Lehigh Valley summer theater continues with three classic stories.

Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival stages “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” June 26 - July 7.

Northampton Community College Bill Mutimer Memorial Summer Theatre presents the musical, “Fiddler on the Roof,” June 26 - July 7.

Touchstone Theatre premieres “Alice in Bethlehem,” 5 p.m. June 29, Bethlehem Rose Garden.

The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival presents Shakespeare’s “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” June 26 - July 7.

In this merry romp, the irrepressible rogue Sir John Falstaff (Scott Greer) hatches a scheme to woo two wealthy wives in hopes to secure their fortunes. Unbeknownst to him, these merry wives craft clever retaliations to rebuke his advances.

The colorful array of characters includes a Welsh Priest, zany French swordsman and jealous husband in disguise.

The cast includes Tyler Borneo, Taysha Marie Canales, Sean Close, Akeem Davis, Jim Helsinger, Dan Hodge, Abby Jeanne, CaSandra Kay, Anthony Lawton, Eli Lynn, J. Paul Nicholas, Suzanne O’Donnell, Ian Merrill Peakes, Karen Peakes, Devin Romero, Isaiah Caleb Stanley and Christian Tuffy.

First published in 1602, “Merry Wives” is the only play that Shakespeare set in his own time, that of England in the 1590s.

The production is directed by Barrymore Award-winner Matt Pfeiffer, who has been directing at PSF for 23 seasons, including last year’s “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again],” 2022’s “Much Ado About Nothing” and 2021’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Pfeiffer again collaborated with Alex Bechtel on the score, as the two have previously done for PSF’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Two Gentlemen of Verona.”

Meet the actors for a talk-back after the July 3 performance.

“Prologues,” which provides insights into the play in an informal setting, takes place 45 minutes prior to curtain.

There is an audio-described and open-captioned performance 2 p.m. June 29.

“The Merry Wives of Windsor,” 7:30 p.m. June 26, 27, 28, July 3, 5; 2, 7:30 p.m. June 29, July 6; 2 p.m. June 30, July 7; 6:30 p.m. July 2. Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Main Stage Theatre, Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley. 610-282-9455, https://pashakespeare.org/

“This show [‘Fiddler on the Roof’] was one of Bill’s favorite musicals,” says program artistic director Clair M. Freeman. “We cannot wait to bring it to life on our NCC stage in his memory.”

With music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein, “Fiddler on the Roof” is set in Imperial Russia around 1905. It is based on “Tevye and his Daughters and other Tales” by Sholem Aleichem.

The story centers on Tevye (Mark Stutz), a milkman in the fictional village of Anatevka (which inspired the name for the present-day refugee community near Kyiv, Ukraine).

Tevye strives to maintain his Jewish religious and cultural traditions as outside influences encroach upon his family’s lives. He lives with his wife Golde (Trish Steele), daughters Tzeitel (Maria Alvarez-Pallette), Hodel (Lydia Walker), Chava (Isabelle Awald), Shprintze (Bella Ambroise) and Bielke (Maricel Wheatley).

Conflicts arise as Tevye must cope with the strong-willed actions of his three older daughters who wish to marry for love, and their choices of husbands are successively less palatable for Tevye. Meanwhile, larger actions in the political arena threaten to evict the Jews from their home.

The original Broadway production of the musical, which opened in 1964, won nine Tony Awards, including best musical, score, book, direction and choreography. It spawned five Broadway revivals and a successful 1971 film adaptation. For nearly a decade, “Fiddler on the Roof” held the record for the longest-running Broadway musical.

The cast includes Dylan Penyak, Max Wetherhold, Harrison Fox, Yul Carrion, Denise Long, Daniel Melo, Julio Hernandez, Ted Williams, Mateo Villarreal, Calum Sullivan, John Greisen, Laura Sweeney Riker, Cindy Ernst, Rebecca Pieper, Katelyn Morgan, Andy VanAntwerp, Zayne Xavier Thomie, Camilla Bachman, Connor Sternberg, Bowen Huang, Julianna Domiciano, Rebecca Trollinger, Adrian Colon-Burgos, Cade Kocher, Abby Arza, Anjelica Soto, Lyndsey Sommons, Brianna Gutierrez, Angelina Dries, Deborah Katz, Megan Wolfe and Jenna Williamson.

The director and choreographer for the NCC production is Gustavo Wons. Music director is Chad Miller. Costumes are by Brenda McGuire and Min Price. Cultural consultant is Rabbi Rebecca Einstein.

The 5 p.m. July 4 performance is “pay-what-you-will.”

“Our hope is to make theater affordable and accessible to everyone,” says Freeman.

The Caribbean Noodles Food Truck will be on site before the July 4 performance.

“Fiddler on the Roof,” 7:30 p.m. June 26, 27, 28, 29, July 3, 5, 6; 2 p.m. June 30, July 7, 5 p.m. July 4. Northampton Community College Summer Theatre, Lipkin Theater, Northampton Community College, 3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem Township. 484-484-3412, https://www.ncctix.org/

Touchstone Theatre premieres “Alice in Bethlehem,” 5 p.m. June 29, Bethlehem Rose Garden.

The free event is created and performed by second-year Touchstone Theatre, Moravian University MFA students, and helmed by ensemble member Matt Prideaux.

Developed by the students over the past year, the show reimagines Lewis Carroll’s stories, with the Bethlehem Rose Garden as a real-life “Wonderland.”

“We designed the show, from the ground up, with the Bethlehem Rose Garden in mind,” says Prideaux.

“We wanted to bring art to people who might have never been to Touchstone before, and fill an already beautiful park with our own unique touch of magic.

“We hope that our audience leaves with a newfound appreciation for their neighborhood park, as well as a deeper love for the brilliant works of Lewis Carroll.”

In “Alice in Bethlehem,” the citizens of Wonderland have heard tales about the city of Bethlehem, and that it just might be the best city in the world. So, they have decided to open up a portal to their world, in the Bethlehem Rose Garden, and invite guests in to learn about Wonderland.

Audience members are asked to take on the role of Alice and try to solve who stole the Queen’s tarts.

They are encouraged to share a little bit about themselves and their life in Bethlehem with the characters of Wonderland in a sort of cultural exchange.

On the guided walking tour, audiences will celebrate an Unbirthday Party, participate in a Caucus Race, dance the Lobster Quadrille, and avoid the dreaded Jabberwocky.

Sturdy shoes, sunscreen, and bug repellent are encouraged for attendees.

Tickets are free. Donations are welcome.

“Alice in Bethlehem,” 5 p.m. June 29. Touchstone Theatre, Bethlehem Rose Garden, 651 Eighth Avenue, Bethlehem. 610-867-1689, https://touchstone.org/

“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.