Uptown! has exciting new season ahead

A season of live entertainment, film and speakers is slated at Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center.

It’s time to make plans for the 201819 Season of live entertainment, film and speakers at Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center in West Chester.

Events ranging from silly to serious, surprising and spirited are planned, along with new additions as the season unfolds. As the venue for seven unique resident companies, Uptown! is the place to experience Musical Theater, Improv Comedy, Jazz, Latin productions, Opera, a variety of popular entertainment and music, Children’s Theater as well as a dynamic speaker series.

A sampling of Uptown!s 2018-19 season is shared below, with details and up-todate information about all events at UptownWestChester.org.

The Resident Theatre Company, RTC, consistently brings Broadway quality productions to Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center’s stage, and this season promises to be as entertaining as ever. Evita, Oct. 12–28 is followed by Lend Me a Tenor in December and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels in the spring of 2019. Founding Director Kristin McLaughlin Mitchell is excited about the broad appeal of each selection.

WCStudio at Uptown! provides theater education for youth and adults throughout the year, and features spring and summer Children’s Theater per-

formances in addition to holiday shows that happen over West Chester’s Christmas Parade weekend.

Uptown! Speaker Series offers compelling speakers about timely topics on third Tuesdays monthly. In April, Dean Rodney Smolla and the Honorable Judge Sanchez return with a very popular presentation of the Supreme Court of the U.S. in action. Audience members will be sworn in and invited to participate in a mock hearing, arguing a real upcoming case.

Jazz Cocktail Hour consistently sells out monthly shows at Uptown! Returning fan favorites include V. Shayne Frederick, Josh Lawrence, Rhenda Fearrington and the Cartoon Christmas Trio with children’s choirs from Hillendale, Pocopson and Unionville Elementary Schools. New surprises include a winter “Prohibition Party” and a special appearance by a Grammy Award winning jazz legend in the spring. Uptown!s Jazz season ends in May with another Mother’s Day Jazz Brunch featuring host Sara Michaels and the Uptown! Divas.

Opera tutti, which means Opera for All, makes Opera accessible for audiences from well versed to the uninitiated. This spring, they will shift from their cabaret performances to fully fledged and fun traditional tales, such as The True Story of Cinderella in February and The Old Maid and the Thief in June.

Better Than Bacon Comedy Improv performs at Uptown! every other month beginning in September. They too routinely sell out cabaret shows with completely unscripted, audience driven subject matter. Their November performance on the Main Stage is a benefit for Act in Faith West Chester.

Windish Music and Productions brings popular presentations of all kinds to Uptown!, large and small, including a big name with local roots, Ben Smith. During West Chester’s Christmas Parade weekend, Disney’s Choo Choo Soul with Genevieve is planned to kick off the holidays for area families. In 2019, look for Hypnotist Tim Miller, a repeat of Blues N’ Brews at Uptown! and Celtic Tenors. Windish also brings Dueling Pianos, an interactive performance with a new duo each month to keep things fresh. These popular shows routinely fill fast.

The Party of the Year in West Chester, “Puttin’ on

the Glitz” is Uptown!s third New Year’s Eve celebration to support the theater. The evening will include dinner, dancing and entertainment, starring John Serock Catering, RTC’s Broadway in the Borough and Windish’s New Street Heat. Event Chairs Joe and Sandy Riper are also planning a spectacular surprise at midnight.

In addition to a robust season of events and shows by Uptown!s resident companies, upcoming programming includes The Summer Club’s Sounds of Sinatra, TEDx West Chester, Classic Urban Harmony’s multiband Doo Wop concert, The Pennsylvania Philharmonic Brass concert (also during WC Christmas Parade weekend), Chosen Dance and more events that are yet to be announced.

You can sign-up for Uptown! eNews to stay upto-date, get details about all programs and purchase tickets online at UptownWestChester.org, at the box office or call 610-356.ARTS2787. Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center is conveniently located in the heart of West Chester, near parking, shopping and restaurants at 226 North High Street, West Chester.