Pennsylvania Playhouse presents an amiable “Kiss Me Kate,”elevated by strong leads, through Aug. 11 at Pennsylvania Playhouse, 390 Illick’s Mill Road, Bethlehem.

The musical comedy inspired by Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew” is a play within a play that showcases sparring lovers, familiar songs and extended dance sequences.

Leading the cast is Armand Reiser and Alexis Smith who play both the estranged lovers Fred Graham and Lilli Vanessi, as well as Shakespeare’s characters Petruchio and Katherine.

Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival gives the “extreme Shakespeare” treatment to the Bard’s “Cymbeline” resulting in a somewhat raucous but ultimately satisfying production.

PSF’s boisterous “Cymbeline” is on stage through Aug. 4 in the Schubert Theatre, Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley.

The play is being produced for the first time in PSF’s 33 years, and marks the festival’s 30th play produced in Shakespeare’s canon.

“Cymbeline” is presented in the festival’s “Extreme Shakespeare” style, with actors rehearsing the way it is believed Shakespeare's company would have. Actors arrive with their lines learned, rehearse on their own without a director, raid the costume shop and open in a matter of a few days. 

Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival’s production of “The Color Purple” is an exuberant, buoyant show filled with passionate singing, exciting dancing and powerful performances.

The show runs through Aug. 4 at Main Stage Theatre, Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley.

Jessica Johnson gives a transformative performance as Celie, a young woman whose life is marked by isolation and abuse. Johnson’s astute portrayal of Celie makes her heart breaking journey to self-awareness overwhelmingly empowering

The musical is based on the 1982 novel by Alice Walker and its 1985 film adaptation. The first act is painful to watch as Celie is horribly mistreated by the men in her life. Johnson embraces the physicality of Celie’s abuse, as she portrays the character as slumped and drawn inward. Her only joy is her relationship with her sister Nettie (a joyous Jessica Money) and even that that is taken away by her cruel husband Mister.

“Mamma Mia!” is a wonderful play showcasing terrific talent worth seeing and hearing.  The musical, based on the book by Catherine Johnson and originally conceived by Judy Craymer, is beautifully directed by Clair M. Freeman.  The outstanding music scores are directed by Chad Miller.

The Summer Theatre production runs at Northampton Community College Theatre though July 28.

Beth Linzer (Donna Sheridan) really rocks her role with her dynamic voice and charm. Her “Mamma Mia!” number with the Ensemble is spectacular.

Rebecca Pieper (Tanya Cresham-Leigh) with her hot mamma looks and great voice steal a fair share of the show as her role as Donna’s side-kick girlfriend that channels some young man’s dreams. She and flirty waiter Mateo Villarreal (Pepper) heat up a fun scene. “Last night never happened.”