantic, and thrilling \u2014 perfect for spooky season.<\/p>\n

\u2022 \u201cSociety Hill,\u201d Dec. 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 26.\u00a0Book by Beane, music and lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin, directed by Beane, musical arrangements and performance by Michael O\u2019Flaherty:\u00a0A cracking new musical comedy like a black-and-white Katharine Hepburn movie come to life. A Philadelphia debutante, engaged to the season\u2019s catch, gets a DUI and falls for the man she meets while doing community service. Featuring Gershwin classics including \u201cThe Man I Love,\u201d \u201cBut Not for Me,\u201d \u201cSweet and Lowdown\u201d and \u201cLady Be Good,\u201d newly arranged by Genesius co-founder O\u2019Flaherty.<\/p>\n

\u2022\u2022\u2022<\/p>\n

The vibrant spirit of Broadway and the power of community will take center stage on Feb. 12 at 6 p.m. when Berks Broadway Cares hosts an evening of entertainment and generosity at Adler Brewing Co., 2210 Hampden Blvd., Muhlenberg Township. The snow date is Feb.y 13.<\/p>\n

Presented by Marabella Enterprises in partnership with the Reading-Berks theater community, Berks Broadway Cares is a fundraiser benefiting Reading Pride Celebration and the LGBT Center of Greater Reading, two organizations dedicated to uplifting, supporting and celebrating the LGBTQ+ community across Berks County.<\/p>\n

The event will feature performances by talented local theater artists, showcasing the creativity and passion of the region\u2019s performing arts community. Proceeds from ticket sales will directly support inclusive programming, community services and advocacy efforts that make Berks County a safer and more welcoming place for LGBTQ+ individuals and families.<\/p>\n

Berks Broadway Cares is a powerful example of what happens when the arts and community come together for a shared purpose. This event not only celebrates Broadway and local talent, but also raises critical funds for organizations that serve and affirm our LGBTQ+ neighbors.<\/p>\n

Tickets are $20 and include a drink, light appetizers and the show. For tickets, got to https:\/\/www.zeffy.com\/en-US\/ticketing\/berks-broadway-cares-3<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Music<\/p>\n

As part of a continuing education series of The Highlands at Wyomissing and Reading Symphony Orchestra League, a lecture will be held on Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m. at The Highlands, 2000 Cambridge Ave., Wyomissing.<\/p>\n

The guest speaker will be David Richie, Berks Opera President, with the topic being Valentine\u2019s with Romeo and Juliet.<\/p>\n

The free lecture will highlight\u00a0 the themes that should be listened for at the concert and provide information about some of the events surrounding the composition of the music\u00a0and life of the composer.<\/p>\n

Art<\/p>\n

The annual Senior High School Juried Art Exhibit is on display at the Yocum Institute of Arts Education, 3000 Penn Ave., West Lawn, through next Sunday in the Holleran Gallery. The gallery is free and open Monday through Saturday from\u00a0 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The public reception will be today from 2-4 p.m. with the awards ceremony at 2:45.<\/p>\n

Each year, the Yocum Institute welcomes aspiring young artists from Berks County to submittheir work for this juried exhibit. The exhibit provides students with an opportunity to presenttheir original works of art to the public in a professional gallery setting, as well as compete forcash prizes and tuition to Yocum Institute arts classes.<\/p>\n

The competition was open to all full-time senior high school students that reside in or attendschool in Berks County. The original work presented will feature oil, watercolor, mixed media,acrylic paint, sculpture, and 3D art.<\/p>\n

The awardees:<\/p>\n

\"CogginsCoggins Award-winning artwork by Ella Damiani of Wilson. (Courtesy of Yocum Institute for Arts Education)<\/p>\n

\u2022 Coggins Award: Ella Damiani, Wilson School District<\/p>\n

\"First-placeFirst-place artwork by Regan McCLure of Berks Catholic. (Courtesy of Yocum Institute for Arts Education)<\/p>\n

\u2022 1st place: Regan McClure, Berks Catholic<\/p>\n

\"Second-placeSecond-place artwork by Luz Estevez Pena of Wilson. (Courtesy of Yocum Institute for Arts Education)<\/p>\n

\u2022 2nd place: Luz Estevez Pena, Wilson School District<\/p>\n

\"Third-placeThird-place artwork by Elle Jenkins of Exeter. (Courtesy of Yocum Institute for Arts Education)<\/p>\n

\u2022 3rd place: Elle Jenkins, Exeter School District<\/p>\n

\u2022 Berks Art Alliance Award: Joshua Griffith, Homeschool<\/p>\n

\u2022 Deb and Fred Gurman Award: Abigail Santana, Conrad Weiser School District<\/p>\n

Honorable mentions: Sky Thrawer, Exeter; Haylie Zimarowski, Gov. Mifflin; Rhea Patel, Wyomissing; Zachary O\u2019Keefe, Wilson; Tatum Grimm, Exeter; Eileen Swoyer, Gov. Mifflin; Damian Santos, Exeter<\/p>\n

The exhibit was managed by Nadia Pochan, art and exhibits director at the Yocum Institute, and juried by Geoffrey Fleming, executive director and CEO of the Reading Public Museum.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Genesius Theatre in Reading has announced its 55th season, brimming with eight fairies, a vampire, a hobgoblin, two…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":15485,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[349,1681,182,1213,28,128,130,129,289],"class_list":{"0":"post-102875","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-reading","8":"tag-berks-county","9":"tag-entertainment","10":"tag-local-news","11":"tag-music-and-concerts","12":"tag-pennsylvania","13":"tag-reading-city","14":"tag-reading-city-headlines","15":"tag-reading-city-news","16":"tag-things-to-do"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102875","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=102875"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102875\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15485"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=102875"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=102875"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=102875"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}