The Bard and Beyond Book Club is Back!
Join fellow theatre enthusiasts once a month to dive deep into the plays featured in PA Shakespeare Festival’s 2027 Summer Theatre Series! Our intimate discussions explore character motivations, plot intricacies, historical context, and theatrical craft.
Members gain exclusive behind-the-scenes insights, directorial perspectives, and production notes that enrich the live theatre experience. Whether you’re a seasoned scholar or simply love great storytelling, you’ll enjoy investigating new layers of meaning in these timeless works while connecting with a community of passionate theatre lovers.
When, Where, Who, What?
We will be meeting in the Faculty Dining Room in the DeSales University Center.
Each session is $22 per person.
October:
William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night
Tuesday, October 13, 6-8pm – hosted by Kim Carson
Monday, October 26, 4-6pm – hosted by Jason King Jones
November:
William Shakespeare’s Othello
Monday, October 16, 4-6pm – hosted by Jason King Jones
Tuesday, October 17, 6-8pm – hosted by Kim Carson
January:
Noises Off by Michael Frayne
Tuesday, January 19, 6-8pm – hosted by Kim Carson
Monday, January 25, 4-6pm – hosted by Jason King Jones
February:
Shakespeare’s King Lear
Monday, February 15, 4-6pm – hosted by Jason King Jones
Tuesday, February 16, 6-8pm – hosted by Kim Carson
March:
Fat Ham by James Ijames
Monday, March 15, 4-6pm – hosted by Jason King Jones
Tuesday, March 16, 6-8pm – hosted by Kim Carson
April:
Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale
Monday, April 19, 4-6pm – hosted by Jason King Jones
Tuesday, April 20, 6-8pm – hosted by Kim Carson
How do I get involved?
Click this link to purchase your dates. For questions contact Kim Carson, Director of Education and Community Engagement at [email protected] or call 610-282-9455.
HOSTS
JASON KING JONES (Artistic Director) JKJ just completed his third season as PSF Artistic Director, where he has directed Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, The Tempest, The Last Five Years, the “Play On!” Community Tour As You Like It, and Winnie-the-Pooh & Friends, which he also wrote. Additional writing credits include this season’s The Princess and Frog Prince and a new adaptation of Goldoni’s The Servant of Two Masters, which he directed for DeSales’ Act One Productions. Prior to moving to the Lehigh Valley with his family, Jason spent ten years at Maryland’s Olney Theatre Center, where he served as Senior Associate Artistic Director and Artistic Director of National Players. In the past twenty-five years Jason has directed over eighty productions, mentored hundreds of early-career theatre makers, and established various educational programs. He is an Acting Company alumnus, a proud member of the PSF Board, the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Nonprofit & Business Partners Council, and the executive committee of the Shakespeare Theatre Association. Jason holds a BFA in Theatre Performance from Missouri State and an MFA in Directing from Boston University.
KIM CARSON (Director of Education & Community Engagement) Before joining PSF, Kim served in the Allentown School District and Saucon Valley School District, and for the last 20 years, has worked as a professional actor, director, and playwright. Credits include 59 E 59, Walnut Street Theatre, Arden Theatre Co, Fulton Theatre, Peoples Light, John W. Engeman Theatre, Virginia Stage, Delaware Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Co, Theatre Exile, and many more. Kim has received two Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre in Philadelphia.