The Muhlenberg Summer Music Theater (MSMT), at 33 years and counting, is the Lehigh Valley's longest-running summer theater.

MSMT founding Artistic Director Charles Richter is counting on continuing to be involved.

Of this year's season, for which he directs "Crazy For You," June 12 - 30, Richter says, "We're trying to move ahead and be bigger and better than ever."

The season includes "Jesus Christ Superstar," July 10 - 28, and "Seussical," June 19 - July 27, at the Baker Center for the Arts and Trexler Pavilion for Theatre and Dance, Muhlenberg College, 2400 Chew St., Allentown.

Tony Award-winning songwriting duo, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, wrote the music and lyrics for "Seussical," which debuted on Broadway in 2000, had two United States tours and a United Kingdom tour.

"Seussical" blends stories from "Horton Hears a Who!," "The Butter Battle Book" and "The Cat in the Hat."

The one-hour-and-15-minute "Young Audiences" edition includes the Dr. Seuss characters Cat in the Hat; Horton the Elephant; Gertrude McFuzz, the lazy bird Mayzie; Jojo, a little boy with a big imagination, and the Mayor of Whoville.

"We've expanded the children's theater. We're doing our biggest production ever," Richter says, citing production values and cast size for "Seussical."

"For the past two summers, we've had a really good collaboration with the Enchantment Theatre Company, but this year we decided to strike out on our own."

David Dabbon is music director; Nina Pongratz, Muhlenberg, Class of 2013, is choreographer; Colin McGurk is scene designer; Lex Gurst, Muhlenberg theater and dance staff member, is costume designer.

"Some of our best actors are in 'Seussical,' Richter says. "One of our grads, who's a rising director in New York, is coming in to direct it, Benjamin Shaw [Muhlenberg, Class off 2004].

"Seussical," presented in the Studio Theatre, Trexler Pavilion, is recommended for ages 4 and up.

"Crazy for You"

"Crazy for You" is based on George and Ira Gershwins' 1930s musical, "Girl Crazy," reworked and adapted by Ken Ludwig and Mike Ochrant. The original book is by John McGowen.

The show, said to be "full of showgirls, tap dancing, and mistaken identity," features the Gershwins' "I Got Rhythm," "They Can't Take That Away from Me," "Nice Work if You Can Get It" and "Someone to Watch Over Me."

The Broadway production of "Crazy for You," premiering in 1992, received Tonys for musical, choreography and costume design.

"It was a big hit in New York. It was a successful reworking of a Gershwin musical," Richter says.

"Crazy for You"" is the story of Bobby Child, a well-to-do 1930s playboy, whose dream in life is to dance. According to an MSMT press release, despite the serious efforts of his mother and soon-to-be ex-fiancée, Bobby achieves his dream.

Says Richter of the show: "The lead is one of the largest roles in theater. Bobby Child he just sings and dances all night."

Sari Weinerman, Muhlenberg College, Class of 2013, plays the lead female role of Polly. Frankie J. Grande plays the lead male role of Bobby.

"She's a very fine singer-dancer," Richter says of Weinerman.

Of Grande, who was in "Mama Mia" on Broadway, Richter says, "He's something of an internet sensation."

"Muhlenberg has one of the strongest tap dance training programs in the country. We decided to bring our tap to the stage. We haven't done a strong tap-dancing musical for several years."

Karen Dearborn is choreographer. Ed Bara is music director. Campbell Baird is scene designer. Nicole Wee is costume designer. John McKernon is lighting designer.

There's a 16-member tap ensemble in "Crazy for You." "We're doing it in the more intimate Baker Theatre, so that's going to make a lot of noise," Richter says. Muhlenberg's Curtis Dretsch designed Baker Theater in the style of a Broadway theater.

"The show has lots of complicated sets, including a two-story saloon interior, the interior of an old opera house and a Broadway stage. Putting it on will be a challenge, but we will rise to it," says Richter. "Broadway theaters have the same kind of problems."

"Crazy for You" includes MSMT regulars JoAnn Wilchek Basist, Neil Hever, WDIY operations director; and Jarrod Yuskauskas, Moravian Academy theater director, in the 25-member cast. There's a 14-piece orchestra conducted by Michael Schnack, a new Muhlenberg theater and dance department staff member.

"Jesus Christ Superstar"

"Jesus Christ Superstar" has its MSMT debut in the 33rd season, ironically, the number of the years it's said its protagonist dwelled on Earth.

The storyline is based on the Bible's New Testament telling of the last seven days in the life of Jesus. It emphasizes political and personal struggles between Jesus and Judas, which are not in the Biblical accounts.

"Superstar" was conceived as a rock opera concept album, with lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The hit musical had successful 1972, 1977, 2000 and 2012 Broadway productions.

"It's our first time out with that. One of the problems was we couldn't get the rights. We tried to do it two years ago, when we did 'Godspell,'" says Richter.

"It's taken us years to get the right to 'Jesus Christ Superstar.' It took us years to get the rights to 'Hairspray.' We keep trying and we succeed.

"We're in a very bad location for getting rights because of our proximity to Philly and New York," Richter says, also citing the Fulton Opera House in Lancaster.

James Peck, Muhlenberg College theater and dance outgoing chair where Muhlenberg's Beth Schachter is taking over, directs "Superstar."

Ken Butler is music director. Former Muhlenberg dance professor Charles O. Anderson is choreographer. Tim Averil is scene designer. John McKernon is lighting designer.

"James Peck, who just stepped down as chair, really wanted to do it. I thought that was a great idea," Richter says.

"It's sort of an iconic rock musical," says Richter, noting Vince Di Mura leads a five-piece rock band in the 30-member production being presented in Empie Theatre, Baker Center.

Dan Carey, Muhlenberg College, Class of 2005, portrays Jesus. "He's a rock singer," says Richter.

Kennedy Kanagawa, who played Tommy in MSMT's production of "Tommy," plays Judas.

Jessie MacBeth portrays Mary Magdalene. The cast includes Josh Neth and Bill Mutimer.

MSMT benefits

Richter says MSMT pays actors, musicians and staff for its productions: "In the summer theater, everyone is paid. It's a professional operation. And it's a pretty penny."

MSMT's Camp Imagine, a theater program free to Allentown School District middle school students, is in its 11th year. There's a high school theater workshop for students grades 9 - 12.

"That's all part of the operation. We get good support from local foundations and businesses," Richter says.

Richter says that MSMT's budget, which he declined to disclose, runs a deficit. MSMT receives funding from Lehigh County and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, but not the City of Allentown.

"The college looks at it as something we do for the community. Our audience is primarily Lehigh Valley. It's really a gift to the Lehigh Valley from the college," Richter says.

There's an added benefit for MSMT for Muhlenberg College theater and dance department students. Says Richter, "It's a nice opportunity for the students to get professional training. And we bring back alumni, so that helps the continuing of the program.

"We have one of the largest undergraduate theater programs in the nation," Richter says. There are 250 theater majors and 100 dance majors in the Muhlenberg College Theatre and Dance Department program.

"The summer theater has been crucial for our operation. Nowadays there's lots of kids who want to work in musical theater," says Richter, attributing this to the popularity of TV talent contest shows, "American Idol" and "The Voice," among others, and the TV series, "Glee," plus the State Theatre for the Arts, Easton, annual Freddy Awards.

"There's a program like the Freddys in almost every community in the nation. There's a lot of kids who want to go into entertainment," Richter says.

"In the last 10 to 15 years, there's been an increase in interest on the part of students" in musical theater, according to Richter.

He says that contemporary musicals, including "Les Miserables," "Wicked" and "The Phantom of The Opera" are responsible, too, for the uptick in student interest. "There have been shows that have captured the public's imagination."

Last year, MSMT, attracted an audience of 12,000, according to Richter.

"'Hairspray' was the largest-grossing show we've ever done and the most heavily-attended we've ever done," Richter says of the musical based on the John Waters' written and directed movie, partly filmed at Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom, South Whitehall Township.

"When we started 33 years ago, there was less competition. There was less theater in the Valley. There was not the internet. Now people have numerous entertainment options. We've maintained the numbers and the quality of work.

"I'm continuing getting calls and emails from people who say, 'My parents brought me to MSMT and how I'm bringing my children.' That kind of continuity is important to a community," says Richter.