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Happenings in Berks – Hopewell Furnace commemorates National Public Lands Day  

Hopewell Furnace in Elverson invites the community to join in commemorating National Public Lands Day on Saturday, Sept. 24.

Held annually on the fourth Saturday in September, National Public Lands Day celebrates the connection between people and green space in their community, inspires environmental stewardship, and encourages the use of open space for education, recreation, and health benefits.

Offerings this year at Hopewell Furnace include service projects throughout the park as well as programming related to the Civilian Conservation Corps’ role in restoring the park.

This year’s service projects involve addressing needs related to the natural resources in the park, like removing invasive plants, and monitoring the various trails that pass through the site.  Additional information on the projects, and how you can sign up to participate, can be found by searching “Hopewell Furnace” at Volunteer.gov.

Also, throughout the day, reenactors in Civilian Conservation Corps attire will offer programs and demonstrations highlighting the role the CCC played in restoring Hopewell Furnace as well as the organization’s impact on other public lands throughout the county during the Great Depression.  Activities will include mock CCC enlistment procedures, woodcutting and branding demonstrations, and Park Ranger lead programming.  National Public Lands Day is organized annually and led by the National Environmental Education Foundation. in partnership with the National Park Service and other federal agencies.

Hopewell Furnace was established as a National Historic Site on August 3, 1938 and preserves the late 18th and early 19th century setting of an iron-making community, including the charcoal-fueled furnace, and its natural and cultural resources.  This community illustrates the essential role of industrialization in the growth of the early United States.  The furnace was established in 1771 by Ironmaster Mark Bird and operated as a furnace for the next 112 years.

The park’s facilities are currently open seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Hopewell Furnace is located at 2 Mark Bird Lane, Elverson, PA 19520 about five miles south of Birdsboro, off Route 345.  Admission to the park is free.  For more information, call 610-582-8773 or visit the park’s web site at www.nps.gov/hofu.

Albright College’s Domino Players

Written and produced by Albright College’s Domino Players theatre company — led by Matt Fotis, Ph.D., associate professor of theatre — “The Big House” will premiere at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 29. Performances will be held in the Albright Theatre from Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 29 to Oct. 1, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 2, at 2 p.m.

Continuing the Domino Players’ tradition of premiering original work, this company-created piece explores the many faces of “home,” and investigates the different ways we construct, inhabit, and engage with our families, our communities, our country, the places we call home and our shared digital worlds.

Albright’s national award-winning theatre program has been invited to perform at Kennedy festival II 11 times in the last 15 years.

KU Presents! kicks off 2022-23 season

KU Presents! at Kutztown University’s Schaeffer Auditorium welcomes everyone to the 2022-2023 season with 10 breath-taking performances across three series. Established to be the center of cultural life at Kutztown University, KU Presents! serves the campus and community by bringing world-class live arts that can entertain, educate and enrich.

On March 9, the world-renowned Kingdom Choir of London will perform works from the traditional Gospel songbook as well as their take on contemporary hit tunes at Kutztown University's Schaeffer Auditorium. (Photo supplied by Kutztown University)
On March 9, the world-renowned Kingdom Choir of London will perform works from the traditional Gospel songbook as well as their take on contemporary hit tunes at Kutztown University’s Schaeffer Auditorium. (Photo supplied by Kutztown University)

The Performing Artists Series opens Oct. 5, with mandolin master Sam Bush performing the Newgrass style he helped establish. Ring in the holidays with traditional Irish ensemble Danu and An Emerald Isle Christmas Dec. 1. A fun and funny slice of nostalgia is brought to Schaeffer’s stage Feb. 8 by former Seinfeld writer and comedian Pat Hazell in his one-man show The Wonder Bread Years.

On March 9, the world-renowned Kingdom Choir of London will perform works from the traditional Gospel songbook as well as their take on contemporary hit tunes. In collaboration with Berks Jazz Fest, Grammy Award-winning Jazz guitarist John Pizzarelli and stunning vocalist Catherine Russell perform Nat King Cole and the Ladies of Song on March 29. The season closes in grand style April 19 with Tony Award winner Laura Benanti.

Special events also take to the Schaeffer stage this fall. Berks County poet Laureate Anthony Orozco narrates Carnival of the Animals, featuring the Kutztown University Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Peter Isaacson on Oct. 23. Then, on Nov. 7, Heartland Marimba Quartet with the Reading Pops celebrate the opening of the Wells-Rapp Center for Mallet Percussion Research at Kutztown University.

Audiences of all ages are sure to enjoy the return of the Family Series in Spring 2023. Popovich Comedy Pet Theater, as featured on America’s Got Talent, will bring an amazing show with a cast of 30 rescue animals on Feb. 5. World class performer Jason Bishop, with grand illusions and slight-of hand magic, will leave you totally astonished on March 19.

For more details on the 2022-2023 season, including ticket prices, pre-show events and engagement opportunities for schools, visit www.kutztownpresents.org or call 610-683-4092.

Steel River Playhouse kicks off season, seeks sponsorships

From murderous plants to guardian angels to a new twist on familiar fairy tales there is something for all tastes in next season’s offerings at Steel River Playhouse, 245 E. High St, in Pottstown.

The season includes plays and musicals, and opportunities to be a part of the excitement with a sponsorship. On Oct. 7, there will be dinner at The Blue Elephant followed by “Little Shop of Horrors.” Sponsorships include $250 to be a Seedling and $500 to be a Sprout and receive dinner for two as well as tickets to the show. Opening Night sponsorship of $1,000 features company name and logo in the lobby, marketing, and the opening night curtain speech. A $2,500 donation sponsors the full run of a production in Newberry Loft as well as other benefits. A $5,000 donation sponsors a Mainstage Production, including additional recognition and tickets. A full season sponsorship is a $20,000 donation.

Opening Oct. 7, “Little Shop of Horrors,” directed by John D. DiFerdinando, runs through Oct. 23.

The town of Bedford Falls comes to life on the Mainstage on Dec. 2 with the staging of a 1940s radio play of “It’s a Wonderful Life” directed by Leena Devlin.

Join an eccentric family with “Falsettos” directed by Lisa Hendricks running Feb. 10 to 19.

“The Laramie Project” and “The Laramie Project 10 Years Later” directed by Stacey Michaud run March 10 through April 2.

“I and You” directed by Leena Devlin runs April 14 to 30.

To finish the season, founding artistic director Deborah Stimson-Snow returns to Steel River to direct “Into The Woods” running May 26 through June 11.

For more information about sponsorship, email info@steelriver.org or call at 610-970-1199. Visit https://steelriver.secure.force.com/ticket#/subscriptions to purchase a season subscription. Individual tickets may be purchased at https://steelriver.secure.force.com/ticket#/. For more information contact the Box Office at info@steelriver.org.


Source: Berkshire mont

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