Shows are opening for the fall season at Lehigh Valley colleges.

Cedar Crest College presents “The Marvelous Wonderettes (Glee Club Edition),” Sept. 25 - 29.

DeSales University’s Act 1 is staging “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” Sept. 25 - Oct. 5.

“The Marvelous Wonderettes” is a jukebox musical comedy with a book by Roger Bean. The show, which uses pop songs from the 1950s and 1960s as a vehicle to tell its story, pays homage to the high school songleader squads of the 1950s.

When called upon to perform at their senior prom as a last-minute replacement, Springfield High songleaders Betty Jean (Kyleigh Vicoso), Cindy Lou (Rosie Kramer), Missy (Angelina Dries) and Suzy (Ashlee Wagner), rally to entertain their classmates in four-part harmony. The second act follows the four women as they graduate from high school.

The musical includes the songs “Lollipop,” “Dream Lover,” “Stupid Cupid,” “Lipstick on Your Collar,” “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me,” “It’s My Party” and “It’s In His Kiss (The Shoop Shoop Song).”

The cast includes Arlo Guzman, Shayla Simek, Jahniya James, Julianna Mosser, Bethany Wentling, Olivia Giangrandre, Olivia McCarron, Tristan Mannix, Kaedon Fox, Ashly Rodriguez, Johanna Snyder and David Smith.

JoAnn Wilchek Basist directs. Rebecca Pieper is music director. Joanellyn Schubert is choreographer. Will Morris is costume designer. Roxanne Amico is scenic designer. Kevin Gallagher is technical director.

“The Marvelous Wonderettes,” 7 p.m. Sept. 25, 26, 27; 2 p.m. Sept. 28, Samuels Theater, Cedar Crest College, 100 College Drive, Allentown. 610-606-4608, https://www.cedarcrest.edu

DeSales University Act 1 presents Christopher Durang’s comedy “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.”

Sonia and Vanya are middle-aged siblings with no direction in life. After spending years taking care of their now deceased parents, neither has jobs. They spend their days watching their yard in Bucks County and ruminating on how many trees make up an orchard.

Upheaval occurs when their sister Masha, on whom they depend for money, arrives with a new boyfriend. Add a cleaning lady soothsayer and the characters each become memorable in their own way.

Some of the show’s elements were derived from works of Anton Chekhov, including several character names and sibling relationships, the play’s setting in a country house with a cherry orchard, the performance of an “avant-garde” play by one of the main characters (as in “The Seagull”), and the themes of old versus new generations and real versus assumed identities.

Megan Bellwoar directs.

The play premiered on Broadway in 2013, winning the Tony Award for Best Play.

It is recommended for ages 13 and up for mature themes.

“Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” 7:30 p.m. Sept. 25, 26, 27, Oct. 1, 2, 3, 4; 2 p.m. Sept. 28, Oct. 5; 9:45 a.m. Sept. 29. DeSales Act 1 Theatre, Main Stage Theatre, Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley. 610-282-3192; https://www.desales.edu

“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