Touchstone Theatre News

Touchstone Theatre's Fresh Voices showcase returns to premiere new original works from June 2-12, 2020. In light of recent events concerning public health and safety, these performances have been developed to take place remotely and will feature both downloadable and streaming content.

Touchstone Theatre presents the fifteenth year of its acclaimed Young Playwrights' Festival. This showcase of new plays written by local elementary, middle, and high school students will take place online on May 9, 2020.

Native Earth Performing Arts is proud to present its production of Sir John A: Acts of a Gentrified Ojibway Rebellion, written by Drew Hayden Taylor, directed by Jim Millan, featuring Martin Julien, Herbie Barnes, Sid Bobb, and Katie Ryerson from April 26 - May 10, 2020 (opening night, Wednesday, April 29).

Touchstone Theatre welcomes longtime partner Mock Turtle Marionette Theater back to present their celebrated production The Secret, a mixed-media play about the Bethlehem-born feminist writer and LGBTQ icon Hilda Doolittle. The show enjoyed its world premiere at Touchstone in October as part of Festival UnBound and returns to Touchstone April 2-5 as part of their mainstage season.

Touchstone Theatre will welcome Teatro Potlach of Fara Sabina, Italy back for their second visit to Pennsylvania. Their production of Edith Piaf: Hymn to Love, created by Nathalie Mentha and directed by Pino di Buduo, runs March 5-8, 2020.

Touchstone Theatre presents its fourth annual Jakopa's Punch Bowl concert fundraiser on Saturday, February 8, 2020 from 7-10pm at the Charles A. Brown Ice House. This Mardi Gras-themed evening of eclectic music by local bands, New Orleans-style lite fare, and complimentary beer and wine supports upcoming original works at Touchstone.

In what has become an annual ritual, a total of 40 established and emerging composers, lyricists, and librettists will converge on the Goodspeed campus from mid-January through mid-February 2020 to participate in the Johnny Mercer Foundation Writers Colony at Goodspeed Musicals. The writing teams, representing 15 new musicals, will populate the campus, creating a truly exciting environment for discovery and inspiration.

With a New Year comes another great year of theatre in Vancouver! Starting off 2020, the 16th year of the annual PuSh International Performing Arts Festival will take off from January 21st to February 9th. It will be taking place at many different venues across the Vancouver area and will feature 27 works from 24 companies from 9 countries. The festival focuses on inspiring risk-takers and creators looking to strengthen their interests with the modern world. The PuSh Festival will spark deep conversation about politics and artistry that will leave you wanting more! The following is a list of the top 5 shows I am most interested in for this festival!

PuSh International Performing Arts Festival (PuSh) presents its 16th annual edition from January 21 to February 9, 2020 at various venues across the Lower Mainland. Featuring 27 works from 24 companies from nine countries a?" including six world premieres a?" the festival line-up is dedicated to creative risk-taking and dynamic interdisciplinary collaboration. PuSh 2020 is a poignant reminder of art's power to bring communities together and effect change.

Touchstone Theatre presents the big twentieth year of their Christmas City Follies series, the theatre's annual holiday-themed vaudeville show, filled with jolly mischief, merry melodies, and holiday cheer. Christmas City Follies XX runs December 5-22, 2019 at Touchstone's home theatre at 321 East Fourth Street in Southside Bethlehem.

Beginning in January of 2020, Touchstone Theatre will be partnering with Women Veterans Empowered & Thriving to host arts empowerment programming for local veterans.

On Oct. 5 and 6, local teenagers will take over Payrow Plaza in Bethlehem to do battle with a mythological monster and conquer their fears and insecurities as they envision a great future.

20 years later, Touchstone, and Bethlehem, have moved forward - into the future. And it is exploring that future in a new work - a sequel to 'Steelbound' called 'Prometheus/Redux,' which anchors a new and bigger festival - Festival UnBound.

Touchstone Theatre's Festival UnBound proudly presents Mock Turtle Marionette Theatre's newest creation, 'The Secret' - an exploration of the Lehigh Valley's celebrated feminist writer and LGBTQ icon Hilda Doolittle (H.D.). Using narrative, song, and puppetry, it journeys back into Bethlehem's past, as well as looking back at the wisdom and struggles of our mothers. Directed by Jennie Gilrain, with puppets by Doug Roysdon, 'The Secret' takes the stage at Touchstone Theatre October 5-8.

An original theatrical piece created by Mary Wright of Bethlehem aims to bring people together in the kitchen to discover how much they have in common.

Agile Rascal presents wild ride (literally) through Bethlehem as part of Festival UnBoundTouring bicycle theater company presents new, participatory work as part of Touchstone Theatre's 10-day theater and art festival.

Revisit Touchstone Theatre's iconic production of a?oeSteelbounda?? on Sept. 25 when the National Museum of Industrial History presents a screening of the original, groundbreaking theatrical work featuring Bethlehem steelworkers. The work, which premiered in 1999, was the centerpiece of Steel Festival: The Art of an Industry, Touchstone's multi-arts festival celebrating Bethlehem's heritage of steelmaking.

Festival Unbound, Touchstone Theatre's groundbreaking 10-day festival of original art and community conversation, is looking for energetic, fun-loving individuals to join their team of volunteers for the festival October 4-13, 2019.  

After more than two years of planning, the schedule is set and tickets are now on sale for Touchstone Theatre's ten-day Festival UnBound, a community convergence featuring more than 20 free and ticketed events October 4-13, throughout the Lehigh Valley but primarily held in the City of Bethlehem. Festival UnBound uses art to spark conversation about how the city has changed in the 20 years since the closing of Bethlehem Steel and to imagine our future together now that we are a?oeunbounda?? from the Steel.

The 37th annual Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards were held on Monday, July 15th at Bard on the Beach in the BMO Mainstage in Vanier Park, an amazing theatrical venue in a magnificent setting. The awards celebrate excellence in professional theatre and salutes all the talent who contribute to  Vancouver's fantastic theatre scene. Fifty theatrical productions were nominated from last years' dynamic theatre season.