NCC Summer Theatre Promises Major Hits, Powerful Children’s Show
Summer season and new faculty honor legacy and forge new path
BETHLEHEM, PA – The Bill Mutimer Summer Theatre Program will open this June, and it will signify a new act for NCC Theatre. It will include major hits, a powerful children’s show, and will also include fresh faces and new energy in leadership to carry the program forward.
“This summer is shaping up to be one of our most exciting and dynamic yet,” says Alyson Krawchuk, assistant dean of the School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. “There is an incredible sense of community, artistry, and purpose driving this season.”
The season opens with Million Dollar Quartet, running from June 4-15. Directed by Clair Freeman, the play is based on the once-in-a-lifetime jam session at Sun Records that included Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, and Johnny Cash. Next up is the sweeping musical, Evita, running from June 25-July 6. Directed by Argentine native Gustavo Wons, who directed and choreographed NCC’s award-winning production of Fiddler on the Roof last summer, Evita will transport audiences to Buenos Aires to follow the First Lady of Argentina’s rise to fame and popularity among the working class. This year’s children’s show, Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience, running from June 18-July 26, promises a fun and funky exploration of individuality, self-expression, and more. Rounding out the season is the feel-good musical, Hairspray, running from July 16-27, that will burst with energy and heart while celebrating change, acceptance, and the power of standing up for what’s right.
With ticket prices at just $25 for adults and $20 for seniors, audiences will experience professional-grade theatre right in their backyard. Summer theatre productions feature current NCC students, along with intern performers and technicians from other colleges, recent college graduates now based in New York City, Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) professional actors with experience on Broadway and in television and film, and local community members.
To expand accessibility even further, the program is bringing back “pay what you are able” performances (minimum $5). The children’s show will host sensory-friendly performances to create a welcoming environment for all children, including those with sensory sensitivities.
For patrons ready to make an evening of it, NCC Theatre is partnering with Hampton Winds, NCC’s teaching restaurant, for the Dinner + Theatre experience on select nights. Enjoy a Memphis-inspired menu for Million Dollar Quartet on Thursday, June 5; an Argentinian-inspired menu for Evita on Thursday, June 26; and a ‘50s-inspired menu for Hairspray on Friday, July 25.
Hairspray will be directed by Darah Donaher, assistant professor of theatre, who joins the faculty this year along with Jessica López-Barkl, assistant professor of theatre. Together, the duo will shepherd NCC’s Theatre Program onward as it continues to heal from the loss of Bill Mutimer, professor of theatre and director of the Theatre Program, who passed away suddenly last year.
The summer theatre series now bears Mutimer’s name thanks to a generous $50,000 gift from Mutimer’s brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Jill Mutimer. The Mutimers’ gift secures program naming for the next 10 years and includes a memorial plaque to be installed in NCC’s Lipkin Theatre. Mutimer launched NCC’s first full summer theatre program in 2017. Since then, the program has become a summer entertainment staple for both the college and local community.
ullivan, she has over 20 years of experience that has taken her all over the country.
“Bill left an amazing structure and legacy,” adds López-Barkl. “The history of each production is diverse, inspiring, and exemplifies the kind of work that emerging artists need to be exposed to in order to prepare them for the industry.”
Donaher is seeking ways to integrate theatre more fully into the campus and surrounding community and is exploring ways to connect with local high school students to showcase NCC theatre opportunities. López-Barkl is interested in drawing more NCC students to the theatre, both as participants and patrons, through workshops, master classes, and a performing arts club. She also would like to develop seamless transfer paths with four-year programs and internship opportunities and expand the theatre curriculum to align with current industry trends.
For more information on summer theatre, and to purchase tickets, visit ncctix.org.
About Northampton Community College
With an enduring commitment to the regional communities it serves and a focus on student success, Northampton Community College is an educational institution of extraordinary distinction, earning accolades at the state and national levels for innovative programs, outstanding faculty, and impressive student achievements. It counts among its successful alumni a four-time Pulitzer Prize winner and an Academy Award winning director, as well as a host of CEOs, presidents, and leaders of business and industry. Today, Northampton Community College has locations in Bethlehem, Southside Bethlehem, and Monroe County, serving 30,000 students annually from 53 counties, 42 countries, and 25 states. For more information or to apply, please visit northampton.edu. Follow NCC’s President on X @NCCPresDaveRuth, and the college on LinkedIn, Instagram @NorthamptonCommCollege, TikTok @NorthamptonCC, and Facebook.
