About Macungie Minstrelaires

In 1957 a group of local Macungie residents performed a minstrel show for the Macungie Centennial. The following year we became the Macungie Minstrelaires. Since that time we have presented many shows and contributed funds to organizations such as: The American Heart Association, Muscular Dystrophy, Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital, Confront, The Salvation Army, Meals on Wheels, Disabled Veterans, Lehigh Valley Hospice, the Association for the Blind and many other local worthwhile organizations.

Each year we award the Kyle Schmoyer and Neil Kline Memorial scholarships to two Emmaus High School seniors who are pursuing an education in the field of music or theater arts.

New members are always welcome. The main requirement is that you love to sing and enjoy the company of others who share that interest. The show runs the last weekend in October and the first week in November. Rehearsals begin the first Monday in August. If you are at least sixteen years of age and are interested in singing with the group, please send your name, address and phone number to:

MACUNGIE MINSTRELAIRES, INC.
P.O. BOX 444
EMMAUS, PA. 18049

Phone: 610-770-6845 or E-mail: minstrel@ptd.net Website: www.macungie-minstrelaires.org

To provide wholesome entertainment for the benefit of arts education and the community. Our group is of all ages, races, colors, and backgrounds who desire to share their talents for singing, dancing, comedy, and backstage expertise with the community at large.

The Macungie Minstrelaires was organized in 1957 to perform a minstrel show for the Macungie Centennial. The group consisted of Macungie residents. The show was held in the Macungie Park auditorium and was a big success, hence the decision was made to present another minstrel show in 1958. It was at this time the group officially organized and took the name of “The Macungie Minstrelaires.”

The Macungie Minstrelaires continued to produce minstrel shows in the 1960s until the organization decided to change to a Variety type show. The group continued to present yearly shows with various themes including Christmas, Tributes to Composers, Patriotic, Broadway,
Television and Movies. The group eventually outgrew the Macungie Park auditorium and moved to the Howard Eyer Middle School auditorium in Macungie. The Macungie Minstrelaires have always been a non-profit organization and have helped many local organizations, families, and individuals in need. In 2006 the Minstrelaires moved to their new home at Lower Macungie Middle School and continue to perform their annual productions at this location.

Today, the Macungie Minstrelaires is comprised of men and women from all walks of life and professions residing in Lehigh, Berks, and Northampton counties. Our annual musical production continues to be a theme-based show, held the last weekend in October and the first weekend in November, for a total of four evening performances on Fridays and Saturdays, and also two Saturday matinee performances. Anyone 16 years of age and older is welcome to join our chorus. We also have The Minstrelaire Kids’ for anyone under 16 who may be interested in
participating in our shows.

The group’s main goal is to present a professional, annual musical production for the enjoyment of our audience, within our allotted budget, allowing for a portion of our show proceeds to be donated to local non-profit organizations, families, and individuals in need. We also support two local seniors from Emmaus High School with two Scholarships. Our funding is solely from our annual show ticket sales, program ads, and donations we receive for additional smaller-scale show requests during the year. We welcome any donations in order to offset our annual operating expenses. If you wish to make a donation to our group, you may do so by mailing a check to our address: Macungie Minstrelaires, Inc., P.O. Box 444, Emmaus, PA 18049. Thank you for your support!