PA Shakespeare Festival presents the Lehigh Valley debut of a Shakespeare play and its “Shakespeare for Kids” returns, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s first hit musical comes to Bethlehem, and a trio of Lehigh Valley natives brings their original show to Allentown.

PA Shakespeare Festival premieres “Timon of Athens,” July 23 to Aug. 3 and “Shakespeare for Kids” runs July 23 to Aug. 2 at Desales University in Center Valley.

Pennsylvania Playhouse presents “In the Heights,” July 25 to Aug. 10.

“Saloon Girls,” co-written by Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts graduates Katie Kunkel and August Kiss Fegley, was presented July 26 at Civic’s Theatre514.

PSF presentd the seldom-performed Shakespeare play, “Timon of Athens,” which will become the 32nd of Shakespeare’s 38 plays to be produced at the festival.

The play will be performed in the festival’s “extreme Shakespeare” style, with actors rehearsing the way it is believed Shakespeare’s company would have. Actors arrive with their lines learned, rehearse on their own without a director, select their attire from the costume shop and open in a matter of a few days.

Timon of Athens (Greg Wood), once the life of every party and a generous benefactor, finds himself abandoned when his fortune runs dry.

Betrayed by those he trusted most, his legendary generosity turns to seething rage, transforming him from Athens’ favorite host to its most dangerous outcast. As his fury builds, the city trembles before a man with nothing left to lose.

The cast includes Tyler Borneo, Brandon E. Burton, Maya Jean Marino Cappello, Taylor Congdon, Michael Doherty, Jamir Fisher, Anthony Lawton, Bella Lucano, Gabe Moses, Karen Peakes, Teddy Novak, Susan Riley Stevens, Christian Tuffy, Carl Wallnau and Mark Yowakim.

“Timon of Athens” is recommended for ages 12 and up because of sexual puns and innuendo, and themes of recklessness and ruin.

Meet the actors for a talk-back after the July 31 performance.

The July 27 performance is audio described for the visually-impaired.

“Timon of Athens,” 7:30 p.m. July 23, 24, 25, 31, Aug. 1; 2 p.m., 7:30 p.m. July 26, 30, Aug. 2; 2 p.m. July 27, Aug. 3; 6:30 p.m. July 29, Schubert Theatre, Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley. 610-282-9455, https://pashakespeare.org/

“Shakespeare For Kids,” written by Erin Sheffield and directed by Matt Pfeiffer, is a high-energy, one-hour production for children ages 4 to 10 to experience Shakespeare’s vibrant language and characters.

Using a combination of songs, puppets and scenes from William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” four performers (Tyler Borneo, Relena Kiser, Teddy Novak, Bella Lucano) give families the opportunity to introduce children to Shakespeare in a welcoming, child-friendly environment.

There will be a relaxed performance Aug. 2.

New this year, “Shakespeare for Kids” will give free performances during a mini-tour at area libraries.

“Shakespeare for Kids,” 10 a.m. July 25, Allentown Public Library, 1210 Hamilton St., Allentown; 10:30 a.m. July 26, Lower Macungie Library, 3450 Brookside Road, Macungie; 10 a.m. July 30, Bucks County Free Library, 401 Mill St., Quakertown; 10:30 a.m. July 31, Hellertown Library, 409 Constitution Avenue, Hellertown; 10 a.m. July 23, 24, 29. Aug. 1, 2, Main Stage Theatre, Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley. 610-282-9455, https://pashakespeare.org/

“In the Heights,” with music and lyrics written by Lin-Manuel Miranda before he wrote his Broadway smash hit “Hamilton,” is set in the close-knit community of Washington Heights, a Latino neighborhood in New York City.

The story centers around Usnavi (Marquett Ferrell), a bodega owner who dreams of returning to his native Dominican Republic, while navigating the challenges of life in the Heights.

Over the course of three scorching summer days, the lives of Usnavi and his neighbors intertwine as they chase their dreams, confront change and celebrate their heritage. With its infectious Latin rhythms, dynamic choreography, and heartfelt lyrics, “In the Heights” is directed by Jonathan T. Shehab directs.

The cast includes Karina Hernandez (Nina), Sharon Luquis-Nieves (Camila Rosario), Robert Torres (Kevin Rosario), Trish Kane Steele (Abuela Claudia), Luan Alves (Sonny). Hailey Lara (Vanessa), Victore Abreu Jr. (Benny), Liana Donato (Daniela), Shy Patton (Carla), Joemichael Luciano Zaragoza (Piraguero) and Keane Carrington (Grafitti Pete.).

Understudies are Sophia Candelo (Nina), Benito Ortiz (Sonny), Robert Morgan (Benny), Ayden Gonzalez (Grafitti Pete), Anelise Diaz Rodriguez (Daniela) and Khylah Eure (Carla).

The Ensemble includes Karah Abarca, Karima Brown, Khylah Eure, Angelyna Guiguema, Sam Rodriguez, Abbey Gildner, Riya Sanan, Anna Stump, Carlo Igot, Victoria Spruiell, Eli Porciuncula, Matt Vera, Jordan Merced, Kayla Carrington, Cristal Perez, Rolando Vargas, Tahlia Colon, Dominick Dinzey, Elaine Pagan and Zori Sawyer.

The Aug. 1 performance will feature the understudies.

“In the Heights,” 7:30 p.m. July 25, 26, Aug. 1, 2, 8. 9; 6 p.m. July 27, Aug. 3, 10, Pennsylvania Playhouse, 390 Illick’s Mill Road, Bethlehem. 610-865-6665, http://www.paplayhouse.org/

“Saloon Girls,” written by August Fegley, Katie Kunkel and Alison Newton, is an original story set in a brothel in 19th century Cripple Creek, Col.

Featuring an ensemble cast of six women, the story unfolds in the dressing room, where the women doll themselves up, debrief their evenings, and scheme to navigate a male-dominated lawless land.

The narrative delves into relationships between the painted ladies and their Madam, whose status quo is thrown to bits by the arrival of one of the girl’s long-lost sister.

The cast includes Fegley, Newton, Parkland graduate Aubree Ann Wiliams, Zoya Ansari, Chloe Mutebi and Olivia Tyrell.

The creative team includes director Katie Kunkel, choreographer Willow Funkhouser and designer Lydia Garton, a Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts graduate.

“The Lehigh Valley arts community shaped us,” Fegley says. “Civic Theatre of Allentown is where many of our first performances took place.”

The show sold out off-Broadway earlier in July. The group wants to take the show to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland. Aug. 11 to 23.

“Saloon Girls,” 3 p.m., 7 p.m. July 26, Theatre514, 514 N. 19th St., Allentown. Information: https://augustkissfegley.com/saloon-girls.

“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