Reading Theater Project presents ‘Just What the Doctor Ordered’ [Spotlight]

Reading Theater Project (RTP) will present a staged reading of "Just What the Doctor Ordered," a farce by local playwright Judd Lear Silverman, on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Wyomissing Library, 9 Reading Blvd. A post-performance Q&A with the playwright will follow.

In this Moliere-meets-Orton farce, a Jewish mother, on her deathbed, insists her son should be married to inherit the family fortune, but with gay marriage legal, he should marry a gay doctor. Counter-plots ensue and complications follow. The show is directed by Kimberly Patterson.

Lear Silverman, a Berrilla Kerr Foundation grant recipient, sets the play sometime after 2008, when Connecticut legalized gay marriage, using the farce to explore desire, obligation and family sabotage against the backdrop of early 21st century America. While not autobiographical, Silverman says the work draws on the same contemporary, farcical instincts as his literary influences.

Silverman's plays have been published by ArtAge, Samuel French, the Pirandello Society of America and Applause Theatre Books' "Best American Short Plays" and are featured on the New Play Exchange. His play "Proud" opened RTP's 2025–2026 "Embracing Our Humanity" season. A member of the Dramatists Guild, Silverman recently retired from teaching English and playwriting at Pace University in New York City and now lives in Pennsylvania.

Tickets are a suggested $10 or pay-what-you-will and can be purchased at rtp.ludus.com .

The Reading Theater Project is a locally focused, professional theater company, based in Greater Reading/Berks County. They value collaboration and creative challenges and believe theater is an inclusive experience that can reveal our shared human condition. For more information, visit readingtheaterproject.org or call 484-706-9719.

• Yocum Institute for Arts Education, 3000 Penn Ave., West Lawn, has announced that tickets are on sale for its upcoming production of "1776," the Tony Award-winning musical that brings the creation of the Declaration of Independence to vivid life on stage.

Featuring a book by Peter Stone and music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards, 1776 follows the drafting of the Declaration of Independence and explores the debate, compromise, and conviction that shaped a new nation. Filled with stirring music, sharp wit, and unforgettable historical figures, the musical examines the ideals, challenges, and complexities at the heart of America's founding.

Performed by a talented cast of young artists ages 13-25, this thought-provoking production offers audiences a fresh perspective on a pivotal moment in history while highlighting themes that continue to resonate.

"What makes 1776 so unique is that is isn't interested in mythologizing the creation of the Declaration of Independence," said Yocum Institute for Art Education Theater Director Andrea Kennedy-Hart. "It reveals the messy, complicated process of forging a nation, including the difficult and sometimes unsavory compromises made along the way. What has been most inspiring is watching these young performers embrace that complexity with curiosity, thoughtfulness, and the courage to dive into difficult conversations."

Performances will take place in Yocum Institute's Schumo Theater on Aug. 7 at 7 p.m.; Aug. 8 at 2 p.m.; Aug. 8 at 7 p.m.; and Aug. 9 at 2 p.m.

The production is recommended for audiences ages 13 and up and contains mature historical themes and complex political subject matter.

General admission tickets are $18. For tickets and additional information, visit yocuminstitute.org , call 610-376-1576, or stop by Yocum Institute for Arts Education.

Photography

Vic and Dena Hammel present "Through Darkness to Light: Photographs Along the Underground Railroad," an engaging photography exhibit at the Reading Public Museum, 500 Museum Road.

The exhibit will be on view in the Meinig Family Gallery and the Works on Paper Gallery through Aug. 11.

They left during the middle of the night — often carrying little more than the knowledge that moss grows on the north side of trees. An estimated 100,000 slaves between 1830 and the end of the Civil War in 1865 chose to embark on this journey in search of freedom.

They moved in constant fear of being killed or recaptured, returned, and beaten as an example of what would happen to others who might choose to run. Under the cover of darkness, "fugitives" traveled roughly 20 miles each night traversing rugged terrain while enduring all the hardships that Mother Nature could bring to bear.

Occasionally, they were guided from one secret, safe location to the next by an ever-changing, clandestine group known as the Underground Railroad. Many consider the Underground Railroad to be the first great freedom movement in the Americas and the first time when people of different races and faiths worked together in harmony for freedom and justice.

Photographer Jeanine Michna-Bales has spent more than a decade meticulously researching "fugitive" slaves and the ways they escaped to freedom. While the unnumbered routes of the Underground Railroad encompassed countless square miles, the path Michna-Bales documented encompasses roughly 2,000 miles and is based on actual sites, cities, and places that freedom-seekers passed through during their journey.

Whether they were slaves trying to escape or free Blacks and whites trying to help, both sides risked everything for the cause of freedom. From the cotton plantations south of Natchitoches, La., all the way north to the Canadian border, this series of photographs helps us imagine what the long road to freedom may have looked like as seen through the eyes of one of those who made this epic journey.

While many books have been written on the subject, there is very little visual documentation of the Underground Railroad because of its secretive nature. Today, as America becomes more diverse, Michna-Bales believes that an understanding of the experience — and those who lived through it — is more relevant than ever.

The Underground Railroad united people from different races, genders, social levels, religions, and regions in a common and worthwhile cause. It was the first civil rights movement within America. "Through Darkness to Light: Photographs Along the Underground Railroad" encourages visitors to learn more, ask questions, and open a dialogue on the subject, and in the end, provide a better understanding of our origins.

This exhibition features beautifully dramatic photographs, ephemera, and narratives that together tell the story of the Underground Railroad. The author is working with Princeton Architectural Press to prepare a publication that will combine 82 original photographs and text with a diverse sampling of related ephemera.

The presenting sponsors of the exhibit are Vic and Dena Hammel with additional support from Jerry and Carolyn Holleran. This exhibition was organized by ExhibitsUSA, a program of Mid-America Arts Alliance.

Books

Kutztown author Kevin McCloskey has turned his attention to capybaras, releasing "Wild About Capybaras!"

He has written six children's books about animals he might find in his own backyard, like worms, snails, and ants. Capybaras are different. These remarkable South American rodents have become a fad with children around the world.

McCloskey said the inspiration for the book came in a flash. A boy at a school assembly in Maryland asked him, "What's your next book?" When he paused to think the boy shouted out, "Capybaras!" Then the whole school sang out "Capybaras!" They didn't just say it once, they sang it over and over. "Capybaras! Capybaras! Capybaras!" McCloskey realized kids are wild about capybaras.

Thanks to a grant from United Way of Berks County, McCloskey will be doing free presentations at all four Reading Public Library branches this summer. Children will receive a free book while supplies last.

Times and locations: Aug. 3, 10:45 a.m., Southeast Branch, 1426 Perkiomen Ave.; 2 p.m., Northwest Branch, 901 Schuylkill Ave.; Aug. 5, 12:30 p.m., Northeast Branch, 1348 N. 11th St.; 3 p.m., Main Branch, 100 S. Fifth St. For more information, contact the Reading Public Library branch nearest you.

"Wild About Capybaras!" is available wherever books are sold. Signed copies are available at Firefly Books, Kutztown, and Evelyn and Harriette's Gifts, Oley.

• For Lauren Nappi of Morgantown, writing children's books has always been about creating stories that help children feel seen, accepted, and proud of who they are. Her newest children's book, "Poppy's Quills," continues that mission with a heartfelt story about embracing the qualities that make us different.

Written entirely in lyrical rhyme, "Poppy's Quills" carries readers through a poetic journey that is both engaging and comforting. Poppy invites children to discover that the things that make them different are often the very things that make them shine.

Like their first book, "A Peanut's Tale," "Poppy's Quills" is a true family collaboration. Nappi wrote the story while her mother, Terri Elliott, brought each page to life with whimsical illustrations. Together, the mother-daughter team hopes their books encourage meaningful conversations about confidence, kindness, and celebrating what makes each child unique.

Nappi and Elliott will introduce children to Poppy and her heartfelt, rhyming story of self-acceptance by forward to visiting schools, libraries, bookstores, and community events for author visits, book readings, and interactive programs.

For more information about Poppy's Quills, upcoming events, or to schedule an author visit, go to www.apeanutstale.com or contact Nappi directly through the website.

Festivals

Reading Pride Celebration presents Berks Pride Fest next Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Jim Dietrich Park, 4899 Stoudts Ferry Bridge Road, Muhlenberg Township.

What began in 2006 as a grassroots gathering has grown into the county's largest and longest-running LGBTQ+ Pride celebration, welcoming thousands of LGBTQ+ community members, allies, families, businesses, artists, nonprofits, and advocates each year for a day of celebration, education, entertainment, and connection.

As Reading Pride Celebration commemorates this anniversary, attendees can expect one of the festival's most diverse entertainment lineups to date. While drag performances remain a beloved tradition of Berks Pride Fest, this year's stage will feature an expanded variety of entertainment, including live singers, bands, dance teams, acrobatic performances, comedy, and everything in between. The diverse lineup reflects the creativity and talent of our community while offering an engaging, family-friendly experience with something for everyone to enjoy.

Festivalgoers can explore local businesses, artists and makers, nonprofit organizations, advocacy groups, food vendors, family-friendly activities, educational resources, and opportunities to connect with organizations serving the Greater Reading area.

"Twenty years ago, a small group of dedicated volunteers believed Berks County deserved a Pride celebration of its own," said Sean Flannery, president of Reading Pride Celebration. "Today, Berks Pride Fest has become a place where thousands of people come together to celebrate who they are, build lasting connections, and experience the strength of our community. This anniversary is an opportunity to honor everyone who helped build this tradition while looking ahead to an even brighter future. Pride is more than a single day — it's about creating a place where everyone knows they belong. We hope you'll join us as we celebrate this milestone together."

Tickets can be purchased in advance at readingpride.org or at the festival entrance on the day of the event.