It's hard to believe summer will be coming to a close in just a few short weeks. But Berks Jazz Fest fans know that means the members-only ticket presale will be here before you know it. Berks Arts Council members at the Jazz Circle level and above get advance notice of the festival lineup and are eligible for the one-week presale. Join or renew now and buy the best seats in the house before they go on sale to the public!

CLICK HERE to join or renew using our secure online membership portal. For questions or to purchase membership by phone, call Kristen at 610-898-1930 x21.

OCTOBER 1: The Hit Men 2.0 - The Time Travel Tour

DATE: Saturday, October 1
TIME: 7:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Santander Performing Arts Center | 136 N. Sixth St. | Reading, PA 19601

Want to feel like you’re 23 years old again? Time travel through the most magnificent years of rock 'n roll with The Hit Men - legendary performers who toured and recorded with Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Tommy James and The Shondells, Carly Simon, Carole King, Elton John, Cat Stevens, Jim Croce and many more huge stars. Tickets $60.50; $46.00.

CLICK HERE to purchase via Ticketmaster or visit the Santander Arena box office at 700 Penn Street.

FRIDAY & SATURDAY: NUNSENSE THE MEGA MUSICAL

DATES: Friday, August 19 and Saturday, August 20
TIME: 7:30 p.m. both nights
LOCATION: Conrad Weiser Middle School | 347 East Penn Ave. | Robesonia, PA 19551

The Conrad Weiser 76ers are thrilled to present "NUNSENSE the MEGA Musical" which follows the Little Sisters of Hoboken as they discover that their cook, Sister Julia, Child of God, has accidentally poisoned 52 of the sisters, and they are in dire need of funds for the burials. The sisters decide that the best way to raise the money is to put on a variety show, so they take over the school auditorium, which is currently set up for the eighth grade production of Grease. Here we meet Reverend Mother Regina, a former circus performer; Sister Mary Hubert, the Mistress of Novices; a streetwise nun from Brooklyn named Sister Robert Anne; Sister Mary Leo, a novice who is a wannabe ballerina; and the delightfully wacky Sister Mary Amnesia, the nun who lost her memory when a crucifix fell on her head. Also starring the few other remaining nuns and some priests, this comic masterpiece has it all!

Tickets are available by phone at 800-838-3006, online, and at the door.

FRIDAY: Studio B's End of Summer reception

DATE: Friday, August 19
TIME: 5 - 8 p.m.
LOCATION: Studio B | 39A East Philadelphia Avenue * Boyertown, PA 19512

Studio B is hosting an End of Summer reception, celebrating the ART Attack 2 show that has run all summer. This has been an eclectic grouping of artwork in a variety of mediums, by artists in and around Boyertown. Join them on Friday, and maybe purchase something for your own.

DATE: Saturday, August 20
TIME: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
LOCATION: St. Thomas Church | 536 N. Main St. | Bernville, PA

Join Dr. Robert Sataloff, Vocal Health Specialist, for the final Summer Sing of 2017. This is a workshop for singers with a small concert at the end of the afternoon session. At lunch time, Dr. Sataloff will give a short presentation on vocal health. Lunch is provided by Mi Casa Su Casa.

Registration is $15. CLICK HERE to register on EventBrite.com or call the Reading Choral Society at 610-898-1939.

SATURDAY: The Magical History Tour Part 4 - The Rock & Roll Circus Continues!

DATE: Saturday, August 20
TIME: 2:30 - 11:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Evergreen Club | 415 Hartz Rd. | Fleetwood, PA 19522

A rockin’ good time! This is THE event of the season! Berks History Center presents CHAPTER FOUR of the local Berks County ‘Woodstock-like’ music festival. Reading and Berks are known for their great musicians; reunions of local bands will include Hot Ice, Clench, and Number Nine. Presented by Berks History Center, they strive to bring a day of music and atmosphere that reflects the 1960s and early 1970s, so dust off your bell bottoms and tie-dyed shirts for the occasion!

Tickets: $15. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets online.

SATURDAY: Studio B Celebrates Dog Days of August

DATE: Saturday, August 20
TIME: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
LOCATION: Studio B * 39A East Philadelphia Ave. * Boyertown, PA 19512

Studio B invites dog owners to bring their dogs to have their photos taken by professional dog photographer Tammy Snyder, admire the exhibit of dog illustrations, and submit a favorite photo of their dogs for the inaugural Dog Selfie contest. Have your relationship with your furry family member immortalized. Snyder will create a 4 x 6 photograph featuring 4 poses with dogs and their owners. The photos will be printed and available for $10 each. CLICK HERE for more information.

DATE: Saturday, August 20
TIME: 5 p.m.
LOCATION: Etchberger Memorial Park * Franklin Street * Hamburg, PA 19526


"Concerts-in-the-park" are a staple of the American way of life. Americans love their parks, and Ringgold Band takes pride in performing for the Berks County community in these beautiful summer settings. Join them on Saturday for a variety of music typical of old-time band concerts.

SATURDAY: Berks Sinfonietta presents Eroica

DATE: Saturday, August 20
TIME: 7:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church * 740 Cherry Street * West Reading, PA 19611

Enjoy an evening celebrating heroes - the real, the mythic, and the ironic. Berks County's own chamber orchestra will present Beethoven's Overture to Creatures of Prometheus and Symphony No. 3 "Eroica," as well as Telemann's Don Quixote Suite. Tickets: $15 adults/$5 students. To reserve, call 484-797-5569 or email tickets@berkssonfonietta.org

THURSDAY: 300 Years of Iron and Steel at Hopewell Furnace

DATE: Thursday, August 25 & Saturday, August 27
TIME: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
LOCATION: Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site * 2 Mark Bird Lane * Elverson, PA 19520

Take a trip back in time at Hopewell Furnace!

Thursday, August 25 - Iron and Steel at Hopewell Furnace

1 pm: One act play From the Fiery Furnace with local actress Christine Emmert

1:45 pm: Ringgold Community Band concert

2-4 pm: Vignettes of major historical figures with American Historical Theater and self-guided tours of Hopewell Furnace

Costumed history demonstrations throughout the day.

Saturday, August 27 - Happy 100th Birthday, National Park Service!

Costumed demonstrations of historic work and crafts throughout the day.

From 2 to 4 pm:

• Short speaking program
• Performance by the Pine Forge Academy Choir
• Talk and book signing by local historian and author Dan Graham regarding his biography of Mark Bird, Hopewell's original owner.
• Self-guided tours of Hopewell Furnace

For more information, call Hopewell Furnace at 610-582-8773.

DATES/TIMES:
Saturday, August 27 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, August 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
LOCATION: Jim Dietrich Park * 4899 Stoudts Ferry Bridge Road * Reading, PA 19605

RiverFest is a new venture by Muhlenburg Township. There will be three stages, with one highlighting local musical talent, and a total of 33 acts scheduled over the two days: a cappella, blues, modern pop, bluegrass, classic rock, and much more. CLICK HERE for the full line-up.

A variety of food vendors - including Scott's Hot Spot, Monte Lauro, Penn Werner Hotel, Lotus Korean BBQ, and Albrejie Mexican - will tempt your taste buds. Wine and beer will also be available. Guests can also enjoy crafters, home-based businesses, a horseshoe contest, and other fun activities. If you would like to join in the horseshoe contest or the open mic stage, CLICK HERE to fill out an on-line form.

For questions, contact the Township Office at 610-929-4727.

SEPTEMBER 1: Lecture & opening reception - Brian Glaze

DATE: Thursday, September 1
TIMES:
4 p.m. - Lecture (Klein Lecture Hall)
5 - 7 p.m. - Reception (Freedman Gallery
LOCATION: Albright College Campus | 13th & Bern Streets | Reading, PA 19604

Albright College’s Freedman Gallery presents Brian Glaze, a solo exhibition of work by Albright’s newest assistant professor of art Brian Glaze. The exhibition includes, Brian Glaze, Implements, on view in the Main Gallery, Aug. 30 to Dec. 17, and Brian Glaze, Television, a video on view in the Foyer, Aug. 30 to Oct. 14. The exhibitions are free and open to the public. For more information, visit the Albright College Center for the Arts webpage.
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Two FREE performance of The Bear Prince
DATES/TIMES:
Saturday, September 3 @ 1 p.m.
Sunday, September 4 @ 3 p.m.
PRESENTED BY: Yocum Institute for Arts Education and Berks Opera Company
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Opening reception: Berks Art Alliance 37th Open Juried Art Exhibition
DATE: Sunday, September 11
TIME: 4 - 6 p.m.
PRESENTED BY: Berks Arts Alliance at GoggleWorks Center for the Arts
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Broadway darling Kelli O'Hara in concert
DATE: Thursday, September 15
TIME: 7:30 p.m.
PRESENTED BY: KU Presents!
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Disney's Camp Rock the Musical
DATES/TIMES:
Friday, September 16 @ 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 17 @ 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 18 @ 3 p.m.
PRESENTED BY: Reading Civic Theatre
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The show will be held from November 9 - December 9, with submission date November 1 from 12 noon - 7 p.m. Benefits the Schuylkill River Heritage Area, and will be held at Montgomery County Community College, Pottstown. Prospectus/application with more details is available here.