Touchstone Theatre Announces 37th Season Line Up

Touchstone Theatre gears up for its new season, featuring a collection of original works created by the resident ensemble and presented works created by notable guest artists. Touchstone's 37th season begins in September.

Founded in 1981, Touchstone Theatre produces and presents both original and re-imagined classic productions, with a dedication to the renewal of theatre as a vital art form. Touchstone works to foster collaboration on a local and national level through educational and youth empowerment programs, using theatre as a community-building tool.

This coming season, celebrating the theatre's 37th year of artistry on Bethlehem's South Side, opens September 28-October 1 with Philadelphia's genre-defying Almanac Dance Circus Theatre and their acrobatic production Leaps of Faith and Other Mistakes. The season continues November 30-December 22 with Touchstone's beloved classic variety show for the holidays, Christmas City Follies, in its eighteenth iteration. In 2018, February 1-4, Touchstone presents renowned Happenstance Theatre, based out of Washington D.C., with an upbeat, absurdist romp called BrouHaHa. And on April 5-15, Touchstone Ensemble Member Christopher Shorr unveils a new musical told through biting satire and witty music, Dictators for Dummies.

"This season, we'll be introducing our audiences to two amazing companies that have never performed in our community before. It's exciting to be able to bring new artists into the Lehigh Valley," says Jp Jordan, Touchstone artistic director. "That coupled with everything else going on, including a new original production penned by Ensemble Member Christopher Shorr, will make this an action packed year."

In addition to its mainstage season, Touchstone will feature a number of special events: on February 9, Jakopa's Punch Bowl, a Mardi Gras-themed musical revel of a fundraiser; on May 12, The Young Playwrights' Festival & Gala, an annual celebration of elementary, middle, and high school playwrights in the Lehigh Valley; and on June 1 and 2, Fresh Voices, a showcase performance and peek into the creative process with Touchstone's apprentice corps.

Touchstone's season is supported locally by season sponsor RCN. WDIY provides media sponsorship and Working Dog Press provides print sponsorship.

Touchstone's 2017-18 season begins September 28, 2017 with Leaps of Faith and Other Mistakes. For a complete listing of Touchstone's season, visit www.touchstone.org.