Reading's Miller Center announces lineup for 15th anniversary season [Spotlight]

Jul. 3—The Miller Center for the Performing Arts at Reading Area Community College has announced its 15th anniversary season highlighted by Americana legend Mary Chapin Carpenter on Aug.16. Tickets are on sale at https://millercenter.racc.edu/mary-chapin-carpenter.

"We are very proud to bring a unique, varied and diverse schedule of spectacular entertainment options for our patrons in Eastern Pennsylvania," said Tony DeMarco, executive director of the Miller Center and vice president for advancement at RACC.

The Miller Center season kicks off on Aug. 6 with emerging country artist, Allie Colleen. Collen's first singles, "Playin' House" and "Ain't the Only Hell My Momma Raised," are in constant rotation on country radio stations. Tickets are on sale at https://millercenter.racc.edu/allie-colleen.

High energy Gulf Coast soul band The Suffers are exploding onto the popular music scene, bringing rock, funk and classic Americana to stages all over the world. The Suffers hit the Miller Center stage on Sept. 20. Tickets are on sale at https://millercenter.racc.edu/the-suffers.

Talking Heads tribute band Start Making Sense will be a 15th anniversary signature event on Sept. 24. Frog Holler, one of Berks County's favorite Americana, country-rock bands, will open for Start Making Sense. There will food trucks, face-painting and a carnival-type atmosphere outside in the courtyard adjacent to the Miller Center starting at 3 p.m., including live outdoor entertainment. Tickets go on sale July 15.

The ghosts of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and living legend Jerry Lee Lewis will come alive on Oct. 6 with the Broadway hit "One Night in Memphis" coming to the Miller Center Stage.. Tickets go on sale July 15.

Irish folk artist Julie Fowlis brings her beautiful Gaellic vocal stylings to the Miller Center on Oct. 7. Tickets are on sale now at https://millercenter.racc.edu/julie-fowlis.

Author David Sedaris will be coming back to the Miller Center on Oct. 13. With sardonic wit and incisive social critiques, Sedaris has become one of America's pre-eminent humor writers. Tickets go on sale Aug. 5 at 10 a.m.

Parsons Dance Company will return on Oct. 21 after being the first dance performance inside of the Miller Center 15 years ago. Tickets go on sale Aug. 12.

On Oct. 22 at 1 p.m., David Engel will present "Pirate School!" Kids will learn the finer points of mischief and become good pirates. At 4, the Miller Center will transform into a Wizard Academy. Join this loony professor of wizardry as he leads children on a zany day-in-the-life of a Wizard In Training. Kids are encouraged to attend dressed in costume for both shows. Tickets go on sale July 22.

Capitol Comedy, a political satire performance group, takes on the Biden administration on Oct. 28 with songs and sketches poking fun at everything from diversity-driven decision making to dog training to dumping dollars on the electorate. Tickets go on sale on July 29.

Father and son piano duo Ryan & Ryan will be bringing the holiday cheer with their "Merry & Bright: Songs of Christmas Cheer" show on Dec. 9. Tickets go on sale Sept. 16.

On March 11, 2023, The Weight Band will be performing original songs as well as classics of The Band. Tickets go on sale Sept. 23.

The acclaimed, record-breaking run of Disney's "Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation" will be arriving in Reading on March 28, 2023. Tickets go on sale July 15.

The Machine will be back April 21, 2023. The Machine has forged a 30-plus-year reputation of extending the musical legacy of Pink Floyd. Tickets are on sale now at https://millercenter.racc.edu/the-machine.

Music

All young people are invited to participate in the Berks Youth Chorus Summer Sing on July 25-29. Summer Sing is a weeklong day camp, open to young people entering grades 3 through 7. The camp welcomes all children — no auditions are held. BYC Summer Sing is for children who love to sing and want an engaging summer experience with other children from across the county.

Summer Sing costs $10 to participate. The camp will be held at Atonement Lutheran Church, 5 Wyomissing Blvd., Wyomissing. Camp concludes with a Friday afternoon performance.

All young people are also invited to join Berks Youth Chorus. Founded in 1992, BYC has served thousands of young people through a premier choral program that runs September through May. Members in grades 3 through 12 receive high-quality vocal instruction and perform at venues throughout Berks County.

To register for Summer Sing or BYC's year-round programs, visit berksyouthchorus.org or call 610-898-7664.

----The second installment of the Berks County Parks and Recreation Summer Concert Series will be held next Sunday from 1 to 7 p.m. at the Gring's Mill Amphitheater, 2083 Tulpehocken Road, Spring Township.

Miss Maggie Sings! will perform from 1:30 to 3. Peggy Gernerd is Miss Maggie, a children's performer who combines singing, guitar, percussion, poems and stories to entertain and teach children of all ages (adults, too!).

Dave Fry will take the stage from 3 to 5. Fry's concerts feature traditional and contemporary folk music, spliced together with guitar, mandolin, banjo, wry and spontaneous commentary on American family life and plenty of participation on everyone's part.

Maggie Spike closes out the music from 5 to 7. Maggie Spike is Maggie and Eric Gernerd, an acoustic based singer-songwriter duo. As an alternative folk band, they enjoy performing several different styles of music that include folk, rock, acoustic pop, traditional British Isles/Celtic, jazz and world rhythms.

Mad J's BBQ of Blandon will have a food truck at the concert. Parking is free.

Upcoming concerts will be held Aug. 14 and 26.

----The Kutztown University Summer Music Festival, which draws talented students from around the world for a one-week, fully immersive musical experience, runs through Saturday, with concerts and workshops free and open to the public. Full schedule can be found at kusummermusicfestival.com.

Tonight's opening night program, starting at 7:30 in Schaeffer Auditorium, will feature two of the chamber music literature's most popular and enduring large-scale works: the lyrical and brilliant Schubert "Trout" Quintet and the energetic and passionate Piano Quintet of Robert Schumann. Performers will include festival faculty, joined by international guest artists from Chile, Spain and Greece.

The July 4 concert, also at 7:30 p.m. in Schaeffer Auditorium, will feature faculty, guest artists and festival students in a varied and innovative program with works including "Spain" by Chick Corea, Barber's "Souvenirs for Piano, Four Hands," Dvorak's "American" String Quartet, Bottesini's "Gran Duo for Clarinet and Double Bass" and an arrangement of "The Star-Spangled Banner" for three violas.

The remainder of the week will showcase the students in mixed chamber ensembles and works for small orchestra including Saint-Saens' Carnival of the Animals.