Mark your calendar for these great arts events in and around Berks County!
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Berks Arts Council's
Arts Blast!
June 23, 2017
COUNCIL NEWS
The 2017 Bandshell Concert Series kicks off in two weeks!
The 27th annual Bandshell Concert Series opens Friday evening July 7 at the Volunteer Firemen's Memorial Bandshell in Reading's City Park. All concerts begin at 7 p.m. with preshow entertainment by local arts organizations starting at 6:15 p.m. Refreshments from food trucks and local restaurants available for purchase. FREE ADMISSION.

JULY 7 - Performing Blues, Soul, Jazz, and Pop, Murali Coryell is an artist that defies category. He has been inducted into the New York Blues Hall of Fame, and Guitar Player Magazine describes his as "delightfully bluesy Rock and Soul." Preshow entertainment provided by RMF's Olivet Center for the Arts Guitar Club.


On JULY 14, The Slambovian Circus of Dreams brings their extensive arsenal of instruments and theatrlicality to the Bandshell. Their eclectic style ranges from "hillbilly-Pink Floyd" to "folk pop" to " surreal americana." Preshow entertainment provided by Reading Samba School.


COMING UP NEXT AT THE BANDSHELL!

JULY 21

Gabriel Alegría Afro-Peruvian Sextet.
Preshow:
WH Dance Academy & the Latin Flair Dancers


JULY 28
The Apocalypse Blues Review.
Preshow:
RIZE


Click on the artist name for more information, web links, and video clips! Contact Berks Arts Council at Info@BerksArts.org or 610-898-1930 with any questions.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
Reading Community Players presents The Little Mermaid
DATES/TIMES:
Friday, June 23 @ 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 24 @ 3 & 7 p.m.
LOCATION: Miller Center for the Performing Arts | 4 N. Second St. | Reading, PA 19601

Based on Hans christian Andersen's most beloved stories, The Little Mermaid, Jr. is an anchanting look at the sacrifices we all make for love and acceptance. Directed by Debbi Silas, forty-two of Berks County's finest youth actors make this musical come to life. Tickets: $15.

For tickets or venue information, call 610-607-6270 or click here.
THIS WEEK (Friday 6/23/17 - Thursday 6/29/17)
FRIDAY: Fourth Friday Art Walk
DATE: Friday, June 23
TIME: 5 - 8 p.m.
LOCATION: Downtown Boyertown, PA

On the fourth Friday of each month, Boyertown small businesses will feature local artists, poets, musicians, and more. The participating small businesses will also offer sales and refreshments throughout the evening. This is an opportunity to see the amazing and unique things Boyertown’s small businesses and local artisans have to offer! Visit Fourth Friday Art Walk for more information.
FRIDAY - SUNDAY: Genesius Theatre presents Side Show
DATES/TIMES:
Friday, June 23 @ 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 24 @ 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 25 2 @ 3 p.m.
Friday, June 30 @ 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 1 @ 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 2 @ 3 p.m.
LOCATION: Genesius Theatre | 153 North 10th St. | Reading, PA 19601

Featuring a pair of actresses seemingly attached for the entire show, Side Show is a musical based on the real lives of conjoined twins who became vaudeville stars in the 1930s. Daisy and Violet Hilton are the star attraction in a carnival sideshow - singing Siamese twins - with opposing dreams: Daisy seeks a life in the spotlight and Violet wants to settle down in a home with a husband. When musician Buddy and talent scout Terry enter their lives and promise to take them to the top of the entertainment scene, their lives change forever and they struggle to balance their individual dreams with their inescapable physical connection.

Visit the Genesius Theatre website for more information and to get your tickets!
FRIDAY - SUNDAY: Shakespeare in the Park - A Midsummers Night's Dream
DATES:
Friday, June 23
Saturday, June 24
Sunday, June 25
TIME: 6 p.m. all days
LOCATION: Gring's Mill Recreation Area | 2083 Tulpehocken Rd. | Wyomissing, PA 19610

Shakespeare in the Park: 3 Performances! Love is in the air and mischief abounds. Join Yocum Institute for one of Shakespeare's most beloved comedies filled with song, laughter, and fairies. Performed during Midsummer’s eve, experience the enchantment of Shakespeare in the Park. Free admission.

EDUCATIONAL PRESHOW EVENT! The Magical Mind of Billy Shakespeare at 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Take a ragtag group of actors, a wandering friar, and add a young William Shakespeare to the mix, and you have one whirlwind, interactive evening for the young and the young at heart. A light-hearted, engaging introduction to Shakespeare's plays, including A Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo and Juliet, and Richard III. Presented by Yocum Institute for Arts Education Junior Theater Ensemble. Free admission.

Visit Yocum Institute for Arts Education and Berks County Parks and Recreations Dept for more information on both events.
FRIDAY: Walk In Art Center presents Eva Katherine
DATE: Friday, June 23
TIME: 7 p.m.
LOCATION: Walk In Art Center | 220 Parkway Ave. | Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972

Join Walk In Art Center for an evening of music as they welcome vocalist Eva Katherine Blankenhorn. Eva Katherine is an 18 year old singer/songwriter from Schuylkill County. Since winning the Big I-105 Kid’s Idol at the ripe old age of 10, she has traveled up and down the East Coast playing 400+ shows and performing in nine states. Tickets $12. Children under 5 are free.

Bring your own chair and prepare to be entertained.
SATURDAY: The Second Annual ShReading Festival 2
DATE: Saturday, June 24
TIME: 12 noon - 10 p.m.
LOCATION: Willow Glen Park | 94 Park Ave. | Sinking Spring, PA 19608

The 2nd annual ShReading Festival features 14 music performances by musicians associated with skateboarding culture. This festival will be a gathering of music, skate, and art fans to benefit the RSA (Reading Skatepark Association). Continuous music on two stages, raffles, food and drinks. This is a rain or shine event open to all ages.
Admission $15.

More information available at the Reading Skatepark Association website.
SATURDAY: Open Studio Reception @ Martha Ressler Art
DATE: Saturday, June 24
TIME: 1 - 4 p.m.
LOCATION: Martha Ressler Studio | 15 Rocktown Rd. | Hamburg, PA 19526

Martha invites you to a reception at her studio to see her often diverse and whimsical creations. She will use found objects such as bottle caps, small toys, discarded papers, or beads and buttons in her art quilts. She will be offering hot dogs and refreshments, plus a raffle of an art quilt. She is a member of the Hamburg Area Art Alliance, who is sponsoring the event. For more information about Martha, click here.
SUNDAY: Ukulele Jam at the Half Moon Cafe
DATE: Sunday, June 25 (Last Sunday of every month)
TIME:
3:30 - 5:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Clay on Main | 313 Main St. | Oley, PA 19547

All skill levels are welcome. Featruing old standards, folk, rock, and anything of interest. Singers, guitar and bass players, and percussionists are wlecome, too!. Suggested donation $5.

Visit the Clay on Main website for more information.
THURSDAY: The Muhlenberg Township Arts Board presents the Wyomissing Band
DATE: Thursday, June 29
TIME: 7 p.m.
LOCATION: Muhlenberg HS auditorium | 400 Sharp Ave. | Laureldale, PA 19605

The Wyomissing Band is currently in its 85th season of bringing quality music to community, church, and private events. The band is comprised of amateur, retired, and semi-professional musicians of all ages. They have a great history of playing a variety of music, from marches to Broadway tunes and sacred music to TV theme songs. They have something for everyone! Admission $3/person.
NEXT WEEK (Friday 6/30/17 - Thursday 7/6/17)
JULY 2: Reading Pops concert featuring The Constitution
DATE: Sunday, July 2
TIME: 7 p.m.
LOCATION: Governor Mifflin High School | 101 S Waverly St. | Shillington, PA 19607

This patriotc-themed concert kicks off the 2017 Governor MIfflin Community Days. The cornerstone work will be Erwin Chandler's composition The Constitution, written for the Pops Orchestra with chorus and narrator. A Special Salute to the US Constitution and former Governor Mifflin Music Chair, Lewis 'Skip' Norcott. Donations requested to benefit Community Days and Reading Pops.

For more information visit The Reading Pops website.
JULY 5: The Cadillac Three & Eli Young Band at Downtown Alive!
DATE: Wednesday, July 5
TIME: 5 p.m.
LOCATION: 500 Block of Penn St. | Reading, PA 19602

Downtown Alive is a concert & block party featuring food trucks, beer, and games! This week's concert will feature The Cadillac Three & Eli Young Band. The Cadillac three are as effortlessly cool, as real as they come and arguably the most vital addition to the country-music landscape this decade. The Eli Young Band is an American country music band composed of members who met while students at the University of North Texas. Put these two bands on the same program and it will be dynamic. Free concert admission.

Coming up Next at Downtown Alive!
July 19: Sister Hazel
August 16: The Griswolds
August 30: 24 Horas, George Lamond & Funk Salsa Urban

Visit the Downtown Alive website for more information.
JULY 6: Steve Pullara & the Cool Beans Band
DATE: Thursday, July 6
TIME: 6 p.m.
LOCATION: Gring's Mill | 2083 Tulpehocken Rd. | Wyomissing, PA 19610

Interactive! Engaging! Fun for the whole family! Grammy winning artist, Steve Pullara is a Philly-based, New Jersey-born singer-songwriter-artist whose musical roots are rich with family inspiration and cultural traditions. Children and parents alike find his performances entertaining and often quite hilarious.Part of the Berks County Parks & Recreation "Arts in the Park" series. Admission $5 per car.

For more about Steve, visit his website.
COMING SOON (Friday 7/7/17 - Thursday 7/20/17)
Charlie Zahm
DATE: Sunday, July 9
TIME: 6 p.m.
PRESENTED BY: Mifflin Community Library Summer Concert Series
Reception for Featured Artist Donna Unger
DATE: Friday, July 14
TIME: 5 - 8 p.m.
PRESENTED BY: Art Plus Gallery
This Is Reading art installation at Franklin Street Station
DATES: Friday - Sunday, July 14 - 16 & 21 - 23
TIME: 6 - 11 p.m.
CREATED BY: Lynn Nottage, playwright
Summer Sing with the RCS: Rutter's Magnificat
DATE: Saturday, July 15
TIME: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
PRESENTED BY: Reading Choral Society
The Landsharks Band
DATE: July 16
TIME: 6 p.m.
PRESENTED BY: Berks County Parks and Recreation Department
Reading Pops
DATE: Sunday, July 16 (raindate July17)
TIME: 6:30 p.m.
PRESENTED BY: Wyomissing Stone House

CALLS FOR ARTISTS & ARTIST OPPORTUNITIES


Submission deadline this Monday, June 26. Visit the Berks Art Alliance website to download the 2017 Prospectus with complete instructions for entering. (Note that the last page for preparing tags for accepted work can be filled in and printed from your computer using Adobe Acrobat Reader). BAA members receive a discount; you may join by going to the membership link, printing out a form and mailing your check.
Raising Our Voices - in artwork and poetry
Clay on Main curator, Ray Lapinski, is offering an opportunity for students to exhibit work that expresses their identity as artists and individuals in a professional gallery. This show will include all interpretations of identity and self, including all media types and styles. Any student between 15 to 25 years is eligible. Quality jpg images of artwork must be mailed to clayonmain@gmail.com as soon as possible.

Clay on Main will also host a poetry reading at the opening of the Juried Exhibition Raising Our Voices. Poems themed around the personality identity and what that means to the writer may also be submitted by June 30 to clayonmain@gmail.com. Any questions email ray.lapinski313@gmail.com.

A reception and reading will be held July 9 from 4 - 6 p.m.
TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES AT GOGGLEWORKS
GoggleWorks Center for the Arts is currently seeking qualified artist instructors to introduce new ideas, methods, and materials to our students; nothing is off limits. We invite you to apply and propose a workshop or class for our upcoming Fall and Winter terms, GoggleWorks offers all of our artist-instructors flexible scheduling, competitive pay, and one class/workshop tuition-free per term. If you are interested, please call 610-374-4600.
This message was sent from info@berksarts.org to info@berksarts.org
P.O. Box 854, Reading, PA, 19603


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