From Yocum Institute for Arts Education
Yocum Institute for Arts Education is bringing the excitement of live theater back to communities throughout Berks County with its annual Summer Theater Tour. This year’s original production, Digging Up the Past, will travel to nine public libraries and community locations in July, offering families a free, interactive theatrical adventure filled with history, mystery, science, and storytelling.
Created and directed by Joel Richard Gori, Digging Up the Past invites audiences to become explorers as they uncover fossils, artifacts, folktales, and hidden stories from around the world. Blending imaginative theater with audience participation, the production encourages children and families to piece together clues, interact with characters, and discover how the stories of the past continue to shape our understanding of the present.
From dinosaur discoveries to ancient legends, each performance celebrates curiosity, collaboration, and the power of storytelling through an engaging theatrical experience designed for audiences of all ages.
“We are thrilled to once again bring Yocum’s Summer Theater Tour to libraries and community organizations across Berks County, making professional live theater accessible to families at no cost,” said Kristin Gehris, Yocum Institute for Art Education’s School and Community Engagement Director. “This year’s original production, Digging Up the Past, invites audiences to become explorers alongside archaeologists and paleontologists as they uncover clues from long ago; from dinosaurs and ancient civilizations to the Epic of Gilgamesh and lost languages.
With interactive songs, engaging props, and plenty of imagination, this production takes children and families on a fun journey through history while inspiring curiosity, creativity, and a love of learning.”
Yocum Institute’s Summer Theater Tour is part of the organization’s ongoing commitment to expanding access to arts education throughout the region. Last year’s production reached more than 500 community members, and all performances continue to be offered free of charge through partnerships with local libraries and community organizations.
2026 Summer Theater Tour schedule
- Monday, July 6 | 1 p.m.
- Hamburg Public Library
- Performance location: First Reformed UCC (76 S. 3rd St., Hamburg)
- Hamburg Public Library
- Wednesday, July 8 | 10:30 a.m.
- Wernersville Public Library (100 N. Reber St., Wernersville)
- Thursday, July 9 | 2 p.m.
- Boyertown Community Library (24 N. Reading Ave., Boyertown)
- Friday, July 10 | 11 a.m.
- Robesonia Community Library (75 S. Brooke St., Robesonia)
- Monday, July 13 | 10 a.m.
- Fleetwood Area Public Library
- Performance location: Maidencreek Community Park (753 Park Road, Blandon)
- Fleetwood Area Public Library
- Tuesday, July 14 | 10 a.m.
- Mifflin Community Library (6 Philadelphia Ave., Shillington)
- Thursday, July 16 | 2 p.m.
- Womelsdorf Community Library (203 W. High St., Womelsdorf)
- Tuesday, July 21 | 11 a.m.
- Bethel-Tulpehocken Public Library (8601 Lancaster Ave., Bethel)
- Wednesday, July 22 | 11 a.m.
- Bernville Area Community Library (6721 Bernville Road, Bernville)
Families are encouraged to attend the performance at the location most convenient for them. Admission is free, and no tickets are required.
For more information about Yocum Institute for Arts Education and its summer programming, visit yocuminstitute.org or call 610-376-1576.
About Yocum Institute for Arts Education
The Yocum Institute for Arts Education is a nonprofit community arts organization dedicated to enriching our community by connecting and engaging individuals through arts education and artistic expression. Through on-site and community-based programming in theater, music, visual arts, dance, and martial arts as well as our arts-integrated preschool, we create opportunities for everyone to engage with the arts. For more than 90 years, Yocum Institute has remained committed to making the arts accessible to learners of all ages throughout our community.
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