Education<\/p>\n
Yocum Institute for Arts Education in West Lawn is bringing two theater-based mental health programs back to Berks County schools this fall, following a successful spring 2026 pilot that reached more than 3,400 students, faculty and staff through 23 performances.<\/p>\n
Designed specifically for elementary and high school audiences, \u201cI\u2019m OK\u201d and \u201cAt Some Point \u2014 We Have to Talk\u201d use live, interactive theater to create opportunities for students to think about mental health, build awareness, reduce stigma and connect with trusted adults and community resources.<\/p>\n
Both programs will be available to Berks County schools at no cost.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know that schools are being asked to support students who are navigating increasingly complex emotional and social challenges, and we believe the arts can be a powerful way to open the door to those conversations,\u201d said Kristin Gehris, Yocum Institute\u2019s school and community engagement director. \u201cWhat was especially meaningful about our spring pilot was seeing how positively students, teachers and administrators responded to these programs.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheater gives us a way to approach difficult subjects in an engaging, age-appropriate way, and to connect students with resources and people who can help. We are excited to make these experiences available to more schools this fall.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\""I'm](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1790510531_297_Im-OK.jpg\")
\u201cI\u2019m OK\u201d is a 30-minute interactive theater assembly created for students in second and third grades. (Courtesy of the Yocum Institute for Arts Education)<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m OK\u201d is a 30-minute interactive theater assembly created for students in second and third grades. The program addresses mental health and feelings-awareness through age-appropriate storytelling, reflection and problem-solving.<\/p>\n
The production was developed with guidance from mental health professionals and a panel of elementary school principals, counselors, social workers and emotional support teachers representing urban, suburban and rural schools in Berks County.<\/p>\n
Written by Joel Richard Gori, \u201cI\u2019m OK\u201d explores topics including empathy, listening and respect; understanding complicated feelings; strategies for self-regulation; handling challenging situations in the classroom; positive behavior and decision-making.<\/p>\n
During the spring 2026 pilot, Yocum brought \u201cI\u2019m OK\u201d to 18 elementary schools, reaching more than 2,900 students, faculty and staff. Teachers and administrators provided extremely positive feedback about the program.<\/p>\n
Each participating student receives a\u00a0\u201cfeelings journal\u201d to encourage continued reflection, along with a mental health resource packet for families, created in partnership with Inspired Wellness.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m OK\u201d performances are available at various morning and afternoon times through mid-December. The program is funded in part by The Yocum Family Charitable Trust.<\/p>\n
![\""At](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1790510531_526_at-some-point.jpg\")
\u201cAt Some Point \u2013 We Have to Talk\u201d is a 30-minute performance created specifically for high school students and their supporting faculty and staff. (Courtesy of the Yocum Institute for Arts Education)<\/p>\n
\u201cAt Some Point \u2014 We Have to Talk\u201d is a 30-minute performance created specifically for high school students and their supporting faculty and staff. Written by Adam Void, the production was developed with grant support and in collaboration with VOiCEup Berks and youth involved in its Mental Health Ambassador initiative.<\/p>\n
Through conversations with local teens, their real stories, community perspectives, and lived experiences helped shape the piece, bringing authenticity and relevance to a work that reflects the voices of today\u2019s youth.<\/p>\n
The play explores issues teens are facing, including relationships, missing persons, the impact of social media and self-harm.<\/p>\n
Yocum produces \u201cAt Some Point\u201d in partnership with the Reading Area Community College Theatre Arts Department, providing college students with valuable professional performance experience while also giving them an opportunity to engage directly with the issues explored in the production.<\/p>\n
Following each performance, VOiCEup Berks\u2019 Mental Health Ambassadors facilitate \u201cWe Have to Talk,\u201d a post-performance discussion using situations from the play as a starting point for conversation, reflection and connection. Ambassadors also provide each audience member with a youth-developed wellness toolkit featuring practical coping tools, grounding strategies and mental health resources to support students beyond the performance.<\/p>\n
Performances are available for high schools on Wednesday mornings through mid-December, 2026. The program is supported by Tower Behavioral Health and the Wyomissing Foundation.<\/p>\n
Visual and performing arts<\/p>\n
Reading Pride Celebration, in partnership with WCR Center for the Arts, will present its fourth annual art show through Nov. 15 at WCR Center for the Arts, 140 N. Fifth St., Reading.<\/p>\n
The annual exhibition celebrates the creativity, talent, and diverse voices of LGBTQ+ artists and allies from Berks County and beyond. This year\u2019s show will feature artwork across a variety of mediums. Some works will also be available for purchase, offering visitors an opportunity to directly support participating artists.<\/p>\n
This year, Reading Pride is expanding its traditional gallery reception to include a live performance showcase, bringing visual and performing arts together as part of a special evening celebrating creativity and community. The gallery reception and performance showcase will take place on Oct. 10 at WCR Center for the Arts.<\/p>\n
The reception is free and will include light refreshments and a cash cocktail bar benefiting Reading Pride\u2019s year-round programs.<\/p>\n
\u201cArt has always given our community a powerful way to express who we are, share our experiences, and connect with one another,\u201d said Sean Flannery, president of Reading Pride Celebration. \u201cAs we celebrate Reading Pride\u2019s 20th anniversary, we\u2019re excited to expand this year\u2019s art show by bringing visual and performing artists together.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether someone is exhibiting for the first time, returning as an artist, taking the stage, or simply coming to experience the work, we want this to be a space where creativity and community come together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reading Pride is still accepting submissions from artists and performers interested in participating in this year\u2019s exhibition and performance showcase. Artists and performers of all experience levels are encouraged to submit their work for consideration and may participate in the gallery exhibition, the live performance showcase, or both.<\/p>\n
There is no announced hard deadline for submissions. Interested artists and performers are encouraged to submit their work as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
The addition of live performance to this year\u2019s art show is part of Reading Pride\u2019s ongoing 20th anniversary celebration, expanding an established annual tradition in a new way during the organization\u2019s milestone year.<\/p>\n
In its fourth year, the art show provides an opportunity to elevate LGBTQ+ creativity, create connections between artists and the community, and provide a space for artistic expression.<\/p>\n
Full event information, including artist and performer submissions, is available on the 2026 Reading Pride Annual Art Show event page, https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/yc5tj5z2<\/a>.<\/p>\n Films<\/p>\n \u201cIl Mio Posto a Tavola\u201d (\u201cMy Place at the Table\u201d), a documentary film from Reading-based executive producer Santo D. Marabella and director\/producer Tracy Schott, is coming to PBS this fall. Beginning on Nov. 1, the 330+ public television broadcasting stations in the United\u00a0 States will have the opportunity to air the film through a distribution agreement with National Educational Telecommunications Association.<\/p>\n Marabella Enterprises, the\u00a0 presenting producer, says they have granted NETA a limited release license to\u00a0 distribute the film to PBS stations for the next 12 months. The agreement includes\u00a0 broadcasting rights, but not streaming.<\/p>\n \u201cWe believe that a limited PBS release gives the film the opportunity to gain exposure\u00a0 throughout the country while still remaining marketable to commercial distributors since\u00a0 the agreement does not prohibit commercial distribution,\u201d said Marabella, who is\u00a0 also the film subject.<\/p>\n The documentary tells the story of Marabella\u2019s adoption from Italy during the Baby Scoop Era when unwed mothers were forced or coerced into giving up their babies at or after birth.<\/p>\n Schott, filmmaker and an artistic collaborate with Marabella for more than 18 years, believes the film will be a good fit with PBS.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m excited for this opportunity to share this important film on a broader scale,\u201d Schott said. \u201cPBS audiences are generally a\u00a0 well-informed, curious group of individuals who will likely be intrigued and inspired by the\u00a0 film.\u201d<\/p>\n In celebration of the PBS distribution, Marabella Enterprises is offering a weekend\u00a0 screening of the film on Nov. 13, 14 and 15 at the Boscov Film Theater at the GoggleWorks, 201 Washington St., Reading. Co-sponsored by the Boscov Film Theater and Bonnie Sussman-Versace of FOCUSED LLC, each screening will also include\u00a0 talkbacks with Marabella and Schott.<\/p>\n For more information and tickets, visit https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/44ehwc76<\/a>.\u00a0To learn more about the film, visit https:\/\/IlMioPostoFilm.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n Dance<\/p>\n \u201cAll Aboard the Joy Train!\u201d invites families, performing arts fans, train enthusiasts, and history buffs to explore the tracks that bring us together on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. in Hamburg.<\/p>\n A 90-minute, collaborative, creative placemaking performance spearheaded by JCWK Dance Lab and the Reading Company Technical and Historical Society at the Reading\u00a0 Railroad Heritage Museum 500 S. Third St., Hamburg, the experience blends technological and cultural history,\u00a0 storytelling, contemporary dance, and original music.<\/p>\n \u201cBlending the technology of railroading with the arts contributes to our region\u2019s understanding of\u00a0 the ways the Reading Railroad shaped communities,\u201d said Carol Adams, outreach chair of the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum. \u201cThe employees of the Reading enjoyed\u00a0 many railroad-sponsored musical activities. Now, the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum is\u00a0 happy to welcome everyone to enjoy the arts and technology in this performance of \u2018Joy Train.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n The\u00a0 experience includes admission to the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum, performance,\u00a0 audience\/ artist\/ RRHM staff talk-back, and tour of RRHM grounds and railyard.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone has a train story,\u201d JCWK Dance Lab Director Jessica Warchal-King said. \u201cI\u2019m\u00a0 excited to use dance and music to bring people together in a way that uniquely reflects Berks\u00a0 County\u2019s past and future.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Cady](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1790510532_757_JCWK-Dance-Lab-Joy-Train-pic-by-Don-Carrick.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Megan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1790510533_210_JCWK-Dance-Lab-Joy-Train-pic2-by-Don-Carrick-.jpg\")
Megan Zalek of the JCWK Dance Lab will be part of \u201cAll Aboard the Joy Train.\u201d (Don Carrick)<\/p>\n
![\"Samantha](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1790510533_962_samantha-grinage.jpg\")
Samantha Grinage as Carrie White in \u201cCarrie the Musical.\u201d (Jessica Reber)![\"Kelly](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1790510533_356_kelly-kantner.jpg\")
Kelly Kantner as Margaret White in \u201cCarrie the Musical.\u201d (Jessica Reber)<\/p>\n