The Reading Theater Project has announced the cast and performance details for “Faithless” by Kimberly Patterson, the second staged reading in the Play Reading Series: Revelation.
The reading will take place on May 15 at 7 p.m. at GoggleWorks Center for the Arts’ Boscov Theatre, 200 Washington St., Reading. Free parking is available behind the building.
Susan Sneeringer directs Patterson’s play. In “Faithless,” Shireen learns that Dr. Duffy, her mentor, won’t sign off her dissertation because her research might expose Duffy’s work as insufficient. Without Duffy’s signature, her life and career are basically being held hostage. So Shireen decides that she should take some hostages of her own.
The cast features Tama McConnell as Dr. Duffy, Walidah McKnight as Shireen and Aliyah Caulder as Skylar. Deb Brubaker will read the stage directions.
Our Play Reading Series this spring will connect to the season’s theme of “Illuminate” and will feature three plays by local and regional playwrights. Each is performed as a staged reading followed by a facilitated talkback with the playwright, director and actors.
There is one additional Play Reading Series performance date: May 29 at 7 p.m., “Hero Work” by Adam Richter, directed by Julia Matthews. More information and tickets are available at readingtheaterproject.org or by calling 484-706-9719.
Like our other productions, the Play Reading Series will follow the Pay What You Will Model: an audience member can choose their own price for a ticket, including $0. The recommended price is $10, and we encourage those who are able to pay the $20 Pay It Forward price. This ticket pricing model is part of our Theater For All initiative to make theater more accessible to all audiences.
Fundraiser
Dogs and Brews, the Reading Public Museum’s annual Memorial Day Weekend event, will be held on May 25 from noon to 4 p.m. (rain or shine) at the Reading Public Museum’s Stone Terrace Tent and surrounding grounds.
Pet and craft vendors, regional breweries and wineries and food and ice cream trucks will be present. Proceeds from the event will benefit the museum and the Animal Rescue League of Berks County.
The Arboretum has long been a community favorite spot for dog walking, and this event is an opportunity for our dog-loving community to come together to support the museum and the ARL.
Dogs & Brews will bring hundreds of guests and their four-legged friends to The Arboretum to kick off the summer season, sample craft beverages, peruse vendor wares and indulge in eats from local food trucks while enjoying a beautiful day along the banks of the Wyomissing Creek. Other fun activities include face painting, watching police dog demonstrations, listening to live music and taking family portraits with your pets in front of a custom backdrop.
Tickets to the event are available online or by calling Hannah Alarcon at 610-371-5850, extension. Cost is $50 per person; $85 per couple; $25 for a designated driver or under 21 (does not receive a glass); Children 10 and under are free. For more information, visit: https://www.readingpublicmuseum.org/dogs-brews. Pre-registered guests will receive a complimentary pint tasting glass while supplies last.
Music
The Reading Choral Society will present Brahms — a German Requiem next Sunday at 4 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 740 Cherry St., West Reading.
Dr. Graham Bier, RCS music director and conductor, will direct. The soloists will be Amanda Sheriff, soprano, and Christian Immler, bass/baritone. An orchestra will provide the accompaniment.
Tickets are $15 in advance and can be purchased at https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/reading-choral-society/brahms-a-german-requiem, or $20 at the door. Student tickets are $10.
Sheriff is an up-and-coming American soprano who is known for her full command on stage and tonal beauty. She is in her second year as Glynn Studio Artist at Atlanta Opera, where she will sing Papagena (Die Zauberflöte).
Later this season Sheriff will make her Opera Philadelphia debut as Jess (The Listeners) and will return to perform Zerlina in Don Giovanni.
She received her bachelor’s degree in music education and master’s in vocal performance from Stephen F. Austin State University.
German bass/baritone Immler is a multifaceted artist whose career ranges widely across the worlds of lieder, oratorio and opera, “a technically, musically and stylistically consummate interpreter, with exemplary diction and emotional urgency coupled with a deep intellectual textual understanding” (Klassik Heute).
He studied with Rudolf Piernay in London and won the International Nadia et Lili Boulanger Competition in Paris.
His operatic experience ranges from Monteverdi’s Seneca, Jupiter and Borée in Rameau’s Castor et Pollux and Les Boréades, the Commendatore in Don Giovanni, Speaker in Die Zauberflöte, Rocco in Beethoven’s Leonore, the Hermit in Weber’s Der Freischütz, Fasolt in Wagner’s Rheingold, the Musiklehrer in Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos to Unsuk Chin’s Alice in Wonderland.
Books
Local authors Paul and Kathy Miller will be at the Sinking Spring Library, 3940 Penn Ave. rear, Sinking Spring, on Saturday and again on May 31 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for a book signing.
Available will be “Memories of a Bygone Era — History of the South Mountain Resorts Overlooking Wernersville, Berks County, PA,” with 352 pages including 624 vintage photos on the history of each Victorian health resort such as Galen Hall, Grand View, Walters Park/South Mountain Manor, Highland House, Sunset Hall, Byndenwood, Park Mansion House and more at $58, payable by cash or check.
Included are rare photos of exterior and interior views, their grounds, blueprints, menus and many views lost to time covering their history from 1847-1963.
Also available will be “Blue Marsh and the Pleasant Valley — One Last Look,” with 400 pages and 830 vintage photos on the history of the five townships (Jefferson, Penn, North Heidelberg, South Heidelberg, Bern) and Bernville borough areas affected by the Blue Marsh Dam project at $65, cash or check.
Included is the Union Canal, Gruber Wagon Works, Pleasant Valley Roller Mill, village of Blue Marsh, South Bernville, Mt. Pleasant, Brownsville, State Hill, Octagon house, Fox Lake, Ohnmacht’s Cave, Pyle’s Store, Blue Marsh Hotel, schoolhouses, bridges, farmsteads, life in the Pleasant Valley and much more now lost to time. Mailing is an additional $12.
Both books are a limited edition reprint in softcover on top quality paper while they last. Arrangements can be made for pickup. For more information or to reserve a copy, call 610-678-4219.
Interested in history since his teen years, Paul serves as president of the Sinking Spring Area Historical Society and Heritage Park, and Kathy serves as vice president. They have also been involved with other history books about Sinking Spring and Spring Township.
Paul provides historical presentations for groups in the Berks area and also serves as curator for the Heritage Park train station museum.
Lecture
The Know Your Symphony lecture series will continue on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the Highlands at Wyomissing, 2000 Cambridge Ave. Dr. Daniel Immel, professor of music at Kutztown University, will be the lecturer.
Auditions
Reading Civic Theatre will hold auditions for “Footloose” on Saturday and May 17 from noon-3 p.m. They are looking for actors ages 14 to 19 for this teen-centered show. Additionally, they are looking for about 10 adults to fill adult roles. Teens should choose an audition slot between noon-2 p.m. on either day, and adults should choose a slot between 2-3. Dance auditions are May 18 from 6-9:30 p.m., and callbacks/readings are May 27 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. “Footloose” will replace “Rent” as the teen show. To schedule an audition, go to readingcivic.org to find our sign up genius.
Events
The Santander Arena and Santander Performing Arts Center have announced the following events:
• Anuel AA — Real Hasta La Muerte 2 Tour, Santander Arena, Aug. 30, 8 p.m.
• Eden Munoz: Como En Los Viejos Tiempos Tour 2025, Santander Performing Arts Center, Aug. 30, 8 p.m.
• The Vampire Circus — The Scariest Side of Cirque, Santander Performing Arts Center, Oct. 30, 7:30 p.m.
• Dustin Lynch and Scotty McCreery: Two for the Road, Santander Arena, Nov. 14, 7 p.m.
• Wheel of Fortune Live, Santander Performing Arts Center, Dec. 3, 8 p.m.
