Civic Theatre has announced its 2019-2020 season. However, as with theater companies across the country, theater officials were initially restricted from revealing two musicals that were uncertain at the time of the announcement.

The two shows for Civic’s season are two well-known musicals, which, it was thought, may or may not be on national tour or presented at another regional theater.

Civic Theatre Artistic Director William Ross Sanders teased those at the March 15 season annnoucement reception at Civic514 with puzzles, references and rhymes, but no titles to the musicals.

The first musical to be announced is for October. The second musical to be announced is for May 2020. That’s all Sanders could say at the reception.

Then on “World Theatre Day,” March 27, the entire Civic Theatre 2019-2020 season was announced, including the two musicals that are in question no more: “Sunset Boulevard,” October, and “Spamalot,” May 2020.

Civic’s 2018-2019 season continues with Civic Theatre School’s production of “The Lion King, Jr., 6 p.m. April 4 and 5; 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. April 6 and 7; “Fun Home,” May 3, 4, 9-12 and 16-19; “Constellatons,” June 21-23 and 27-30, and “Cabarets And Concerts: Movie Musicals,” “Rockin’ Broadway Cabaret” and “Bridges Of Madison County Concert,” all August.

The full 2019-2020 Civic season is: “Sunset Boulevard,” October; “A Christmas Carole,” “Who’s Holiday,” both December; “The Humans,” February 2020; “Silence! The Musical,” March 2020; Civic Theatre School, “Frozen, Jr.,” April 2020; “Spamalot,” May 2020, and “Significant Other,” June 2020.

“We try to keep a balance and do as many premieres as possible,” Sanders said.

As the title might indicate, “A Christmas Carole” provides a gender twist with JoAnn Wilchek Basist playing Scrooge.

Civic’s ninth annual “Tonys & Tapas” fundraiser is 3:30-6:30 p.m. June 9, 19th Street Theatre and Theatre514. This year’s event honors Sanders’ 25th season as Civic artistic director.

There will be a music performance by the Civic Theatre Company, tapas from Lehigh Valley restaurants, a cash bar and a silent auction.

Salon services: Pennsylvania Playhouse presents its production of “Steel Magnolias,” April 5-7, 12-14 and 19 and 20, just in time for the 30th anniversary of the movie version of the play.

The 1989 film adaptation of Robert Harling’s 1987 play of the same title starred Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, Julia Roberts, Tom Skerritt, Dylan McDermott, Kevin J. O’Connor and Sam Shepard.

The comedy is set in Truvy’s beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where “all the ladies who are anybody have their hair done.”

According to the Playhouse press release, “helped by her eager new assistant, Annelle (Danielle Tempier), the outspoken, wise-cracking Truvy (Tracie DeMaria) dispenses shampoos and free advice to the town’s rich curmudgeon, Ouiser, (Vickie Montessano); an eccentric millionaire, Miss Clairee (Carole Silvoy), and M’Lynn, (Syd Stauffer) whose daughter, Shelby (Stephanie Walsh), is about to marry a good ole boy.”

The Playhouse release describes the play as “alternately hilarious and touching with six female characters as delicate as magnolias yet as strong as steel.”

The Playhouse production is directed by Gary Boyer.

“Curtain Rises” is a column about theater stage shows. Email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com