Touchstone Theatre’s “Young Playwrights’ Festival” returns with original plays written by local elementary and middle school students, 7:30 p.m. May 21, Baker Hall, Zoellner Arts Center, Lehigh University, Bethlehem.

The 17th year of the acclaimed festival will be performed live in-person for the first time since 2019 because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic shutdown in 2020 and 2021.

Young Playwrights’ Lab is an eight-week arts and literacy residency developed by Touchstone and the Bethlehem Area School District using theater to encourage writing and provide a platform for creative self-expression. Through improvisation, writing exercises and collaborative critique, each student writes an original one-act play to be considered for performance in the festival.

More than 125 plays were submitted. Five scripts of five students from five schools were chosen for staging: “The Perfectly Perfect Not So Perfect Paisley” by Anna Zsilavecz, Spring Garden Elementary; “The Young Playwrights!” by Sophia Emarie Colon, Marvine Elementary; “Starr is Who You Are” by Emmy Dandridge, Governor Wolf Elementary; “The Bad Bully” by Jordan Colon, Fountain Hill Elementary, and “Cloud’s Secrets” by Juliet Broskey, Buchanan Elementary.

The plays are directed by Touchstone’s ensemble and guest directors, and performed by Touchstone actors, community performers and students from area schools.

Scenes from five runner-up plays will be performed: “School Lunch Trading Nightmare” by Alexander Koch, Nitschmann Middle School; “Princess in the Warrior Clothes” by Mariah Marie Randolph, Lincoln Elementary; “The Bat Story” by Julius Avila, Donegan Elementary; “Dragon Gates” by Avery Pierce, Farmersville Elementary, and “Untitled” by Raiden Reyes, Casa Guadalupe Center.

“The Young Playwrights’ Festival gives the Lehigh Valley a rare opportunity: the chance to look deep into the hearts and minds of our youngest artists,” says Mary Wright, Touchstone Education Director. “The combination of the kids’ imaginations and Touchstone’s own creates a one-of-a-kind evening of theater.”

Wright says the plays often include light-hearted elements like talking animals, princesses and imaginary worlds, but also explore universal themes of love, resilience, importance of family and bravery in the face of adversity, and “celebrate the whimsy, wit and wisdom of our youth.”

There’s a pre-show performance by Dave Fry and a “red carpet” at 7 p.m.

The wearing of face masks is optional. Socially-distanced seating is available. The festival will be live-streamed.

Tickets: www.touchstone.org; 610-867-1689

“Matilda” at PYT:

Pennsylvania Youth Theatre presents “Matilda the Musical,” May 19-22, Diamond Theater, Zoellner Arts Center, Lehigh University, Bethlehem.

It’s the first PYT production in 2 ½ years, PYT Managing Director Valerie Reinardt says. PYT in-person performances were suspended because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic shutdown.

“Matilda the Musical” is billed as a funny, heartbreaking and inspiring story about the anarchy of childhood, the power of imagination and a girl who won’t let being “little” stop her from putting an unjust world right.

Based on the 1988 children’s novel written by beloved author Roald Dahl, “Matilda the Musical” has a book by Dennis Kelly and music by Tim Minchin. The show opened on Broadway in 2013 and received five Tony Awards. Songs include “When I Grow Up” and “Revolting Children.”

The show is double-cast with 60 students age 6 to 18.

Leads are Anya Ferris, Maylin Parlett (Matilda); Sofia Eckman, Bella Tallada (Miss Honey), and Brewer Cort, Haldon Kerzner (Miss Trunchbull).

PYT Artistic Director Jill Dunn Jones directs. Former PYT student Darah Donaher is choreographer. Matthew Asti is music director.

The wearing of face masks is optional. Socially-distanced seating is available.

Performances: 6 p.m. May 19, 7 p.m. May 20 and 1 and 5 p.m. May 21 and 22.

Tickets: www.123pyt.org; 610-332-1400

“Curtain Rises” is a column about the theater, stage shows, the actors in them and the directors and artists who make them happen. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com