For its 2016-17 season, Touchstone Theatre, Bethlehem, has an expanded number of productions and a new house band.

The season opens with “Crazy Glue,” Oct. 6-9, created and performed by Single Shoe Theatre Productions.

“‘Upcoming Projects’ are three new offerings. So, if you look at our overall season, there are more [productions] with the ‘Upcoming Projects,’” says Touchstone Theatre Ensemble Member-Managing Director Lisa Jordan.

“The new thing is that there’s now a house band at Touchstone. That’s Jakopa’s Punch,” Lisa Jordan continues.

The band debuts at “Jakopa’s Punch Bowl,” Feb. 18, 2017, Charles A Brown Ice House, Bethlehem. “Punch Bowl” previews “The Jakopa’s Punch Processional,” Summer 2017 through 2018, outdoors on south side Bethlehem, including at First Friday 2017-18.

The upcoming season’s main event is “Cirque It,” July 14-16, 2017, a collaboration between Touchstone Theatre, Zoellner Arts Center and ArtsQuest.

Also at Touchstone: “Aliens, Immigrants & Other Evildoers,” created and performed by Jose Torres-Tama, Nov. 3-6; “Christmas City Follies XVII,” created and performed by the Touchstone Ensemble, Dec. 1-18; “The Complete And Authoritative Tour of Holy Stuff,” created and performed by Emma Chong and directed by Jp Jordan, March 2-12, 2017; “The 12th Annual Young Playwrights’ Festival & Gala,” May 13, 2017, and “Fresh Voices,” by Touchstone’s 2016-17 Apprentice Corps (Sarah Desrosiers, Sabrina DeWeerdt, Joseph Ferraro, Dan Maher), June 2, 3, 2017.

Says Touchstone Theatre Ensemble Member-Artistic Director Jp Jordan of Jakopa’s Punch: “We first got together in January. Lori Roberts and Jeff Roberts of The Lesson Center held a benefit for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. They invited a bunch of different groups for a Feb. 28 tribute concert to David Bowie and Glenn Frey.

“I said, ‘Hey, would you be up for putting a band together?’ I put a band together with some of my favorite musicians, and it turns out they all had an association with Touchstone in one way or the other. Everybody in the band is a multi-instrumentalist.”

Jakopa’s Punch includes: Jp Jordan, vocalist; Emma Chong, woodwinds; Silagh White, woodwinds; Erick Black, percussion; Dan Leathersich, guitars, Jeff Roberts, guitar, bass; Steven Barnett, brass, bass; Jason Hedrington, keyboards, accordion, and Christopher Shorr, theremin.

The Feb. 18 fundraiser is the house band’s debut. “It will be a big old party,” says Jp Jordan.

“Cirque It!” is a first of its kind collaboration between south side Bethlehem’s leading arts organizations.

“We’ve been working together on it for a year,” says Jp Jordan. An American group and Canadian group are expected for the circus arts festival. “Of course, the more international the better, but visa issues will determine that,” Jp Jordan says.

“The idea is that the three organizations are trying to participate in the South Side Arts District.” The South Bethlehem Greenway will be used for “The Jakopa’s Punch Processional.”

“We’ll be building the festival so that it’s walkable in the South Side Arts District,” Jp Jordan says.

Continuing his 2016-17 season preview, Jp Jordan says of “The Complete and Authoritative Tour of Holy Stuff”: “This is a special show for us. It’s going to be incredible. It’s still in development. It’s a solo show being developed by Emma [Chong].”

And, of course, there’s the Super Bowl of Touchstone Theatre: “Christmas City Follies,” now in its 17th year. Rehearsals have begun.

“The earliest we ever started was yesterday [Sept. 19]. We’ve invited some guest artists to perform, including faculty members of the [Lehigh Valley] Charter High School [for the Performing Arts]” says Jp Jordan.

“‘Crazy Glue’ was originally recommended to us by ex-ensemble member by Cathleen O’Malley. These people went to school together at the London International School of Performing Arts,” says Jp Jordan. The two-person cast is Bradley Wayne Smith and Filipa Tomas.

“Crazy Glue” blends vocal sound effects, quirky humor and a 1930s soundtrack. Without words, the piece combines clown, dance and mime in a 65-minute performance.

The show is inspired by a short story of the same name written by Israeli writer Etgar Keret. The show was presented at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. A talk-back with the performers follow each performance.

Workshops will be held for “Crazy Glue“ and “Aliens, Immigrants & Other Evildoers.”

Does the 2016-17 season reflect more of a community connection for Touchstone?

“It just seems like another day at the office. It’s what we do,” Jp Jordan says.

Season subscription and “Crazy Glue ticket information: touchstone.org, 610-867-1689