ARTSQUEST AND EMBASSY BANK HOST ‘OUR HOMETOWN HEROES – FIRST RESPONDERS’ CELEBRATION

Banners will honor first responders who have served our community

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — ArtsQuest is hosting its annual ‘Our Hometown Heroes – First Responders’ banner display, presented by Embassy Bank, honoring first responders, including police and law enforcement officials, firefighters and volunteer firefighters, emergency medical personnel and paramedics, who currently serve or who have served our community.

The nonprofit is asking the community to click here to submit photos of family members, neighbors and friends who are first responders. Submissions will be accepted through July 31, 2021. Those participating are asked to share their contact information, as well as the first responder’s name, hometown, job title and department, to be displayed during the Patriot Day Celebration at the SteelStacks on September 11, 2021.

Images must be high resolution jpeg, tiff, bitmap or PDF files; color and black and white will be accepted. Photos can also be dropped off at the Banana Factory Arts Center at 25 W. Third St. in Bethlehem during normal business hours, which are Monday-Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Photos can be picked up at the Banana Factory Arts Center during business hours, starting August 2.

ARTSQUEST AND EMBASSY BANK PRESENT INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION AT STEELSTACKS

Music from Hydraulic Lime, Allentown Band and Big Bone Daddy; fireworks, food and more

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — ArtsQuest is proud to welcome our community to the SteelStacks campus for this year’s Independence Day Celebration presented by Embassy Bank. The celebration kicks off at 6 p.m. on the Fourth of July with a performance from Hydraulic Lime on the Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage on the Air Products Town Square.

Then, guests can enjoy a patriotic performance from the Allentown Band at the Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks at 7:30 p.m., followed by the city of Bethlehem’s fireworks display at 9 p.m. Following the fireworks, the night will end with a performance from Big Bone Daddy on the Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage on the Air Products Town Square until 11 p.m.

Hydraulic Lime is a classic rock cover band, known to cover favorites like The Rolling Stones, The Doors and Eric Clapton. The Allentown Band has operated as the premier concert band of the Lehigh Valley for nearly 200 years. Members from the Lehigh Valley come together about forty times a year to perform excellent concert music. Big Bone Daddy, a rock and blues band from Eastern Pa. and Western N.J., are known for original songs, as well as covers of Tom Petty, James Brown and Jimi Hendrix.

Throughout the evening, guests can enjoy food and beverages from Heaven on a Bun, The Mack Truck Stop, Palette & Pour and MMG Concessions. Options will include classic American favorites such as cheeseburgers, chicken fingers, funnel cake and much more. Click here to learn more about the Independence Day Celebration presented by Embassy Bank. For more information on ArtsQuest, click here.

Attendees can view “Our Hometown Heroes” display, presented by Embassy Bank, honoring those within our community who are either currently serving or who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Starting July 1, the community is invited to submit photos of family members, neighbors and friends who have served or are currently serving their communities as first responders for “Our Hometown Heroes – First Responders,” a display during the upcoming Patriot Day Celebration at the SteelStacks on Sept.11. Entries for “Our Hometown Heroes – First Responders” can be submitted here. Photos are being accepted from July 1-31.

ARTSQUEST ANNOUNCES NEW CONCERTS SCHEDULED FOR FALL/WINTER 2021

Photo by Matt Christine Photography

Badfish: Tribute to Sublime, The Wailers, Bruce In The USA and Donna the Buffalo will perform on the SteelStacks campus

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – ArtsQuest is proud to announce new Thursday night concerts scheduled for August through December, 2021. Artists include: Badfish: Tribute to Sublime, The Wailers, Bruce In The USA and Donna The Buffalo. Tickets to these shows will go on sale beginning Tuesday, June 15 for ArtsQuest Members and Friday, June 18 at 10 a.m. to the public at steelstacks.org. For more exclusive ticket access and advance purchase opportunities, become an ArtsQuest Circle donor today.

Badfish: Tribute to Sublime will rock the Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks stage at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 26. This rock, ska punk, reggae rock tribute group performs with the spirit of Sublime, with a scene that’s all their own. Tickets will go on sale for $10.

The Wailers are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 2 at the Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks. Bob Marley and the Wailers recorded, toured and made history together during the ’70s and ’80s. Now, they are carrying on the mission with a group of talented musicians including children of legends. Their sound is both classic and fresh at the same time. Tickets to this show will cost $10.

Bruce In The USA will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, November 11 at the Musikfest Café presented by Yuengling. AXS TV has called the group “the world’s greatest tribute to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.” This high end, powerhouse band consists of seasoned, world-class
musicians. Tickets are priced at $25 and $30.

Donna the Buffalo will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 2 at the Musikfest Café presented by Yuengling. This roots band is well-known for their lyrics about human potential and community. Donna the Buffalo draws musical influences from country, rock, bluegrass and old-time fiddle. Tickets are priced $15-$25.

ARTSQUEST PARTNERS WITH TOUCHSTONE THEATRE FOR OUTDOOR COMEDY SHOWS

Macungie’s Adam Yenser, Bethlehem’s Kate Hughes among headliners

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — ArtsQuest has teamed up with another mainstay of the SouthSide Bethlehem arts district, Touchstone Theatre, to present three comedy shows in the months of June and July 2021. Each show will be presented on Touchstone’s new outdoor stage, which sits behind the theatre’s longtime home at 321 E 4th St, and will have a capacity of 250 seats sold as general admission. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase for those 21 and over. Tickets for each show are currently on sale at steelstacks.org/comedy.

“We’re grateful to Touchstone for offering us this opportunity,” said Ryan Hill, ArtsQuest’s Programming Director and Director of the ArtsQuest Comedy Program. “We were looking for a space to safely produce comedy this summer, and Touchstone came through via the strong bond we’ve developed with them over the years. Touchstone and ArtsQuest share a commitment to enriching the lives of the people in our SouthSide neighborhoods and beyond. I’m happy that we get this opportunity to do so together.”

The series kicks off with standup comic Ramon Rivas II, as part of our ¡Sabor! Latin Festival, on June 25 at 8 p.m. (rain date June 26), with tickets available at $17 for ArtsQuest Members, $18 for students and seniors and $19 for the public. Rivas has self-distributed two comedy albums, “Revisted” and “Stick to Comedy,” with portions of both heard on SIRIUS/XM comedy stations Kevin Hart’s LOL Network, Rawdag, Laughs USA and Jeff & Larry’s Comedy Roundup. His work is also viewable on Paramount+, HBO Max, Netflix and Amazon Prime. He was selected as a ‘Comic to Watch’ by Comedy Central in 2015.

Macungie native Adam Yenser headlines the July 10 show, also at 8 p.m. and with tickets available at $17 for ArtsQuest Members, $18 for students and seniors, and $19 for the public. Yenser, an Emmy award-winning writer for The Ellen DeGeneres Show, is also the star of the recurring “Kevin the Cashier” segments. He’s appeared on Conan, FOX Laughs, and the Greg Gutfeld Show, in addition to writing for the Oscars and contributing to Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update.

July 17 will mark the return of Bethlehem native Kate Hughes’ one-woman show Most Flammable, performed as standup and storytelling both live and onscreen. The two previous editions of this show are among the most successful ever produced within the ArtsQuest Comedy Program; the new version, Most Flammable III: Amsterdammmmnnnn, details an overseas trip she took in the aftermath of a very tough year – an overseas trip that coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tickets are available for $23.50 to ArtsQuest Members, $24 for students and seniors, and $26 for the public. The rain date is July 18.

“We are excited to partner with ArtsQuest on these upcoming shows,” said James P. Jordan, Touchstone’s Artistic Director. “Our organization’s missions of our serving our community in the SouthSide and beyond align perfectly. We are proud to offer a much-needed reprieve and give people the opportunity to enjoy artistic expression through comedy together, in-person once again.”

The ArtsQuest Comedy Program started with the opening of the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks in May of 2011. Overseen by Hill, along with Coordinator Addyson Young, Specialist Anthony DeSanctis and a volunteer committee made up of twelve performers, fans and arts administrators, the ArtsQuest Comedy Program is the home of the Lehigh Valley’s only year-round comedy curriculum, which will start back up in the early fall of 2021.

ARTSQUEST SE ASOCIA CON TOUCHSTONE THEATER
PARA ESPECTÁCULOS DE COMEDIA AL AIRE LIBRE

Adam Yenser de Macungie, Kate Hughes de Bethlehem entre los artistas principals

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — ArtsQuest se ha asociado con otro pilar del distrito artístico de SouthSide Bethlehem, Touchstone Theatre, para presentar tres espectáculos de comedia en los meses de junio y julio de 2021. Cada espectáculo se presentará en el nuevo escenario al aire libre de Touchstone, que se encuentra detrás su establecida casa del teatro en 321 E 4th St, y tendrá una capacidad de 250 asientos vendidos como entrada general. Las bebidas alcohólicas estarán disponibles para la compra para los mayores de 21 años. Las entradas para cada espectáculo están disponible para la venta en steelstacks.org/comedy.

“Estamos agradecidos con Touchstone por ofrecernos esta oportunidad”, dijo Ryan Hill, director de programación de ArtsQuest y director del programa de comedia de ArtsQuest. “Estábamos buscando un espacio para producir comedia de manera segura este verano, y Touchstone lo logró a través del fuerte vínculo que hemos desarrollado con ellos a lo largo de los años. Touchstone y ArtsQuest comparten el compromiso de enriquecer la vida de las personas en nuestros vecindarios de SouthSide y más allá. Estoy feliz de que tengamos esta oportunidad de hacerlo juntos “.

La serie arranca con el cómic Ramon Rivas II, como parte de nuestro ¡Sabor! Festival Latino, el 25 de junio a las 8 p.m. (fecha de lluvia 26 de junio), con boletos disponibles a $ 17 para miembros de ArtsQuest, $ 18 para estudiantes y personas mayores y $ 19 para el público. Rivas ha autodistribuido dos álbumes de comedia, “Revisted” y “Stick to Comedy”, y partes de ambos se escuchan en las estaciones de comedia SIRIUS / XM, Kevin Hart’s LOL Network, Rawdag, Laughs USA y Jeff & Larry’s Comedy Roundup. Su trabajo también se puede ver en Paramount +, HBO Max, Netflix y Amazon Prime. Fue seleccionado como “Comic to Watch” por Comedy Central en 2015.

Adam Yenser, nativo de Macungie, encabeza el programa del 10 de julio, también a las 8 p.m. y con boletos disponibles a $ 17 para miembros de ArtsQuest, $ 18 para estudiantes y personas mayores y $ 19 para el público. Yenser, un escritor ganador del premio Emmy por The Ellen DeGeneres Show, también es la estrella de los segmentos recurrentes de “Kevin the Cashier”. Ha aparecido en Conan, FOX Laughs y el programa de Greg Gutfeld, además de escribir para los Oscar y contribuir a Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update.

El 17 de julio marcará el regreso de Kate Hughes, nativa de Bethelehem y su espectáculo unipersonal, Most Flammable, interpretado como stand-up y narración tanto en vivo como en pantalla. Las dos ediciones anteriores de este programa se encuentran entre las más exitosas jamás producidas dentro del Programa de Comedia ArtsQuest; la nueva versión, Most Flammable III: Amsterdammmmnnnn, detalla un viaje al extranjero que realizó después de un año muy difícil, un viaje que coincidió con el inicio de la pandemia de COVID-19. Los boletos están disponibles por $ 23.50 para los miembros de ArtsQuest, $ 24 para estudiantes y personas mayores y $ 26 para el público. La fecha de lluvia es el 18 de julio.

“Estamos muy contentos de asociarnos con ArtsQuest en estos próximos espectáculos”, dijo James P. Jordan, director artístico de Touchstone. “Las misiones de nuestra organización de nuestro servicio a nuestra comunidad en el SouthSide y más allá se alinean perfectamente. Estamos orgullosos de ofrecer un respiro muy necesario y brindar a las personas la oportunidad de disfrutar de la expresión artística a través de la comedia juntos, en persona una vez más “.

El programa de comedia ArtsQuest comenzó con la apertura del ArtsQuest Center en SteelStacks en mayo de 2011. Supervisado por Hill, junto con la coordinadora Addyson Young, el especialista Anthony DeSanctis y un comité de voluntarios compuesto por doce artistas, aficionado y administradores de artes, el programa de ArtsQuest Comedy es el hogar del único plan de estudios de comedia de Lehigh Valley durante todo el año, que comenzará de nuevo a principios del otoño de 2021.

¡SABOR! LATIN FESTIVAL RETURNS TO STEELSTACKS JUNE 25-26

ArtsQuest is proud to present this two-day festival full of music, food and family fun

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — ¡Sabor! Latin Festival is returning to the SteelStacks campus on Fri., June 25 and Sat., June 26, 2021. Experience two days of sizzling music, food and fun celebrating the region’s Hispanic culture.

The festivities kick off on Fri., June 25 with a free performance from Lehigh Valley Urban Latin Orquesta on the Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage on the Air Products Town Square.

On Sat., June 26 attendees can enjoy free performances. Pancho Bongo y su Orquesta will take to the Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage on the Air Products Town Square from 6-8 p.m. The Luisito Rosario Orchestra will perform from 8-10 p.m. on the Levitt Lawn. Born and raised in New Jersey and of Puerto Rican descent, Luisito Rosario has always appreciated his Latin roots. The experienced Salsa singer will bring his charisma and 20 years of experience to the stage.

Attendees will have the chance to enjoy drink specials, including margaritas featuring Cazadores Tequila and mojitos with Bacardi Superior Rum. The Palette & Pour culinary team will also feature Chicharrón tacos, beef and cheese empanadas, arroz con gandules and tostones.

“The ¡Sabor! Latin Festival signals an important return to some level of normalcy after a long 14 months,” Kassie Hilgert, President and CEO of ArtsQuest said. “We are proud to welcome the public back to the SteelStacks campus for this event celebrating the rich culture of the Hispanic community in the Lehigh Valley.”

This festival is free and open to the public. For the safety of all guests, ArtsQuest will continue to follow guidance from the city of Bethlehem and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. We will share any additional announcements and updates with the community as soon as they become available. Visit SteelStacks.org for more information.

¡SABOR! LATIN FESTIVAL VUELVE A STEELSTACKS EN JUNIO 25-26

ArtsQuest se enorgullece de presentar este festival de dos días repleto de música, comida y diversión familiar

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — ¡Sabor! Latin Festival vuelve al campus de SteelStacks el viernes 25 y el sábado 26 de junio de 2021. Disfruta de dos días de música, comida y diversión para celebrar la cultura hispana de la región.

Las festividades comienzan el viernes 25 de junio con una actuación gratuita de la Lehigh Valley Urban Latin Orquesta en el Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage de la Air Products Town Square.

El sábado, 26 de junio, los asistentes podrán disfrutar actuaciones gratuitas. Pancho Bongo y su Orquesta subirá al Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage en la Air Products Town Square de 18 a 20 horas. La Luisito Rosario Orchestra actuará de 20 a 10 horas en el Levitt Lawn. Nacido y criado en Nueva Jersey y de ascendencia puertorriqueña, Luisito Rosario siempre ha apreciado sus raíces latinas. El experimentado cantante de salsa aportará su carisma y sus 20 años de experiencia al escenario.

Los asistentes podrán disfrutar de ofertas de bebidas, como margaritas con tequila Cazadores y mojitos con ron Bacardi Superior. Además, el equipo culinario de Palette & Pour ofrecerá tacos de chicharrón, empanadas de carne y queso, arroz con gandules y tostones.

“El ¡Sabor! Latin Festival marca un importante retorno a cierto nivel de normalidad después de 14 largos meses,” declaró Kassie Hilgert, presidenta y directora general de ArtsQuest. “Tenemos el orgullo de dar la bienvenida al público de nuevo al campus de SteelStacks para este evento que celebra la rica cultura de la comunidad hispana en el Lehigh Valley.”

Este festival es gratuito y está abierto al público. Para la seguridad de todos los invitados, ArtsQuest continuará siguiendo las directrices de la ciudad de Bethlehem y de la Commonwealth de Pensilvania. Daremos a conocer a la comunidad todos los anuncios y actualizaciones adicionales tan pronto como estén disponibles. Visita SteelStacks.org para obtener más información.

ARTSQUEST TO RECEIVE $20,000 GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – ArtsQuest has been approved for a $20,000 Grants for Arts Projects award to support The SteelStacks Jazz Series. This project will support SteelStacks jazz performances with education and outreach activities. ArtsQuest’s project is among the more than 1,100 projects across America totaling nearly $27 million that were selected during this second round of Grants for Arts Projects fiscal year 2021 funding.

“As the country and the arts sector begin to imagine returning to a post-pandemic world, the National Endowment for the Arts is proud to announce funding that will help arts organizations such as ArtsQuest reengage fully with partners and audiences,” said NEA Acting Chairman Ann Eilers. “Although the arts have sustained many during the pandemic, the chance to gather with one another and share arts experiences is its own necessity and pleasure.”

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to offer these impactful programs for our community with NEA’s generous support,” said ArtsQuest Chief Programming Officer Patrick Brogan. “Especially during these difficult times, this support helps to make it all possible.”

The SteelStacks Jazz Series aims to lower barriers to involvement in the arts for at-risk students in the Bethlehem and Allentown School Districts, while also making jazz an easily accessible and enjoyable experience for members of the community. The SteelStacks Jazz Series events will take place in the ArtsQuest Center’s Musikfest Café, the Fowler Blast Furnace Room, Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks and within the classrooms of our educational partners in the Bethlehem Area School District and the Allentown City School District.

This series features free programming, performances, workshops and outreach activities for the local Southside Bethlehem community and the entire Lehigh Valley region. Both free and ticketed performances by award-winning jazz musicians are offered on ArtsQuest’s campus. Educational workshops are held for local middle and high school students and educators. Students also compete in the annual High School Jazz Band Showcase for the chance to open for a SteelStacks Jazz Series headliner.

For more information on the projects included in the Arts Endowment grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.

ARTSQUEST TO HOST ‘TIME TO REMEMBER’ MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATION AT LEVITT PAVILION STEELSTACKS

Ceremony to take place on May 31, in-person and via livestream

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – In honor of our nation’s bravest heroes, ArtsQuest and Embassy Bank will host the “Time to Remember” Memorial Day Celebration on Mon., May 31 at 3 p.m., on the Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks stage, presented by Coordinated Health, now part of Lehigh Valley Health Network. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. and free reservations can be made at steelstacks.org.

The “Time to Remember” Memorial Day Celebration will feature Kendal Conrad singing the National Anthem and God Bless America, Chris Poczak playing Taps on trumpet, and a reading by the Lehigh Valley Gold Star Mothers of the names of Lehigh Valley residents who have lost their lives in service to our nation. Speakers will include ArtsQuest President & CEO Kassie Hilgert and City of Bethlehem Council Member J. William Reynolds.

“ArtsQuest is honored to feature an array of programming throughout the year dedicated to commemorating the noble actions of our fallen heroes, including this ‘Time to Remember’ Memorial Day Celebration,” said ArtsQuest President & CEO Kassie Hilgert. “We thank Embassy Bank who continues to make it possible for us to honor those who’ve given it all for our nation. Please join us for this intimate celebration of bravery and freedom.”

Visitors can also view the 11th annual ‘Our Home Town Heroes’ display, presented by ArtsQuest and Embassy Bank, which honors those within our community who are either currently serving or who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. More than 140 banners, featuring over 1400 Lehigh Valley residents, will go on display starting Memorial Day Weekend, May 29-31, and will stay up through July 4th.

Over the past 10 years, local servicemen and women from all branches of the military have been on display to honor our hometown heroes. Each banner displays not only photos and names, but the soldier’s rank, branch, dates of service and hometown.

“While Memorial Day kicks off the summer season for most of us – full of picnics, festivals and of course ceremonies – it is also a day of remembrance, dedicated to honoring our servicemen and women who gave themselves selflessly for our freedom,” said Embassy Bank President, Chief Executive Officer & Chairman Dave Lobach.

“After some of the most trying times our nation has experienced in recent history, I am so glad we can get together once again for the powerful tradition of honoring our military, especially those who have lost their lives protecting and serving the United States of America.”

If you’d prefer to enjoy the “Time to Remember” Memorial Day Celebration from your own home, watch the livestream on our SteelStacks Facebook page.