An area college is presenting the Lehigh Valley premiere of a play set against the political unrest of 1904 Dublin, and another college is staging a musical mystery spoof.

DeSales Act 1 Theatre stages “Dublin by Lamplight,” Oct. 1- 11, Main Stage, DeSales University, Center Valley.

The Cedar Crest College Performing Arts Department presents “Something’s Afoot,” Oct. 1-4, Samuels Theatre, Cedar Crest College, Allentown.

Directed by David Pica, DeSales visiting assistant professor of theater, “Dublin by Lamplight” brings Michael West and The Corn Exchange’s wildly theatrical, darkly comic tale of art, revolution and national identity to the stage.

Written by West in collaboration with Irish theater company The Corn Exchange, “Dublin by Lamplight” transports audiences to Dublin in 1904 when revolution is in the air and a ragtag company of actors is preparing for what they believe could be the theatrical event of the century.

The group’s goal is to create a national theater and, perhaps in the process, help the identity of a nation. History, however, rarely follows a script.

Blending fact and fiction, comedy and tragedy, “Dublin by Lamplight” imagines an alternative version of one of the defining moments in Ireland’s cultural history. The play takes inspiration from 1904, a landmark year that saw the opening of Dublin’s Abbey Theatre.

“Dublin by Lamplight” imagines the tumultuous days surrounding the founding of what would become Ireland’s national theater.

As King Edward VII prepares to visit Dublin, a determined group of artists, writers, actors and visionaries struggle to bring a new Irish theater to life while navigating political unrest, cultural identity and the competing demands of art and society.

Rather than presenting history as documentary, the play is an imaginative “alternative history” that blends real historical figures and events with fictionalized moments.

Against a city alive with artistic ambition, political unrest, poverty, nationalism and competing ideas about Ireland’s future, West places a group of theater-makers convinced that art might have the power to change history. More than a century later, we’re still asking that question.

“Comedy unearths essential truths for us,” Pica says. “It’s a more palatable means of introducing the prickly stuff.

“Theater wholeheartedly believes that real change is possible and worth all of our energy,” says Pica.

”This play has something to teach us about social unrest, rebellion, oppression, identity, hope and consequences. I’m of the mind that this play about national identity is trying to tell us that we need each other,” Pica says.

“Dublin by Lamplight” embraces a heightened, physical theatricality inspired by traditions including commedia dell’arte, transforming the streets of turn-of-the-century Dublin into a world of performers, revolutionaries, romantics and dreamers whose grand plans constantly go wrong.

The production team includes scenic design by David Gallo, costume design by Janus Stefanowicz, sound design by Matthew Mastronardi and lighting design by Eric Haugen.

Following the Oct. 9 performance, audiences are invited to attend a post-show soirée, “The Lamplight Social,” featuring themed food and beverages, activities, a photo opportunity, and a raffle. Raffle prizes include offerings from local businesses McCarthy’s Red Stag Pub, Donegal Square and Braveheart Highland Pub.

The Oct. 10 performance has audio-description for the blind or visually-impaired and open captioning for deaf or hard-of-hearing. The performance is pay-what-you-can.

West is one of Ireland’s leading playwrights. His work frequently explores Irish history, identity, politics and the relationship between communities and storytelling. He is known for creating works that combine historical research with inventive theatrical storytelling.

The Corn Exchange is an award-winning Irish theater company recognized for its collaborative approach to developing new work. Rather than relying solely on a traditional playwright-led process, the company creates productions through extensive ensemble collaboration, allowing actors, designers and creative artists to contribute to the development of the script and staging.

“Dublin by Lamplight,” 7:30 p.m. Oct. 1, 2, 7, 8, 9; 2 p.m. Oct. 3, 4, 10, 11; 9:45 a.m. Oct. 5, 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

The Cedar Crest College Performing Arts Department is presenting “Something’s Afoot,” a satirical murder-mystery musical that spoofs the works of Agatha Christie, particularly her classic 1939 novel “And Then There Were None.”

The book, music and lyrics is written by James McDonald, David Vos and Robert Gerlach, with additional music by Ed Linderman.

The musical involves a group of people who are invited to the lake estate of Lord Dudley Rancour. When the wealthy lord is found dead, it is a race against the clock to find out who is the murderer.

The show has an upbeat 1930s’ English music-hall style score, with musical direction by Rebecca Pieper, and choreography by Joey Schubert. The director is JoAnn Wilchek Basist.

The cast includes Mark Ingram, Nik Georgievski, Azelia dos Santos, Arlo Guzman, Armand Reiser, Jonathan Fehnel, Michelle Rieder, Deven Windisch, Bethany Wentling and Salem Perez.

Scenic designer Roxanne Amico recreates a 1930s-era British estate on stage.

“Something’s Afoot: The Musical,” 7 p.m. Oct. 1, 2, 3; 2 p.m. Oct. 4, Samuels Theater, Cedar Crest College, 100 College Drive, Allentown. 610-740-3780, https://cur8.com/18389/project/138655

“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