Parkland Press

"44 Plays for 44 Presidents," 8 p.m. Sept. 29; 2, 8 p.m. Sept. 30; 8 p.m. Oct. 1 - 3, Studio Theatre, Trexler Pavilion for Theatre and Dance, Muhlenberg College, 2400 Chew St., Allentown. muhlenberg.edu/theatre, 484-664-3333 or

"An Evening At A British Music Hall," Sept 28 - 29, Touchstone Theatre, 321 E. Fourth St., Bethlehem. 610-861-1689.

"Dog Eat Dog," 8 p.m. Sept. 20 - 22, Lafayette College Theater, Black Box Theater, Williams Center for the Arts, Hamilton and High streets, Easton, lafayette.edu, 610-330-5009

The envelope, please.

That's the plot device on which, ahem, rides "Premium Rush," one of late summer's most adrenaline-charged movies.

The title refers to the speed, priority or experience of a New York City bicycle-courier delivering a high-priority message.

Never mind the definition. This film is the fastest thing on reels. You'll grip the arm of your movie theater seat, the person next to you (best to know him or her first) or your reporter's notebook (as was my case).

The blues return to SteelStacks on Bethlehem's southside for the second annual Blast Furnace Blues Festival. The three-day blues showcase will consist of more than 25 acclaimed local and national acts performing on three stages.

Headlining the opening day of the festival, which runs Sept. 14 - 16, is legendary harmonica player James Cotton.

Grammy Award winner Kathy Mattea brings the tour for her latest album, "Calling Me Home," to the Lehigh Valley for a concert, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 18, Musikfest Cafe, ArtsQuest Center, SteelStacks, Bethlehem.

As with her 2008 album, "Coal," Mattea concentrates on letting her Appalachian roots show.

"A lot of people responded to the human struggle," Mattea says about listeners' reactions to the "Coal" album. "The album was the history of coal as told through music."

The Baum School of Art, 510 Linden St., Allentown, is presenting "Max Ginsburg: The Social Realist Master," Sept. 12 - Oct. 19 in the David E. Rodale and Rodale Family Galleries.

Ginsburg, a native of New York City, is one of the most highly-respected and accomplished social realist American painters. He credits his father, Abraham Ginsburg, a portrait painter, for providing him with a strong, traditional artistic foundation.

"Safety Not Guaranteed" is a hybrid film. It's part indie film, part mumblecore and part science fiction.

The film, while it doesn't always work, is a charmer, mostly for its off-hand, casual and sometimes clunky screenplay, directing and acting.

Traditional treatments for cancer primarily focus on healing a person's body. But often the patient needs emotional support as well.

Wellness and a holistic approach to cancer is the goal of the Cancer Support Community of the Greater Lehigh Valley.

The Cancer Support Community, formerly the Wellness Center, is located in the stately Anneliese B. Vollrath house, 3400 Bath Pike (Route 512), Hanover Township.

West Nile Virus (WNV) has become a national health problem this year despite the fact that many parts of the United States are experiencing moderate to severe drought.

As of Aug. 28, there have been 48 states reporting West Nile Virus infections in people, birds or mosquitoes. A total of 1,590 cases of West Nile Virus in people, including 65 deaths, has been reported to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The cases reported are the highest number reported to CDC through the last week in August since West Nile Virus was first detected in the United States in 1999.

Ramin Karimloo, who played the Phantom in "The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall," which was telecast on PBS, including PBS39 this past March, for the musical's 25th anniversary, performs at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 12, Musikfest Cafe at ArtsQuest Center, SteelStacks, Bethlehem.

He has been critically acclaimed as one of, if not the, greatest Phantoms of all time.

"8," 8 p.m. Sept. 8: staged reading, benefits Pennsylvania Diversity Network, Civic Theatre of Allentown 19th Street Theatre, 527 N. 19th St., Allentown, civictheatre.com, 610-432-8943

"Design for Murder," 8 p.m. Sept. 21, 22, 28, 29, Oct. 5, 6; 2 p.m. Sept. 23, 30, Oct. 7, Crowded Kitchen Players at McCoole's Arts & Events Place, 10 S. Main St., Quakertown. barliebwallace.com, 610-395-7176

"Dog Eat Dog," 8 p.m. Sept. 20 - 22, Lafayette College Theater, Black Box Theater, Williams Center for the Arts, Hamilton and High streets, Easton, lafayette.edu, 610-330-5009