Craft Your Comedic Skills with ArtsQuest’s Fall Comedy Classes

Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley, PA., August 26, 2024 – ArtsQuest is excited to present its fall comedy class schedule, featuring the debut of a new advanced standup class along with introductory classes in sketch, improv and standup. Each class will provide attendees with useful tips and a supportive environment to help beginners and those looking to strengthen their comedic skills. Classes are offered September through November and will conclude with a graduation show for participants to perform their material and demonstrate what they have learned.

See if you are eligible for one of ArtsQuest’s scholarship opportunities! ArtsQuest scholarships are designed for individuals and families that demonstrate a financial need and interest in the visual and/or comedy performance arts. Scholarships are awarded on a sliding scale based on financial need. Learn more about eligibility, the application process and more when you visit https://fest.formstack.com/forms/scholarship_application.

Are you a business looking to incorporate a fun team building event for your employees? ArtsQuest offers team building improv workshops! These workshops are great for businesses and corporations looking to improve their team’s communication skills, encourage creative thinking and provide an environment for team bonding and fun. Teams will be guided by professional improvisers to learn lively exercises that teach the fundamentals of improv comedy, bolstering confidence while sparking your team’s sense of humor. Group pre-registration is required. Please contact Addyson Young, ArtsQuest Programming Specialist, at ayoung@artsquest.org to learn more.

For more information and to sign up for comedy classes, visit www.steelstacks.org. Please note that all classes require the participant to be aged 18 or older on or before the day of the first class in the session.

Comedy Classes Offered Include:

Sketch Comedy Writing and Producing with Jiah Peck

Wednesdays, September 4 – October 23 | Banana Factory Ribson Room from 7-9 p.m.

Grad Show: October 30 at 7 p.m. in the Visitor Center

Price: $179 | $160 ArtsQuest Member

Sketch comedy has been seen on TV with shows like “SNL,” “Key & Peele,” “Portlandia” and more. By signing up for this class, you’ll learn everything from how to format your funny ideas into a script and the steps it takes to bring them to life.

This class is a writer’s room; each week you’ll be writing new scripts, participating in table reads and engaging in feedback sessions. You will also watch and dissect a LOT of sketch comedy on the internet. The last three weeks of the class will be devoted to producing the grad show.  

Standup 201 with Aliya Brown

Sundays, September 22 – November 10 | Banana Factory Ribson Room from 12-3 p.m.

Grad Show: November 11 at 6:30 in the Blue Cinema

Price: $209 | $189 ArtsQuest Member

Learn to hone your joke writing skills, increase your set length and move beyond the open mic. In this class you’ll be led through writing exercises with Aliya Brown, learn to navigate the business of comedy with Glen Tickle and explore the booking process from the booker’s point of view with Ryan Hill.

Aliya will be teaching six of the eight weeks of classes, with Glen and Ryan teaching one week each.

Students must have graduated from Intro to Standup at ArtsQuest or have equivalent experience.

Improv 101 with Erica Sylvester

Mondays, September 23 – November 11 | Banana Factory from 7-9 p.m.

Grad Show: November 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the Red Cinema

Price: $179 | $160 ArtsQuest Member

Improv 101 focuses on the 3 core principles of comedic improvisation: agreement, being active and justification. We designed our classes to create an energetic and supportive environment for play Whether you’ve never taken the stage before, you’re a seasoned improviser or you’re simply looking to help yourself in your career and/or life, you’ll get a lot from this class.

Improv 201 with Laurie Wagner Storlie

Mondays, September 30 – November 18 | Olympus Digital Imaging Classroom from 7-9 p.m.

Grad Show: November 25 at 6:30 p.m. in the Blue Cinema

Price: $179 | $160 ArtsQuest Member

Improv 201 builds on the basic principles of improv and helps develop your improv skills to make strong comedic choices. By finding and exploring Game you will expand your “Yes, and” abilities while also discovering al avenues that Game can play in scenes.

Must have completed Improv 101 at ArtsQuest or have equivalent experience.

Improv 301 with Cindy Marsh: Documentary Form

Mondays, October 7 – November 25 | Banana Factory from 7-9 p.m.

Grad Show: December 2 at 6:30 p.m. in the Red Cinema

Price: $179 | $160 ArtsQuest Member

This Improv 301 class takes a deep dive into the Documentary improv form. We’ll explore how to create hilarious scenes that capture the essence of a documentary film. You will learn how to develop believable characters, craft compelling narratives and heighten scene partner choices as well as your own. If you are looking to level up your sense of play and improv skills, this is the class for you.

Students must have graduated from Improv 101 and 201 at ArtsQuest or have equivalent experience.

Intro to Standup with Ryan Hill

Tuesdays, October 8 – November 12 | Olympic Digital Imaging Classroom from 6-9 p.m.

Grad Show: November 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the Blue Cinema

Price: $154 | $140 ArtsQuest Member

This class is an introduction to standup comedy from both a creative and practical approach. Attendees will learn and apply the basics of joke construction, acquire useful tips for beginners and receive individualized feedback with the goal of producing 5 minutes of material. The class will culminate with a graduation show where participants will perform their material.

About ArtsQuest
ArtsQuest’s mission is to provide access to exceptional artistic, cultural and educational experiences using arts and culture as key elements of economic development for our urban communities. ArtsQuest™ supports this mission via the presentation of performing and visual arts, film, arts education classes and outreach, youth programming and cultural events. Through festivals such as its flagship event, Musikfest; the Banana Factory Arts Center; and the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks arts and cultural campus, ArtsQuest’s programming reaches more than 1.9 million people annually. The organization’s programs and events, of which over 50% are free to attend, have a combined economic impact of more than $136 million annually in the region.

The Fun Doesn’t End After Musikfest! ArtsQuest’s Musikfest Café to Host Can’t Miss Shows This Fall

Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley, PA., August 19, 2024 – Summer may be coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop. ArtsQuest has some great Musikfest Café shows coming up this fall! Live comedy is one of life’s simple pleasures, so we’re cracking some jokes on the third floor of the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks.

Tickets available at steelstacks.org.

Drake White – FRIDAY! August 23 @ 8 p.m.

See one of Country music’s most spirited innovators – Drake White this weekend! The four time Top 40 hits artist has traveled the country on multiple nationwide tours. After undergoing a series of operations to repair his Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) and months of physiotherapy, White has proved his doctors wrong, returning to the road to spread his incredible positivity to his fans. Check out his latest release, THE OPTIMYSTIC, an inspiring glimpse into the journey he has taken over the past few years.

Get a FREE Musikfest mug with your ticket purchase to see Drake White!

David Nihill – September 19 @ 7:30 p.m.

Irish comedian, David Nihill is the winner of the prestigious annual San Francisco Comedy Competition and runner up in the Moth GrandSLAM Storytelling Competition, the largest storytelling competition in the U.S. Nihill’s show draws on his wide travels, cultural observations, attempts at language study, (occasional) international drinking session(s) and being a mildly confused immigrant.

The show will contain adult language and/or situations. Anyone coming in between the ages of 13 to 17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. No child 12 or under will be admitted.

Paula Poundstone – October 10 @ 8 p.m.

Iconic comedian Paula Poundstone is known for her smart, observational humor and a spontaneous wit that has become the stuff of legend. Paula has starred in several HBO specials, including Cats, Cops and Stuff, which nabbed a cable ACE award for Best Comedy Special. Other accomplishments include being the first female to host the White House Correspondence Dinner, starring in two television series (both entitles The Paula Poundstone Show) and much more.

The show will contain adult language and/or situations. Anyone coming in between the ages of 13 to 17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. No child 12 or under will be admitted.

Pinky Patel – November 1 @ 7:30 p.m.

Chicago based Pinky Patel is a PTA mom turned creator, comedian and Internet personality. She is best known for her hilarious commentary and viral videos from her glam cave that garnered over 97 million likes on TikTok.

This is an 18+ show and will contain adult language and/or situations.

About ArtsQuest
ArtsQuest’s mission is to provide access to exceptional artistic, cultural and educational experiences using arts and culture as key elements of economic development for our urban communities. ArtsQuest™ supports this mission via the presentation of performing and visual arts, film, arts education classes and outreach, youth programming and cultural events. Through festivals such as its flagship event, Musikfest; the Banana Factory Arts Center; and the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks arts and cultural campus, ArtsQuest’s programming reaches more than 1.9 million people annually. The organization’s programs and events, of which over 50% are free to attend, have a combined economic impact of more than $136 million annually in the region.

Beep Boop, Beep Boop: A Sci-Fi Film Festival Returns to ArtsQuest 

Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley, PA – July 8, 2024 – ArtsQuest is excited to announce the return of the Sci-Fi Film Festival being held from July 25 – July 28 at the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas, located inside the ArtsQuest Center. There will be thirteen films shown over four action packed days with a carefully curated selection that spans the vast scope of the genre’s wonders, from blockbuster classics to mind-bending animations to boundary pushing art house films. Regular tickets per film are $11. Ages 25 and under as well as seniors are $8.50 and $7.50 for ArtsQuest Members. Tickets can be purchased at SteelStacks.org.  

The festival will kick off on Thursday, July 25 in celebration of Art House Theater Day. Art House Theater Day is a day where exhibitors and audiences alike will come together to celebrate all that art house theaters and independent films contribute to our cultural landscape: ambitious and innovative art that provokes, challenges, entertains and inspires. Included with the screening of The Terminator on July 25, will be a pre-recorded Art House Cinema-exclusive Q&A between James Cameron and Gale Anne Hurd on the film’s indie roots and the critical importance of art house theaters.  

The full festival lineup is listed below:

Thursday, July 25^th

• 7:30 p.m. – The Terminator (40th Anniversary) – Art House Theater Day 1984. Rated R.

Friday, July 26^th

• 5:00 p.m. – Barbarella 1968. Rated PG.
•  7:15 p.m. – Edge of Tomorrow (10^th Anniversary) 2014.RatedPG-13.
• 9:45 p.m. – The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8^th Dimension (40^th Anniversary) 1984. Rated PG.

Saturday, July 27^th

• 12:00 p.m. – Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (40^th Anniversary) 1984. Rated NR.
• 2:30 p.m. – After Yang. 2021. Rated PG.
• 4:45 p.m. – Galaxy Quest (25^th Anniversary) 1999. Rated PG. Also part of the 1999 in Film Series: A Tribute to One of Cinema’s Greatest Years.
• 7:00 p.m. – Timecrimes. 2007.Rated R. This is a FREE screening, also part of Cinema Significa…
• 9:45 p.m. – Repo Man (40^th Anniversary) 1984. Rated R.

Sunday, July 28^th

• 12:00 p.m. – The Day the Earth Stood Still 1951. Rated G.
• 2:30 p.m.- Annihilation 2018. Rated R.
• 5:00 p.m. – Space is the Place (50^th Anniversary)1974. Rated R
• 7:00 p.m. – They Live w/ Programming Assistant Sarah Bess 1988. Rated R. Also part of our Sunday Night Staff Pick series.

About ArtsQuest  
ArtsQuest’s mission is to provide access to exceptional artistic, cultural and educational experiences using arts and culture as key elements of economic development for our urban communities. ArtsQuest™ supports this mission via the presentation of performing and visual arts, film, arts education classes and outreach, youth programming and cultural events. Through festivals such as its flagship event, Musikfest; the Banana Factory Arts Center; and the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks arts and cultural campus, ArtsQuest’s programming reaches more than 1.9 million people annually. The organization’s programs and events, over 50% of which are free to attend, have a combined economic impact of more than $136 million annually in the region. 

ArtsQuest and Embassy Bank to Honor Local First Responders with Patriot Day Banner and Ceremony

Community members encouraged to submit photos for 2024 ‘Our Hometown Heroes – First Responders’ Banner Display

Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley, PA, June 27, 2024 – ArtsQuest is seeking photos from the community for its annual “Our Hometown Heroes – First Responders” banner presented by Embassy Bank. The banner will debut at the Patriot Day Celebration on Saturday, Sept. 14 at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, honoring first responders, including police and law enforcement officials, firefighters and volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel and paramedics, who currently serve or have served our community. Submissions will be accepted from July 1 through July 31, 2024.

The celebration will also include a ceremony, presenting Officer Ra’Von Burtons with ArtsQuest’s 2024 First Responder Valor Award at the Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks. This award is presented to a City of Bethlehem First Responder for their service to the community.

Officer Burton is a Lehigh Valley native, attending Catasauqua High School where he played football, basketball and participated in track. Officer Burton is a Moravian University graduate. He first gained interest in becoming an officer as a child when Allentown Police helped rescue him from a flooding after Jordan Creek in Allentown had overflowed. He has always had a strong sense of community and feels that it is one of the most important aspects of keeping neighborhoods safe. In 2019, Burton went viral after a video of him playing backyard baseball with Lehigh University students was uploaded online. Since then, he has been a large part of Bethlehem Police Departments community outreach programs which include visiting various schools in the area to educate as well as leading egg drop experiments with the students. In 2021, Burton joined the k-9 unit where he became partners with Bean, a German Shorthaired Pointer, where they specialize in explosive detection, tracking lost individuals and community engagement. After being a part of Bethlehem Police for six years this upcoming September, Officer Burton has plans to continue growing the relationship between police and the community with the hopes of one day becoming Chief of Police.

“Since 2016, ArtsQuest and Embassy Bank have honored local first responders with the banner display, and we’re grateful to continue the tradition this year,” said Kyle Ring, ArtsQuest Operations Specialist. “It’s a great opportunity to recognize first responders for their bravery and selflessness and to showcase the individuals who serve our community each day.”

Following the ceremony, guests are invited to stay for the final show of the 2024 Levitt Pavilion free concert series with a performance by The Aardvarks. Performing for over ten years, the ‘Varks have become the premier rock band of the Lehigh Valley, mixing time periods and styles of covers and original music into their non-stop, high-energy sets.

Photos of family members, neighbors and friends who are first responders can be uploaded using this form. Images must be high-resolution jpeg, tiff, bitmap or PDF file. Color and B&W photos are accepted. Those participating are asked to share their contact information, the first responder’s name, hometown, job title and department.

Photos from previous years will also be on display (although changes cannot be made to information on existing photos).

Hard copies will be accepted at all Embassy Bank locations or at the Banana Factory, 25 W. 3rd St. in Bethlehem. All hard copies will be returned promptly to the location in which they were received.

About ArtsQuest
ArtsQuest’s mission is to provide access to exceptional artistic, cultural and educational experiences using arts and culture as key elements of economic development for our urban communities. ArtsQuest™ supports this mission via the presentation of performing and visual arts, film, arts education classes and outreach, youth programming and cultural events. Through festivals such as its flagship event, Musikfest; the Banana Factory Arts Center; and the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks arts and cultural campus, ArtsQuest’s programming reaches more than 1.9 million people annually. The organization’s programs and events, of which over 50% are free to attend, have a combined economic impact of more than $136 million annually in the region.    

Steel City Smokeout Now Offering Free Admission!

Get mouthwatering BBQ, watch the competition heat up and learn from the best!

PLUS, listen to some great music at the annual Blast Furnace Blues.

Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley, PA, June 20, 2024 – In April, ArtsQuest announced the Steel City Smokeout in partnership with Nick’s BBQ presented by Cigars International, Jack Daniels and The Restaurant Store. This brand-new barbeque competition – sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society and the Mid-Atlantic BBQ Association – will take place on Saturday, July 20, 2024, on PNC Plaza presented by St. Luke’s University Health Network on the ArtsQuest campus at SteelStacks. Pitmasters Moe Cason and Bob Trudnak are so excited about all the barbeque happening here on campus for the first time, they’re waiving general admission into the event! Everyone is welcome to come and check out the (literal) competition for the best barbeque and all the vendors cooking up mouthwatering meats. Check out steelstacks.org for all the info on this event you won’t want to miss!

Interested in a complementary “BBQ Brunch” prepared by Nick’s BBQ, an extra hour at the event and an exclusive area with a private cash bar? VIP tickets are $69 (or $79 week of the event) and include all of this PLUS an exclusive seminar with Cigars International. Rich Monts and Mike Piparato will be covering the history of Cigars International and Smokeable Tobaccos, from the discovery of tobacco to the Cuban Revolution to modern cigars. Everyone who attends this session will be automatically entered into a drawing for a Cigars International Smiley’s Specials, a special branded humidor that comes with a Smiley cutter and lighter.

Professional and amateur teams from throughout the Mid-Atlantic region will be competing at the 18+ event in a number of categories to win cash prizes from a purse of $10,000. You can see how these teams prepare delicious meats while getting some of your own from the many barbeque vendors that will be on hand.

Once inside you can purchase barbeque from:

• Atomic Hog
• Grumpy’s BBQ
• Slabs and Crabs
• You Got Pork’d

Other food vendors:

• Kona Ice of Allentown
• Mon and Mel’s Sweet Scoops Ice Cream Truck
• 4 Raices Street Tacos

There’s still time to register for the Master and Backyard Series Competitions! Registration deadline is July 7. To register to be a professional BBQ team click here. We are also looking for two more teams for our Backyard competition; click here to register.

Additionally, award-winning pitmasters Bob Trudnak and Moe Cason are teaching classes in ArtsQuest Center’s Blast Furnace Room as part of the Steel City Smokeout! Trudnak and Cason will give you the very best methods and procedures for cooking high end backyard BBQ with competition tips and tricks. They cover everything from meat selection and trimming to seasoning and cooking procedures on grills and smokers. Visit steelstacks.org for more information on classes.

When you’re finished eating BBQ, be sure to check out the 11^th Annual Blast Furnace Blues, featuring two days of live rhythm and blues music happening on Friday, July 19 and Saturday, July 20 at SteelStacks.

About ArtsQuest 

ArtsQuest’s mission is to provide access to exceptional artistic, cultural and educational experiences using arts and culture as key elements of economic development for our urban communities. ArtsQuest™ supports this mission via the presentation of performing and visual arts, film, arts education classes and outreach, youth programming and cultural events. 

Through festivals such as its flagship event, Musikfest; the Banana Factory Arts Center; and the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks arts and cultural campus, ArtsQuest’s programming reaches more than 1.9 million people annually. The organization’s programs and events, over 50% of which are free to attend, have a combined economic impact of more than $136 million annually in the region. 

ArtsQuest to Offer Independence Day Festivities

Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley, PA, June 19, 2024- ArtsQuest is excited to announce its Independence Day activities presented by Embassy Bank, including a full day of musical events, crafts, delicious food vendors and more. Festivities will begin Thursday, July 4 at 3 p.m. and take place at the ArtsQuest campus at SteelStacks, offering a perfect spot to view the City of Bethlehem’s fireworks display at 9 p.m. Guests can also view (for one of the last times this season) the Hometown Heroes 2024 banners that debuted over 1,700 photos of local military veterans on Memorial Day.  

Food vendors Heaven on a Bun and MMG Concessions will be open 5-10 p.m. Additionally, visitors can shop various retail vendors, including Loco Lights and Bubbles, Losco Glass, Scents by Sen and Nurse Wellness CBD. 

For a more exclusive experience, visitors 21+ can purchase tickets for ArtsQuest’s Fourth of July Fireworks Watch Party. Tickets include special viewing access at the Musikfest Café and the Wind Creek Deck, a summer buffet and more. To learn more and purchase tickets, visit SteelStacks.org. 

Independence Day Free Music Schedule 

Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage on the Air Products Town Square 

• 3:30-5 p.m. | John DeRosa Band 
• 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Hydraulic Lime 
• 9-11 p.m. | Big Bone Daddy 

Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks presented by Lehigh Valley Health Network 

• 7:30-9 p.m. | The Allentown Band  

Additional Activities  

Amusements Presented by AKM Entertainment 

Air Products Town Square | 3-9 p.m. | Paid Activity  

• Bounce houses, slides and a bungee trampoline  

Creativity Tent Presented by the Banana Factory Arts Center 

Air Products Town Square | 3-9 p.m. | Free Activity  

• Patriotic themed art project 

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit SteelStacks.org. 

About ArtsQuest 
ArtsQuest’s mission is to provide access to exceptional artistic, cultural and educational experiences using arts and culture as key elements of economic development for our urban communities. ArtsQuest™ supports this mission via the presentation of performing and visual arts, film, arts education classes and outreach, youth programming and cultural events. Through festivals such as its flagship event, Musikfest; the Banana Factory Arts Center; and the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks arts and cultural campus, ArtsQuest’s programming reaches more than 1.9 million people annually. The organization’s programs and events, of which over 50% are free to attend, have a combined economic impact of more than $136 million annually in the region.