Allentown Arts Ovation

The arts give life to the city. Join us in celebrating those who bring life to the arts. The Allentown Arts Commission Arts Ovation Awards, now in its 32nd year, recognizes the community’s outstanding contributions to the arts.

We are excited to invite the community to celebrate Allentown’s vibrant Arts Community and honor eight incredible individuals, organizations, and high school seniors who have contributed extraordinary effort to define and move Allentown’s Arts Community forward.

This anniversary event will be hosted at the award-winning historically renovated Civic Theatre of Allentown on Thursday, May 11th, 2023. Started by two Morning Call reporters in 1927 as “Civic Little Theatre,” Civic is the oldest theatre in Allentown. In 1957, it began operating as a live theater house, and today it shines even brighter. Civic Theatre was recently honored by the State at the 2019 Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Awards for its breathtaking rehabilitation project. A must see!

In special celebration to the Allentown High School Arts programs, Ovation will feature two live excerpt presentations of our talented whimsical 2023 High School Musicals – Allen’s “Little Shop of Horrors,” and Dieruff’s “Seussical.”