UPPER SAUCON TWP., Pa. — This weekend, it will be much ado about free fun — including a classical music concert and a preview of "Princess and the Frog Prince."
The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival's Community Day will return to DeSales University's campus from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
The free celebration will feature Bard-approved performances, interactive exhibitions, a car cruise-in, an Upper Saucon Fire Department truck display, musical performances and food trucks.
It will coincide with Saturday's live taping of the "As You Mic It" podcast at 4:45 p.m. and "Music on the Green" at 6 p.m.
Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, or PSF, started May 28 at DeSales University's Labuda Center for the Performing Arts and will run through Aug. 3.
The season, led by Artistic Director Jason King Jones and Managing Director Casey William Gallagher, includes nine productions.
Storytime, Allentown Symphony
Among the free performances are a story time with staff from Hellertown Area Library at 10 a.m., followed by a classical music set with an ensemble member from Allentown Symphony Orchestra.
At 10:40 a.m., PSF's cast will present a sneak peek of the "Princess and the Frog Prince."
The show, a modern spin on the classic fairytale, follows a basketball fan/princess who would rather play the game than find her prince charming.
It features an unexpected hero, in the form of a talking frog, who teaches the princess the importance of staying true to herself.
"Princess and the Frog Prince" was written by Jones and directed by Jessica Bedford.
It will run July 4 through Aug. 2 at the Schubert Theatre.
Tickets cost $14.50-$18.50.
Allentown School Latin band, Play On!
At 11 a.m., high school musicians from Allentown School District's Latin band will perform before an encore performance of "Much Ado About Nothing," part of PSF's Play On! series.
"Much Ado About Nothing," a romantic satire, is set in Messina, a seaport city in Italy. It centers around two couples, Hero (Sophia Twohig) and Claudio (Ian Higgins), and Beatrice (India Profitt) and Benedick (Ryan Plunkett).
The 10-member cast also includes Maya Jean Marino Cappello (as Conrade/Margaret), Jamir Fisher (as Leonato), Relena Kiser (as Borachio/Friar/Messenger), Shawn Laub (portraying Don John/Seacole/Lord/Messenger), Teddy Novak (as Don Pedro/Verges) and Isabella Stevens (as Dogberry/Ursala).
At 1 p.m., Music on the Green will be on the Labuda Center's lawn. Another concert will take place at 6 p.m.
Food trucks on-site will sell a variety of food and drinks.
Slated to appear are Blue Cactus Mexican, Queen V Wraps, Udder Bar, Summer Naturals Italian Ice, Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee, Sage Alley and Greek Street.
Kid-friendly activities, ponies
In between the performances, you can check out the variety of kid-friendly activities, including chalk art, bubble-making, lawn games, face painting and a bouncy house.
For animal lovers, there will be a pony and alpaca petting farm.
This year's vendors and community partners are Baum School of Art, Civic Theatre of Allentown, Lehigh Valley Martial Arts, Southern Lehigh Public Library, LVCIL, Casa Guadalupe and Lehigh Valley International Airport.
Also, classic cars will drive and park through the grounds, along with a fire truck from the Upper Saucon Fire Department.
For information on PSF's Community Day and upcoming shows, visit the website.
