Josh Ritter returning to RACC's Miller Center with full band in May [Spotlight]

Jan. 29—After performing a sold-out solo show last May at the Miller Center for the Performing Arts, singer-songwriter Josh Ritter returns to the Reading Area Community College venue on May 6, this time with his Royal City Band in tow.

The concert will come on the heels of the release of Ritter's anticipated new album, "Spectral Lines," scheduled for April 28.

One of today's most thoughtful and prolific voices, Ritter has released 10 studio albums, including 2019's widely acclaimed "Fever Breaks," of which NPR Music said, "He remains a hydrant of ideas while embodying an endless capacity for empathy and indignation, often within a single song."

"Spectral Lines" is full of wonder and light as Ritter considers the ideas of love, devotion and what it means to be connected, to each other and to ourselves.

"We are thrilled to welcome back Josh Ritter with his full band to the Miller Center," said Anthony "Tony" DeMarco, vice president for RACC and executive director of the Miller Center. "Our beautiful stage is the perfect setting for Josh and his erudite lyrics on the American spirit."

Tickets cost $42 and $55 at millercenter.racc.edu.

Theater

The Reading Theater Project's eighth annual 5-Minute Fringe Festival: Shadows, featuring new work by 10 playwrights and performers from around the region, will run Feb. 16-19 at the Yocum Institute for Arts Education's black box Schumo Theater, West Lawn.

Reading Theater Project's 5-Minute Fringe Festival is a platform for performing artists to create something new, to challenge expectations, to experiment and explore new ideas and to connect with an artistic community. Each year the festival features new and exciting work; this year audiences can look forward to short plays, monologues, dance and music.

Playwrights and performing artists selected for the production include Martin Bonk, Chris Heslop, Kayla Re Laucks, Michael Malfaro, Jay Miller, David Nice, Christopher Paul Paolini, Adam Richter, Elaine Soltis, Jessica C. Warchal-King and JCWK Dance Lab.

Pianist Andy Roberts will play throughout to link one piece to the next. The production will be directed by Vicki Haller Graff, stage managed by Sean Sassaman, and production managed by Jody Reppert.

All tickets are pay what you will, including $0, with a recommended price of $20. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit readingtheaterproject.org/5-minute-fringe-shadows.

----Genesius Theatre presents the romantic musical comedy "The Other Josh Cohen" from Feb. 10-19 at its playhouse at 153 N. 10th St.

Enter the quirky world of Josh Cohen's New York City apartment ... as it is getting robbed. Thus begins the hilarious rock 'n' roll romantic comedy about good-guy Josh, caught in a lifelong battle with bad luck. Two actors play the title character — one eventful year apart — in this 90-minute family musical.

Genesius has several connections to the writers of the musical. Kevin Adams, who plays Narrator Josh, and the musical director's husband, Brian Crotty, were in a band called Misconceptions with composer/lyricist David Rossmer in the early 2000s. They recorded a few records that are still available on Spotify.

Also, Genesius Artistic Director L J Fecho wrote a musical with Genesius co-founder Michael O'Flaherty called "A Connecticut Christmas Carol" that ran for three sold-out holiday seasons at the famed Goodspeed Musicals in Connecticut. Broadway Tony nominated actor and regional director, Hunter Foster, directed that production, and subsequently directed the Off-Broadway and other regional versions of "The Other Josh Cohen."

The show features 13 local theater veterans including James Haggerty as Josh Cohen.

For show times, tickets and additional information, visit www.genesiusdifference.org.

----PrimaryStages Productions will present "Go, Dog. Go!" from Saturday through Feb. 12 in Schumo Theater at the Yocum Institute for Arts Education, West Lawn.

Show times are 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Feb. 4, 2 p.m. Feb. 5, 11 a.m. Feb. 11, and 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Feb. 12. The show is approximately 70 minutes, including a 10-minute intermission.

The Feb. 11 performance will be sensory-friendly. Other special activities include a Doggie Dance Party on Feb. 12 from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. and a craft project in the lobby 45 minutes before each performance.

For tickets, visit https://yocumartsevents.ticketleap.com/go-dog-go/.

Film

ReadingFilm has issued a Call for Entries for its Five Minute FilmFEST, open to high school students in Berks County.

Each year students have the opportunity to develop their own five-minute film to compete against other students and schools in the region for trophies, prizes and recognition. All Five Minute FilmFEST submissions will be judged by independent jurors. Prizes will be awarded in 11 categories at a ceremony April 27.

Registration, which runs through Feb. 17, is a two-step process. Students and teachers can fill out the short registration form at https://readingfilm.org/five-minute-filmfest-entries-now-being-accepted/.

Once registered, students can submit videos for free on FilmFreeway (https://filmfreeway.com/FiveMinuteFilmFEST) through March 31 (late deadline is April 3). Students must reside in Berks County, or be enrolled in a public, charter, cyber or private high school in Berks County. 2022 high school graduates are also eligible to submit.

All participating students and teachers will receive StudentFEST/All Access Pass to the 2023 ReadingFilmFEST running Oct. 26-29.

Art

Artists and craftspeople are invited to submit entries for the State Museum of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation's annual "Art of the State," an exhibition of highly creative art by Pennsylvanians, chosen by a distinguished panel of jurors.

"Art of the State" is open to Pennsylvania residents who are at least 18 years of age. Artists will compete in five categories: painting, work on paper, sculpture, craft, and photography and digital media. Entries must be submitted online. Additional information and the link to enter are available at statemuseumpa.org/artofthestate. The application deadline is May 5.

More than $4,000 in cash awards will be presented. A first-place award of $500, second-place award of $300 and a third-place award of $200 will be selected in each of the five categories. The William D. Davis Memorial Award for Drawing in the amount of $250 and the Art Docents' Choice Award of $300 will also be presented.

"Art of the State" will run Sept. 10 through Jan. 7 at The State Museum, Harrisburg.