Bethlehem Township college is staging a comedy about a dog and a Reading theater is presenting new short plays by regional playwrights.

Northampton Community College Theatre Department presents “Sylvia,” March 6 - 10.

Reading Theater Project is holding its 10th annual “5-Minute Fringe Festival: Inspired by True Events,” Feb. 27 - March 2.

“Sylvia,” written by Pulitzer Prize-nominated playwright A.R. Gurney, is directed by Clair M Freeman.

The play tells the story of the dog Sylvia (Azelia Dos-Santos) and the couple (David Lippincott, Tiah Fontno) who adopt her. The play explores the complexities of love, commitment and asks what it means to be a devoted partner and how to choose between a love interest and a dog. The play opened on Broadway in 2015.

The NCC cast includes Max Cole, Rylan Rojas and Aidan Weller.

“Sylvia,” 7:30 p.m. March 6, 7, 8, 10; 2 p.m. March 9, Norman Roberts Lab Theatre, Northampton Community College, 3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem Township. 484-484-3412, https://www.ncctix.org/

The Reading Theater Project’s “5-Minute Fringe Festival: Inspired by True Events” has new works by 14 playwrights and performers from the region.

“Our goal with ‘Fringe’ is to give local performing artists a platform to develop new work,” says Reading Theater Project Artistic Director Vicki Haller Graff, adding, “Creating new theater or performance is a unique challenge. With a goal of five minutes, new work becomes accessible to more people, empowering more people in our community to tell their own stories.”

This year, audiences will experience short plays, monologues, puppets, dance and music. Performances are followed by talk-backs with performers and writers. Andy Roberts will play the piano. Tickets are pay-what-you-will.

“5-Minute Fringe Festival: Inspired by True Events,” 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27, 28, March 1; 2 p.m. March 2, Reading Theatre Project, Schumo Theater, Yocum Institute for Arts Education, 3000 Penn Avenue, West Lawn. 484-706-9719, https://readingtheaterproject.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.