The casualties of the American war machine in Vietnam are explored in wrenching depth in Crowded Kitchen Players evocative original play "Mothers Shall But Smile" through Oct. 22 at the Charles A. Brown Ice House, 56 River St., Bethlehem.

"Mothers Shall But Smile" focuses on Andrew, an adjutant to his battalion's colonel on Bien Hoa Air Base in Vietnam in 1971 and 1972. As part of his duties, he is assigned to investigate the possible wrongful death of a Vietnamese civilian.

Written and directed by Ara Barlieb, the play is inspired by real-life events as described in letters by Barlieb's brother, who was a captain in the U. S. Army stationed at Bien Hoa during the Vietnam War.

Act 1 DeSales University Theatres graceful production of Lynn Nottages "Intimate Apparel," is painfully honest, heartrending and ultimately still hopeful.

The touching drama is on the Main Stage of the Labuda Center for the Performing Arts in Center Valley through Oct. 8.

Taking place in New York in 1905, 35-year-old Esther, played with endless stoic strength by Maya Marino Cappello, is a black woman who has been working as a seamstress for 18 years. While other women around her marry and leave, Esther sews lingerie for a variety of clients from wealthy white housewives to prostitutes. She saves money in a quilt and dreams of opening a beauty parlor where black women would be treated like ladies.

Hilarious performances make Cedar Crest Colleges Department of Performing Arts "Ruthless! The Musical" a riotously uproarious evening of theater.

The darkly funny musical, on the stage of Samuels Theater, 100 College Drive, Allentown, through Oct. 1, is a spot-on parody of show business Broadway musicals, such as "Gypsy" and "Mame." There are plenty of shout-outs to other musicals from "A Chorus Line" style line-up to a joke about dancing gang members from "West Side Story."

An original comedy that is humorously quirky with unexpected twists, is being presented by Crowded Kitchen Players at Between the Lines Studio Theatre in Allentown through Oct. 1.

"The Spectre of Death" follows an aging and over-the-hill heavy metal band as they prepare for what they hope will be a comeback concert.

Playwright and composer Charlie Barnett was inspired by real life shock metal band GWAR which was known for their elaborate and grotesque costumes and which had mainstream success in the 1990s. In the show, the band also wears costumes and masks when they perform.