A rebel’s granddaughter will tell of her grandfather’s role in the Easter Rebellion when Crowded Kitchen Players returns “The Rising: The Irish Rebellion in Song and Verse” to the Lehigh Valley stage, March 17-19, Charles A. Brown IceHouse, Bethlehem.

During the 2022 premiere of the original show, Fiona Sweeney, granddaughter of Irish rebel Peter Paul Galligan, was in the audience.

This year, the Bethlehem resident will be on the stage after “Rising” playwright and director Ara Barlieb wrote her story into the new version of the drama.

According to historic accounts, on Easter Monday 1916, a small band of Irish nationalists stormed Dublin is a desperate attempt to win their freedom from centuries of British rule. They were vastly outnumbered. There were a few hundred rebels against a British fighting force of 30,000.

After seven days, many Irish persons were killed in the streets, rebel leaders were executed, and hundreds of civilians were sent to prison.

Despite the rebels’ defeat, “The Rising,” as the Easter Monday rebellion came to be known, symbolized the resolve of Irish people to win their freedom, and is believed to have led to Irish independence six years later.

“I was blown away last year when I saw the play,” says Sweeney, adding, “It’s historically perfectly accurate. It’s incredible what they’ve done. If it wasn’t for these great men and women, we’d still be under British control.”

Sweeney portrays several members of Cumann na mBan, an Irish volunteers auxiliary.

Sweeney emigrated from Ireland in 1987 and holds dual Irish and American citizenship. In 2012, Sweeney’s brother Kevin Galligan published “Peter Paul Galligan: One of the Most Dangerous Men in the Rebel Movement” (2012, Liffey Press, 282 pp.) that details the role their grandfather played in the uprising. Though he’s seldom named among the major rebels, Galligan played a crucial role in the fighting and was one of the few who escaped execution, going on to live a long, successful life.

In “The Rising,” performers take turns telling about the uprising, using letters, clippings and dialog, tied together by songs of the period.

Singer-guitarist Joey Mutis of the band Electric Farm, performs traditional Irish songs, including “Ireland’s Call,” “Banna Strand,” “The Row in the Town” and “The Foggy Dew.”

Trish Cipoletti plays Moira Regan, who took an active role in the battle and later was interviewed for The New York Times by noted poet and journalist Joyce Kilmer, played by Bruce Brown.

The cast includes Mary Pat Lemass, Drew Adamczak, Sharon Ferry, Colleen Popper Grahek, Carla Hadley, Marcella Karam, Michael Sheridan and Pamela McLean Wallace.

“The Rising,” 7 p.m. March 17-19. Tickets: 610-704-6974; http://www.ckplayers.com

‘The Wizard’ at DeSales: DeSales University Theatre’s Act 3 senior capstone project is a children’s production of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,“ March 16 - April 15, Schubert Theatre, Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, DeSales University, Center Valley.

The 1900 novel by L. Frank Baum, which tells the story of a teenage girl from Kansas transported to the Emerald City, has had many adaptations, including the classic 1939 movie, “The Wizard of Oz,” starring Judy Garland as Dorothy.

Playwright Tim Kelly’s version gives a contemporary spin to the classic story, says DeSales production director Alaina Hurley.

“Our production is unique because we are pulling our main inspiration from L. Frank Baum’s original novel,” says Hurley.

“I was much more familiar with the movie when I entered the process, but after reading the book and learning more about Baum himself, I developed a greater respect for his artistry,” Hurley says.

“I knew immediately that I wanted my version to reflect his child-like wonder, enthusiasm for color, and desire to send a message of friendship to children all over,” says Hurley.

As a senior theater class production, every acting role, stage crew, design staff and administrative position is staffed and led by DeSales students.

The cast features Kylie Menow (Dorothy), Johnny Drumgoole (Scarecrow), Kevin Regan (Tin Man) and Kassidy Kimata (Cowardly Lion).

Toto the dog is a puppet performed by Tia Rossi.

Administrative and creative roles for the production include Brielle Lewandowski, company manager; Molly Hofstaetder, stage manager; Emily Barrett, lighting designer; Courtney Zwally, scenic designer; Tia Rossi, sound designer; Nicole Lawrie, costume designer; Cole Zwilling, props manager; Izzy Criscuolo, box office manager; Sydney Abbott, education liaison, and Patrick Byrnes, marketing manager.

A relaxed performance for patrons with sensory and communication differences, including individuals on the autism spectrum. is April 4.

“The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” 10 a.m. March 16, April 4; 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. March 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30, April 1, 13, 15; virtual, April 15. Tickets: 610-282-3192; https://www.desales.edu

“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