Bill George, ensemble member emeritus at Touchstone Theatre, Bethlehem, is taking his critically-acclaimed one-man show, “Odysseus,” to the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, Sept. 6 - 10.

“Odysseus” debuted in November 2022 at Touchstone Theatre. George wrote, directed and stars in the original work that follows the mythical 10-year journey of Odysseus, who is struggling to make his way home after The Trojan War.

A review for Lehigh Valley Press Focus described “Odysseus” as “a monumental and important work. ... The journey is profound and fun in ways unexpected.” The play received an ABE award for Original Play in the Lehigh Valley Press for theater work presented in 2022.

The script is drawn primarily from Alexander Pope’s 18th-century poetry, but is influenced by other interpretations of Homer’s epic Greek tale “The Odyssey.”

George, accompanied by musician Rob Aptaker, portrays numerous characters, from gods and goddesses, to human mortals such as Odysseus, to Odysseus’ son Telemachus and Odysseus’ wife Penelope.

Aptaker’s playing of multi-instruments provides an aural backdrop. Aptaker also provides acapella songs in Greek.

George is assisted in directorial duties by Gerard Stropnicky.

“Odysseus,” 7 p.m. Sept, 6, 7, 8, 9; 2 p.m. Sept. 10, Philadelphia Fringe Festival, Studio B, Pig Iron Theatre Company, 1417 N. Second St., Philadelphia. The 2023 Philadelphia Fringe Festival is Sept. 7-24 at various locations in Philadelphia. Tickets: 215-413-1318; https://phillyfringe.org

Student play debut at Ice House:

“The Waiting Room,” a new play by Touchstone Theatre-Moravian University student Larry Mason, premieres Sept. 8 and 10, Charles A. Brown Ice House, Bethlehem.

“The Waiting Room” explores chronic illness and disability, its impact on relationships, and self-awareness. In the play, anxiety fills the air in a waiting room of a doctor’s office.

Mason is a student in the Master of Fine Arts degree program in Performance Creation offered by Moravian University and Touchstone Theatre. The graduate degree, first available in 2018, is offered by Moravian Graduate and Continuing Studies, intended to educate and prepare artists who want to create their own performances.

“The Waiting Room,” created with accessibility in mind, incorporates audio description and relaxed performance.

“The Waiting Room,” 7 p.m. Sept. 8; 10 a.m. Sept. 10, Charles A. Brown Ice House, 56 River St., Sand Island, Bethlehem. Tickets, pay-what-you-will: 610-867-1689; http://www.touchstone.org

Pines has “Clue”:

Pines Dinner Theatre, Allentown, is bringing back its production of “Clue: The Musical,” Sept. 8 - Oct. 22.

The musical was presented in 2019 at The Pines. The production playfully recreates the characters from the Hasbro board game: Professor Plum (Maxwell Gorman), Miss Scarlet (Eileen Deisemann), Colonel Mustard (Zach Petrovich), Mrs. Peacock (Amber Blatt), Mrs. White (Syd Stauffer) and Mr. Green (Parker Ryan).

The audience is invited to help solve the mystery of who killed Mr. Boddy (Kent Benwell). As in the game, audience members must deduce which character is the murderer; if a wrench, candlestick, pipe, knife, revolver or rope was used, and if the murder occurred in the lounge, kitchen, ballroom, conservatory, billiard room or study.

Everyone is given a form on which to keep track of clues, which are presented by the murder victim throughout the show.

Three audience members brought on stage pick one card each from three decks of cards naming six suspects, six possible murder scenes and six potential weapons, with a mind-boggling 216 possible outcomes.

With every performance, the ending changes according to the cards drawn.

“Clue: The Musical” is written by Peter DePietro with lyrics by Tom Chiodo and music by Wayne Barker, Galen Blum and Vinnie Martucci. The show is directed by Pines Dinner Theatre Artistic Director Oliver Blatt.

“Clue: the Musical,” 12:30 p.m. dinner, 1:30 p.m. show Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday; 6:30 p.m. dinner, 7:30 p.m. show Friday, Saturday, Sept. 8 - Oct. 22. 448 N. 17th St., Allentown. Food and beverages available for purchase. Attendees may BYOB. Tickets: 610-433-2333; https://www.pinesdinnertheatre.com

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