In collaboration with Muhlenberg College, Lehigh County Senior Center, the Lehigh County Historical Society, Kutztown University, the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society, Touchstone collected over 50 oral histories from the Lehigh Valley’s oldest African American citizens and held 14 public story and song gatherings throughout the Lehigh Valley. These histories were archived and used, along with the material collected at the story and song gatherings, to produce an original play that gave voice to the experience of Lehigh Valley African Americans over the last one hundred years. This play, Another River Flows – stories, songs and a celebration of the Lehigh Valley Black Experience, performed in all three cities and was cast almost entirely by community actors.

Click here to read a brief history of the project.

Checkout some video footage of this show on our youtube page.

Touchstone Theatre's Gallery

As part of Touchstone's mission to build community and encourage creative collaboration, local visual artists are invited to exhibit work in a mezzanine space above the theatre. Gallery exhibits are scheduled to correspond to the theatre's season, and may complement the current production in theme.

NOW ON EXHIBIT…
Touchstone is pleased to host the premier gallery showing of the work of "The No-Shows" - Ariana Abud, Justin Schaible, Melanie Smith, Jessica Walsh and Helene Parrucci. These five up-and-coming photographers and painters are based out of Bethlehem.

The gallery is open before and after
performances, and you may also view
the current exhibit by ringing the bell
during normal business hours. (calling
ahead is recommended - 610-867-1689).
If you would like to submit work for
consideration, please download the
guidelines; contact Liz Wheeler at
610-867-1689 or liz@touchstone.org
to learn more.

NEXT UP…
Touchstone Theatre’s 2008-09 season will begin on October 2nd-12th with Shipwrecked! The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemo (as told by himself), written by Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies. Inspired by a true story, Margulies tells the tale of an unlikely hero who held Victorian England (and the world) spellbound for a few months in 1898. Rougemo’s thrilling tall tales of his 30-year adventure will be produced and performed by the Touchstone Ensemble. Submissions for the accompanying gallery exhibit are due by September 1.

PAST EXHIBITS
TACTILE, where visual artists presented work that could be accessed through the sense of touch. This exhibit complemented Weights, by Lynn Manning. The artists showing work in TACTILE were Margie Anich, Alan Cernak, Joseph M. Chapuk, Vicki Haller, Barbara Hughes, Liz Magno, Susan Newquist, Valerie Ortwein, Maggie Shen, M. David Snyder, Mary E. Stoudt, Barbara Thun, Georgette L. Veeder, and Liz Wheeler. (Up until November 16, 2007).

Interpreting the landscape: abstract nature paintings by Karla Stingerstein and winter landscape photography by Cynthia Underhill.

The Don Quixote Project (2003-2005)

Inspired by the diverse South Side Bethlehem neighborhood and the desire to bridge the gap between the Anglo and Latino cultures, the adaptation, Don Quixote of Bethlehem, was born. The traveling performance or “theatricade” involved over 100 community participants and moved from Lehigh University through the streets of the South Side ending at St. Michael’s Cemetery. This project involved the following community partners: Bethlehem Area Public Library, Bethlehem Area School District, City of Bethlehem, Council of Spanish Speaking Organizations, Holy Infancy Church, Lehigh University Art Galleries, Mock Turtle Marionette Theatre, Seniors Centers of Bethlehem, and South Bethlehem Neighborhood Center.

DVDs of the performance, filmed and edited by Anisa George and Petra Costa, are available for $25, $15 for cast members. To order, please call Liz Wheeler, Touchstone’s Administrative Assistant, at 610-667-1689, or email liz@touchstone.org. Anisa and Petra also created a documentary about the making of Don Quixote of Bethlehem.  This was screened at the 2006 SouthSide Film Festival; please call Liz if you’d like to purchase one.