Library Used Book Sale, Love, Law and Opera, Cooney-Kirkner Duo in town, and Cherry Blossom Festival!

Tonight is “used book sale preview night” at the Upper Perkiomen Library (lower level – 350 Main Street, Red Hill, PA), from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Preview night is for Friends of the Library – but you can become a Friend tonight; just pay $10 at the checkout when you are buying your books (25 cent children’s books, 50 cents for paperbacks, one dollar for hardbacks). The UP Library Used Book Sale officially opens tomorrow, held during regular library hours, through May 5, 2019.

Short musicals (okay, operas) by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Gilbert and Sullivan, and Gian Carlo Menotti are on stage this weekend at Muhlenberg College; watch all three in one night (remember, each are only about 25 minutes long) at the Baker Theater (2400 Chew Street, Allentown, PA) in Love & The Law, An Evening of Opera & Musical Theatre.

21 Chump Street showcases Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda’s signature sound in the heartbreaking musical story of an honor-roll student who falls madly in love with the new girl in class. He’ll do anything to impress her — but she’s not who she claims to be.

Gilbert & Sullivan’s signature wit and charm are on full display in the lively one-act courtroom farce Trial By Jury, one of the pair’s first collaborations, in which a jilted young lady sues her fickle fiancé for breach of contract.

Gian Carlo Menotti’s hilarious 1946 operetta The Telephone takes a light-hearted look at love American-style! Ben wants to pop the question — but how can he get a ring on Lucy’s finger when her phone won’t stop ringing?

Tom Cooney is in yet another musical group, Cooney-Kirkner Duo! Check them out this Sunday afternoon, April 28, 2019 at Diehl’s Real Teas (239 Main Street, East Greenville, PA), from noon to 3 p.m, where they will be performing a great mix of covers and originals in Pop, Americana, Blues and Jazz. The group will also be performing at Make Music Upper Perk this year, on Friday, June 21, 2019.

The Allentown Cherry Blossom Festival is this Saturday at Cedar Beach, on Cedar Beach Parkway, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on April 27, 2019. There will be crafts, lawn games, bonsai demonstrations, the Mock Turtle Marionette Theatre, and Indonesian music ensemble Gamelan Mekar Sari, in addition to food vendors and other art and martial arts demonstrations.

Steampunk in Allentown, and Peeps Art in Peddler’s Village!

Don’t miss the free Steampunk Street Fair and Scavenger Hunt at Arts Park (downtown, by Allentown Art Museum on 5th Street, a block off Hamilton) in Allentown, PA, Saturday afternoon,  April 20th, 2019. There will be live music, street performers, vendors, steampunk fashion, and more – starting at noon tomorrow and winding up around 5 p.m.

The Allentown Steam City “Scavenger Hunt “ is an outdoors event and is FREE to the PUBLIC.

We wanted to let everyone know that, although, we plan on having an AWESOME Scavenger Hunt, we will also have a FUN Steampunk Children’s Area. The Silent Disco, Great Food, Memorable Music and LOTS of SURPRISES in store for EVERYONE!

Head towards New Hope to Peddler’s Village, Lahaska, PA anytime this weekend (or next) to check out, and vote on, sculptures, dioramas, and wall art made out of Peeps! Peeps in the Village is a 12-day exhibit, so you’ll have until April 28th to see all 70 artworks in competition, including a marshmallow Phillies Phanatic,  and Game of Thrones diorama created out of multi-colored rabbit and chick Peeps, and a Peep astronaut recreating the first moon landing. Read the Philadelphia Inquirer article for more details, if you still aren’t convinced its worth the drive.

48 hours left to Register to Play at MMUP2019! (Volunteers meet May 4th)

Musician registration for this year’s Make Music Upper Perk closes at midnight on Saturday night, April 20th, 2019! All musicians are welcome, including amateurs and professionals; all ages from 3 years old to 100, playing and singing all types of music from folk to Celtic to punk rock; jazz to pops orchestra to Sousa. And we’re still hoping for a bagpiper to sign up to play at some point during our daylong, valley-wide, free celebration of music!

Make Music Upper Perk doesn’t happen without volunteers, as well as musicians. Volunteers have been busy putting up signs, designing maps, taking photographs, arranging for sound systems for various venues, and more! If you’d like to be part of MMUP2019, working before, during, or after June 21, 2019; behind the scenes or out front as a site host introducing the musicians, come to our next Volunteer Meeting – Saturday, May 4, 2019 – beginning at 9:30 a.m. at Pennsburg UCC (775 Main Street, Pennsburg, PA), in the social hall. Read more about volunteer opportunities and sign up online. Or just show up at the meeting and hear about how you can be a part of the band!

Theater for Families (and others)

The Lion King, Jr – a slightly shortened version of the Broadway musical, adapted for younger audiences and recommended for ages 2 and up – is on stage this weekend only, at the beautifully renovated art-deco Civic Theater at 19th Street, Allentown, PA. Run time is 90 minutes, with one 15 minute intermission. The show features a student cast.

The Princess King continues its stage run at DeSales University (2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley, PA) through April 16, 2019. Tickets for the one hour play may be bought online. There is also “special carpet seating;” Children can get a front row seat for the fun with on-stage carpet seating. Seating is first come, first serve. Performances are at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., on Tuesday, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Shows sell out quickly, so buy your tickets online (or call the box office).

Come curl up with a bedtime story as our senior theatre majors present The Princess King – a tale of love, loyalty, and a little bit of lasagna! Join Princess Genevieve and Henry the Cook, as the two take on a competition to prove that Genevieve is just as capable as any prince, and remember, “You’re never too old for a bedtime story!”

Godspell is being performed in Quakertown, Pa, for the next two weekends, at East Swamp Church, 2405 E. Swamp Road. Tickets for the musical, produced by Star of the Day, may be purchased online.

Less well known, but very interesting sounding shows, are also on stage this month in our area. DCP Theater in Telford (795 Ridge Road) is taking on the true 1959 story of Alabama’s state librarian Emily Reed who was told (by a state senator) to remove the children’s book The Rabbit’s Wedding from the shelf because it told the tale of a black rabbit marrying a white rabbit. The Alabama Story opened yesterday and runs through April 20, 2019.

A children’s storybook has caught the attention of the Alabama State Senate. The Rabbits’ Wedding by Garth Williams presents a controversial idea at a time when segregation still presides. Emily, the Alabama State Librarian, is approached by the Senator and asked to remove the book from the shelves. A powerful piece of literature is about to be banned, but an even more powerful movement in history is about to change the southern town of Montgomery and the relationships there.

The (historically controversial) 2017 Tony Award winning musical, Spring Awakening opened at Lehigh University last night. The student production continues at the Zoellner Center (420 E Packer Drive, Bethlehem, PA) through April 13, 2019. The play contains mature conduct.

And if you are in the mood for something lighter, check out Pine Dinner Theater’s newest production in Allentown, Second Chances, The Thrift Shop Musical. This comedy runs April 5 – May 12, 2019 (and ticket price includes a full course dinner and dessert! menu online) The theater is located by Allentown Fairgrounds, Chew Street and 17th Street, Allentown, PA.

You don’t want to miss this inspirational show about a church thrift shop that is in danger of being closed to make way for condos. The staff of the store band together, in an often touching but hilarious effort to save the store. You’ll be cheering for more as you discover it’s not just old treasures get a second chance!