Act 1 DeSales University Theatre will present the classic comedy “The Importance of Being Earnest,” Feb. 22 - March 5, Main Stage, Labuda Center for the Performing Arts in Center Valley.

Oscar Wilde’s 1895 comedy sparkles with dazzling wordplay and hilarious situations.

Working within the social conventions of late Victorian London, the play’s major themes are the triviality with which it treats institutions as serious as marriage and the resulting satire of Victorian ways.

In the play, which takes place in the 1890s, Jack, a carefree bachelor, poses as a man named Ernest so he can escape from the country to the city for romantic escapades.

Meanwhile, fellow bachelor Algernon also takes on the identity of Ernest to woo young Cecily. Silliness ensues with whimsical ingénues, jealous fiancés, indomitable dowagers and the most famous handbag in theater history.

“The play presents as a traditional comedy with remarkable slapstick, farce and wit,” says director Steven Dennis, associate professor of theater at DeSales. “It’s an artful serving of outrageous satire known for its comedic exaggeration of human foolishness.”

Will Neuert, assistant professor and head of design at DeSales, is scenic designer, bringing a London flat and a Woolton country manor to life.

Philadelphia clothier Leigh Paradise is costume designer. Eric T. Haugen is lighting designer. David M. Greenberg is sound designer.

The production is recommended for ages 10 and up.

Talkbacks are after 2 p.m. Feb. 26 and 9:45 a.m. Feb. 27 performances. Open-captioning and audio descriptions are at the March 4 performance with tickets half-price for patrons using these services. Information: 610-282-3654, ext. 1.

“The Importance of Being Earnest,” 8 p.m. Feb. 22-25, March 2-4; 2 p.m. Feb. 26, March 5; 9:45 a.m. Feb. 27; livestream, March 4. Tickets: 610-282-3192; https://www.desales.edu/news-events/act-1-productions

Muhlenberg premieres Churchill play:

The Muhlenberg College Department of Theatre & Dance premieres Caryl Churchill’s play, “Love + Information,” Feb. 23- 26, Baker Theater, Trexler Pavilion for Theatre and Dance.

Churchill’s play is a humorous but serious look at trying to stay connected in a digital era. The play is a fast-moving kaleidoscope of seven vignettes as more than 100 characters try to make sense of the information.

The show premiered in London in 2012 and opened at New York Theatre Workshop in 2014.

Muhlenberg’s production is directed by Jessie Dean, an adjunct theater professor at Muhlenberg.

The production is not recommended for children and includes adult themes; discussions of sexuality, mental illness and drug use, and a reference to torture.

“Love + Information,” 8 p.m. Feb. 23-25; 2 p.m. Feb. 26, Baker Theater, Trexler Pavilion for Theatre and Dance, Muhlenberg College, Allentown. Tickets: 484-664-3333; http://muhlenberg.edu/seeashow

“Curtain Rises” is a column about the theater, stage shows, the actors in them and the directors and artists who make them happen. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com

LEHIGH VALLEY STAGE

BY KATHY LAUER-WILLIAMS

Special to The Press

“Summer Lovin,’” 7 p.m. Fridays; 4, 7 p.m. Saturdays; 12:30 p.m. Sundays, through April 29, Pines Dinner Theater, 448 N. 17th St., Allentown. 610-433-2333; https://www.pinesdinnertheatre.com/

“Games We Play,” 8 p.m. Feb. 16-18, 23-25; 2 p.m. Feb. 19, 26, Touchstone Theatre, 321 E. Fourth St., Bethlehem. 610-867-1689; http://www.touchstone.org/

“Clue: On Stage,” 7 p.m. Feb. 17; 2, 6 p.m. Feb. 18; 2 p.m. Feb. 19, Pennsylvania Youth Theatre, Charles A. Brown Ice House, 56 River St., Bethlehem. 610-332-1400; https://123pyt.tix.com

“Hairspray,” 2, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18, State Theatre, 453 Northampton St., Easton. 610-252-3132; https://stateteatre.org/

“Company,” 7 p.m. Feb. 23-25, 2 p.m. Feb. 26, Samuels Theater, Cedar Crest College, 100 College Drive, Allentown. 610-740-3780; https://www.cedarcrest.edu

“Dreamgirls,” 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25, March 1-4; 2 p.m. Feb. 26, March 5; virtual, 10 a.m. March 4, Munopco Music Theatre, Scottish Rite Cathedral, 1533 Hamilton St,, Allentown. 610-437-2441; https://www.munopco.org/

“The Importance of Being Earnest,” 8 p.m. Feb. 22-25, March 2-3; 2 p.m. Feb. 26, March 5; 9:45 a.m. Feb. 27, Main Stage, Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley. 610-282-3192; https://www.desales.edu/

“Love + Information,” 8 p.m. Feb. 23-25; 2 p.m. Feb. 26, Baker Theater, Trexler Pavilion for Theatre and Dance, Muhlenberg College, 2400 Chew St., Allentown. 484-664-3333; https://www.muhlenberg.edu/

“Silent Sky,” 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24-25, March 2-4, Feb. 26, Lehigh Department of Theater, Diamond Theater, Zoellner Arts Center, 420 E. Packer Avenue, Bethlehem. 610-740-3780. https://theatre.cas.lehigh.edu

“Sister Act,” 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24-25, March 3-4, 9-11; 2 p.m. Feb. 26, March 5, 12, Civic Theatre of Allentown, 527 N. 19th St., Allentown. 610-432-8943; https://civictheatre.com/

“The Glass Menagerie,” 7:30 p.m. March 2-4, 6; 2 p.m. March 5, Norman Roberts Lab Theater, Northampton Community College, 3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem. 484-484-3412; http://ncctix.org

“The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” 10 a.m. March 16, April 4, 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. March 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30, April 1, 13, 15; virtual, April 15, Schubert Theatre, Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley. 610-282-3192. https://www.desales.edu/

“Ghost Train,” 7:30 p.m. March 17-18, 24-25, 31, April 1; 3 p.m. March 19, 26, April 2, Pennsylvania Playhouse, 390 Illicks Mill Road, Bethlehem. 610-865-6665; http://www.paplayhouse.org/

“The Rising,” 7 p.m. March 17-19, Crowded Kitchen Players, Charles A. Brown IceHouse, 56 River St., Bethlehem. 610-704-6974; http://www.ckplayers.com/

“Trouble in Mind,” 7:30 p.m. March 17, 23-25; 2, 7:30 p.m. March 18; 2 p.m. March 26, Civic Theatre of Allentown, Theatre514, 514 N. 19th St., Allentown. 610-432-8943; http://civictheatre.org/

Email items for “Lehigh Valley Stage” to: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com