Touchstone Theatre will present a public reading of its summer production, tentatively titledGiants of the Lehigh Valleyon Saturday, February 2 from 1 - 4pm at Lehigh Universitys Packard Lab, room 416.Community members and Touchstone Ensemble Members will read selections from the play.PlaywrightLinda Parris-Baileywill be present via video-conferencing to speak with attendees, answer questions and hear feedback.

This event is a great opportunity for us to raise community awareness about the project and to collect valuable feedback, said Lisa Jordan, Touchstones Production Manager.Community participation has been vital to the success of this project since its inception.

The production, scheduled to premiere May 30, 2008, is part of theLehigh Valley Black African Heritage History Project, an initiative to collect, archive and share the experiences of Lehigh Valley African Americans over the last century.

Auditions for this production will be held at Touchstone Theatre, 321 East Fourth Street, Bethlehem, February 4 and 5 from 6 8PM. Casting actors, singers and musicians of all experiences and ages; the cast will be multi-racial, but predominantly African American.To reserve an audition time please call Lisa Jordan at (610) 867-1689.

Renowned Composer and ArrangerYsaye Barnwellwill attend auditions.Barnwell is a member of the music groupSweet Honey in the Rockand worked with Touchstone in 1999 on its productionSteelbound, a play loosely based onPrometheus Boundthat explored the history of Bethlehems Steel industry.

Touchstones project partners include Muhlenberg College, Kutztown University, Lehigh County Senior Center, Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society, and Lehigh County Historical Society. Support for this project is provided by:the National Endowment for the Arts, the Pennsylvania Humanities Council, the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, the Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission and the United Way.

Celebrating more than 25 years, Touchstone Theatre produces and presents both original and classic productions, with dedication to the renewal of theatre as a vital art form. Touchstone works to foster collaboration on a local and national level through educational and youth empowerment programs, using theatre as a community-building tool. Visit us on the web at www.touchstone.org.