Montgomery County Community College will celebrate the 40^th anniversary of its Lively Arts Series starting with several September performances in its newly redesigned theater on its Blue Bell Campus. Tickets for all Lively Arts performances are available at mc3.edu/livelyarts.

• Wednesday, Sept. 20, at 7:30 p.m.: Starting the Lively Arts’ 2023-24 season will be the jazz/new age group, The Lao Tizer Band, featuring Karen Briggs (violin), Eric Marienthal (saxophone) and Chieli Minucci (guitar). This crowd-pleasing performance is part of Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board’s annual Arts Montco Week and Jazz Fest and the grand reopening events for the theater.
• Thursday, Sept. 21, at 6:30 p.m.: The grand reopening events continue when MCCC will honor its past, recognizing two influential African American women, Judith Willoughby, and Helen Haynes, who made substantial contributions to the growth of the College’s arts and culture through the creation and development of the Lively Arts Series. Following the awards presentation, the audience will enjoy a performance by the Philadelphia Boys Choir and Elegance String Quartet.
• Friday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m.: MCCC will honor the present with performances by its faculty, staff, students and the community. The performances are free and open to the community.
• Saturday, Sept. 23, at 7 p.m.: MCCC will honor the future with a special concert by the Femmes of Rock, a high-energy group of skilled musicians who perform classic rock on electric violins, delivering an amazing experience. MCCC’s Music Assistant Professor Michael Kelly will accompany the group on bass.

The Lively Arts Series is a core component of the recently established Montco Cultural Center, MCCC’s platform encompassing all arts and culture venues, series and programming across its campuses in Blue Bell and Pottstown.

“Our goal is to deliver the highest artistic talent to our audiences through programming that ensures a diverse representation of backgrounds and cultures. Our new theater is a dynamic social-cultural hub that invites people to experience the thrill and wonder of live music, theater, dance, art, and ideas,” said Brent Woods, Senior Director of Arts & Culture. 

About Lively Arts’ 2023-2024 Season

The remainder of the 40^th anniversary season of the Lively Arts Series includes an array of performances, lectures, and more throughout the year:

• Saturday, Oct. 7, 4:30 p.m. – Sruti presents Sriranjani Santhanagopalan
• Saturday, Oct. 14, 7:30 p.m. – Martha Redbone Roots Project
• Thursday, Nov. 2, 1:00 p.m. – Blind Visionaries – Workshop: Painting with Light (free)
• Friday, Nov. 3, 6:00 p.m. – Blind Visionaries Panel Discussion (free)
• Saturday, Nov. 4, 7:30 p.m. – Daniel Kelly Trio – Blind Visionaries
• Friday, Nov. 10, 7:30 p.m. – Dianne Reeves
• Friday, Feb. 2, 7:30 p.m. – Philadanco
• Saturday, Feb. 10, 7:30 p.m. – An Evening with Harriet Tubman
• Sunday, Feb. 25, 7:30 p.m. – Diane Monroe: Violin Women, African Dreams
• Saturday, March 2, 7:30 p.m. – Racism in America: Black Like Me – An Exploration of the N-Word
• Saturday, March 23, 7:30 p.m. – SF Jazz Collective: 20^th Anniversary Celebration
• Sunday, March 24, 6:00 p.m. – Messiah 2.0
• Saturday, April 27, 7:30 p.m. – Vinicius Cantuaria Quintet

MCCC’s Young Arts Explorers & Family Series presents the following performances:

• Friday-Sunday, December 15-17 – Four performances of the Philadelphia Dance Theatre: A Philadelphia Nutcracker!
• Wednesday, December 20, 7:00 p.m. – Polar Express – hot chocolate and pajamas night!
• Friday, January 26, 7:00 p.m. – The Effects of Gravity
• Friday, February 9, 10:00 a.m. – Harriet Tubman
• Friday, March 1, 10:00 a.m. – Black Like Me Special Youth Performance
• Friday, March 8, 10:00 a.m. – Bindlestiff Family Cirkus “Dynamic Trio”
• Saturday, March 9, 3:00 p.m. – Bindlestiff Family Cirkus “Dynamic Trio”
• Friday-Sunday, April 5-7, 7:00 p.m. – Philadelphia Dance Theatre: Fancy Nancy Mermaid Ballet

Gallery main events:

• Tuesday, August 29 – Katherine Krieg: Stories and Settings Opening, North Hall, Pottstown Campus
• Wednesday, August 30 – Eunbee Kim: “Dot!, Dot!, Dot!” Montco Cultural Center Lobby, Blue Bell Campus
• Monday, October 16 – Faces, Places, Liminal Spaces: Prints form the Goebel Collection, Fine Arts Gallery, Blue Bell Campus
• Saturday, October 28 – Pumpkinfest! Fine Arts Gallery, Blue Bell Campus

Gallery main events are free but registration is required at mc3.edu/livelyarts.

Together with resources and gifts generously provided by the community, friends, donors, alumni and sponsors, MCCC is providing the opportunity for students to thrive in a learning environment designed to meet the needs of today and the future.

Gifts to the Montco Cultural Center can be recognized through a myriad of recognition opportunities. To see how you can make a difference and discuss how your gift can be the most meaningful to you, contact the Foundation at 215-641-6324 or foundation@mc3.edu.