ARTSQUEST’S FRANK BANKO ALEHOUSE CINEMAS RELAUNCH LGBTQ+ FILM SERIES, ALL SCREENINGS FREE TO ATTEND

Series kicks off on Aug. 28 with Swan Song, plus an appearance from director Todd Stephens

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – ArtsQuest’s Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas will restart its LGBTQ+ Film Series – which previously ran every year from 2012 through 2019 – on Sat., Aug 28 at 6:30 p.m. with a screening of the award-winning feature Swan Song. Todd Stephens, the film’s director, will be in attendance to participate in a talkback/question and answer session after the film. Tickets are free and can be reserved at steelstacks.org/film or by calling the ArtsQuest Box Office at 610.332.3378.

The LGBTQ+ Film Series, when produced prior to the pandemic, would last for one month of the year and tickets cost $10 each. Thanks to grant support from the Neighborhood Assistance Tax Credit Program, the series will now run throughout the year and will be free to attend. The series is also now curated by three of ArtsQuest’s Cinema Committee members: Alessandra Fanelli, Catherine Ford and Adrianna Gober.

“I am beyond ecstatic to be playing a role in the return of the LGBTQ+ Film Series, which is now more accessible than ever,” says Gober, who also serves as the co-curator of the cinema’s First Saturday Horror Series. “We aim to highlight films from the rich history of queer cinema that are not only diverse in genre, style and country of origin, but also inclusive of a wide and diverse scope of LGBTQ+ identities, experiences and perspectives and to share them with the community. Swan Song’s themes of queer resilience, connection and reconciling inter-generational differences, explored through an authentic queer voice, make it a perfect choice to kick the series back off.”

Swan Song, the winner of the 2021 NewFest Pride Audience Award, stars renowned actor Udo Kier as retired hairdresser Pat Pitsenbarger, who escapes the confines of his small-town Sandusky, Ohio nursing home after learning of his former client’s dying wish for him to style her final hairdo. Pat embarks on an odyssey to confront the ghosts of his past – and collect the beauty supplies necessary for the job.

“I am thrilled to be coming to Bethlehem,” says Stephens, whose credits also include writing 1998’s Edge of Seventeen and writing and directing 2001’s Gypsy 83, among others. “Bethlehem reminds me a lot of my own hometown of Sandusky, Ohio, where Swan Song is set. The film is about a man and his town coming back to life — and I have watched the same thing happen in the Lehigh Valley.”

The following is the list of events taking place as part of the screening of Swan Song:
• 6:30 p.m. – DJ set by Goodnight Stars Goodnight Air
• 7:30 p.m. – Opening remarks from the curators and Director Todd Stephens
• 7:45p.m. – Screening of Swan Song
• 9:30p.m. – Talkback/Q&A with Stephens

The next film in the LGBTQ+ Film Series will be 1999’s But I’m a Cheerleader, starring Natasha Lyonne, on Thurs., Oct. 7. Full details will be announced soon.

FRANK BANKO ALEHOUSE CINEMAS TO HOST ANNUAL HITCHCOCK BIRTHDAY SERIES

“Alfred Hitchcock: A 9-Film Masterclass in Suspense” will feature iconic classics Psycho, North by Northwest, Rear Window and more

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – This August, the ArtsQuest Center’s Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas will be hosting our annual Hitchcock Birthday series with a supersized event, “Alfred Hitchcock: A 9-Film Masterclass in Suspense.”

The series, which will take place from August 18-22 and 25-26, will cover the wide scope of his fascinating filmography featuring gems rarely seen in theaters and classics that demand big screen treatment – from Hitchcock’s silent film often declared the first “true Hitchcock film” to a light-hearted comedy with Hitch’s wicked sense of humor sprinkled in. There will be something for every true Hitchcock fan.

“Hitchcock made over 50 films across six decades and so many of them have reached classic status. How many other filmmakers can reach that feat?” said ArtsQuest Cinema & Comedy Specialist Anthony DeSanctis. “We are thrilled to be able to present this particular lineup – double the size of past years’ lineups – as I feel this is the first time the series covers all that Hitch was. If you’re coming to all nine films, you get to see him progress and truly earn his ‘Master of Suspense’ title.”

For more information on the film series or to view the complete calendar with film descriptions, click here.

Below is the complete schedule of screenings:

Wednesday, August 18
12 p.m. Shadow of a Doubt
2:30 p.m. The Trouble with Harry
5 p.m. The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
7:30 p.m. Psycho

Thursday, August 19
12 p.m. Rear Window
2:30 p.m. The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog
5 p.m. Suspicion
7:30 p.m. North by Northwest

Friday, August 20
12 p.m. North by Northwest
3 p.m. The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
4:45 p.m. Shadow of a Doubt
7:15 p.m. Rear Window
9:45 p.m. Frenzy

Saturday, August 21
4:30 p.m. Rear Window
7:15 p.m. Psycho
9:45 p.m. Frenzy

Sunday, August 22
4:15 p.m. Suspicion
6:45 p.m. Psycho

Wednesday, August 25
12 p.m. Shadow of a Doubt
2:30 p.m. The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
4:30 p.m. The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog
7 p.m. North by Northwest

Thursday, August 26
12 p.m. Psycho
2:30 p.m. Suspicion
5 p.m. The Trouble with Harry
7:15 p.m. Rear Window

GOV’T MULE TO PERFORM AT LEVITT PAVILION STEELSTACKS

The rock group will stop in Bethlehem, Pa. on September 14, 2021 as part of their national tour

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – ArtsQuest is proud to welcome rock group Gov’t Mule to the Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks stage on Tuesday, September 14, 2021. Tickets will go on sale beginning Wednesday, July 21 for ArtsQuest Members and Friday, July 23 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.

Gov’t Mule merges rock, blues, jazz and funk. Over the years, their catalog has racked up more than 120 million Pandora plays, 60 million Spotify streams, three million downloads from their official website and millions of album sales. The group was originally founded during a break from The Allman Brothers Band in 1994, when Warren Haynes and original bassist Allen Woody joined forces with drummer Matt Abts, with whom Haynes played alongside in the Dickey Betts Band. In the aftermath of Woody’s tragic passing, Haynes and Abts joined forces with a barrage of legendary bass players, including John Entwistle, Jack Bruce, Phil Lesh, Bootsy Collins, Flea, Les Claypool, Mike Gordon, and more for “The Deep End,” Volume 1 and “The Deep End,” Volume 2 in 2001 and 2002, respectively, as well as 2003’s RIAA Gold Certified live offering, “The Deepest End, Live in Concert.” In 2013, the group collaborated with the likes of Ben Harper, Elvis Costello, Dr. John, Grace Potter, Dave Matthews, Myles Kennedy, Steve Winwood, and more on alternate vocal tracks for “Shout!” From 2014 through 2016, the band delivered a series of archival releases celebrating its 20th Anniversary that achieved chart success across genres as “Dub Side of the Mule” went No. 1 for Reggae, “Sco-Mule” claimed No. 2 for Jazz, and “Dark Side of Mule” landed No. 10 for Rock.

‘ROADRUNNER: A FILM ABOUT ANTHONY BOURDAIN’ COMING TO ARTSQUEST’S FRANK BANKO ALEHOUSE CINEMAS

National Alliance on Mental Illness Lehigh Valley’s Executive Director Margaret C. Murphy to lead discussion on mental health

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas (FBAC), located at the ArtsQuest Center on the SteelStacks campus, is proud to feature “Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain.” The film covers the life of the late chef, writer and adventurer.

“Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain,” gives an intimate look into how Bourdain started his career as an anonymous chef and later became a cultural icon. The documentary is directed by Academy award-winner Morgan Neville (“20 Feet From Stardom,” “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”) Click here to watch the trailer. The film is rated R and runs for 1 hour and 58 minutes.

ArtsQuest is honored to share the story of Anthony Bourdain and open the floor for important conversations about mental health. Following the screening at 4:15 p.m. on Saturday, July 17, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Lehigh Valley’s Executive Director Margaret C. Murphy, will be joining the audience for a talkback. The organization will also have a table outside the cinema equipped with mental health information and literature before the movie.

“NAMI Lehigh Valley is excited to participate in the screening of Roadrunner. We hope the film will prompt ongoing conversations about suicide prevention and the importance of seeking help if someone is experiencing mental health issues or emotional suffering,” Murphy said. “We need to get rid of the stigma around even discussing suicide and mental illness that keeps people from getting the help they need.”

“We know there may be some who will be hesitant to come see this movie due to the feelings and/or memories it may trigger,” Ryan Hill, ArtsQuest Programming Director said. “We’re honored to have NAMI with us on Saturday to speak to what steps people can take to help themselves or loved ones who deal with thoughts of self-harm.”

The film can be viewed at the following times:

Thursday, July 15: 7 p.m.
Friday, July 16: 4:30 p.m., 8 p.m.
Saturday, July 17: 1 p.m., 4:15 p.m., 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 18: 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, July 21: 4 p.m., 7 p.m.
Thursday, July 22: 4 p.m., 7 p.m.

Visit steelstacks.org to purchase tickets. In accordance with CDC, state and local health guidelines, masks are no longer required for vaccinated patrons at the FBAC. Masks are recommended for those who are unvaccinated. The cinemas are operating at 50 percent capacity.

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.