Witness Outdoor Theater at Reading Public Museum Arboretum

If you're looking for a day trip destination from the Delaware Valley blending nature and theater, head to the Reading Public Museum Arboretum in Berks County on Sunday, July 27. A series of outdoor performances will bring the landscape to life courtesy of the Reading Theater Project's 2025 "In Nature's Studio." 

The performances will take place from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Reading Public Museum Arboretum, 500 Museum Road in Reading. Admission is free.

During the event, audience members will walk and make stops throughout the arboretum to witness the micro performances stationed along the park's path. Each performance will last about five minutes.

The performing arts, including dance, large-scale puppetry, music, and theater, are the subjects of the performances. The visual arts will be represented through plein air (outdoor) painters associated with Art Plus Gallery in West Reading, who will be featured throughout the park. Henry Patterson's Rally Rousers band will entertain guests before the performances begin.

"'In Nature's Studio' brings theater outdoors to the people and turns it into public art. This production was born of necessity, during the pandemic, but now it's a beloved annual tradition," said Vicki Haller Graff, artistic director of the Reading Theater Project and director of the project, to WFMZ-TV 69 News.

The performances are inspired by the "Toytopia" exhibit inside the Reading Public Museum. All content is appropriate for audiences of all ages. Attendees can choose to explore on their own or follow a guided path, ensuring they experience all the performances.